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New Binoculars

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  • 10-02-2021 4:05pm
    #1
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,936 ✭✭✭


    Hi All

    I am looking for new binoculars for bird watching.

    There are some on the RSPB website but with Brexit now, it's impossible to order from them.

    Would anyone have any Irish sites that they have used or models that you would recommend?

    Thanks in advance.


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    #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,508 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    we bought a pair from birdwatch ireland - their shop is currently closed though, so you may have to wait for it to reopen. on their site it says it's due to both covid and brexit.


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    #3
    DeadSkin
    Registered Users Posts: 2,903 ✭✭✭DeadSkin


    Recently bought off https://agent74.ie/

    Very helpful guy based in Wicklow, only took a couple of days to ship.
    He's on adverts.ie too https://www.adverts.ie/shops/agent-74/


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    #4
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    i have these and they're excellent


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    #5
    Ulmus
    Registered Users Posts: 187 ✭✭Ulmus


    https://www.birdfood.ie/birdwatching/binoculars
    Kite binoculars are very good though I use an Opticron model, bought from UK long before Brexit.


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    #6
    Rosahane
    Registered Users Posts: 1,392 ✭✭✭Rosahane


    boccy23 wrote: »
    Hi All

    I am looking for new binoculars for bird watching.

    There are some on the RSPB website but with Brexit now, it's impossible to order from them.

    Would anyone have any Irish sites that they have used or models that you would recommend?

    Thanks in advance.

    Conns cameras are very good and will discuss and advise.

    https://connscameras.ie/binoculars-telescopes/binoculars/

    Basically with binoculars you get what you pay for. That said, Steiner and Opticron offer good value. I find that an 8x42 is the best for birdwatching.


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    #7
    Ish66
    Registered Users Posts: 462 ✭✭Ish66


    Argos have a great range, Some top brands too.

    https://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10152&catalogId=15051&langId=111&searchTerms=binoculars&authToken=-1002%252CTb6zd56kFOpztp1WPmC9rktuDxQ%253D


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    #8
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,508 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    That's quite a poor range tbf.

    @OP, I guess you know what you're looking for and what your budget is?


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    #9
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,936 ✭✭✭boccy23


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    That's quite a poor range tbf.

    @OP, I guess you know what you're looking for and what your budget is?

    I was looking at €200-€300, but in short, I have no real idea of what I am looking for. 8x or 10x seem to be favoured as they are a bit smaller for carrying around and easier to keep steady.

    But there are a lot of differences from there on, to which I have very little clue!


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    #10
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Have a look at this website, There are a number of factors which come into your choice and they are explained well.
    https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/


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    #11
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,508 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    we got opticron explorer bins in birdwatch - i think they were about €270. very happy with them; i'm sure you could get them cheaper elsewhere but we saw it as an opportunity to make a donation to BWI too.


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    #12
    raspberrypi67
    Registered Users Posts: 767 ✭✭✭raspberrypi67


    boccy23 wrote: »
    Hi All

    I am looking for new binoculars for bird watching.

    There are some on the RSPB website but with Brexit now, it's impossible to order from them.

    Would anyone have any Irish sites that they have used or models that you would recommend?

    Thanks in advance.


    I once wrote to Sir Patric Moore about Binoculars and the best pair to get and he wrote back with a lot of information, I was 12 at the time!! Now over 50...lol
    Anyway, he said to me, and it goes with bird watching too, so Ive found out...8x50 or 10 x 50 are the best. He reccommended getting good optics. He also reccommended that the lenses be strapped in and not glued in. Not sure if thats important noadays!! Also he said, and this was important, if you hold the pair of Bin' up and look through the WIDE end at arms length, you should see a perfect circle..if you dont, it means that the lenses have not enough space inside the cavity...Possibly this was with the cheaper makes back then.

    Hope this helps....


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    #13
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    ^^^^

    you have a written signed letter from Sir Patrick Moore??

    worth a few bob today i reckon?


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    #14
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,508 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i'd suggest 50mm lenses are much more useful for stargazing, and not as important for birdwatching where you may be walking around with them; they'll be heavier and more cumbersome.


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    #15
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,936 ✭✭✭boccy23


    Went for these in the end:

    https://www.whelancameras.ie/endurance-10x42-binocular-green

    Thanks for all the advice.


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    #16
    rivermisty
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭rivermisty


    boccy23 wrote: »
    Went for these in the end:

    https://www.whelancameras.ie/endurance-10x42-binocular-green

    Thanks for all the advice.

    Have you received them yet? I'd be interested in your opinion.


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    #17
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,936 ✭✭✭boccy23


    rivermisty wrote: »
    Have you received them yet? I'd be interested in your opinion.

    Believe it or not, they arrived broken. Organising a replacement pair now.


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    #18
    raspberrypi67
    Registered Users Posts: 767 ✭✭✭raspberrypi67


    fryup wrote: »
    ^^^^

    you have a written signed letter from Sir Patrick Moore??

    worth a few bob today i reckon?




    Pitty I cant find it!!!


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