Eyeskey Binoculars (1 Viewer)

[Londoner85]

Hi,

Does anyone have experience with Eyeskey Binoculars?
I've been shopping around for my first pair and found these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eyeskey-W...802697?hash=item3cee584f89:g:nP4AAOSw0vBUiWYj

I almost bought some other cheap ones before reading that they should be avoided, but the limited information I've found on-line about Eyeskey appears to be positive - I'm just not confident enough in those sources.

I'm on a tight budget and completely new to Birding - I just recently visited the London WWT Wetland Centre and enjoyed it so much I got a membership, now I realise I'm going to need some bins too!

 

[LesR]

Hi Londoner, I have never heard of the make and would not be buying those from Ebay, they are shipped from China so any problems and you have to pay the shipping back to China. You might be better off paying a little more for something like the Barr & Stroud 8x32 Sierra. I actually owned some when I first started birding, before upgrading.They are phase coated, long eye relief, which is useful if you wear glasses, they have a 129m field of view, waterproof down to 1.5m and close focus to 2m, which is great for bugs and butterfly. They are guaranteed for 10 years. Below are a couple of links to uk sellers and a review site.

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/barr-stroud-sierra-roof-prism-8x32-binocular-p-7052.html

http://www.365astronomy.com/Barr-an...nocular.html?gclid=CKeY48CKns4CFYgK0wodyLcFJg

http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Barr & Stroud8x32Sierra-52.htm

http://www.safari-guide.co.uk/barr-stroud-sierra-8x32-binoculars/

Hope this helps

Les

 

[Londoner85]

Ok, thanks for your advice. I'll see what I can do with my budget.

Maybe hold off for a bit.

 

[mathare]

I got started at London WWT with some Barr & Stroud 8x42s that served me well enough. If you're on a tight budget I would actually recommend the same pair:

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/barr-st...tching-kit-for-dummies-binocular-p-10709.html

Personally I'm not a fan of the small (sub-40mm) bins. It depends on whether you want to use them for birding and more distance viewing or bugs & butterflies too. The bins I linked to with their 4m close focus won't do insects so well.

How tight is your budget? Given the bins you mentioned I assume £50 is about it - which is fine. You can get decent enough bins for that.

 

[LesR]

Agree with Mathare, but the Skyline do lack phase coating, so the image will have lower contrast and resolution.
http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/phase-correction-in-binoculars-04/

 

[Londoner85]

Agree with Mathare, but the Skyline do lack phase coating, so the image will have lower contrast and resolution.
http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/phase-correction-in-binoculars-04/

Great thanks again.

Following that link I searched for the 'cheap' recommended bins, and whilst not the phase corrected roof prism they mention I found these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hawke-NatureTrek-Porro-Prism Binoculars-Green/dp/B004SNSS5Y/ref=sr_1_18

That site explains that porro prisms don't need the phase correction, and I can stretch the budget up to £61 fine.. Is there anything wrong with those?

 

[Ratal]

I have a pair of those I lend out. Nice image, bright, lovely colours.

 

[LesR]

Hawke seem to have a good reputation for customer service and being porro prism they will be brighter than roof prism of similar price. The only downside is they have a little longer close focus at 5 metres, but in saying that, the only porros I have are the Leupold 6x30 Yosemite and have about the same focus distance which I find ok.
The price you have found is certainly the best on the net for the Hawkes and should serve you ok as a first pair, and if you don't like them they can be returned easily enough.

 

[Londoner85]

After purchasing those Hawke binoculars I've actually been sent Bushnell NatureView Plus 8x42 porro prism bins instead.

They retail for more so I intend to contact the seller (it's a seller though Amazon), but I'm not sure whether I'd be happy to keep them - I've looked for reviews but can only find Bushnell NatureView 8x42 roof bins (pretty well reviewed).

Does anyone have any knowledge of these?