My first post.
A little background. I am near to retiring geologist based in North Wales but have travelled extensively with work. Work is geology, but a lot of that is field based. As keen a geologist as I am, I can't look at rocks all day everyday and like most of my ilk, have a passing interest in other things I can see when in the field. Birds are one, but I'm not any sort of expert, just a guy with a passing interest.
So, I've always carried a pair of binoculars with me. A couple have come to grief, so always a cheap pair. Some were better than others and over the years I developed a preference for 10 x 42 binoculars. The ones that have passed through my hands (one pair, quite literally, on to rocks 50 metres below) never cost more than GBP 80.
As retirement looms one thing I've been asked is what I'll like as a retirement present. I thought first about what I didn't want (watch, clock etc) and then thought what about a decent pair of binoculars. So, I have a budget apparently of around GBP400 to spend on this purchase.
I have to confess ro being something of a recent lurker before joining this forum. I've read through a number of threads on specific binoculars, enjoyed a lot of the discussion and, I guess to no-one's surprise, remain undecided about which pair to request.
Things that are important to me are good image quality and the ability to focus as sharply as possible on the subject matter. The subject matter for me, living by the sea, tends to be shore birds, sea birds, passing boats of varying sizes and the occassional overhead aircraft. Maybe one day my interests will develop, but for now, pleasure is a stroll on a beach.
Having considered things myself, but not really having access to facilities where I can try binoculars out for myself readily, I have narrowed my choices (rightly or wrongly) down to a handful that fit into the funds available to me. My current list is:
I know this is not an exhausive list. What I'm trying to avoid though is having to import some brand that is not on sale on this side of the pond. I've had bad expeiences in the past when importing materials for work...excessive shipping costs, delays with customs, hefty customs duties and the dreaded VAT all can push the price up so that what seems a bargain no longer is that.
I'd really like to solicit some input from members of this forum as to which model they would go for if in my situation. I'm hoping it will help. In the meantime I'll try to get hold of some of the above, but I am guessing that against my current 7dayshop 10x42 all will appear fairly awesome!
I realise that similar requests have been made before. I have tried to do some homework beforehand but find that the more I look and read, the less I seem to understand. As this will be a rather special gift I'd like to be assured that I've given my final choice full consideration. Any thoughts would really be appreciated.
Thanks
James
A little background. I am near to retiring geologist based in North Wales but have travelled extensively with work. Work is geology, but a lot of that is field based. As keen a geologist as I am, I can't look at rocks all day everyday and like most of my ilk, have a passing interest in other things I can see when in the field. Birds are one, but I'm not any sort of expert, just a guy with a passing interest.
So, I've always carried a pair of binoculars with me. A couple have come to grief, so always a cheap pair. Some were better than others and over the years I developed a preference for 10 x 42 binoculars. The ones that have passed through my hands (one pair, quite literally, on to rocks 50 metres below) never cost more than GBP 80.
As retirement looms one thing I've been asked is what I'll like as a retirement present. I thought first about what I didn't want (watch, clock etc) and then thought what about a decent pair of binoculars. So, I have a budget apparently of around GBP400 to spend on this purchase.
I have to confess ro being something of a recent lurker before joining this forum. I've read through a number of threads on specific binoculars, enjoyed a lot of the discussion and, I guess to no-one's surprise, remain undecided about which pair to request.
Things that are important to me are good image quality and the ability to focus as sharply as possible on the subject matter. The subject matter for me, living by the sea, tends to be shore birds, sea birds, passing boats of varying sizes and the occassional overhead aircraft. Maybe one day my interests will develop, but for now, pleasure is a stroll on a beach.
Having considered things myself, but not really having access to facilities where I can try binoculars out for myself readily, I have narrowed my choices (rightly or wrongly) down to a handful that fit into the funds available to me. My current list is:
- Bushnell 10x42 Legend Ultra HD (Sourced readily in the UK)
- Hawke Panorama 10x42 ED (UK company still selling this discontinued model - has it now resurfaced as the Athlon Cronus)
- Hawke Sapphire ED 10x42 (Sourced readily in the UK)
- Kowa Binoculars BD42 XD 10x42 (Sourced readily in the UK)
- Meopta MeoPro 10x42 HD ( This can be sourced from a number of German outlets within budget)
- Omegon Ultra HD 10x42 (available from Germany, well within my budget but from what I can make out is the same binocular as rather expensive (almost twice the price) Ostara Diamond ED Binoculars)
- Vanguard Endeavor II 10x45 ED (Sourced readily in the UK)
- William Optics Semi-Apo 10x42 ((available from Germany, appears to be a lower specifified version of the Omegon)
- Zeiss Terra 10x42 ED (I've used a Zeiss microscope for all my career, but have seen mixed reviews of their Terra range though)
I know this is not an exhausive list. What I'm trying to avoid though is having to import some brand that is not on sale on this side of the pond. I've had bad expeiences in the past when importing materials for work...excessive shipping costs, delays with customs, hefty customs duties and the dreaded VAT all can push the price up so that what seems a bargain no longer is that.
I'd really like to solicit some input from members of this forum as to which model they would go for if in my situation. I'm hoping it will help. In the meantime I'll try to get hold of some of the above, but I am guessing that against my current 7dayshop 10x42 all will appear fairly awesome!
I realise that similar requests have been made before. I have tried to do some homework beforehand but find that the more I look and read, the less I seem to understand. As this will be a rather special gift I'd like to be assured that I've given my final choice full consideration. Any thoughts would really be appreciated.
Thanks
James