Optics
(Binoculars & Spotting Scopes)
Nikon 8x32 HG
These Binoculars are my wifes primary pair which she really likes due to the smaller objective lens of 32mm. This model is waterproof and nitrogen gas filled to reduce fogging. They are not particularly light even though they are a little smaller but they give a great bright image without the bulk of some of the other binoculars we use. The focus wheel on these binoculars is something to behold as they are lovely and smooth, this being noticed more than other bins due to the binoculars lack of depth of field which means that altering the focus is a done much more than some optics. That said this lack of depth allows a superb image when the image is focussed and I would imagine it would be hard to better this finding in other brand binoculars.
Leica Ultravid 10x42
These binoculars are my primary pair and are waterproof and again nitrogen gas filled to prevent fogging internally. These have a magnification of x 10. a little more than most of the birders would use but i do like them and the weight even though slightly bulkier is actually lower by a few pounds. Apart from the superb clear, bright and very life like image I get through them the ergonomics allows the binoculars to be extremely well balanced when in use up to my eyes as the weight of the optics seems to lessen due to the well balanced design. A few innovations that have been made with modern optics are things like twist up and down eyecaps that have different click stops so that you can fully adjust the eyepieces to allow for the full field of view to be seen even when glasses are being worn. The other superb feature to these optics is the ability to completely remove the eyecups altogether exposeing the eyepieces which allows you to clean the surface of the glass fully with trying to wedge something into the edges with possible damage to the lens surface eventually occuring. I see myself as still a novice birdwatcher so having quality optics can make all the difference in IDs of birds. the only down side to these binoculars is the focus wheel as considering the quality put into most aspects of them the focus wheel has had issues with a few owners. I am sure that if you pick these up you will not feel it to be a problem but, when you have used other binoculars like Nikon you realise that the wheel is not really a winner. The focus wheel is slightly gritty in use and a small turn of the wheel does not always register or is not transferred to the binocular gearing. Other people have brought this up and Leica say that this is due to the coarse thread used coupled with a very small amount of lubricant used in the mechanism so that in colder conditions the focus wheel is not, in any way affected by external conditions like cold making the lubricant less viscous and so harder to turn. This does not detract from the superb qualities overall and I can see me using these for some years to come.
Opticron Dioptron 10x50
These were my first pair of binoculars kindly handed down to me by my father. They are very good for the age and considering how optic technology has moved on. These are not waterproof as I discovered to my peril as I walked around Leighton Moss one day in the pouring rain. I had to have them sent away to be cleaned as the water had left marks on the internal lenses. The other thing that has changed for the better is the fold down rubber eyecups that are a nightmare for anybody who wears glasses. These soon become damaged and worn to a point (as pic shows) they no longer stay on and are worn away. This is not a problem if all users wear glasses but it makes them very difficult to use if you do not, as the effect rendered is that of a long tunnel with a small aperture. They give a slight yellow cast to the image but on the whole they are still very much a good binocular which are still regularly in use at the kitchen window observation spot.
Pyser Eagle 8x42
These were bought for Mandy as a pair to see if the hobby would be taken farther than the house and so it did prove as now these also occupy a place indoors and sit on the window sill in the upstairs office where most of the garden observation takes place. If I were to recommend a pair of binoculars to anybody that was looking for a good "starter" pair then these, for the price, I would think hard to beat. They are nice and light, the ergonomics are excellent, waterproof and nitrogen filled. they have pop up hard plastic eyecups where full vision is attained whether you wear glasses or not. The focus wheel is very smooth and both the depth of fiels and field of view are good. They do have a slight blue/purple cast but this gives it a more neutral colour that does not detract one bit from the bright crisp image. These are also quite small in dimension and the weight is pleasantly light with a good quality armour to the exterior of the optics.
Carl Zeiss Diascope 85T Straight with 20x-60x Zoom Eyepiece
This is one item that is not always used when out bird watching but when you do take it out it never fails to amaze with it's sheer quality of view. It really is superb and coupled with the 20x-60x eyepiece it can give excellent views from distances you would not stand a chance with. It not only allows distant views but it gives very good views at these distances due to the lenses and coatings but most probably due to it's 85mm objective lens which is one of the larger lenses available on a scope. This larger objective lens equates to better image rendition due to more light being allowed into the scope just like light into a camera can make all the difference in the picture quality. As you can see it has two focus wheels on the top one for rapid focus and one for fine tuning the image. This again is the only let down as the rapid focus wheel is slightly stiff to turn but i am waiting to see if my upcoming birding trip to Mallorca will alter this due to the warmth or if given a little more use it will settle down. This aside Ii am very pleased with this product as it has a large objective lens yet rertains a small overall size and the real bonus is the weight, as this is considerably lighter in comparison to others in this catagory. I opted for a straight scope over the angled variety as my height I felt would make it difficult to use comfortably without craning my neck. This is due to the tripod it sits on being a litle taller than most which stops me from having to extend the centre column and thus making the chance of an unstable image being viewed due to vibration which can wreak havoc at 60 times magnification!
Bushnell Spacemaster straight with 15x-45x Zoom Eyepiece.