Best binoculars for up to £350 (2 Viewers)

[frootz]

Hello,

Another 'what should I buy' question (sorry!). I do most of my bird / wildlife watching at reserves rather than in the garden but still think 8x42 is probably the best to go for.

I've been looking at a couple of binoculars in the £350 and below price range:

Hawke Frontier ED 8x42
RSPB 8x42 BG PC

I've read a bit about both of them. And will try before buying. But in the meantime does anyone have any strong opinions on the best value for money and why?

Many thanks in advance

Emma

 

[Torview]

If you can live with the "less wide" fov check out the Opticron HR WP, its head and shoulders above peer roof`s IMO.

Honestly if the sharpest, brightest image is your goal I reckon you`ll have to spend over £1k to better it in a roof prism. IMO.

 

[typo]

Emma,

I saw in your other thread that you've managed to try a few pairs. Hopefully you're starting to develop your're own set of priorities for what suits you. Sharpness, field flatness, field of view, colour balance, CA, size, weight and so on. There probably isn't a pair at any price that will tick every box, and in your price range there may be a few compromises, but never the less there are some very good pairs to choose from.

Some of the ones that are worth tracking down IMO. The Hawke Frontier ED had a wide view and very low CA, but the size, weight, and field flattener may not suite everyone. The Opticron HR WP that Torview mentioned, is one of the sharpest, highest contrast pairs around, but it has a narrow FOV and is relatively big. The Nikon Monarch is light and bright, but there is a fair amount of CA and stray light issues. The Opticron Countryman HD, is sharp with good contrast, but has more field curvature than some. InFocus's Delta SL-3 may not hit the highs of some of the others but has few weaknesses as well and might suite smaller hands.

I don't think I've tried that RSPB model. The FOV looks a bit modest, but on the plus side, it's pretty light.

Good luck,

David

 

[frootz]

Thank you both so much for the replies. I will have a look at the specs for the suggested binoculars and try and find somewhere to try them out.

David, I must admit I am a little concerned about the weight of the Hawke Frontiers. The current 7x35 porro pair I'm using are around 700g and I find them heavy at times! As you say I will have to work out the best compromise for me. I'm now starting to think I would prefer a lighter pair even if the view isn't as great as the Frontier ED pair.

Will post a review when I finally get a pair. I promise the budget isn't going up anymore!!

 

[DadraFromFrance]

Thank you both so much for the replies. I will have a look at the specs for the suggested binoculars and try and find somewhere to try them out.

David, I must admit I am a little concerned about the weight of the Hawke Frontiers. The current 7x35 porro pair I'm using are around 700g and I find them heavy at times! As you say I will have to work out the best compromise for me. I'm now starting to think I would prefer a lighter pair even if the view isn't as great as the Frontier ED pair.

Will post a review when I finally get a pair. I promise the budget isn't going up anymore!!

And the Hawke Frontier ED 8X36 ? Weigt : 700g.
I own the Frontier ED 10x43 and the weight is not a problem for me because the hand-on is great but for trekking...
(You can find a Frontier ED 8X43 used for less than 350£ - at-infocus.co ...)

 

[frootz]

Thank you - I've enquired about the S/H pair at In Focus and they sold earlier this week!.

I think I do need to try out the Hawke Frontiers before I discount them due to the weight. I will try out the RSPB ones too, but I am definately concerned about the FOV! The Countryman HD are interesting too.

Hopefully, if I find a couple of places with these in stock to try them all will become clearer in the end!!

 

[Veracocha]

Sherwoods are doing the 8 x 36 for £210. Used MKII's are going for around £220 which represents outstanding value.

 

[bh46118]

I'm not so damn sure you can buy sharper or brighter at any price. You'll play hell to get anybody to listen though, I've tried and got nowhere.

If you can live with the "less wide" fov check out the Opticron HR WP, its head and shoulders above peer roof`s IMO.

Honestly if the sharpest, brightest image is your goal I reckon you`ll have to spend over £1k to better it in a roof prism. IMO.

 

[frootz]

Thanks for the reply. I've had a look at the spec for the Opticron HR WP and it is the weight / bulk and narrow FOV that is putting me off a bit not the fact they are porros or anything.

It is the whole package I'm thinking about. The narrow FOV does concern me as I do most of my bird watching at reserves.

Here's another question if anyone has the time! What do you think is the least FOV that you would consider for birdwatching?

 

[typo]

Emma,

I guess pretty much everyone here would prefer wider viewed pairs. However, not everyone likes the consequences. Some of the old porros claimed 9* or even 10*, but the ER was so short you'd need to shave your eyelashes. Many of the modern wider view pairs include a proportion of the view that is fuzzy, or use an aspheric lens that produces a magnification distortion, sometimes both. Many are content with those compromises, but it's not for everyone. You would need to make up your own mind.

Arguably the best wide view design out there is the Nikon 8x30 EII (>70* AFOF), but the ER is quite short, it's not waterproof and it's not a flat field design, but for <£400 it might be worth considering. Though I have wider view pairs, I'm content with a 53* AFOV bino for everyday use, because I like the other characteristics of the pair. That HRWP is 51* AFOV, but what view there is, is very good indeed.

David

 

[frootz]

Thanks again that's really helpful. I didn't now about AFOV before you mentioned it so will put this into my calculations! I think as I don't do any garden viewing the FOV is important.

However, hopefully wherever I try the binoculars out over the weekend will have the porros in too so I can at compare it with the others I'm thinking about.

 

[FrankD]

Emma,

I strongly recommend you try the Opticron Countryman HD but in the 8x32 configuration. I had the opportunity to recently try it at a birding festival and walked away more impressed with it than all but one other bin at the show (and that model cost well over 4x as much!)

It is reasonably lightweight with a wide 8 degree (420 foot) field of view. The size of the sweet spot was also excellent. I would rate it at 90% or better. Eye relief appeared very good as well.

I would have no problem using this model as my full time bin for a variety of applications.

 

[dipped]

Hello,

Another 'what should I buy' question (sorry!). I do most of my bird / wildlife watching at reserves rather than in the garden but still think 8x42 is probably the best to go for.

I've been looking at a couple of binoculars in the £350 and below price range:

Emma

Are you prepared to think out of the box? Would you protect your bins in the rain?

To see the most detail in your price range hand-held the Canon Image stabilised 10x30's would fit the bill. I would urge you to try these if possible and see what you think. Nice and light too even with batteries.

 

[RE Birder]

Second hand pair of Zeiss Conquest 8x30... Superb

 

[frootz]

Many thanks for the advice everyone it has been really helpful. I think I now have my final list of binoculars to try over the weekend now!

Hawke Frontiers ED 8x43
Opticron Countryman HD 8x42 and 8x32
Opticron WR HR 8x42
RSPB BG PC 8x42

 

[frootz]

Decision nearly made

I tried a few on Saturday although unfortunately I didn't manage to find an Opticron Countryman to try - I tried the Veranos.

I really liked the view through the Hawke Frontier EDs 8x43s and didn't seem to notice the weight at all which really surprised me! The compacts (because the weight is more compact in distribution felt much heavier in the hands).

So final decisions to make will be whether I go for the MKII 8x43s or compromise a bit and go for the MKI 8x36s and whether I choose green or black!!

Many thanks to everyone for your input it has been really helpful in making the decision.

 

[Chris Galvin]

Emma,

As you live in Nottingham you should visit Attenborough Nature Reserve. They sell the widest range of Opticron in your area. I know that they are selling the Imagic BGA SE 8x32 at £299 (SRP) £429

There is also a chance to try before you buy this coming Friday when I will be present with the full range of Opticron on site

Chris Galvin
Opticron

 

[Boogieshrew]

Viking ED 8x42s are available for £299 from Viking. Down from £499 due to introduction of their ED Pro range I think.

 

[rosbifs]

are the rspb model just opticron?
they used to make the delta series for the rspb?

i had some for years although they were more than 350pounds. they were great....

 

[chirundu]

A good list so far, but when it comes to value for money around this price range, I would also consider adding the following to your list:

• Vanguard Endeavor ED - 8.5x45 is about £300 and that excludes a £40 cash-back offer they have on at the moment
  
• Celestron Granite - The 8x42 version is just over £300
  
• Minox BL 8x33 BR - for something a little more compact, these excellent bins are usually cost around £390, but they have a £50 Cashback offer which I have seen being advertised on WEX and which pretty much brings them into range of your budget

I have fully tested and reviewed each of those listed above and thought they were all well above average in most departments for a bin in this class.