Birdwatching

Texas · Veteran Member

Birdwatching

Glenelg · Guru

i yous to bird watch many years ago now. i down't do it now cause they would call me a dirty old man. but a nice pastime though.

memories hay. sorry couldn't help myself. there where lots to choose from.????????

Dougwe · Chief one feather

How,

I would suggest you go to a shop that sells hiking gear etc as they would have a good range and light in weight too.

Enjoy the birds.

Santa · Guru

Just went through the same process Texas, my wife needed/wanted a pair, settled on these, Nikon have a reputation for excellent optics, these are well within the price range.

http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/nikon-travelite-ex-9x25-cf-charcoal-grey-binoculars.html

I know nothing about this store, we bought retail in Adelaide.

You can buy much cheaper however, you get what you pay for, poor optics result in poor image quality, at 70 plus you need all the help you can get, trust me I know, ain't age a bugger. biggrin

-- Edited by Santa on Monday 6th of October 2014 06:35:02 PM

exa41 · Guru

I bet the feathers weren't so short then Dave ,

exa41 · Guru

On a serious note Texas , cash converters usually have a range that they have ripped off others , maybe a go.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Try this site:

http://procular.com.au/how-to-choose-binoculars/?gclid=CLzis6jSl8ECFY8HvAodyJEAiw

Cheers

Jon

stevent · Newbie

Hi Texas

I'm excited this is the first time I've been able to offer advice/opinion on a topic in this great forum

I recently asked my brotherinlaws advice on this topic. He makes his living doing environmental assessments as well as recreational birdwatching.

he recommended Nikon Monarch 8x42 as a top of midrange, they are shown in Hylda&Jon link. To identify what i am seeing The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia by Pizzey& Knight now in its 9th edition.

I have also downloaded the excellent apps from the state museums for a comprehensive list of flora & fauna

steven

Reed · Senior Member

Nikon Monarchs give you 80 to 90% of the quality at 20% of the cost of Leica, Zeiss, or Swarovski. 8 x 42 are great as are 10 x 42.

Attached are two hummingbirds Elaine photographed: Violet-crowned Wood Nymph (Costa Rica) and a swimming Rufous (a small and aggressive bird) we saw in Arizona. He flew along the surface of the stream washing off his chest, flew up and then back into the water

Reed and Elaine

-- Edited by Reed on Tuesday 7th of October 2014 11:53:53 AM

-- Edited by Reed on Tuesday 7th of October 2014 11:55:29 AM

iramp43 · Newbie

Try This site.

birdsqueensland.org.au/binoculars_scopes.php

johnq · Guru

I was pleased to see spotting scopes in that article. I imagined I was alone in my choice of one, but then I am not a birdwatcher so I wouldn't know what they prefer.

Years ago I reached for one of my spotting scopes (from another interest) in lieu of the binocs to observe birds and other nature. I never went back to binoculars. I suppose binocs are fine if you want to spot and record as many sightings as possible. However I like to see the detail. Bird spotting is not my interest.

Almost all of my observing is from home or a campsite. I am most often seated and the spotting scope is on its short tripod on a table, or on the camera tripod beside a chair. The spotting scope I prefer for the purpose has its eyepiece on the top and at an angle. It is far more convenient.

Just one search came up with this one which would be perfect,

http://store.birdwatching.net/store/-strse-1758/Alpen-Angled-Scope-728/Detail.bok

from this article,

http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2014travelscopes/review.html

They are called 'travel scopes' it appears.

Although I support Australian businesses wherever I can, I would rarely buy products like that if I had to pay the unrealistic mark-ups here.

Reed · Senior Member

Had not heard the term "travel scope" before. Hunters and shooters seem to call them spotting scopes in US while wildlife observers use the term field scope. Agree that angled eyepiece is desirable but we have a Nikon Monarch 82 mm fieldscope with straight eyepiece, but would go with the 60 mm if we had to do it over again. The 82 mm is great if just sitting on a chair by the caravan but is a chore to carry about on a several hour jaunt. Have noticed that the professional birding guides use the 60 mm since they carry them about for the use of their clients. The light gathering is not as good as the larger optics until you go the top tier of optics. The prices can really go into the ozone with Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski. You pay for what you get but $3000 is a bit much. The best US comparison for binocular and field scope optics has been done by the Cornell University but their last review of scopes was in 2008. The three top manufacturers do make changes almost every year in their glass.
www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/gear/scopes/sc_review
Reed and Elaine

beiffe · Guru

I use an old rifle scope for sitting by bus but carry a small telescope that I scored on ebay for walking.

It is a brass ships telescope that you focus by extending. Might not be the best but appears quite good for my use and is also one of my pride and joys so to use in one of my favorite past times is a bonus.

Regards
Brian

Jaahn · Guru

Hi Texas smile

My twocents worth. No expert and not really a bird watcher. But I have a couple of pairs for general use.

Do not be tempted to go for bigger is better and more magnification is better. Heavy weight is tiring to hold up and excessive magnification makes it hard to find the object and follow it if it moves. confuse

A modest size and magnification is pleasant to use and worth carrying around to "spot" that unexpected sighting. Say 8x40. You could always upgrade if the sport takes your fancy.

Cheers jaahn

johnno02 · Veteran Member

Very Wise words,

Most people are tempted by big Magnification,big mistake,

8X40's are great,and during good light,8,or 9X25's are good too,

Roof Prism types are generally lighter,but more expensive,

Porro prism types,cheaper,but more bulky,

John

Reed · Senior Member

Problem with 25 mm objective lens is that it seems to be like one is looking through a straw. A lot of birders like 7 x 32 and 8 x 32 for field work aka wandering through the brush.
Reed and Elaine