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For under $150 I’ve been recommending these as good value https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Engage-Binoculars-10x42mm-Matte/dp/B079YJNM3Z/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Bushnell+engage+10x42&qid=1599944330&s=electronics&sr=1-3
If you want to stay under $100.00 look at these:
Amazon.com : Nikon Trailblazer 8x25 ATB Waterproof Black Binoculars : Camera & Photo
At $170 for astro, consider the Nikon Action EX 10x50, a step up from the Aculon. Either or both might be available refurbished for less money the Nikon website.
Look at my response in this thread. Would not get a 10x25. https://www.reddit.com/r/Binoculars/comments/ifj7ic/need_help_finding_some_binoculars/.
edit: also if you are considering bushnells, this is the one to get and at this price. https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Engage-Binoculars-Matte-Black/dp/B07G9NW721 Much discussion in this subreddit on these recently. It will likely have significantly better optics than the vortex db. Note this is the engage with dielectric prisms and ED glass, not the Engage DX which is an inferior model.
You can see the moons decently well with a pair of 10x50. Im able to see them just outside of Portland OR. But they are really tiny. I would recommend also getting a tripod with it because shake is a real issue. Saturn is also pretty visible. with 10x50s too. Don't expect them to be really large though. I don't have these but they are pretty cheap and have heard good things from them from friends. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZN4TZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ve3gFbEC5PHFQ
Celestron 71198 Cometron 7x50 Binoculars (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DV6SI3Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VA9KBbNNQQ6NV
I have these. I wear glasses and have a slight astigmatism. The eyecups fold down to accommodate glasses. They work fine with my glasses on.
If you wear glasses, I believe any binoculars with foldable eyecups would work.
If you like the Bushnell Legends, these are better and IMO good value at $189 right now. https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Engage-Binoculars-10x42mm-Matte/dp/B079YJNM3Z/ref=sr_1_3?crid=26Z2AUO8U8EOP&keywords=Engage+10x42&qid=1669497263&sprefix=engage+10x42%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-3
Just make sure when you get them they are in fact the EDX version (model BEN1042)
I bought a Zeiss miniquick 5*10t, it's a bit expensive but it fits perfectly for the use you describe. It's small like a pen, light, and high quality (for a 5*10). Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Zeiss-Conquest-Mono-Monocular-Lenses/dp/B088PN83KJ
Here is Czech glass and magnesium classic for under $400. I am not sure what the other poster is so mad about. But I like good glass in my optics. Hope these are enjoyed by the gift-e but I know they are solid. And if you look at more Meopta you might even get a upper spec for a little more.
I've heard that Celestron Cometron 7x50s are decent for astronomy and in your budget. I haven't personally used them though. I don't do any nature stuff though so I don't know how good they are for that purpose
I found these to be more budget friendly and brighter at dusk than the monarch M2’s and am happy with my purchase: Athlon Optics Midas G2 8x42 UHD... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08295XC45?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
There are so many factors you and I could compare notes for hours but for a solid set of beaters that should be a good fit:
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never reuse the same surface area of the wipe twice. if sand is in there, lick it, then remove the acidity of your saliva with the wipe. you should be fine. if acidity on the coating kills you and or you find the answer disgusting, you can use 3m office clear tape to glue the speck of dirt to the tape. using an reusing microfiber on the field can lead to scratches and or streak.
- Easy to collimate
-The lense protectors that it comes with do not screw on and are just soft malleable plastic, easily brushed off which leaves a sour taste. Wish it was hard plastic that screwed on. Plastic cover protects area where you screw in bino attachment to then screw on tripod.
- looking at the full moon it was very bright, I never used astro binoculars the image seemed surreal. It felt like the binoculars were battery operated cause the image was so BRIGHT and CRISP. The details and craters of moon were visible. Pointed it at a plane at night and was impressed. I live in the edges of the city and the image was satisfying.
-Im big and I had trouble getting a steady image, had to use a cheap phone tripod but it worked. I had to buy the bino attachment for it though. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BYH8EQ/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-I only used it about twice but I think its worth it, like the post said its my first bino.
It's the top link in this sub.
You're probably looking for a 10x42. Ten power because that's the most most people can hold still by hand. Forty-two mm objectives because they'll give a reasonablly big exit pupil appropriate for daylight use. If budget isn't a constraint, the Swaroski NL Pure 10x42 is a good starting point. But for most people, a good $500 bin should work just fine. I'm partial to Nikon M7s. You'll find many very good general-purpose bins in this price class, however.
The trouble with the 10x52 is that they are probably too large to hold steady. I don't think there was any time I thought the 8x32s didn't have enough magnification or could cut through the gloom.
I don't know where you are going, but if you are going anywhere in Southern Africa, this is a good book to have: The Wildlife of Southern Africa. We picked one up at a sporting goods store in Windhoek. It has insects, reptiles, birds, as well as the large mammals. I don't know if there was anything we saw that wasn't in the book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SGJL73P?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details take a look at these . This is a good deal, Vortex has a good reputation.
You can measure the width of the webbing and buy a replacement slider or look around for anything with the same size slider at a yard sale, dollar store, or somewhere cheap. Either that or find a sewing kit and make the loop "permanent".
Personally, I'd just throw a few stitches in there and call it good. It's not like you want it to come off, and, if you do, small scissors or a razor will free it.
Hands down:
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Euro glass. Czech quality. Great QC.
Pentax ZD 10x43 ED is $430 right now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Pentax-ZD-10x43-ED-Binoculars/dp/B00U8B6BD6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GTS9AH7IKS9H&keywords=Pentax+ed+zd&qid=1650652370&sprefix=pentax+ed+zd%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1. Could be a pricing error? I may try one myself. Main limitation of this binocular is the smallish FOV, although not as bad as the 8x43.
made by LTD Visionking Optical Technology Co., Ltd in Shenzhen plant. If they passed the right qa/qc, if you have a decent pair, meaning that their are sharp at the center, blackened evenly, with a decent coating. Chromatic aberration may be more than class leader and barrel distortion may be a tad too much, but they make for great astro bin. The only feature I would miss is phase coating, something you found in the $300 range. https://www.amazon.com/Visionking-Binoculars-Binocular-Waterproof-Hungting/dp/B00GEV3PS8
Many brands slaps their brands on these oem design, barr and stroud is one of them.
They are comparable to Nikon Prostaff market segment.
Budget binoculars with a reticle would likely be marketed as marine models or "military" models. Some of the cheaper ones are 10 or 7x50 so possibly a bit bulky and heavy for OP but perhaps more importantly almost all are individual eyepiece focusing. Here's a central focusing model (styled a bit like a Nikon marine model which I understand from the stiffness of the focuser might as well be IF) :
https://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-Waterproof-Binocular-Internal-Rangefinder/dp/B000BYEVZK/
Concur with suggestions above to forego features for a known value option at your budget level.
I appreciate the reply! Trapezoidal mounts look like this, and are designed for straight-through binoculars. I have used the mount many times before, and the ergonomics and stability are pretty good. It's also a much cheaper solution than a binocular telescope, though probably not as good in a number of ways.
I'm really looking for advice around magnification and objective size for my viewing conditions. My post was a bit long-winded, so that probably got lost. I did some more googling, and this thread discusses a lot of what I wanted to know. (The upshot is that a somewhat smaller exit pupil will yield a darker sky background when there is significant light pollution.) I'll do some more digging for the specific binoculars I'm looking at & alternatives.
I have been very happy with these, I picked them up after seeing them highly rated by the audubon society.
Celestron – Nature DX42 Binoculars https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B73JONS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_08GFMDQSJ22KB0Y88Q32?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
As well as the Nikon I see these two options:
Olympus V501022BU000 Binocular 8x40 S - Ideal for Nature Observation, Wildlife, Birdwatching, Sports, Concerts , Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08KVVJH7Q/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_P59QXGWTKZC7C3DRDJ7J?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Celestron 71332 Nature DX 8x42 BaK-4 Prism Binoculars, Green https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B73JONS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_6993ZXS71KTF1MSG4STS
Does anyone have an opinion on them? How would they compare to the Nikon mentioned above.
*10x42
Yes great option for the money, looks like the 8x42 is on sale for $66 too. The 8x would be my pick.
Have a look to this review, imho, the Adventurer II WP 10x42 would be very nice.
- It´s roof, so less issues with shocks and collimation and much lighter binocular.
- It´s truly 42mm no bullshit. Which is quite a lot of light gathering.
- Waterproof + nitrogen filled (foggy environment, rain).
- You can handhold it, easy to focus. Great magnification while keeping some wide FOV, you could go for 8x42 or 8x32 too, which is also cheaper and convenient.
- On your budget.
10x42 Opticron Adventurer II 8x42 Binocular 99£ in Amazon, you might see Bezos in the sky with these.
The porros (prism) alternative could be the Opticron Adventurer T WP 8x42 for example, they have the 10x50 but are a bit heavier compared with the Adventurer II roof.
In theory, at this price range, any porros with similar features would provide better optical quality than a roof. But are heavier, and more sensitive to hits, so if you are looking for something cheap and no astronomy I think the Adventurer II could be a great pick and chances are the optical differences are going to be negligible for many.
I got these for my wife I was really happy with them and the price you cannot beat. In fact I bought another to keep in the car.
Opticron does not seem like a bad brand, read several reviews and there I also learnt that the cheap Celestron first option I was looking at wasn´t even real 50mm when you take into account the exit pupil. So yeah, it does seem the cheap celestrons could be cheap rebranded garbage with little quality control.
I thought the porros "Celestron UpClose 10x50" would suffice for like 50 bucks for you know... get my first pair, see how much I am going to really use them, how they look to stare at the moon (I don´t do birding or anything really) and then I would be able to compare with better quality in the future.
However, I saw these opticron 10x50 and if the specs are not a lie, they are FMC, BAK4 and more important waterproof. That is something I would really like from the Nikon Aculon you suggested, which I really like as well.
So yeah, that´s kind of why I cannot decide haha, either I go super cheap to experiment or I have to make compromises somewhere, I really don´t want to spend a fortune atm.
In the end both the Nikon, Opticron or Celestron can travel poorly and get some shock and arrive badly collimated.
I think I might get this guy
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Opticron-Adventurer-WP-10x50-Binocular/dp/B074WGH62X
The 10x42 also looks very good.
And maybe if the power is not good for a detailed moon... I should consider their spotting scope Opticron Adventurer II WP 15 – 45 x 60/45 at less than 150€.
Thoughts?
I guess it could be possible to buy some cheap replacement objective lens caps, cut a hole in them and somehow DIY a UV filters sheet to them? That way you could pop them on and off as needed.
Something like this but cut the majority of the front off so the cap can still sit on the front of the binoculars
What do you think of these? I have Prime so searched your suggestions there. Seems like Nikon also makes a tripod adapter I could consider
https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Action-Extreme-All-Terrain-Binocular/dp/B0001HKIK4
I recently got the Athlon Argos HD 8x42 for about $130. They seem to me to be the absolute best for that pricepoint--they have good coatings and glass, and they are fog-proof and water-proof. The carrying case isn't great, and the strap is also lacking. However, those are easy to replace.
They also have decent eye relief, but I don't wear glasses so I can't personally attest to this feature.
They are much lighter than I expected (my previous pair was a much heavier porro binoculars), and so far they are serving me well.
Here is a link to the amazon page, I just noticed the price is increased to $170 so maybe these are out of your price range. https://www.amazon.com/Athlon-Optics-Argos-G2-Binocular/dp/B08SWMRXLK
what about 12x50? I am looking at this model:
Maybe also consider Celestron Nature DX. I have 8x42 and they are really great. Fog proof, waterproof, light and compact. I use them for birding/hiking and so far I love them. I believe Bushnell Prime are a fine choice too
These are amazing. Not sure what your application is. These work very well from a monopod or supporting from a nearby object like a tree.
Amazon.com : Vortex Optics Razor UHD Binoculars 18x56 : Camera & Photo
Not sure how your selection will vary where you are at. I would recommend 8x42 for more usable optics but you also want something so small and that makes it tricky to tailor your specific wants for a recommendation. Maybe you can source these locally?
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You didn't talk about the budget, so I recommend the monocular I'm using. Its image is super good, and the FOV is okay. Can be connected to a tripod. It should meet your requirements.
Your binoculars are compact, so a basic cheap tripod will suffice. Don't forget to buy an Adapter.vortex adapter
Nikon7576 ED
ED glass, low dispersion, which should be a necessary condition for birdwatching and spotting wildlife . It also meets your other requirements.
I believe all Monarchs have ED (haven't confirmed that). The M5 is a perfectly good bin. It sounds like it would suit her.
FYI, ED glass is one of several strategies for reducing chromatic aberration. Lack of it isn't necessarily an issue, especially in an 8X bin. A practical test is to look at a sharp dark edge against a bright background (e.g., a crow in a treetop on a clear day). You'll always see some color fringing.The questions are: How Much? Does It Bother You? Good correction makes a difference; the technology used to accomplish it doesn't matter.
The Bushnell Engage has been around at a good price. I have the similar Legend M 10x42 and have been happy with it. The Vortex Diamondback series is another common suggestion. Vortex has a great warranty.
There are many options for binoculars that can fit in a backpack. It should be said that most of them can be put in a backpack. I was also looking for bino the other day, and finally I bought it for $75. 15x60, good lens, you can see most targets at night.
I use this tripod https://www.amazon.com/SLIK-Pro-700-Tripod-Legs/dp/B001B2I9L8?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_marketplace it's pretty stable and well priced get a decent ball head or leveling base and you'll be good to go
A benefit of starting with a 10x50 is that you can use it handheld during the day for sports, birdwatching, whatever. A giant astro-only bin has very little utility if your astro hobby fades.
The Action Extremes are very nice, a standard suggestion. Nikon does have an entry-level line called Aculon that includes a decent 10x50 at roughly your price point. Personally I'd save for the step-up AEs though.
>The field of view is also a bit limited, so I'm considering 8x42 or 7x50's.
7x50s almost always have a rather narrow FOV, often ~7 degrees. Achieving a wide FOV and a big aperture at the same time requires large, expensive, heavy prisms; a large field stop; and large oculars. You're unlikely to find a wide field 7x50 at your price point (if indeed you can find one at all).
Consider using a tripod, a 7x35 with a wide FOV, or both. The Nikon Aculon 7x35 should do nicely and sell for about your price. They weigh 24.2 oz or 686 grams. FOV is 9.3 degrees, about as wide as it gets these days.
Hey OP, I'm also from Portugal and trying to look for some entry-level bins. Did you end up getting anything? I'm considering the Celestron G2 10x50 for 50€.
I'm also interested in taking pictures with my phone, so I'll definitely get a tripod and maybe a phone adapter.
Center focus is uncommon in purpose-built Marine bins. Given permission to treat "pattern of use" as "pelagic birdwatching" yields roof prism bins, where I'm tempted to suggest something like the Vortex HD 8x42. Vortex is usually good value for money. They have an excellent warranty and a reputation for actually honoring it.
Nikon Monarch 5 comes to mind as a popular bin from a reliable maker. They're likely over 150 pounds though. Check into their ProStaff line, assuming it's sold in the UK.
Some of the mid-line Bushnells are good bins in the $200 range. They've been changing their line so much that I haven't kept track of what's current. Some of the model names like "Engage" and "Legend" have had good bargains as close-outs. Unfortunately they re-use model names, so it gets hard to keep track of good and bad examples under each name.
This is all from a US perspective. Some brands like Hawke are mainly EU, so they're off my radar.
I haven’t used the HD version, but I’m pretty sure there’s still no ED glass. Vortex binoculars tend to be overpriced IMO, especially the diamondbacks. They do have a exceptional warranty, but personally that’s something I care less about with lower end binoulars, where I Tend to favor optical value. Not that Vortex is a bad choice at the right price (I own one of their scopes). These are going to be way better optically and the price is a steal right now: https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Engage-Binoculars-Matte-Black/dp/B07G9NW721. These were Bushnell’s top line before they were discontinued, search my comment history from 3-4 weeks ago for detailed info and why optically these are a very good deal. Optically these will be more in the Vortex Viper tier. This Engage is not to be confused with the Engage DX, which is an inferior model.
This is normal for this design, the screw acts as an axis. I have a Nikon adaptor that does the same thing. An alternative that would not do this is a universal binocular adapter. https://www.amazon.com/Gosky-Universal-Binocular-Stabilite-Adapter/dp/B07SDBG5BH
You should post this on /r/telescopes
But if you can scrape a little more money then the AWB Onesky 130 has got really good reviews.
A universal smartphone mount can be got for around 20 bucks
Zoom binos are terrible. I would get fixed-magnification 12x50s - https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8249-ACULON-12x50-Binocular/dp/B00B7LQC4O/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1509813572&sr=1-4&keywords=nikon+12x50