Lighweight, low priced Pentax - best choice? (1 Viewer)

[michalb]

Hello all,
As can be guessed from the title of the thread, I'm considering buying Pentax binoculars and I need some help of experienced bino users among birdwatchers

The requirements and constraints:

- The most important thing - lightweight and compact. I want to have a pair of binoculars I will be taking on every trip, be it hiking, canoeing, walk, anything. For any vacation I usually have my backpack almost totally filled, so it has to be able to be squeezed somewhere Therefore, no heavy or big equipment.

- Magnification is rather implied by the previous requirement I guess, no more than 8x probably. I want to use it mainly to watch birds, but I don't really do any typical birding trips, rather general hiking and nature walks etc. But it would be nice to be able to recognize this duck a few hundred meters away on the lake

- As it is to be an equipment for travelling, camping and so on, it would be good if it wasn't too fragile. Not necessarily fully waterproof, but weather-proof maybe? (the construction quality being one of the best points of Pentax cameras)

- Last but not least - budget isn't too big. Up to 100-120 GBP, in a well justified case maybe just a bit more. Preferably around 100

Are Papilio the only choice or do you have other ideas? DCF-NV 8x36? (though a bit over my budget at 135 GBP currently at Amazon...)

Thanks for any input!

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Michalp,
How about a second hand 6x30 military binocular with separate eyepiece focussing? Very strong, good optical quality and generally with a strong case. The Pentax Papilio is small and light, but certainly not a strong binocular suited for camping and hiking trips.
Gijs

 

[ceasar]

Michalb,

I have owned a Pentax 9 x 28 DCF LV for a number of years. It has served me well. I gave it to my son to use when he was in Chile for 7 months in 2011. He did not baby it at all. He trekked and backpacked throughout the Andes in Chile, Peru and Bolivia with it and he even dropped it into Lake Titicaca. It survived and I now use it as my car binocular. It stays in the car day and night now and it still works fine. It has long comfortable eye relief and is very easy to use. It weighs 13 ounces and will fit into a large shirt pocket. If you look around you should be able get one for under $200.00 US funds.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/pentax.pl?page=pentax62599

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/pentax/pentax-dcf-lv-9x28-roof-prism-binocular

Bob

PS: My wife likes it too. She wears glasses and it works well with them and it fits unobtrusively in her hand bag.

 

[Binastro]

Michalb,
Have you tried a Russian 8 x 30 Baigish? porroprism or earlier about 1988.
They vary, but they are tough, work at minus 40C and should be plentiful where you are and possibly low price.
There must be many even at car boot fairs.
Choose a multicoated one.
At least try one.

Also the 7 x 35 Russian Foton roof prism is very nice.

Make sure they are clean internally and perfect optics.
You can probably get them new.

The export versions are usually better of both of these, but choose a good one.

 

[typo]

Michalb,

I don't know the Pentax NV 8x36, and I can't find any reference to phase coating so I would be rather cautious about that one. It's also the same size and weight as many 8x42s.

My first suggestion is have a chat with these guys and see if there is a deal to done on the Zen Ray ZRS HD.
http://en.lanius-books.com/en/sklepprodukt,viewSzczegoly,5,zen-ray-zrs-hd-8x42.html
There are many positive comments on the forum. It has phase coating and about the same weight as the Pentax NV.

The Pentax LV 9x28 that Ceasar suggests is a very nice travelling pair, but I can't find it anywhere close to your budget.

You might also consider reverse porros like the Nikon Travelite EX 8x25. These do not need phase coating, are waterproof, and though not particularly compact, are a lot lighter than the full sized pairs. Obviously their low light performance can't match the big ones, Optically they are pretty good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FFP1...&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B000FFP14K

Non-waterproof, but smaller, lighter and cheaper is the Olympus Tracker PCI 8x25. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-8x2...G33J/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354202870&sr=8-1
I actually prefer the view to the Nikon.

I'd love a PZO 7x45 porro, but at 1.2kg not a great choice for hiking.

Good luck,

David

PS. I rather like the Opticron Discovery 8x32. A brand very well known and respected in the UK with a good reputation for customer support.
http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/opticron_binoculars/opticron_binoculars_field.htm

PPS. I know nothing about the Delta brand but the Sport 8x32 might be worth considering.
http://www.optyczne.pl/179-Test_lornetki-Delta_Optical_Sport_8x32.html

 

[michalb]

Thanks for all replies, very valuable!

I think I might have underlined the requirement for a solid construction too much. It would be nice as it's meant to be used in different conditions, but a small size and low weight are much much more important factors for me in this case.

This 9x28 looks very good, but is a bit too expensive I'm afraid... I see they are cheaper on American Amazon, but not available for shipping outside the U.S.

I will consider other recommendations as well. Foton looks interesting. I have one pair of Russian binos which I like very much, but they are a 15x50, so not exactly well suited for travelling And the Polish distributor of Delta is located just a few hundred meters from the place I work in, maybe worth paying them a visit.

And returning to Papilio (that extra value of being able to look into the insect world is very intriguing), is its 'plasticity' the only drawback with regard to my requirements?

Once again thanks, I appreciate all comments and recommendations! And waiting for more

 

[ceasar]

Can you get these low priced Bushnell reverse porro prisms in Europe?

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/bushnell/bushnell-legend-ultra-hd-8x26-porro-prism-binocular

Bob

 

[michalb]

Can you get these low priced Bushnell reverse porro prisms in Europe?

I can, but it seems that for more than twice the price from your link, at least on British Amazon. But yeah, 100$ is not a high price and they look nice.

 

[litebeam]

Wife and I are huge Pentax fans.
The Pentax 10X43 DCF SP are fabulous glass.
I bought my wife a new pair of demos in 2009 from Cameraland and they have been stellar.
We recently sent them in to Pentax due to an unfortunate drop onto hard tile, the eyecup was broken. Pentax not only fixed the eyecups (both) but they replaced the ocular lenses! All free of charge.

I just purchased an as-new pair of Pentax 10X50 DCF EDs, they are enroute. I can't wait to compare to my ultravid 10X42s. I have a feeling the Pentax will shine.

Keep an eye out on ebay for the DCF SPs used.--$300 is not uncommon.

 

[Tvc15_2000]

My girlfriend has a pair of 8x43 DCF ED Binoculars and they compare very favorable with the Leica HD Ultravid. I have compared them many times over several years and still feel the same. The 10X50 is tempting for owling. And other low light situations.

The construction, quality control, and warranty on the Pentax DCF ED are excellent. Good construction and quality control is something that seems to be lacking on some other middle/upper tier ED glass binoculars. Pentax delivers very good performance for the money.

Have fun!

 

[DCC74]

I have both DCF WP and SP, both in 8x32 configuration. For the money, these are hard to beat. Everything-proof, lightweight, small, and very good optically. Pentax has a good warranty, too. I think I paid $350-ish for the SP, and less for the WP. The SP is a newer model than the WP, and has better features such as obj. covers and twist-up eyecups.

 

[litebeam]

I have both DCF WP and SP, both in 8x32 configuration. For the money, these are hard to beat. Everything-proof, lightweight, small, and very good optically. Pentax has a good warranty, too. I think I paid $350-ish for the SP, and less for the WP. The SP is a newer model than the WP, and has better features such as obj. covers and twist-up eyecups.

Yep great price,
I paid $379 for Renee's 10X43 sp's.
The as-new 10X50 ed's I just picked up were $ 580 shipped, roughly half price.
I'm anxious to handle them.
Tvc, I expect to be posting something quite similar to your insights...time will tell.