Davyo Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 For general birdwatch what mag are the twitchers amongst us using?Seems 8x32 are generally favoured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyefor Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 I think any particular magnification is a matter of choice depending on habitat - coastal will be different to marshland will be different to woodland etc BUT all I would recommend is buy the best you can afford. I have lost money buying Bresser, Steiner and Leupold and eventually sold them all before recently doing what I should have done in the first place and bought Swarovski - and the clarity is out of this world with low light performance, exceptional. I chose 7 x 42 as a compromise between pocket sized 8 x 30 and the too heavy 10 x 50 / 56. I don't need EL HD etc and the SLC's I picked up secondhand (as new) are outstanding - plus, you'll always get most of your money back? Buy Swaro, Leica or Zeiss and you won't regret it - "the quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 (edited) Look at Bushnell nature view 8 x 42? Close focus to 15 ft too? For distance work probably scope on a tripod? Edited February 12, 2017 by old man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 (edited) Depends if you want to watch birds or count the feathers on them. If you look on the birders forums there are some good cheaper Binos that perform well above there price tag. Edited February 13, 2017 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martindd Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 I've bought 2 pairs of Opticron and I'm happy with them 8x42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 I used to have Opticron and can't find them along with my spotting scope after a couple of house moves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 I've got 8x24 for the pocket when out walking or fishing, 8x32 in the car and 8x40 in the house. The Olympus 8x24 focus down to about 7 feet which makes them ideal for watching insects or small animals without getting too close to disturb them. I also use them for fish spotting when angling. The 8x32 are old East German Zeiss that are rock solid and an ideal compromise for image quality and carrying round your neck whereas the 8x40 are brighter, but are a bit too big and heavy for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Take a look at Hawke Naturetrek. Excellent value for money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted February 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Some nice mid range priced optics on Uttings (bought quite a bit off them in the past ,Pulsar ect) Why cant they send a £50 off voucher when you need it lol. Might give them a call & do some grovelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 I think any particular magnification is a matter of choice depending on habitat - coastal will be different to marshland will be different to woodland etc BUT all I would recommend is buy the best you can afford. I have lost money buying Bresser, Steiner and Leupold and eventually sold them all before recently doing what I should have done in the first place and bought Swarovski - and the clarity is out of this world with low light performance, exceptional. I chose 7 x 42 as a compromise between pocket sized 8 x 30 and the too heavy 10 x 50 / 56. I don't need EL HD etc and the SLC's I picked up secondhand (as new) are outstanding - plus, you'll always get most of your money back? Buy Swaro, Leica or Zeiss and you won't regret it - "the quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten". Never a truer word. Iv'e wasted hundreds too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Don't discount the second hand market either. With Swaro, Zeiss and Leica, their build quality is exceptional, so you get longevity, even with a second hand pair. I picked up my Leica Trinovids second hand and they have been amazing. They're 8x32. Small enough to go into a pocket happily enough, but don't compromise on vision. They're also used in conjunction with my Zeiss spotting scope for birdwatching, so I'm never in a position to need extra magnification. Don't go beyond 12x mag but 10 might be worth a look if you're not using a scope too. For my mum's christmas present, we all chipped in and got her some Hawke Sapphires, and they are amazing. Below the Big Three, I'm not sure you'd get better quality for the money. Under a grand, I don't think there's anything better, so at £400, they're a bit of a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-QUALITY-10x42-WATER-FOG-PROOF-BINOCULARS-ROOF-PRISM-BRAND-NEW-RRP-196-/370782587872?hash=item56545d4be0:m:mO-LdLNz3o1l0RfSQXbzKMw I bought a pair of the above 5 years ago. They have been used at sea, bounced about in the pick - up and dangled from the quad. The clarity for the price is amazing! They also have a "limited lifetime warranty". Don't go above x 10 mag unless you have strong arms as the wobbling of heavy binoculars is very difficult to control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted February 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Sorted with a £35 discount on the already discounted sales price.Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 they'll do ya. good choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Minox seem to very popular with the ahem RSPB members Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Minox seem to very popular with the ahem RSPB members mmm but there's birdwatchers and birdwatchers! the levels of bird-interested people are pretty varied, but i'd guess most rspb members are somewhere down the bottom of the pile: Scientist Ornithologist birder twitcher birdwatcher bird watcher robin stroker. for anyone birdwatcher and up it's worth having a decent pair of bins. For bird watcher and below, it's not so essential and my guess is a LOT of RSPB members are in those. There's also the most loathed group: the stringer. these are they who will swear blind they've seen a golden eagle on Hampstead Heath when everyone knows it was really a buzzard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 (edited) Zeiss Conquests should be good ! Had a pair of 10x42 Bgat`s for years and they`ve been faultless. Edited February 13, 2017 by matone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted March 19, 2017 Report Share Posted March 19, 2017 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YWLJCT8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I just took delivery of a pair of these after reading the reviews. They're rather good. Very clear crisp image, feel well put together, not very heavy and not too big either. Easily the best £32 I have ever spent on optics. The actual make is "VisionKing". They come with attached lens caps top & bottom, a strap and a zipped bag with shoulder strap. They're well armoured and feel robust, nothing rattles. I didn't want to spend a lot on general purpose binoculars which will be out & about after pigeons and suchlike. These more than fit the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Interested can't get link to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Got Leica Trinovid,s in 8x42 for stalking but for general use a pair of Zeiss Jenoptem 8x30 bostin quality for their age and still would fetch what i paid for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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