Binocluars

JHONO

JHONO

JHONO

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8 Feb 2004
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856
Location
North West
Looking to buy a pair, as i like planes and always go to view them at the liverpool airport runway most weekends (sad i know). Thing is i have no idear whats good or not.

Budget is around £70-100 anyone have any idea what i can get for this suituable for what i do?

Thanks
 
I have a pair of Canon 8x32As. Very nice binoculars - relatively compact but excellent clarity. They were around €100ish so within your price range. Canon and Nikon make good glass.
Zeiss are very good, but well above your price range.

Some of the budget supermarkets (Aidl and Lldi!) do really cheap ones that are good value for what you get.
 
As has been said, Canon and Nikon have good glass in them, Olympus are also quite good.

Don't go for anything gadgety, zoom binoculars are a false economy if you value picture quality over reach.

Also, generally avoid cheap binoculars which have tinted lenses, it doesn't improve the image and is generally put there to make nasty binos look better!

If you can find yourself a secondhand pair of Zeiss or Leica binos snap em up (though they won't be cheap)!
 
Have a look at some of the Viking Optical ones. They source OEM bins that are branded Viking and also the RSPB branded ones. Some of their latest models are outstanding.

If you have an RSPB reserve nearby, have a look in their shop as they usually have a load you can look through and play with :)
 
These look any good? Not looking for anything too expensive, as im not that much of an ethusiast. Just something good quality that does the job well for that price range.

I found these you said olympus were good:

Olympus DPS1 10x50 Binoculars

http://www.binoculars-uk.co.uk/acatalog/Olympus_DPS1_Range.html



Olympus PC1 12x25 Silver Binoculars

http://www.binoculars-uk.co.uk/acatalog/Olympus_PC1_Range.html

What do you think of these, would they be any good?

What about magnification is 10x - 12x ok?

Thanks :)
 
You've got quite a range of binos there...covering everything from small pocketable ones, to better light gathering binos to whopping great zoom ones.

I think what you need to ask yourself is what do you want to do with them?

If you are using them at an airport what's your plan with them?
Are you looking at individual plane numbers?
Are you wanting to watch them on approach or on the runway?
Would you want to tripod mount them for a steady view without shake?
Is portability important?
Is water resistance important?

I don't know if you know so I'll outline bino basics:

If you were looking at 10x25 for example, it's 10x magnification by a 25mm lens.

The larger the lens the more light it can gather, that gives a brighter, better image in low light which can be clearer and can be sharper (depending on the optics).

The bigger the glass (make sure you get glass not plastic lenses!) the bigger the binos are and the harder they are to hold for long periods as they are heavier.

If you are wanting to be able to make out the pilots of each plane then maybe the zoom binos would be better for you if you willing to sacrifice detail but the further you are zooming the harder they are to hold steady without shaking.

Have a look at Minox they should have good lenses on them.
 
TheBigCheese said:
You've got quite a range of binos there...covering everything from small pocketable ones, to better light gathering binos to whopping great zoom ones.

I think what you need to ask yourself is what do you want to do with them?

If you are using them at an airport what's your plan with them?
Are you looking at individual plane numbers?
Are you wanting to watch them on approach or on the runway?
Would you want to tripod mount them for a steady view without shake?
Is portability important?
Is water resistance important?

I don't know if you know so I'll outline bino basics:

If you were looking at 10x25 for example, it's 10x magnification by a 25mm lens.

The larger the lens the more light it can gather, that gives a brighter, better image in low light which can be clearer and can be sharper (depending on the optics).

The bigger the glass (make sure you get glass not plastic lenses!) the bigger the binos are and the harder they are to hold for long periods as they are heavier.

If you are wanting to be able to make out the pilots of each plane then maybe the zoom binos would be better for you if you willing to sacrifice detail but the further you are zooming the harder they are to hold steady without shaking.

Have a look at Minox they should have good lenses on them.
Click to expand...


Hi mate.

Basicly i look at the approach of the planes onto the runway to take off, and also watch them coming into land. Not bothered about making out plane registrations ect. I also like to see the pilot inside but not really close, just like to see a pilot in there basicly.

Portability is not a must but it would be good to get them around easy.

As for water resistant im not really bothered as i dont go up there when its raining.

All in all there are a few things but nothing too fussy, those minox ones look like they will do the job well. What do you think, perfect for the job? glass lenses as well like you said.
 
Sounds like what you want is a 10x magnification, that's a good all round size.

a 32 size lens would be good, it's a good compromise between portability and ease of handling but I think you would be struggling to get good glass with a lens that size in your budget.

I think the Minox 10x25 might be a good plan...each person finds different size binos comfortable so if you did order them be prepared to have to send them back if you don't find them comfortable.

As Rusty_Noob says Leica et al are the top brands, but you won't find a decent pair in your price bracket unfortunately. Hmmm, thinking about it you may find a secondhand pair of 10x25 Leicas for that price, they are certainly good but I used to have some trouble holding them - just too small.

My faves are the Leica 10x32, for me it's the perfect balance between portability and light gathering, but you won't find those cheap!

All in all I'd say try the Minox 10x25, it's probably the best you will get in your price range.
 
Thinking about it now il push my limit by another £60, dont want to but if it buys me something half decent then thats good. Those other makes rusty_noob recommended are just way far too expensive. Remember im on a bugjet here! I dont have money to burn.

Looking at Nikon now, this is my last attempt to find something otherwise im just going to call it a day.

These look like decent glass have a look

http://www.nikon.com/products/sportoptics/lineup/binoculars/outdoor/sp_ex/index.htm

Amazon have the 8x42 ones for £118 and the 10x50 ones for £160 sounds good to me what you think?

Thanks :)
 
Yep, you'll be really happy with those!

I used to sell binos for a living, and the ones you were looking at (including those silver Olympus,) were a bit rubbish to be honest, though from what I've seen of Minox theirs should be good

Pushing your budget up a little does make a big difference, Nikon glass is very good in binos, camera lenses and glasses.

Having used those binos in the past I can tell you they feel well made, are smooth to focus and have a good sharp image...they're not Leica quality but then not everyone has £1500 to blow on a pair of binos! :eek::eek::eek:

I'd be happy with those, and if you aren't happy for any reason you can return them unde the seven day distance selling regs.

Happy plane spotting!
 
Yeah thanks cheese youve been a very good help. Found a reputable shop that sells them and there ordering them in for me. The 10x50 ones.

Now im thinking of radio scanners now to see whats coming in to land :cool: I wont go there though! lol

Once again thanks :)
 
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