Binxx Posted February 6, 2005 Posted February 6, 2005 Alright folks, help me out here. Was at the cricket yesterday and was wishing I had some binoculars to watch the usual trashing Have never owned one before so can someone suggest the best place to buy and the brand to look for. I assume a couple of hundred should get something decent? Will be mostly used for sports and occasional sightseeing of the waves on the beach. Time is not of essence so when are these things on sale and where? TIA Binxx
Vermin Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 If you are going to hand hold them for long periods of time (rather than using a tripod) do not go larger than 10x50. This is a good size and magnification for hand-held operation and a reasonable pair can be bought for $200 AUD Pop along to this place and try a few out: http://www.bintel.com.au/Binoculars.html They may not be the cheapest store around (I've found them to be more expensive than importing telescope equip. myself), but the staff know their stuff. Things to look for: Multi-coated optics. Wide field of view (>5°) Edge of field sharpness. Eye relief distance (if you wear glasses). BAK4 prisms Horizontal and vertical collimation, http://www.oberwerk.com/support/collimate.htm This last one is very important to prevent eye strain.
Dik Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 After my very old Carl Zeiss binoculars were dropped & beyond repair I found that buying binoculars is a bit like buying any of the sort of stuff we drool over here. There is plenty of reasonably priced gear around that is OK, but if you want quality you need to seek out a good supplier and "audition" the products on offer to make sure it suits your personal needs. For me that ended up as a pair of 15x60 by Pentax, which are great for long distance viewing, but may not be the best "opera glasses". Best of luck, Dik
Santa1503559644 Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 I see I dont need to post a definitive pro-spec after vermin's post! (Astronomy types have firm views on optical quality, to say the least!) I dont know if any of those newish image-stabiliser models are in your range, but for your application, that stuff might make a very nice difference (esp. if you are going for higher power models).
Vermin Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 I considered pointing them out Santa but the cheapest are well over $1K, which is a bit beyond Binxx's "couple of hundred". If you are stuck for something to bring me this Christmas a pair of Canon 15x50 IS AW's would do nicely thanks. http://www.opticsplanet.net/canon-15x50-is-aw.html
Santa1503559644 Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 I considered pointing them out Santa but the cheapest are well over $1K, which is a bit beyond Binxx's "couple of hundred". If you are stuck for something to bring me this Christmas a pair of Canon 15x50 IS AW's would do nicely thanks. http://www.opticsplanet.net/canon-15x50-is-aw.html <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Crikey! I thought there were cheap models with IS ... shows the bloody stratospheric region in which my Binocular interests lie! (Beautiful 150mm Fujis!) {Or maybe even Jim's Mobiles realisation of a long-time Santa dream (and oft-postponed project) - the, wonderfully named "Sweet 16" }
Tweet Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 Heavens above , Go all out on a 8 inch refractor telescope, great for checking out the 'wildlife' in the stands and you'll probably appear on the Tele as well. C.M
Binxx Posted February 7, 2005 Author Posted February 7, 2005 Thanks for the tips so far guys, any particular model you would recommed around the $200 mark? The IS sounds good but way over budget
Chris_S Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 Thanks for the tips so far guys, any particular model you would recommed around the $200 mark? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I bought a pair of compact Nikon binoculars (8x25 5.6') for about $250 (about 5 years ago) from The Binocular and Telescope Shop https://www.bintelshop.com.au/ 55 York Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9262 1344 http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/nikon/s...lars/index.html The shop was very helpful and offered lots of advise. Mine looks similar to the the 1st one on this page http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/nikon/s...pact/dx_ii.html
Digicruiser Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 If you want to buy more powerful binocs, the army way to learn how to hold them still is hold up a book on you hand with your arm in an "L" shape (each day). This will in time strengthen the muscles needed to hold the binos very still. Or just rest them on the bloke's head in front of you sitting down
hab01i Posted February 7, 2005 Posted February 7, 2005 I got a "fake" (still trying to work out if its genuine) Tasco compact binoculars from China, They are actually very good, I could see Johnny and Greigy quite well when I was at the Tsunami-Appeal Match.
laurie Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 The next thing to be banned near beaches or better still blocks away from beaches Binoculars cheers laurie
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