Binoculars for bird watching help

[RaptorMan101]

Hi all, I will be looking to buy some new binoculars in January an need a bit of help. First of all price I will be looking anywhere between £50-250. Secondly I would like a compact pair that I can wear around my neck as I also will be carrying a camera and lens. I have looked at some hawke 10x42 binoculars and I liked the feel of that size of binoculars, but wasn't too keen on the overall performance.

And just incase in matters I wear glasses aswell but that's not too much of an issue, and they will be mainly used for bird watching.

Sorry about the paragraph :s and thanks a lot for any suggestions

Jim

[Hobjob]

Hawke are doing very well in comparison tests.

Be sure to compare like with like - i.e. same price range.

If you are getting more and more into birding, it is surprising how quickly one perceives faults in the bottom range of the market, faults that were not apparent at all when first using bins.

Another trick is to compare one make across the range - but this can be expensive!

And compare on poor light days.

[Tringa]

There is only one way in my opinion. You need to go somewhere and try out a few pairs; they have to be right for you.

If a place is not willing to let you spend a long time trying pairs - walk away.

Some reserves have special days for binoculars and scopes and some RSPB reserves have a more or less permanent display of ones you can try, though the range may be more limited that a specialist dealer.

Dave

[RaptorMan101]

Thanks a lot for the replies and advice, I am going to hopefully visit an RSPB reserve where they will give me some guidance and let me try some different pairs.

Thanks guys much appreciated

[nightshade]

Just to give an idea Pocket Binoculars, Compact Binoculars, Nikon Binoculars, Olympic Binoculars, Praktica Binoculars - Sherwoods-Photo.com

[Hobjob]

I don't think that at RSPB you will get to try Hawkes.

But their own range give v good value for money - I use them (from eBay).

Originally Posted by RaptorMan101

Thanks a lot for the replies and advice, I am going to hopefully visit an RSPB reserve where they will give me some guidance and let me try some different pairs.

Thanks guys much appreciated

[RaptorMan101]

Thanks for the advice lads! I will definitely try out as many different ones as I feel before buying anything. Defiantly want to try out the Hawke 10x42 and Hawke 10x50's

[johnf3f]

A bit outside your budget but a friend of mine recently bought a pair of Vortex Viper 8 x 42 HD bins, for £400 I was very impressed. I find them comfortable with glasses (many bins are not!) for long viewing periods. Their sharpness and contrast are good to very good. I have very little to fault on them - they are not as good as my Swarovski 8.5 x 42 EL's - but for a fraction of the price I am impressed.

[Shrike]

At the bottom end of your budget i've got a pair of Nikon action 8x40's which are still on sale at jessops for 59.99 and find them adequate for the price paid and they have a very sturdy strap with them which takes a lot of the weight off. ED optics bins however i think would be far better but closer to the top end of your budget.

[RaptorMan101]

Thank you for the advice all I will be trying as many as I feel fit before buying

Cheers,
Jim