Binoculars

I've been turned on to monoculars. Smaller and easier to carry...so you can get a higher power with a better field of view and without the bulk.
For me, they are easier to pick up a target...I would assume because it goes straight to my dominant eye.

They aren't as plentiful in the market, but something worth looking into.
 
I'd take a look at what Pentax has to offer, based on their camera optics which are second to none of the Japanese makers.

Precision optics, great coatings and always an emphasis on lower cost units. I see they have a few units around and under $100 on Amazon.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-62216-Papilio-8-5x21-Binocular/dp/B0007TSYCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1281407963&sr=8-1

Those look pretty awesome. Pentax warranty is certainly nice. Seeing as how I will be spying on fishies would I need some polarization or something? Is polarized lenses common? Or would I just wear my polarized glasses when spying on the swimmers?
 
Bino's are good idea if your OLD!
 
Shut up and work on the poll. Everyone in this thread has already cast a vote.

Edit: But damn it you are right! Why did you do that?
 
I got a pair of Nikon travel binocs for my family trip to Yellowstone. I thought they were the perfect compromise of optical quality and portability.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-8x25mm-travelite-compact-binoculars.html
 
JD...the linked set seems nice, but when are you going to use is? The objective lens is 21 which isn't that great for light gathering. If you were going to use it at dawn or dusk, you would likely want something a little bigger.

The 4 main things to look at with binocs are power, field of view, light gathering, and clarity.

On the 8X21, the 8 is the power or magnification (the bigger the number, the farther you can see). The 21 is the size of the objective lens...which translates into light gathering (the bigger the number, the better it is in low light conditions). the field of view will be given by a width at a certain distance (50 ft at 100 yards)(the wider the view, the easier it is to locate something. it is good for action like football games but may be too wide for something like bird watching). the clarity is best determined by looking through the set.


You may already know all that, but may be some helpful info otherwise.
 
I'll second Albatross' choice. I have an older model with an armor (rubber) coating that I love. Small enough to fit easily in a pack, yet powerful enough for bird/wildlife watching. I also have a larger more powerful pair with zoom, but they aren't very useful unless they're mounted (ie. tripod). I like the objective lens to be around 25. After that they start getting too large (overall size) to carry. YMMV.

peace-tony c.
 
jadaddy's response to Alpa... "Shut up and work on the poll."

I caught your typo. I think you meant to write "pole". Wooo Hoo.

Did I get you onto the bino thing for searching the river or are you taking up bird watching?
 
Three things really. First, was watching dude (old dude obviously Alpa) on Delaware main stem and all the info he was picking up. Second, Sal's linking the article about PA limestoners and watching fish, bug, current, activities as a learning method. Third, was the WW jam where we were on the bridge scouting fish and thinking binocs would work well there.

But mainly it was you. It's always about you. You know that.

David, I appreciate your response it was very helpful. I did not know any of those things and was just being lazy and looking for a recommendation. Could you address my question regarding polarization for cutting glare? Thanks!

Edit: If 21 is not going to cut it for spying on fishies, what would be a reasonable minimum? 32?
 
I imagine that a polarizing filter on a binocular would be a very high end feature and out of your price range. I don't know if wearing your polarized glasses between you and the binoc would help (probably). I have heard of folks using their polarized glasses in front of a camera to fashion a poor mans polarizing filter. The same approach should work for binocs, but it may be a little awkward.
 
Actually, a monocular could probably easily mount a camera's polarizer, if not by design (threads) press fitting would work.
 
This monocular?

http://www.amazon.com/Barska-Blueline-10x40-Close-Monocular/dp/B000BY42TA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1281469781&sr=8-1
 
Seems like a decent one. Good power and big objective lens. Doesn't give field of view, which raises a red flag, though. Doesn't say it is polarized, so I'm guessing it is not.
 
Doesn't say it is polarized, so I'm guessing it is not.
Click to expand...
Is it pretty easy to find that feature? Could you make a recommendation? Thanks so much!
 
It's been many years since I've bought or sold any, so don't have the inside track on current models.

Like alby said, the polarized is usually a higher end thing, but I'm sure can be found if you look around. The "coating" is a cheap version of polarizing in that it reduces glare (but without actually polarizing). The more fully coated, the better the glare reduction.

Just glancing though some, here are a couple in your range that look like they could be decent...
http://www.rei.com/product/777607?preferredSku=7776070018&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-7776070018&mr:trackingCode=7B954FFE-FB85-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
good variable magnification with an ok objective lens

http://www.theoutfitterstore.com/Binoculars-BARSKA_7X42_WP_MONOCULAR_DEEP_SEA_w_RETICLE.html
Not great maginification, but likely strong enough for your purposes. Big ObjLens. Coated, waterproof, fogproof.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=monocular&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&show=dd&cid=17008509046248421576&ei=X7RiTOulGoLWwAWF7dilBQ&sa=title&ved=0CBEQ8wIwATg8#p
Not familiar with the company, but that doesn't mean much...

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=monocular&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&show=dd&cid=3940133024671025066&ei=BbViTJScKY7-wwXyn6GhBQ&sa=title&ved=0CDIQ8wIwBTha#p
Fully coated lenses (all lenses reduce glare, rather than just the outer lens or a couple of the lenses).

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=monocular&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&show=dd&cid=18097291593850111778&ei=gbViTPK7JJiUwAXvp5mgBQ&sa=title&ved=0CCIQ8wIwBDhu#p

So there's a couple just browsing google quickly.
Zeiss also makes high quality optics, but typically out of your desired price range...maybe check ebay and get lucky.
 
AA11442 - BARSKA 7x42 WP MONOCULAR, DEEP SEA, w/RETICLE seems like a winner. I mean much like a Red Rider BB Gun, it has a compass so how could I go wrong? LOL. Seems like a good price at the place you linked as well. I believe this will work. Thank you for your help!
 
FWIW, if you haven't already dropped the cash, don't hesitate to look at the former ComBloc stuff.

The Soviets would put significant money into some of this stuff, because it had military benefits. Some of the older Kiev cameras (I don't know about now, to be honest) were highly regarded as being primitive, but with great optics and tank-like build quality. Many of their optical designs were either stolen from the West, or outright true Zeiss formulas, because when Germany was split, so was Carl Zeiss' manufacturing and research.

The West became known as Carl Zeiss, and the East got Carl Zeiss Jena (CZJ).

Some newer cameras boast Carl Zeiss designed lenses, but they're not produced by CZ nor do they feature T*, the world's foremost optical multicoat. CZJ lenses also did not have T*, but were multicoated.

While this is cameras, I see no reason why other ComBloc optics don't carry the same pedigree.
 
jdaddy wrote:
AA11442 - BARSKA 7x42 WP MONOCULAR, DEEP SEA, w/RETICLE seems like a winner. I mean much like a Red Rider BB Gun, it has a compass so how could I go wrong?
Click to expand...

Just don't poke your eye out!!!

Hope it works out for you!
 
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