binoculars advice requested
#1
Original Poster
Ambassador: World of Hyatt


Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,275
binoculars advice requested
Morning all,
Looking to buy some binos for my father - he's off for a couple of months in South America, so they need to be fairly small and light, to be used for general wildlife viewing and sightseeing (Amazon, Costa Rica, Galapagos, etc).
Anyone have any experience of any / any advice they can share - looking to spend $100-150 or thereabouts. Have found some Nikon Travelite 8x25s at a good price... I understand that Nikon should have pretty good lenses so they're my fallback if no-one's going to shout for anything else.
Thanks
Stewie
Looking to buy some binos for my father - he's off for a couple of months in South America, so they need to be fairly small and light, to be used for general wildlife viewing and sightseeing (Amazon, Costa Rica, Galapagos, etc).
Anyone have any experience of any / any advice they can share - looking to spend $100-150 or thereabouts. Have found some Nikon Travelite 8x25s at a good price... I understand that Nikon should have pretty good lenses so they're my fallback if no-one's going to shout for anything else.
Thanks
Stewie
#2


Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,093
I own the Nikon Travelites and have been very pleased with them. You may want to also look at the Pentax Papilio which can be used for distance viewing, but also can focus at 18" to look at butterflies and insects. They're in your price range.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 2P, SPG Gold
Posts: 157
Here's a review site for binoculars that might help.
#4




Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
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Posts: 7,174
man
man, i'd love to be able to recommend a 100-150$ pair. If you can scrape together any more cash, it REALLY pays to get good binoculors like leica, or better nikon and canon.
I bought the most amazing set of 400$ leicas for my dad, compact great for bird watching but excellent quality. You cannot believe the differance.
I bought the most amazing set of 400$ leicas for my dad, compact great for bird watching but excellent quality. You cannot believe the differance.
#5
Join Date: May 2002
Location: IAD
Programs: UA PrmEx
Posts: 162
Originally Posted by nmenaker
man, i'd love to be able to recommend a 100-150$ pair. If you can scrape together any more cash, it REALLY pays to get good binoculors like leica, or better nikon and canon.
I bought the most amazing set of 400$ leicas for my dad, compact great for bird watching but excellent quality. You cannot believe the differance.
I bought the most amazing set of 400$ leicas for my dad, compact great for bird watching but excellent quality. You cannot believe the differance.
Pentax has some incredibly tough, waterproof 8x32, but they are fairly bulky and heavy.
#6




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SAN
Posts: 2,426
Originally Posted by advex
Leica sets the standard. You may also want to check out Carl Zeiss. I got a pair of 8 x 20 compacts from Natchez Shooter Supplies for under $150.
Pentax has some incredibly tough, waterproof 8x32, but they are fairly bulky and heavy.
Pentax has some incredibly tough, waterproof 8x32, but they are fairly bulky and heavy.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In Transit
Programs: PC Gold; SPG AAA; HiHo Silver; Hrtz Gld; Emld Clb; UA NWA NoBody; VA EleVAte; WN MooMoo
Posts: 1,657
I have always prefer Nikon. Their optics are crisp and clear.
I own a Nikon 10 x 25. Atop my head, I don't recall the model name.
I own a Nikon 10 x 25. Atop my head, I don't recall the model name.

