monocular magnification (2 Viewers)

[c-dub]

I am looking for some advice on selecting a monocular. Its most immediate use will be on a camping trip in Mongolia next year, where I intend to use it for wildlife spotting (often over very long distances) and as a route-finding aid while travelling in undeveloped areas. After the trip, it will see very general use: everything from casual birdwatching to inspecting building facades. I have opted for a monocular over binoculars because of portability, but the lower cost and increased durability are also attractive. It must be waterproof, and I’d like to pay less than $80. I wear eyeglasses.

My main question is what magnification would be best for my uses. I have tentatively narrowed my choices to two 25mm Vortex models: the Solo 8x25 (378 feet/1000 yards field-of-view) and the Solo 10x25 (315 feet/1000 yards). All things being equal, of course, I’d like to have the additional magnification, but it would come at the expense of field-of-view and stability. I have a steady hand, so stability is perhaps not as critical as it might be.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks for your help!

 

[ceasar]

They are harder to hold steady than small binoculars of the same formats would be. I find you have to hold them so your forefinger is braced against your forehead to steady them. Then you have to figure out a way to focus them. I use the opposite hand to do this. Since you wear glasses you might be able to get support from them if they have a sturdy frame so make sure the eye cups on the binocular won't scratch your lenses.

I would suggest that you consider the 8x over the 10x because of the greater depth of field it will have, especially on close objects under 70' or so from you. Your focusing won't be as critical with the 8x. Their wider field of view will also be handier too. And it will also be marginally brighter in low light conditions because of it's slightly larger exit pupil.

If you can put together a few more dollars you might find this Vortex 8 x 36 more useful. Check out the customer review on it. It also has a wide field of view. And it will be much brighter. And since you wear glasses it has better eye relief than the 8 x 25. 18mm to 10mm for the older model (Not recommended for you) and 15mm for the 2009 newer model.

http://www.eagleoptics.com/monoculars/vortex/vortex-solo-8x36-monocular?tab=customer_reviews#tabs

Bob

 

[etudiant]

Hi c-dub, welcome to Bird Forum!
There is a big difference in portability between an 8x20 and an 8 or 10x25 monocular. The small 20mm unit is compact enough for any pocket, the bigger one less so.
Monoculars are more difficult to use than standard binoculars and are much more of a specialty item, so they are disproportionately expensive, irrationally so at least imo.
I've had terrible luck with monoculars other than the alpha brands, less than satisfactory optics, whether for field of view, eye relief or image quality. Given your budget, I think you would be much better served by a small 6x30 or 7x35 Leupold Yosemite or Nikon Action Extreme binocular, even at the sacrifice of compactness..

 

[ceasar]

Despite what I wrote above (I was confining my remarks to your restrictions) I agree with Etudiant. It will be hard to find a decent binocular with your size restrictions in your price range.

It looks like you are going to take what many people would consider the trip of a lifetime. At the risk of seeming presumptuous I don't think it is a good idea to take an inexpensive hard to use optic with you.

There is one that I would recommend that should meet most of your specifications and you will be able to use it for years but it will cost a bit more than $200.00. I have one. It isn't the greatest small binocular in the world but it is good! My son, who is an exchange student in Chile, is using it now, and my wife likes it so much that she considers it "her" binocular.

It is the Pentax 9 x 28 DCF LV. It weighs 13 Oz., is waterproof, has long eye relief, fits into a large shirt pocket or regular jacket pocket, and is tough.

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

Check it out. Eagle Optics is in Wisconsin I think. Read the 4 reviews. None of which are by me!

Bob

 

[c-dub]

Wow, thanks for all the great information! I really appreciate hearing from people with more expertise.

Your explanations of the limitations of monoculars are well-received – I’ve come across similar concerns in the little bit of research that I’ve done, and they make perfect sense. I am, however, extremely concerned about the size and weight of any optics I take. I will be either on foot or horseback for most of the trip, and unfortunately, optics rank below a lot of other equipment that I have to carry: camping and cooking gear, fuel, food, water, clothing, GPS, photography equipment, solar recharging, etc. I am literally weighing every item that goes into my pack, down to the ounce.

The binoculars mentioned above weigh between 2 and 4 times as much as the monoculars, and take up at least twice as much pack space. I understand that the additional load comes with significant benefits, but I have to make some compromises to keep from overloading myself. Right now, I feel like I have two options: taking a monocular, or taking no optics at all: that’s what I’ve chosen to do on similar trips in the past, so I already consider the monocular a bit of a luxury.

As far as binoculars go, I think the Pentax DCF LV 9x28’s that Bob recommended are as close to ideal as I’ve seen. (A small point, but I do wish they were a dual-hinge design, so they would at least fold down a bit more.) I’ll consider them as I figure out the rest of my gear – maybe I’ll find some weight and space savings elsewhere. Any other recommendations for either monoculars or binoculars would be very appreciated.

 

[ceasar]

Double hinged small binoculars almost all have short eye relief. Here is one with a very wide field of view though. It isn't phase coated but is waterproof and inexpensive.

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/nikon/nikon-trailblazer-8x25-atb-binocular

Bob

 

[mooreorless]

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/monoculars/monohd8x42.html

 

[ceasar]

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/monoculars/monohd8x42.html

Nice one and probably good too, but it is going to be big. I have an Orion 10 x 42 and it is a hand full. It has a tripod adapter attached to it.

Bob

 

[c-dub]

The Zen-Ray looks like a very impressive bit of gear. It's about an inch longer than the Vortex, and a few ounces heavier, and only a bit more expensive. If I'm willing to go that far, though, I suspect I might be better off with the Pentax 9x28's, and all the benefits of binoculars.

This decision isn't getting any easier. Maybe I should take one of each.

 

[swalker]

The Zen-Ray looks like a very impressive bit of gear. It's about an inch longer than the Vortex, and a few ounces heavier, and only a bit more expensive. If I'm willing to go that far, though, I suspect I might be better off with the Pentax 9x28's, and all the benefits of binoculars.

This decision isn't getting any easier. Maybe I should take one of each.

If you are thinking of a binocular try the Olympus Tracker 8x25 only 10 oz and $70 at Amazon.

 

[etudiant]

The little Zeiss Conquest 8x20 folds double and is probably the smallest of the 8x20s. It is essentially the modernized Classic 8x20, which has been in production since the 50s. With luck, you should be able to find one used on Ebay or at some of the sites like AstroMart for close to your budget. The glass is waterproof and has fold down eye cups for the specs wearers. It is rubberized and is good for travel.

 

[Kammerdiner]

For about the same weight as the Pentax, you might try the Nikon 8x25 Prostaff, but I'd stay away from the 10x Prostaff, maybe. Its narrow field of view feels a bit like a tunnel. The Pentax is a bit narrow, too, but more acceptable. I've tried all and liked them. They all had enough eye relief for my glasses. The Nikon 8x25 is also cheaper than the Pentax ($90-100 v. $180+). In the case, all three are about the same bulk. There are more compact binoculars than these, but in my experience they are generally either lousy, not waterproof, or way out of your price range. If you can live without waterproofing look at the Olympus 8x25 Tracker reverse porro. It's a gem, 10oz in the case, much smaller than the above models, and very inexpensive. Maybe not as rugged as the above, but with a little care I regularly use them for backpacking. Two weeks in the Sierras this summer without a hitch.

As a backpacker who weighs things down to the gram sometimes, I'd still recommend binoculars over a monocular for all the aforesaid reasons. If monoculars are hard to hold steady as is, I can tell you it won't get any easier on a horse or while you're hiking.

Of course, it does depend upon how much you think you'll need/use them. The less you'll use them, the less you should think about upgrading in terms of weight/size. If they'll be around your neck all day, get something that's worth looking through. If you'll use them for a quick look every other day, then maybe save the weight/bulk and go for a monocular.

Mark

 

[Wolf Beam]

I think you will see more detail with a 6x monocular compared to 8x, especially while on a horseback or walking! Opticron 6x16 could be an option, really small and only 2 ounces. I have one and is really happy with it. Last summer I wanted to upgrade, however. I did side by side comparision with the much more expensive Zeiss 6x18. Could not see more detail with the Zeiss so I decided not to buy it.

Like others have said, you will be able to see more with a bino, due to a steadier view. Pentax Papilio 6,5x20 should be an excellent option while riding and walking.

Many people do the misstake of going for most power possible.

Wolf

 

[c-dub]

Thanks to everyone for all the great recommendations! I really appreciate everyone’s time and generosity.

I think Mark/Kammerdiner makes a good point, and one that I should have made up-front: I think the choice depends largely on how much I’ll use the optics on the trip. I don’t see myself using them a lot, but I’ve never travelled with optics before, so maybe I’ll surprise myself and use them constantly; I’m not sure. I do know, however, that I’ve rarely (if ever) found myself wishing I had optics on other trips. The reason I’m considering them now is because of the vast, open distances on the Mongolian steppe. I can imagine they would be useful – not really for observation, per se, but for spotting things I want to approach more closely.

One question I have about stability: a few people have mentioned the benefit of lower magnification while walking. Do people really use binoculars WHILE walking? I can’t imagine that would be comfortable, or even safe: don’t people generally stop walking while making an observation? I think the point is still valid while on horseback, but it seems like an odd concern otherwise.

Having said that, the 8x25 monocular still seems like a viable compromise to me, but it’s good to know that there are some decent binoculars that approach the same size and weight. I’ll spend the next few months seeing how many of your recommendations I can try in local shops. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Wolf Beam]

You are right about that people most often don't literally walk while using binos. However, when you are walking in mountainous areas, perhaps with a backpack, you are likely a bit tired (at least I am), so when you stop to look at an object, lower power will be beneficial in order to reduce shake. therefore I prefer my 6,5x binos before my 8x ones while walking.

 

[c-dub]

Ah! That makes perfect sense. Thanks, Wolf.

 

[Dennis Mau]

I am looking for some advice on selecting a monocular. Its most immediate use will be on a camping trip in Mongolia next year, where I intend to use it for wildlife spotting (often over very long distances) and as a route-finding aid while travelling in undeveloped areas. After the trip, it will see very general use: everything from casual birdwatching to inspecting building facades. I have opted for a monocular over binoculars because of portability, but the lower cost and increased durability are also attractive. It must be waterproof, and I’d like to pay less than $80. I wear eyeglasses.

My main question is what magnification would be best for my uses. I have tentatively narrowed my choices to two 25mm Vortex models: the Solo 8x25 (378 feet/1000 yards field-of-view) and the Solo 10x25 (315 feet/1000 yards). All things being equal, of course, I’d like to have the additional magnification, but it would come at the expense of field-of-view and stability. I have a steady hand, so stability is perhaps not as critical as it might be.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks for your help!

I have had alot of monoculars and binoculars as well. Don't mess around with a 25mm aperture especially in a monocular. The best one I have had and the one I would recommend to you is this one which is the BEST I have seen.

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/monoculars/monohd8x42.html

 

[NWBirder]

how about Zen-ray ZRS HD 10x42 monocular? I have a pair of their binoculars in 10x and like it very much. Any one with experience with their 10x monocular

 

[Dennis Mau]

how about Zen-ray ZRS HD 10x42 monocular? I have a pair of their binoculars in 10x and like it very much. Any one with experience with their 10x monocular

I would think the Zen-ray ZRS HD 10x42 would perform as good as the 8x42 which is fantastic.

 

[birdazzLED]

I think if you order the Zen Ray chances are you won't return it.