Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
optics4birding |
Post Reply |
Author | |
Baylian
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/12/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 24 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: November/04/2006 at 23:28 |
Has anyone seen the reviews on optics4birding? Are they valid reviews? I bring this up because I brought up the Cornell Lab of Ornithology before and then I was told they were bogus.
Thanks, TJ |
|
Not all who wander are lost. - JRR Tolkien
|
|
lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I can't remember her name but, if I am remembering correctly, the lady that Optics4Birding has doing their reviews relies pretty heavily on the Cornell study. That's not to say that she doesn't know what she's talking about nor that her opinions are invalid but, as with all reviews from all people, take what you read with a grain of salt.
|
|
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
|
|
Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Laura Erickson
|
|
FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I know that there was a Laura's binocular reviews at binocular.org or something similar. Is she also the one that did the reviews for optics4birding? I thought that was Michael and Diane Porter but I may be getting one confused with another.
In my opinion all of the reviews mentioned are somewhat useful in that they allow us to get a general impression of the product. However, one needs to keep in mind that the subjective nature of any given reviewer plays a huge part in the review process. In many cases what one person finds unacceptable might prove just the opposite for the next person. The Cornell review is fairly accurate with their ratings of many of the binoculars however, I disagree with a few of their ratings highly. Using forums such as this in conjunction with the various reviews posted on the net seems to me to be the most intelligent route to follow as you do get intelligent discussion over one model or another. With many review sites you are left without the ability to ask questions as to why they felt one model was clearly superior to another.
That is one reason why I love visiting this type of forum. ;) |
|
Frank
|
|
howler
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/25/2005 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
optics4birders has the scorecard rating system, how does all this fit together ???
I'm just wondering if the scorecard system is worth taking to heart or not. |
|
FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
You always have to take this type of thing with a grain of salt. Almost all of the binocular reviews I have seen on the web are subjective. Very little hard data in terms of measured brightness, durability tests, etc... Still they can prove useful as many of the higher ranked bins in the various price ranges are quite satisfying to most users.
|
|
Frank
|
|
SteveO4B
Optics GrassHopper Joined: June/30/2014 Location: Irvine CA Status: Offline Points: 1 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Laura Erickson has never written reviews for Optics4Birding. She used to write for Binoculars.com.
Our reviews are written by a Ph D biochemist who is an active birder, as are all of us on the main staff. I was probably the person who spoke the the original poster in this thread. My problem with the Cornell Ornithology Lab reviews (and I'm a Cornell grad) is that their methodology is flawed. First, not all reviewers are trained in testing optics. Next, not all reviewers review all binoculars in the same price class. This leads to gross problems. In the 2013 review, look at the differences in scores for the Vortex Viper HD 8x42 and the Eagle Optics Golden Eagle HD 8x42. The only difference in these two binoculars are the color of the rubber armoring and the logo. If you don't believe that, call Vortex and ask. Yet, the scores in all categories of testing vary greatly. The reviewers at Cornell certainly didn't look at chromatic aberration, because the results would have been much different. Because of our position as a dealer for many brands, our reviews do not compare products between brands. We do extensive field testing, not just by the review writer, compare notes, do the physical measurements such as close focus, weight, and IPD, and come up with a list of pros and cons. If something is really bad in its price category, we just won't write a review. |
|
Steve Sosensky
Optics4Birding |
|
RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Welcome to OT, Steve! Glad you're here!
|
|
Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
|
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Welcome to the forum, Steve.
I never realized you were in Irvine. I am in Southern California as well. As far as Cornell reviews go, I was never a fan. A lot of their results simply do not agree with my observations and in the end I have to trust my own set of eyeballs. ILya
|
|
NDhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/15/2006 Status: Offline Points: 601 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I have also followed the Cornell reviews, and they are a haphazard compilation of over 100 binoculars by users of many different abilities with scoring that is not typical of other reviews. The typical top models do rise to the top, but beyond that not much is to be gained, if one is in the market for a binocular. Personal preference is important, and it is just a guide only. |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |