best bino on budget? (1 Viewer)

[boomer92266]

I posted this in the Nikon forum by mistake as I think I need advice on all brands. I recently got into birding as it seems more types of birds are coming around my area here in Kentucky, two pair of bald eagles are within a mile or so of me and I want start watching all kinds of birds. My problem is a fixed income and not much to spend on binoculars, I only have $50 to spend and can't save more for now. What would be a good pair to get at this price? thanks for any help

 

[Binastro]

See Nikon post reply.

B.

 

[jring]

Hi,

at that budget used is pretty much a must - unless you get an already cheap (and hopefully useable) model at an extreme discount. The problem with buying used is that they might have a problem, so buying locally with the possibility to try before you buy is pretty much a must. It would help to look through a pair of working bins before to know what to expect... so maybe try a store.

Even if you had a return right for sth. bought online, with postage being what it is in the US, a non-trivial part of budget will be spent for that.

So maybe post a few links of locally available used offers and we will comment...

Also an important question - do you wear glasses for distant viewing and if yes, what is your prescription - just spherical (and not too different between the eyes) or cylinder and/or prism too?

Joachim

 

[boomer92266]

Hi,

at that budget used is pretty much a must - unless you get an already cheap (and hopefully useable) model at an extreme discount. The problem with buying used is that they might have a problem, so buying locally with the possibility to try before you buy is pretty much a must. It would help to look through a pair of working bins before to know what to expect... so maybe try a store.

Even if you had a return right for sth. bought online, with postage being what it is in the US, a non-trivial part of budget will be spent for that.

So maybe post a few links of locally available used offers and we will comment...

Also an important question - do you wear glasses for distant viewing and if yes, what is your prescription - just spherical (and not too different between the eyes) or cylinder and/or prism too?

Joachim

No glasses for distance, just need reading glasses.

 

[elkcub]

I posted this in the Nikon forum by mistake as I think I need advice on all brands. I recently got into birding as it seems more types of birds are coming around my area here in Kentucky, two pair of bald eagles are within a mile or so of me and I want start watching all kinds of birds. My problem is a fixed income and not much to spend on binoculars, I only have $50 to spend and can't save more for now. What would be a good pair to get at this price? thanks for any help

If you could scrape together a little more, I'd strongly recommend the 8.5x32 Kingbird binoculars currently selling on eBay. You could probably make an offer of $75 and get a pair. Vortex is a reputable manufacturer that made the binoculars for Eagle Optics, which is regrettably no longer in business. I own a pair of 6.5x32, ... and it's very good.
Ed

 

[jring]

Hi,

while the Kingfishers are an ok option (my main gripe with them in the not too wide field of 390ft/1000yd which is barely acceptable for an 8x30 pair), there remains the question of shipping charges - ebay shows me a whopping $65 and change for USPS Priority, but that is of course for Germany...

I would probably take my chances on a refurb Nikon Aculon 8x42 from bhphotovideo at $60 plus $10 shipping to Bugtussle, KY zip 42140.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1524532-REG/nikon_8245b_8x42_aculon_a211_binocular.html

These are a well known factor and are really good value at their regular price of $90... also they have a nice wide field of 430ft/1000yd which is quite good for an 8x40 pair (which normally tends to have a narrower tfov than an 8x30 pair).

bhphotovideo also seems to have a 30d return policy for used items (which I would assume to apply here).

Joachim

 

[litesong]

Carefully study & monitor LOTS of Ebay offerings. Find an auction with few bidders. Bid to lose! It doesn’t matter if you lose. eBay has thousands of binoculars coming down the line. Possibly you can score a deal with your “bid to lose attitude“ for a less renowned binocular, but that is an excellent optic. I now have a fine Nikon Buckmaster 8X36mm roof-prism, even if it‘s only got 56deg AFOV. One Zeiss owner was married to his wonderful Zeiss bought in the 1970’s. & it was spectacular! He looked thru my Buckmasters for a while, turned to me & said, “You got a great bino!” We talked for a while, then parted. But, before we parted, he asked to look thru the Buckmasters one more time, tho there were no birds to look at. Price $18.

 

[Alcatraz Birdman]

Sometimes you get lucky. Just snatched an open box ScoopX 10x42 from the auction site for under a hundred bucks shipped.