Nikon or Bushnell Binoculars

[nightshade]

Leave them unrolled or you could find some marking from your face transfers to the rear lenses,also if the bino gets a knock when used in a confined space you dont get a blackeye
I use the Nature Views the lioness uses Sky Hawks

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by nchesh

The greater magnification of the Bushnell made it slightly more difficult to hold steady but seemed to give a little bit more detail (not sure if it was 50 pounds worth of diffierence though).

You will get much, much better at holding Bins steady when
you start using them a lot - and getting straight onto a bird comes
with practice.

Grater magnification usually means narrow field of view - only
you can decide.

As for what to look at to compare

Poor light
Vertical edge with light behind (chimney) - any flaring?
or any colour changes at the edges?

Compare on some sign post, number plate, shop window etc.

[Perry Grin]

Originally Posted by nchesh

Does anyone know if thr Bushnells should have the eyepieces fully extended (no glasses) or fully in. Instructions are not that clear.

Neil

Eye cups in the down position are designed for specs wearers but it depends on many things; eye relief, size of eyepiece lens, type of eye cups, shape of face/eye sockets - use what ever works for you to get full field of view with no blackouts.

I have two pairs of bins, on one I have the eye cups twisted down, on the others all the way up. I used to have a pair of Bushnell Natureview roofs, on those I had the eye cups half in half out!

Perry

[Dan Salter]

I dont wear glasses as you know Perry

I have a pair of Bushnell Trophy 10x42 with twist up eyepieces....if they are not at the most out at all times i cant see a thing!!....they do kind of lock in place at the top position but occasionally work there way back a bit without me realising causing me to think there is something wrong with the bins or im going blind in one eye?...because of this im like a compulsive obsessive and am constantly checking and re checking that they are at the full out position!.

Incidentally.....although i didnt realise it i must have really close together eyes? as every pair of bins i use i have to have them at the smallest gap between eyes if you know what i mean?...i often wonder what i would do if my eyes were even closer as im maxed out on my bins, they wouldnt go closer haha

as you mentioned nchesh...the 10x will emphasise hand shake as i learnt myself...and it takes some getting used to finding a bird close up in scrub as your sooooo close ...you find yourself having to look past the bins to find the bird then re find it in the bins....this does improve though and im 98% straight onto a target these days...
As also mentioned by Perrygrin...ergonomics and weight do play a big part too!

Im on the market for a top end pair of bins and im so struggling to make decisions?...do i go 10x again or down to 8x
I want close focus as im into all wildlife including moths/butterflies/Odonata etc
I want them to be light
Not too bulky
etc etc....

Im thinking Swarovski (But Slc or El's? ) Leica unltravids (green) or Zeiss?

I like the look of Simon Kings Zeiss...but they must be 8x32 or something as when i look at Zeiss in 8x or 10x 42 they look huge, bulky and ugly??

Are Swarovski El's everything people claim them to be?...
Infact im shocked that many of the TOP END bins in the £800-£100+ bracket dont appear to be lighter than my £200 bushells?...whats that all about!

[nchesh]

Hi to all

Thanks for all your comments. I chose the Bushnell's in the end for 2 reasons basically.

1. I have a pair of 8 x 25 bins which I use a lot and I thought that if i am going for a another pair then I might as well go for a better magnification.

2. The bushnell's felt better in the hands and seemed to be more comfortable to hold.

The Nikons were fine and I asked 4 of my colleagues to compare them with the Bushnell's (without telling them the price) 2 went with the Nikon, 1 went with the Bushnell and 1 could not decide.
Just goes to show that personal preference is still a strong factor.

But I have to say I was very impressed with both and my partner, who thought I was just bring plain stupid taking so long to decide, has agreed that it was a good choice.

Two concern's I have re the Bushnell's is how long the twist up cups will last i.e. will they become loose and the kneck strap is very thin. Can you get alternative straps?? Has anyone had any problems with the eye cups

Neil