Anybody know much about binoculars? My eyes aren't what they used to be and I would like to buy binoculars so I can see what critters are up to on and around the pond. The pond is about 350 feet from the house. I would like to be able to see well enough at that distance to get a reasonably good look. I am looking for some basic specs I can use to help me select some to buy.

I am also interested in a good quality sharp clear image set of binoculars. We could benefit from some of the past research of forum members who searched and decided on some good quality binoculars. I have an old pair of B&L brand binoculars that I used for a Birding class in college. They do not provide a clear sharp image plus they are difficult to focus.

I'm typically not brand loyal on anything. I mean cars, trucks anything.

That being said, all the glass I own is Leupold. That's not saying much as I only have two scopes and two sets of nocs, but I have gone through some bad cheaper brands. I doubt I'll be buying any more for a long time.

Leupold does last a long time
All my scopes are Leupold
Pat

When it comes to optics you definitely get what you pay for. Leopold is generally very good but very expensive. Nikon is a great brand for middle of the road binos. The high end glass is better but you are paying an 80% increase in price for a 15% increase in quality. I would not buy anything less than $200. OpticsPlanet.com always has great prices with a huge selection. Stay with the name brands and you will be happy.

I found this just now which helped me understand some of the basic numbers and factors to consider.

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/binoculars.html

Captwho,

I am seeing already what you are talking about with big price differences. Any thoughts on magnification to get decent detail at 350 feet? Right now I am leaning towards 10 x 50 as a starting spec.

If you get to big they will heavy as you hold them.
I bought my wife some Nikon prostaff 10x42 for birding and she loves them. Not to big and heavy but comes with decent glass. What ever you buy you want to make sure all surfaces are fully coated. The coatings are very important.

I have no idea how many monoscopes and binoculars I have. But, all good advice above.

Everybody's eyes are different, and our eyes change a lot as we age.

Of all I have, I have two favorite pairs of binoculars.

One set is a very old 7x35 Leica that my uncle gave me from WW-II. They are fast to get onto what you are looking for. They are light in weight and very bright, especially for being about 75 years old.

My other favorite is a 7x50 set that is now about 7-10 years old. Nothing tells me where they were manufactured, but looking them up on Amazon, they can't be exported outside the US.

They are just about perfect for nearly everything. They have great light/brightness. They are lightweight so they don't move around much when trying to hold and focus them on a small target. They are waterproof and rugged. The eye cups roll back for those of us with glasses. I would guess this model is sold under a number of different models and trade names. I think I paid about $60-$70 for them several years ago.

Lens coatings, eye-pieces, weight, and many other intangible factors can make a big difference. Try them out in the store at the furthest wall sign. Ask if they will exchange them if they aren't right for you.

Please share why coatings are important.

I've done a lot of photography over the years, and even went through a six week intensive 8-hour per day DoD photography school many many years ago. I just had my eyes examined by a long time friend. Nothing is like it was even a few years ago. Consequently, I don't feel comfortable answering that question.

I'd rather refer you to the latest info from Wiki-pedia

In any case, coatings do make a a big difference in light thru-put, glare, scratch resistance, and many other factors.

Bill D. this is a Binocular I bought a while back. Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter. It is a lot of Binocular for the price and is a #1 seller at Walmart online. I would think that viewing from 350 feet to your pond this would pick out the critters OK. This binocular is usually used for terrestrial viewing. Read the reviews. 1300 of them.

The downside is the Binocular is rather heavy and at 15 power the slightest jiggle will jar the view. But if you attach this to a trypod it might be what you want at a great price.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008Y0VN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

About 20+ years ago I bought both my Wife and I each a set of Steiners. I'm still satisfied with them.

OTOH, I also have a set of Zeiss compacts that are no better than Tasco. The compacts just don't gather enough light to be of much value.

I've got a set of Minolta 8x42's that I use for "in the woods". I bought a set of 10x42 Swarovski binos for going out west and they are phenomenal. I wouldn't go more than 10 power unless you wanted to use a tripod to steady them. 50mm brings in more light than 42mm, and better quality glass doesn't show up until the last 30 to 45 minutes of light.

You definitely get what you pay for quality wise.

Don't know how many pair of binos I've gone thru, but I've never before been even remotely pleased with anything under $200. My last pair were Steiner Wildlife Pros and I loved them until I sat in a stand all morning in a downpour forgetting they were hanging around my neck. I think those were the 3rd pair of "waterproof" binos that I've ruined in the rain.

So with my track record of trashing binos in the rain and dropping them out of treestands, I wasn't willing to spend what I did on the Steiners again. I ended up getting a pair of Redfield Rebel 8x32 ($130) that I've been really impressed with. Not too big to lug around hunting and nice and clear. My pond is about 200' from the house and these are fine for checking on things out there. I've always preferred lower magnification for in the woods, but If just for the pond, I would recommend going with something in 10x42 or 10x50. Certainly there's better glass out there, but for the money, the Redfields are hard to beat.

Buy Nikon and you can have them fixed for one-way shipping. I like Leopold scopes and Nikon binos.

I found this buying guide on the Cabela website. Cabela's has a sale now on a few of their binoculars including the Redfield Rebel. The Rebel gets very good reviews.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product_bgftrst_read_only.jsp?productId=531644

Top 10 if you can trust their opinion.
https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-binoculars?i...nQhgaAiOq8P8HAQ

Vortex Video also great reviews.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qidMxAc2Xfo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-weXBp2YeVQ

Very interesting and educational viewing for buying only one pair:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqmTvCLMtc

Nikon Prostaff 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iP-xG1Qm1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R3IolNZKmk

Vamaz - good to hear from you! How's everything at your place?

Thanks for all the inputs guys! Weighing all your comments in one hand and my wallet in the other, I ordered a set of the Nikon Prostaff7 10 x 42. Found them for 159.99 with free shipping at Camera Land thru Amazon.

That's what my wife has and she loves them. Prostaff is a great value. Entry level binos with decent coatings and glass.
(The coatings just help gather and focus light. The more light, the better the bino)
When you get them, let me know what you think!

That was one of the swing points for me. When you told me a woman was satisfied with them in your earlier post, I figured they are bound to be good and my wife will be happy with them too! I will definitely post a review after I receive them next week....or should I say her review!

Just to close the loop....Got the Prostaff Binos today. I am very happy with the quality of both the construction and the image. More importantly, the wife also gave them a stamp of approval so I guess I get to keep them!

Congrats! My daughter went on a field trip for her college class and used the school supplied binos. My poor spoiled little girl was shocked at the difference between Mom's binos and the Walmart specials that the school provided. Once you have good optics you will never be able to go back.

Update....Had mine a few days now. Deer at the pond tonight for their daily visit to get a drink. I could see they had mud on their feet! Turned the binos on a reflection on a neighbor's property that I have always wondered what it was. Turns out he has an old windmill laying at an angle and it was the vane used to keep it turned into the wind I was seeing.....I am sold!