JABB Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 Starting to take up walking and we have some wonderful hills and valleys here in the Cotswolds. I thought I may buy a pair of binoculars to walk with.General purpose. Can anyone recommend a magnification suitable to the walker / hiker please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 8X i have a pair of compacts baush and lomb, had them for over 20 years now. great quality. last christmas i got the wife a pair of pentax papilio these are great if you like looking at buds on trees or close up of insects and stuff but also a great pair for distance work to.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-6-5x21-Close-Papilio-Binoculars/dp/B0007TSYCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2sledge Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 i use bushnell zoom for the mony very good plus you have the zoom as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpentermark Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) Leupold yosemite 8x30 waterproof and come with lifetime guarantee..... Perfect! Edited March 12, 2014 by carpentermark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 I rate 8x42's myself. Any less and they aren't worth carrying around I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Starting to take up walking and we have some wonderful hills and valleys here in the Cotswolds. I thought I may buy a pair of binoculars to walk with. General purpose. Can anyone recommend a magnification suitable to the walker / hiker please? Its more lens quality than mag level to be fair. With good glass and 7x is enough to tell a rabbit from a hare at 1000 yards, with rubbish you might struggle at 2-300 yards no matter if you were into double figures. Compact set about 30 mm objectives and fixed mag no more than 8x should do fine from one of the leading makers if it fits your budget. 7x50 or the likes will tire you too much and give you neck ache Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOLDCREST Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Get yourself a good pair secondhand....Just check they haven't been abused and the prisms are aligned properly, otherwise you're talking serious eye strain...even new ones have prism alignment problems sometimes...just try them before you buy... I have a cracking pair of old German Optolyths I bought years ago for £40...will never part with them...Brilliant Glasses. Don't go over 10x magnification or you'll never hold them steady. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedster Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 (edited) Get the 8x42 waterproofs from these guys.... http://www.strathspey.co.uk/ Edited April 8, 2014 by tedster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 For walking and hiking get yourself a pair of compacts. No need to spend a lot of money 8x30 rubber coated would be the ideal combination of magnification and objective lens diameter and have a reasonable field of view. Not to heavy either. My recommendation would be a pair of Opticron Savannah 8 x30 Porro prism binoculars. http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/savanna_wp.html Not too expensive and a good all rounder. Opticron glass optics are excellent value for money and as good as any in this price range. Beware of the cheaper bins that sellers say perform as well as models costing ten times as much.....they don't! Pick some up and handle them, when you view through them make sure the image is crisp and focused right up to the outside perimeter of the lens. Poor quality lens systems will be slightly out of focus and blurred at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy.plinker Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 I take waterproof bushnell 8x25's out with me,nice n light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted May 22, 2014 Report Share Posted May 22, 2014 I'd go for 8x42 . You'll get a decent pair for about £100, not too powerful or heavy. I bought a pair of Visionary on line a few years ago in 8 x 42 for £80 and I can't fault them and use them for stalking all the time. The only ones I'd swap them for would be Swarovski if I had £1000 - £2000 burning a hole in my pocket! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 7 x 42 s Dont buy cheap as they are rubbish , go for quality........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 What's your budget? 8x42 are the optimum size for birding and general use. Top of the range are Leica, Zeiss & Swarovski. Middle but good are Steiner, Opticron, Nikon etc. Make sure you buy rubber coated and waterproof. The same maker will produce a low price range and a high price range. Go for the best you can afford and they will last you a lifetime. Don't go for any zoom type the lens will be inferior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Have a look at the vortex range, there scopes and binoculars have very good reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martindd Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/ex_demo/ex_demo_optics.htm Worth a look here ex-display generally half priceprice, I've bought a nice pair of Opticron from these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/ex_demo/ex_demo_optics.htm Worth a look here ex-display generally half priceprice, I've bought a nice pair of Opticron from these. Good call, I bought mine from there and are not too far from JABB. I was blown away by some optics..... I went on a dull day and looked into the shadows below the trees behind Sherwoods. I also bought ex demo but Minox HD's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JABB Posted May 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Good call, I bought mine from there and are not too far from JABB. I was blown away by some optics..... I went on a dull day and looked into the shadows below the trees behind Sherwoods. I also bought ex demo but Minox HD's http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/ex_demo/ex_demo_optics.htm Worth a look here ex-display generally half priceprice, I've bought a nice pair of Opticron from these. Thanks guys. They are not too far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.