What Magnification For Birding??? (1 Viewer)

[canonman77]

Hi, I am wanting to know what Is the best magnification for birding, Is It 8x or 10x. I currently own a pair of Zeiss 15x45 which are very good Indeed but only have a small sweet spot for focusing. I am wanting a second pair but will not be spending vast amounts, all I want Is a pair that If they get knocked around It dont really matter, so I have seen these on a very well known auction site. The Bins are by JEFF & JENNY, are either 8x42 or 10x42, are nitorgen purged, o-ring sealed, waterproof, bak-4 prism & the seller seems to sell a lot of them & the retail price for these Is £190, I can get them for £29.99 & £30 Is my limit. So what I would really like to know Is would they be ok, I know the glass wont be the same as the top binoculars, but I am manily a photographer & my money will be spent on that side of my birding. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sean.. Also If you want a better look to check them out the Item number Is 140311984010. Just so you know as well, I am NOT touting for business whatsoever, I am wanting some feedback

 

[Steve C]

I've no idea about Jeff & Jenny, but as a general rule of thumb, I recommend that as the price decreases, you should purchase the lower magnification. The less asked from an inexpensive binocular, the more chance it has to deliver.

Speaking from a strictly personal viewpoint, if I can't see with well enough at 8x then 10x probably won't be that much better. Besides which if the 8x is not enough, you have the 15x as plan B for the ID.

I would however, be sure that whichever binocular, either 8x or 10x that you buy is phase corrected.

Good luck.

 

[ceasar]

I second Steve's advice. He covers it all.
Bob

 

[Tero]

It depends.

On your other equipment, type of area you visit, size of birds. I once saw my lifer stilts with 10x. I was happy with the view, no need to go back to the car for the scope. With 8x in hand I think I might have.

 

[canonman77]

thanks guys, I mainly go to a bird reserve (wetlands), I think the 10x would be best, also could you have a look at my other thread at the bins on there & give me your opinion, I am thinking about the Avian Trekker or the Olympus Magellan Bins.

Sean.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

They look (that sort o long look with the captive objective covers) a bit like some of the United Optics bins to me. And curiously the rainguard looks like the one that comes with the Swift Eaglet 7x36.

Just a guess. Search for some other United Optics threads and a link to their web site.

And even non-phase corrected bins (at the £30 price point) can be usable too though one never knows until one looks through them.

 

[trey]

I like 10x magnification much better than 8 or 12.

8x is not the best for seeing birds flying really high or far away.

12x is kind of shaky and in situations where you only have seconds to ID a small bird in low light and you might miss your chance if you cant hold it still enough to see all the field marks.

So in conclusion I would try to buy 10x bins.

 

[canonman77]

birding bins

hi , thats what I have gone for & have decided to get the BUSHNELL LEGEND 10x42, which have brill eye relief, waterproof, fog proof & have phase coating. The best bit Is I got them for £159.00, which Is a lot cheaper than other sites I checked out (£300+ elsewhere)..

Cant wait to use them.

Regards.
Sean..

 

[Kevin Purcell]

I have the BUSHNELL LEGEND 8x42 and it's a nice mid-range bin.

A narrow FOV but if you are chasing waterbirds (rather than passerines) they should not be too bad.

 

[njlarsen]

I would like to start by saying good luck with your bins. For others that might come by later to read this thread, I would support that the 8x vs 10x debate depends on a lot of things. Personally, if I was to purchase a pair only for forest birding, I would go 8x; for waterbirds, I would prefer 10x; my personal compromize between uses is that I go with the 10x even though I do a fair bit of forest birding these days.

Niels

 

[FrankD]

as the price decreases, you should purchase the lower magnification. The less asked from an inexpensive binocular, the more chance it has to deliver.

Excellent advice...and, as Kevin stated, the 8x42 Legend is a very nice bin for the price. I don't think you will be disappointed with the 10x version.

 

[canonman77]

8x42

hello guys, The bushnell legends had to sent back, I was getting eye ache, they wouldnt focus on distant subjects & when I had finished looking through them It took a few seconds for me to get my focus. They wasnt nice at all, Ive since been told It Is probably a alignment problem or collimation.. I have since bought a pair of Opticron explorer 8x42 Instead & am currently researching the Olympus 8x42 EXWP I & Leopold cascade 10x42, both roof prism. Anyhow my explorer should be here this week, so lets see how they are..

Regards.
Sean.

 

[FrankD]

I look forward to seeing your comments as I have no experience with that model. You did mention the Leupold Cascade though. I know you said "roof" but I would strongly suggest you look at the Cascade porro as well. It beats the roof model, optically, by a fair margin.