Do You Use Binoculars and What for? :D

[N_N_R]

I've always liked binoculars, but never had and actually don't have anything to use them for...    But still the other day I decided to buy the cheapest available one, lol. It's pretty nice given how cheap it is (22BGN here). My sister had a much bigger and powerful one before, but it was also heavier and.. kinda ugly, though a lot more functional at large distances. However, for the tasks that I use (or not use  ) that one for, I'm pretty happy so far

[hiraethus]

I've got a little pair of Nikon something-or-other (8x42 Sporter, I think) that I got cheaply a few years ago when I worked for Nikon.  I use them for a bit of bird watching in the garden and usually take them when we go camping.

[jacktrades]

I always take them in nature outings, they can enhance the enjoyment quite a bit.

[N_N_R]

I just saw a duck on the river nearby!  I didn't know there were duckiieeesss here,, LOL.

Unfortunately the view to the river here is quite limited because of the bushes and grass... but I can also have a look at some hills, the trains passing by and a few other things.. but I guess I'll soon be get bored by that view. I guess I'll also take the binoculars with me here and there.. but it would be good if I could find some daily task for them,lol (well, hardly ).

[glorn]

I have a few binoculars that I use mostly when hiking for bird/small animal watching and for general looking about.

Currently I am packing the Nikon Aculon T01 in blue.

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8266-ACULON-8x21-Binocular/dp/B00C29MS4I/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_33?ie=UTF8&refRID=0CM9C10DYWSJG60TB43K

Mostly due to the combination of light weight, nice build quality, low price, and terrific ergonomics. They are also rather beautiful and are offered in many colors.

The colors are all metallic, the pictures on Amazon do not do them justice. The orange, red, blue, and white are very good looking in person. The design is very sleek and almost retro futurist.


Much better image here:

http://image2.aving.net/2013/01/30/201301301036413380.jpg

[ducttapetech]

I use them for hiking and some bird watching. Also handy on the range for spotting.

live from Nate's mobile

[derekmac]

The only thing I've used mine for is spying on the neighbours at night.    Kidding, kidding!!  I've used them for watching Eagles up in their nests on top of telephone poles, but that's really about it.

[MadPlumbarian]

The only thing I've used mine for is spying on the neighbours at night.    Kidding, kidding!!  I've used them for watching Eagles up in their nests on top of telephone poles, but that's really about it.

lol ah huh,,

I had a pair somewhere, I think I lost them, but I bought a very cheap monocular just to toss into my bag, just to have, and it takes up less then half the room and weighs like nothing! JR

[tosh]

I have a few 
I used to be obsessed with optics, be it Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, Monoculars, Telescopes, Camera Lenses etc etc.

I think I've got about a dozen pairs.... Plus a box rammed full of monoculars too!! 

TBH the new generation of Helios are simply wonderful. I really have to concentrate to spot the optical differences when I compare them to my leicas. Obviously the German build quality is superior but the view through the Helios always leaves me stunned!! The only time when the leicas come into their own is in the twilight hour - but even then its close...very close.

[powernoodle]

I use binoculars to look at the neighbors' mailboxes.  If I see that their flags are down, I know my mail has been delivered.  Sometimes I put outgoing junk mail in my mailbox so I can put the flag up, but I don't have a steady stream of outgoing junk mail.  By "outgoing junk mail", I mean taking those envelopes that credit card companies and other solicitations send you, then stuffing it with a hand drawn pornographic work of art, then sending it back to them.

[ducttapetech]

Hahahahahhahaha!!! That's great!

live from Nate's mobile

[greenbear]

Like Tosh I am obsessed with optics.  Currently sporting 8x42 Nikon HGLs and Leica 8x20 Ultravids. I prefer the Leica's for their compactness and superb clarity for their size.

I use them for nature watching (I am a birder) and watching the ships in the bay when I'm back in Cornwall 

[microbe]

I use mine mostly during summer on th beach. "bird" watching. 

[Crow]

I have couple binoculars That I use randomly. What ever crosses my mind. I think one is 8x22 and other is 12x32, small pocket size binoculars. I like them. Do not carry very often. Less than I like to. Would love somekind of small and good monocular on my pocket...

[N_N_R]

You, guys 

But apart from the "nice" things that you do with your binoculars, there are some interesting suggestions, I see

Pity I don't have much of a view from my balcony...

[dks]

Tasco are good value. I have a pair similar to yours and they are about 15 years old. I rarely use them, but when you need them they are easy to use and light to carry. I think I bought them for 10 British pounds.

[captain spaulding]

I own a few pairs of binoculars. Only use are for spotting while hunting. I use a harness for them while hunting so I can have them on me and ready but don't have to hold them.  Just like the picture.


Not my picture.



http://gear4gear.com/image/cache/data/binoculars/binocular_harness_front-500x500.jpg

[N_N_R]

Now this picture reminds me..

Today I watched a very nice video explaining the basics of binoculars. As far as I got it, the size of the binoculars does not affect their power... So, bigger in physical size doesn't mean better in performance at all.

Then, my question is, why do they make big and heavy binoculars at all, since they can crap functionality in something smaller and easier to carry and keep? 

[dks]

Now this picture reminds me..

Today I watched a very nice video explaining the basics of binoculars. As far as I got it, the size of the binoculars does not affect their power... So, bigger in physical size doesn't mean better in performance at all.

Then, my question is, why do they make big and heavy binoculars at all, since they can crap functionality in something smaller and easier to carry and keep? 

more light coming in, more viewing area, easier to see through etc.

and I now very little really,

[captain spaulding]

Now this picture reminds me..

Today I watched a very nice video explaining the basics of binoculars. As far as I got it, the size of the binoculars does not affect their power... So, bigger in physical size doesn't mean better in performance at all.

Then, my question is, why do they make big and heavy binoculars at all, since they can crap functionality in something smaller and easier to carry and keep? 

This can be the case, but if you wan't high power without the high price your getting bigger binoculars. If you want small binoculars with even higher power your paying a considerable price for them.

Its just like wanting a flashlight that puts out a lot of lumens. I can buy a maglite that's two feet long and puts out 150 lumens for $30, or I can get a Zebralight that is considerably smaller and putting out 280 lumens and pay $65. Same thing in my opinion.

Sometimes the power needed is not achievable in a small package and larger lenses are needed in say military operations. Again, I am not a expert in this are, but these are my opinions.

[kkokkolis]

I have some Celestron 15x70, Bresser 10x50, Pentax 8x30 and a Soviet 8x30 monocular. I use them for amateur astronomy and for looking at the sea from my balcony. I generally prefer my William Optics 66ED Petzval for these tasks now tjough.
I also have those Tasco 10x25. I bought them from Lidl stores years ago but I stopped carrying them when I used the 8x30 for the first time. Do they have those "ruby" coatings? Mine do. No serious optic uses such coatings. Coatings should be light green/blue/purple and the lens' surfaces shouldn't look like a mirror.
Japanese and German binoculars are among the best but you might find quite good soviet era Russian or East German binoculars in your country at a good price. As long as they aren't beaten and badly misaligned or influenced by fungi, any 8x30 and up would be much better than any Tasco. And modern Chinese 10x50 made for Celestron, Bresser, Nikon, Canon etc are usually cheap and good for their money.

[N_N_R]

Hmmm, thanks for the explanation, dks & cap

Yeah, sounds plausible.. (comparing to lots of lumens crammed into a tiny package was a nice idea )

Lol, I didn't expect so many people to have those (no idea why).


@Kkokkolis, yeah, mine do have that coating. But they were cheapish. I just don't use/wouldn't use them that often at all, so I just wanted to buy soomeethinggg... at a lower price and just have it. I hope this doesn't grow into yet another addiction for me.. 

[kkokkolis]

Now this picture reminds me..

Today I watched a very nice video explaining the basics of binoculars. As far as I got it, the size of the binoculars does not affect their power... So, bigger in physical size doesn't mean better in performance at all.

Then, my question is, why do they make big and heavy binoculars at all, since they can crap functionality in something smaller and easier to carry and keep? 

The diameter of each binocular tube defines the light gathering power SQUARED. So a 60mm binocular has 4 times the light gathering power of a 30mm binocular. You can see more details, dimmer objects, brighter images, more stars, more details with them, provided you can hold them steady with a tripod or an image stabilizing system such as those from Canon or Zeiss 

[captain spaulding]

Hmmm, thanks for the explanation, dks & cap

Yeah, sounds plausible.. (comparing to lots of lumens crammed into a tiny package was a nice idea )

Lol, I didn't expect so many people to have those (no idea why).


@Kkokkolis, yeah, mine do have that coating. But they were cheapish. I just don't use/wouldn't use them that often at all, so I just wanted to buy soomeethinggg... at a lower price and just have it. I hope this doesn't grow into yet another addiction for me.. 

Figured you would understand easier if related to something you know about. 

[captain spaulding]

Now this picture reminds me..

Today I watched a very nice video explaining the basics of binoculars. As far as I got it, the size of the binoculars does not affect their power... So, bigger in physical size doesn't mean better in performance at all.

Then, my question is, why do they make big and heavy binoculars at all, since they can crap functionality in something smaller and easier to carry and keep? 

The diameter of each binocular tube defines the light gathering power SQUARED. So a 60mm binocular has 4 times the light gathering power of a 30mm binocular. You can see more details, dimmer objects, brighter images, more stars, more details with them, provided you can hold them steady with a tripod or an image stabilizing system such as those from Canon or Zeiss 

(Image removed from quote.)

Zeiss would be my top choice for binoculars if money was no object.  Maybe Leica. 

[Etherealicer]

Now this picture reminds me..

Today I watched a very nice video explaining the basics of binoculars. As far as I got it, the size of the binoculars does not affect their power... So, bigger in physical size doesn't mean better in performance at all.

Then, my question is, why do they make big and heavy binoculars at all, since they can crap functionality in something smaller and easier to carry and keep? 

The diameter of each binocular tube defines the light gathering power SQUARED. So a 60mm binocular has 4 times the light gathering power of a 30mm binocular. You can see more details, dimmer objects, brighter images, more stars, more details with them, provided you can hold them steady with a tripod or an image stabilizing system such as those from Canon or Zeiss 

(Image removed from quote.)

Zeiss would be my top choice for binoculars if money was no object.  Maybe Leica. 

Among those who need their binoculars a lot (birdwatchers and hunters) the premium choice here in Switzerland is Swarovsky (but they cost more than a used car).

[captain spaulding]

Swarovsky makes incredible products as well. Incredible rifle optics. 

[gardenvalley]

In my last proper job we used binoculars a lot. The ones the company provided were those cheap ones with the ruby coating and they were OK but struggled in poor lighting conditions and weren`t robust enough for the daily beating and would fall apart after only a few weeks use. I bought a pair of Minolta 10x50 and they were superb compared to the cheap ones and allowed me to see things that the others couldn`t.

Then I had the chance to try some really good ones (Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski) at an exhibition and was amazed at the clarity, it`s not like looking through some bits of glass, it`s like being there. I passed on the £1000 price tag but still use the Minoltas for birdwatching in the garden.

[jzmtl]

Mostly for watching birds at the feeder and around the yard, and ID any pest. Also for traveling/sightseeing and watching live shows.

I have a few binos, a couple of bushnells, a nikon and a few tiny brunton monoculars. The most used is a fake bushnell that I keep in the kitchen cabinet.

[kkokkolis]

Those Tasco will help in the opera, no doubt.