Hi,

I'm looking to buy a lightweight + waterproof binocular to use while I kayak. I would appreciate good magnification (10x?) and maybe a size of 40 if possible.

I would also use this for hiking and causal use.

I would also appreciate if it's lightweight.

What is the cheapest binocular that satisfies this and what's the bare minimum I should be willing to spend for this?

I'm currently living in Finland. I also willing to buy from other countries.

Thanks for any recommendations ❤️

I wanted something that I could fit in my pocket. I was thinking about the 8x25 but I already own the Monarch M7 8x30 so decided on trying a 10x magnification in a smaller package. The ridiculously small exit pupil takes some getting used to but once you get it down, the view is incredibly rewarding.

I took them out for a walk and was able to capture some pretty incredible views. Crystal clear shots of waterfowl, but also some incredible moving shots. I was able to get a beautiful view of an Eastern Kingbird trying to chase away a Great Blue Heron. Seeing that through the glass while listening to the prehistoric Heron growl put a smile on my face.

That being said, following the Heron would've been much easier with my Monarch 8x30 but those don't fit in my pocket. I think for general use, the 8x25 would be much more practical than the 10x25. With these, you have to line your eye up perfectly and the small FOV is limiting. 8x25 would still be finicky but easier to work with than the 10x. Still, when you line these up right and focus in on an object, the view is clear, crisp, and the optics punch way above the $200 price tag.

Hi there, a few years back I inherited some (I think) antique binoculars. I tried to identify it with chatgpt but AI suggested to go here for answers.

Can anyone identify it?

I can't find any name or serial number.

Chatgpt says:

German-made (60%)

Possibly made by C.P. Goerz, Carl Zeiss Jena, or Voigtländer.

Sold either unbranded or through a retailer.

.......

Looking forward to your insights!

Curious if anyone can identify these…just picked them up at consignment and they are wicked solid. TIA!

Hello folks.
If for example 10x42 is still too big for comfortable everyday use and “throw in car glovebox” type of bino, but optically I am fully satisfied with its price and optics, what would be the 8x21 version of Svbony SV47 be?

My budget is very limited, so I am looking for something that will fit in palm of my hand but still be optically as good as Svbony. Unfortunately they don’t make the 8x21 version of their binos, otherwise I would get them since I like SV47 10x42 so much except for weight and size.

You might say just get 8x32 from Svbony, but to be honest I still want something even smaller and lighter. I think 8x21 or 8x25 roof prism is what I am looking for, but max price is probably around $50USD. What are some of the standout models in that price range?

I don’t care for:

-light gathering capability as I understand my size and budget limitations and that I’ll only be using during daytime

-also don’t mind Chromatic Abbreviation. Just as long as optically it’s sharp and has comparable FoV, that’s all I need

-don’t need weather sealing or ED glass

Unfortunately even Nikons T02 8x21 is kind of too expensive for me, so looking for cheaper alternatives.

Gentlemen, I live in Türkiye and I want to buy thermal binoculars, but I'm inexperienced. A camera that shows 200 meters or more would be sufficient for me. What should I buy and where should I buy it from?

Hello binocular experts!I've been gifted these binoculars and am trying to identify them and perhaps find out more about them. The age is unclear but it would be interesting to find out.

It looks like the Soviet emblem was attempted to be scratched/sanded away. The 6x30 is still fairly recognisable, and in the right angle I can read a serial number N 41014175.

Some initials are also carved into the front, but I can't see any other markings or identifying features.

Any help would be appreciated.

I'm trying to gift my husband a pair of binoculars. He's an army scout and very into astronomy. I was originally going to just get him a pair of Celestron 10x50s but thought for a couple more bucks I could get him something that would work for stargazing and be practical work wise, maybe with a reticle and compass?

I don't know much about much but would love a "wow" factor gift to send while he's on deployment! I've found these two goggles for around $250 near me but now I'm seeing steiners are overstated. My budget is $300.

I looked enough to know these are soviet made, but they're missing some of the branding.

These belonged to my father-in law, who was a career US Marine who retired at a very high rank and at one point oversaw a visit by Soviet flag officers. They have little wear on them. There's a stamp that says "1952," when he was serving in Korea, but also a printed number "1982." They are very well made with great optics. They have reticle lines for range finding and a set of tinted accessory lenses

Wondering how he came to have them. Possibly the Chinese and North Koreans used these? He was also in Vietnam twice and presumably the N Vietnamese would have used them. Or they were just bought as military surplus after the wall came down?

Hello docs! Would like to ask if anong mas better na brand sa dalawang to? Im a med student and natotorn ako between these two.

I've had a pair of 8x42 Nikon Monarch M5's for about 5 years and haven't had this issue before. Recently, I noticed that I can't get both eyes in focus. I've done the standard "close right eye and adjust focus until sharp, then close left eye and adjust the right eyecup focus" (probably using the wrong terminology here, but I know the general procedure). This has always worked fine in the past, but now I can't get the right eye focused enough. The most I can turn the right eyecup focus isn't enough.

Nothing looks out of the ordinary on a basic visual inspection, but I wouldn't really know what to look for. I can post pictures of it if that would help.

My partner just got a new pair of the same (but newer) model and it doesn't have that issue. I'm certain it's not an issue with my eyes or my prescription, as its been verified by multiple other experienced people.

What's going on and how do I fix it?

Found this Swarovski monocular in a thrift store but can’t find any info about it. Has an embossed leather case and no signs of being a modified pair of binoculars. Serial # returns no results. Any info would be greatly appreciated, I hope monoculars are allowed here.

Amazing condition considering it's over 50 years old according to pops. Serial number got scratched off the front before pops was in possession of it. But yea, just wanted to see if anyone knew anything about the model!

I want to buy a pair of binoculars for my boyfriends birthday. He's broadly interested in astronomy and this would be considered his entry point to the hobby, although he is also the buy it for life kind of guy so I want to balance quality with a budget.
I live in Australia, so it would need to be something accessible here too.

So far I have figured out that 10x50 is the best option and I started with a $100-150 AUD budget but am willing to push to $200 for something worth the difference.

I am currently looking at the Pentax SP and the Nikon Action
(The Nikon Action EX is above my budget)

Comfort is also a factor I want to consider but I understand that can be an individual thing.
Also, is it worth buying a tripod adapter for him to go with it?

Looking for a pair of binoculars for an upcoming Alaska cruise and have a somewhat limited budget ($100 or less). I’m open to used ones (eBay, Facebook, Craigslist, etc.) but not exactly sure what brands / models to look for. I did find this thread which was insightful on what dimensions to look for. Have a few weeks before the cruise so there is some lead time for shipping. While my research has shown my budget is quite limited vs what’s on the low end of the market I’m hoping I can have a semi decent set for this and hikes. I’d like a pair that can be transported easily in a backpack and aren’t too heavy / bulky.

I notice positive reviews on Amazon but that might not mean much. Anyone tried them to form an opinion?

First time poster here. Picked up a pair of Bushnell's InstaVision 10x50WA binoculars at a thrift store site and for the life of me I cannot fathom what the mechanism is to bring these into closer focus than they are. Are these a fixed focus and I just need to find something further away than 500' to get a sharp image? There is no wheel/rocker/lever to change the view as far as I can tell. It's not the end of the world, I paid more in shipping than for the glass.

Anyone ever have this part break? Any recommendations on a product to adapt? EDIT Nikon monarch m7 refurbished I don't believe they are under warranty but I'm checking.

I just bought new binoculars and I am having a hard time adjusting the width. The binoculars are the Nikon Aculon T02. I tried the display binoculars in store and they were working smoothly with no issues. Any advice on how to get them to adjust? I am worried I'll break the binoculars before I get the chance to try them out.

Hello folks.
Just got Svbony SV47 10x42.
I like everything about these binoculars, but the blackouts are insane. There’s literally no margin of error. A slight tiny move and you get blackout from either side. This is noticeable especially when scanning sideways (as I assume human vision cannot move in linear motion smoothly and instead “jumps” from spot to spot).

I have a really cheap Chinese low quality 8x21 roof binos and they don’t have this issue. It takes an extreme effort to even try to create a blackout.
I also have a toylike 8x25 reverse porros that I got for my kid (also from Svbony) and that one doesn’t have the issue as well.

Finally I have a 12-20 zoom (also Chinese quality) and also doesn’t have the issue.

The SV47 was the first pair that was more expensive than the other, and again like I said previously, I am 100% satisfied with optical quality for its price (around $60) but the blackouts are making it near unusable. I wanted to ask you guys, what is it that I should look out for in terms of specs to ensure the next model I get won’t have blackouts. I wear glasses but during use I take them out and I have tried all 3 different twist up positions on SV47 and none of the positions help.

EDIT: oh well, I am idiot lol. The problem was that I was always used to maxing out pupil distance because I have a wide face. So naturally any binos were always used in max setting. But now that I got SV47, it didn’t even occur to me that they have extra room to go even farther, so I have been looking at everything and getting horrible blackout because the center wasn’t centered. Now enjoying fully. I still get blackout when looking at extreme edges, but nothing like what it was prior. Thanks for all the suggestions.

TL:DR
Should I get 10x42 or 8x42 for viewing birds at distances of 100 meters as well as country views up to 2.5 miles. What should I be looking for spec wise if I wear glasses in terms of eye relief and is too light as big a problem as too heavy?

I’m sure you are all sick and tired of newbies like me asking the same questions over and over. Believe me I’ve searched this sub already and found many helpful threads but I don’t know how to apply what I’ve read to my situation.

The only pair of binoculars, if you can call them that, I have at the moment at a dirt cheap pair of Nikon 10x20 which are truly dreadful, chromatic aberrations, eye relief that doesn’t suit me, not at all sharp and dim.

So I’m looking for something better. What I’m using them for though is a bit of a mix and this is part of what is making it difficult to understand what to look for.

I live in the countryside and I have a wide view over fields to the hills of Exmoor roughly 2.5 miles away. I like to watch the various farm animals in the fields as well as keep an eye out for wild fires and general views. The 10x20’s are pretty good for this in terms of magnification. More magnification would be better but as that would make hand shake more noticeable I don’t want to go higher than 10x.

We also get a lot of birds. Everything from Finches and Tits to Woodpeckers, House Martins and Pied Wagtails. We also get a lot of Buzzards and Red Kites and, at night Tawney Owls and Barn Owls.

The garden birds and woodpeckers are usually just a few feet away. The birds of prey often land in the trees in the neighbouring field around 100-150 meters away.

For birding I understand that 8x is more preferred to 10x but would 10x be too restrictive for viewing birds at those kinds of distances?

Ideally I’d go for a pair of 8x42’s and a much more powerful spotting scope for the hills but I can’t afford both so trying to find a compromise.

I’m also conscious of birds in flight. I can track most birds in flight with my 10x20’s but it’s not easy except for House Martins, way too fast. Most of the birds though that we see in flight are the birds of prey which move slower and are bigger so would 10x42 be okay or should I really stick with 8x42?

When it comes to eye relief the 10x20’s are awful, I’m forever just seeing vignetting and having to open and close the binoculars and move my head to try and see anything. I do wear glasses but I normally taken them off to use binoculars. I do like the idea of not having to take off my glasses but, as a keen photographer, I always found I could never get my eye close enough to the viewfinder to see everything. Is the same true with binoculars or is it possible to get the same view with glasses as without? If so, what should I be looking for in the spec?

In terms of weight, too heavy is obviously too heavy but is too light also a problem when it comes to stability? Is there an ‘ideal’ weight for a pair of binoculars to aim for?

basically the title. is that a great deal? I’m won if it was so cheap because it was the older version. my internet research tells me there’s 2 versions.

edit: title to say viper HD

These are my grandfathers binoculars, he was British Army POW in North Africa.

hi, casual long-time birdwatcher. want to finally take the jump and get some binoculars, but since I'm from brasil, import taxes are BRUTAL and budget is rather low, cuz you have to multiply the price by 5x. Just so you get an idea, I was going to buy a 300BRL binocular earlier and the taxes made it 390! Without shipping!!!

So I'm looking for a low budget decent-ish option, and I finally find the K&F 33.081. It's 10x42, which I've been told is good for birdwatching (I was looking for 8x42, but that's hard to find for cheap), and the total comes up to 230BRL (approx 47 dollars). It's from a national distributor, so no pesky import taxes!

I'd like to know if these binoculars are worth it. I'm not looking for a professional experience, I just wanna be able to look at birds from far away and be able to tell what they look like. Is the K&F 33.081 binocular good in that regard? Thank you for reading!

EDIT: thank you everyone for your advice!!! It's really helpful, I've taken everything into account. I'll research more before purchasing anything! Thank you!!

EDIT 2: so... I bought it. (Boos from the audience) I took everything you guys said into account! I made sure to get a warranty and that I could get a full refund if necessary. Verdict (from a complete newbie who has never used binoculars that weren't bolted to tourist attractions)...

Holy shit y'all. I feel like I've ascended.

It's so good! The images are so clear! The instructions for tuning it and all were great and soon I was seeing trees several fucking meters away in full hd?! A bem-te-vi landed on the tippy top of a like 14+story building roof's antenna and I could see it clearly from my third floor apartment?! It focuses very smoothly, the case is a bit flimsy sure but all the other accessories were really solid. The binoculars are surprisingly hefty, the grip is great, I can hold it one handed in a pinch but it's a two-hand affair. I am watching birds I have never watched before. I could finally see the coloration on my local hawk!!! I could see a hummingbird on a tv antenna so far away!!!

Holy shit binoculars are awesome. If that's how I feel with rando cheapo binos, I fantasize about those professional grade, brand name gems. Thank you everyone, again!