Two lenses side by side

[Simpo Two]

A small pair of binoculars for HMS Simpo would be handy. They don't need to be the best possible, just small, lightweight and giving a clear image not packed with haze and CA. I expect Nikon would be overkill but welcome suggestions. Ta!

[nellyleelephant]

http://www.strathspey.co.uk/ seem to get a good write up in astro circles (they don't just do astro models)

They also offer advice.

[GetCarter]

These guys are really good. It's a proper shop with people who know what they are talking about.

http://www.telescopes-binoculars.co.uk/

what bins? http://www.telescopesandbinoculars.co.uk/acatalog/...

[Simpo Two]

Now I know how those people who post 'What camera should I get?' feel! I presume the bigger the fronts the brighter the image, but that's it.

Sprathspeys look too big. I like the little diddy ones with orange lenses. Are they any good?



Me numpty

[GetCarter]

If you want small ones, 8 x 25 or 10x 25 would be the likely choice (8 x mag or 10 x mag)

Here are a bunch of decent quality decent price ones

http://www.telescopesandbinoculars.co.uk/acatalog/...

These are the tiddlers I use (don't look at the price) http://www.t4cameras.co.uk/productdetails/swarovsk...

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 8th August 15:09

[andy-xr]

here you are

[Simpo Two]

andy-xr said:

here you are

Very good!

Let me guess Steve, when you look in the Swarovskis you can see loads of little glittery animals?

Budget will be tens of pounds, hopefully just a few tens. I will probably drop them overboard or they will get pinched eventually, so nothing too showy.

[GetCarter]

'ere ya go then > http://www.telescopesandbinoculars.co.uk/acatalog/...

[Bacardi]

Simpo Two said:

I will probably drop them overboard or they will get pinched eventually, so nothing too showy.

You can't go wrong with Leica ones.... and you already know how to drop anything with a red dot into the water, so no training needed...

[MOTORVATOR]

http://www.iscap.columbia.edu/jank/Photo/Info/Eyep...

You will of course require two lens if you insist on binocular vision and I would suggest if they are the same focal length you won't feel like you have overdone the gin.

[GetCarter]

..or you could just man up and buy some of these (which I KEEP trying not to buy, but know I'll fail after a few beers one night) http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-leica-15x56-ge... (I wonder if I could justify these as tax deductable )

[Elderly]

Simpo Two said:

Now I know how those people who post 'What camera should I get?' feel!

Me numpty

and the same question should be asked ..... "What purpose do you want them for?".

I went through all this before going on a trip earlier this year ...... but there is NO perfect binocular; I just ended up borrowing some Swarovskis .

Join the NT, they are giving a free tiddly little pair with membership.

[Simpo Two]

Bacardi said:

You can't go wrong with Leica ones.... and you already know how to drop anything with a red dot into the water, so no training needed...

Indeed, the gravity is particularly strong at the start of what is now dubbed 'Leica Straight'...

Perhaps I should add 'floating' and 'waterproof' to the brief.

Elderly said:

and the same question should be asked ..... "What purpose do you want them for?".

That's easy - 'looking at stuff far away'

Some brand names would help me decide between 'crap' and 'OK'; where's the best place to see some? Comet don't have any.

[GetCarter]

Opticron are the Nikon/Canon equiv. Lots all over the range and all good quality.

[Dogsey]

How much value do you want?

[GetCarter]

Or I can put some milk bottle bottoms in used bog rolls for less than a fiver (inc delivery) if you want

[Simpo Two]

We're getting there

No idea if Konig are decent or 'Happy Shopper', but how about an Opticron Discovery SD 8X22?

Judging from http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/discovery_wp.htm it's discontinued but its bigger brothers retail from £150+ . Hence seems quite good for £50: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opticron-Discovery-SD-8X...

£50 is probably as much as I'd want to spend; any other bins worth looking at? Sadly from a packshot you have no idea what the image will be like.

[GetCarter]

Simpo Two said:

Sadly from a packshot you have no idea what the image will be like.

Here's a clue

[Dogsey]

My FiL has a set of the Konigs, surprisingly good for the money but they're obviously no Leicas.

[Elderly]

Simpo Two said:

Elderly said:

and the same question should be asked ..... "What purpose do you want them for?".

That's easy - 'looking at stuff far away'

Some brand names would help me decide between 'crap' and 'OK'; where's the best place to see some? Comet don't have any.

Hmmmmm. somehow I knew that quip was coming which was why I inserted the word 'purpose'
instead of just 'what do you want them for' ..... I should have been more specific .

Start looking at reviews here: http://www.safari-guide.co.uk/binoculars-bresser-l... and then follow links to othet makes and types.
I was recommended Barr & Stroud as being a quality product at a reasonable price
(I was told that they make bins for the Royal Navy).

These would be too big for you but they give an idea http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Barr%20&%...