I've noticed some grease on the lenses, it doesn't affect the image but I'm still trying to wipe it off, I'm guessing it's from an eyelash or a finger accidentally touching it. Can you help me, thanks guys!

I am just buying cheap used different styles of binos out of curiosity to try them out and figure out what i want. Now I have 10-30x60 and I kinda like the zoom feature for a tripod in the backpack. But the center focus + diopter doesnt make sense because at different zoom levels I gotta adjust the diopter again so it would be simpler to just focus each eye every time. I can tolerate more weight so i guess 8-30x70 would be ideal.

im looking to buy a binoculars for star gazing mostly. im thinking of buying this one but idk if it's any good?
https://www.amazon.in/HETVIN-Telescope-Binoculars-Stargazing-Binocular/dp/B0BSS7WKMG

Found these for about 6$, cant find anything about them.

are they good? was it a score?

https://preview.redd.it/ckzixr17x4ge1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67e148e32c58240f67dfd50a7b7071c55d05dbaa

https://preview.redd.it/9r6s8q07x4ge1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5922f58b6a3f3af0391b7a662f7c00d9836d476

https://preview.redd.it/89052q07x4ge1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1e9bb9e892895aa2b40d1c5bf5ffb5f3c595b04

https://preview.redd.it/zmnq9r07x4ge1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa31561907b83870be8947650eea3bc1a8481299

TL/DR: is modern Nikon objective build quality just terrible?

Hey, y'all. Looking for some advice and to see if anyone has had similar experience. I just got my first set of binoculars in the mail this evening - brand new Nikon Monarch M7 10x42. I was really perplexed by the right lens system not focusing. I took them outside and was finally able to achieve focus but when I lowered the binoculars and brought them back to my eye, they were defocused - one side different from the other. Now that I am back inside I can hear and see one of the internal lens groups shifting forward and back in the right lens system when I tilt the binoculars. Clearly something has come disconnected from the focus mechanism.

I plan to return them, but here's where I have concern. I'm a photographer by profession, and have been a Nikon loyalist for years. Most of the lenses I use are vintage, but I do have two modern Nikon lenses. The newest of which (two different copies of the 58mm F1.4G), have broken on me each time I have owned the lens. I'll admit, I can be rough on my photography gear, but the second time the lens broke, it was from simply rolling out of my bag at an event. Both times, the failure was the same. The focusing element group came dislodged from the focusing mechanism and was just free floating. In my two separate instances of owning that lens, I was able to fix the issue, but I can't help but worry that this is something endemic to modern Nikon lens manufacturing. I know these are very highly regarded binoculars, but I'm pretty shocked at how a lens element would come dislodged so easily in it's original packaging, as I can't imagine it left the factory this way. Similarly, a camera lens built for professionals shouldn't break when rolling out of a camera bag (ask the leicas that I have dropped numerous times on concrete).

Has anyone else had a similar experience with Nikons? Even if I received a working pair after the return, I'd be concerned that the slightest fall or bump could cause the same issue.

Thanks, y'all.

I am leaning toward getting the Curio 7x21 and have looked at the following places:

cameralandny, eurooptics, bhphotovideo, midwayusa.com, dvor.com, amazon and adorama.

Midwayusa is the only one that has a lower price on the open box black curio 7x21, not the burnt orange color that I would like to get.

For a higher end binocular, is there a particular online retailer that is better or are they all the same? or should I just buy from the SWAROVSKI OPTIK North America online shop?

I am leaning toward getting the Curio 7x21 and have looked at the following places:

cameralandny, eurooptics, bhphotovideo, midwayusa.com, dvor.com, amazon and adorama.

Midwayusa is the only one that has a lower price on the open box black curio 7x21, not the burnt orange color that I would like to get.

For a higher end binocular, is there a particular online retailer that is better or are they all the same? or should I just buy from the SWAROVSKI OPTIK North America online shop?

After a lot of research I ended up picking up both Nikon 8x30 M7 Monarch and the Vortex 8x32 Diamondback HD for field tests

Here are my results

1. Contrast and Color - Nikon M7 wins this area. You see a noticeable difference in punchy colors and contrast

2. Price - Vortex wins. $159 (on sale) vs Nikon's $426 (on sale).

3. Field of view - Tie. Both have a very good field of view. However, I noticed the compression and DOF was slightly better in Nikon. But only slight. So tie in my opinion

4. Stabilization - Vortex wins slightly on this. Must be the larger diameter on the objective lens (32 Vortex vs 30 in Nikon).

5. Looks and build quality - Tie. Vortex looks solid with its green color and also lighter than Nikon M7. I think Vortex wins here

6. Clarity and Brightness - Both are almost identical. But Nikon M7 looks brighter in low light must be the contrast effect

7. Chromatic Aberration - Nikon WINS by a big margin. This is one aspect of Vortex that kept annoying me the most. Purple fringes around the tree branches and backlit conditions were annoying. Unlike cameras you cannot correct it either! Nikon Monarch M7 had almost no color fringing in comparison.

8. Close focus - Vortex wins. Just slightly better than M7s.

It was split between the Vortex and M7 on which one to retain in the end. I love the Vortex for its price point and features. However, the Chromatic Aberration issue and contrast and color of M7 pushed me to retaining the Nikon instead.

For someone on budget Vortex might be a better choice, if they are willing to accept the CA issue.

For me, having used high end photography gear and looking for the best possible views thru the binoculars, viewing quality of M7 worked better.

Just recently bought these on eBay from Austria to Canada. They have the clearest optics I’ve ever seen through a pair of bins. We spied a bald eagle soaring over the wilderness amongst the cliffs! We watched him fly all the way out to the bay. Swarovski quality really is the best!

Hello all,

I would be grateful for a recommendation for really cheap (around 60 eur) 8x42 binoculars for a safari. I am based in Europe, therefore Amazon or another European retailer is important. I wear eyglasses.

Right now, looking at Amazon's best sellers list, I am considering Pentax Jupiter 8x40 vs. Bushnell Falcon 7x35 vs. Celestron 71252 UpClose G2 8 x 40 vs. PRAKTICA Falcon WA 8x40. Or are they all gonna be equally bad? :)

As an option, I can see used Leitz Wetzlar trinovid 7x35B for around 100 eur in excellent condition sold locally.

Thank you for any thoughts.

I need advice choosing bins. I read a lot of reviews, and these 3 always make the top of the list. Can someone help me? My budget is around 500 euros. I will use them for general use and to take with me on hikes.

Hello lovely binocular users,

I've recently decided to start observing night sky a little closer without much of an equipment needed. I am aware of what are the capabilities of a binocular that is able to show. I learned so much about binoculars along the search, like diameters, magnification, pupil exit, prism types etc.

Unfortunetly I'm tight on the budget, (one of the reaons why I can't go with a telescope) so I have came up with these 4 products that are available in my
country for sale. I'm open for your thoughts and choices.

Here's the list:
-Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 Porro
-Celestron Cometron 7x50 Porro
-Bresser Hunter 10x50 Porro
-Bresser Hunter 7x50 Porro

They all roughly have the same properties and same price. I still can't decide whether to go with 7x or 10x. I know that with 7x I will have less shake and better exit pupil while 10x has more magnification. Some people seem to be alright with 10x

Hello all, I recently hired a pair of binoculars at my local nature reserve (RSPB Harriers, 8x42) and found I couldn't look through them for more than a few seconds without feeling nauseous. I'm quite prone to travel sickness and vertigo so maybe it's something to do with the signals my eyes are sending to my brain. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and what to do about it.

My wife is interested in birding, and since her birthday is coming up I want to get her started with a pair of binoculars. I have done some basic research, but I am a bit overwhelmed. My ideal budget is $150, but I will go up to $200 if it makes a difference. My limited research suggests 8x42 is where I want to be. The Nikon Prostaff P7 seems to get a lot of love here. Celestron Nature DX ED have a nice sale on Amazon, and Vortex gets great reviews but Reddit seems torn at best.

I don’t understand your fancy words like roof prism (I googled that one and kinda get it) so explain it like I’m 5.

Thanks.

Update: After lots of research and agonizing, I decided to get the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x32. They were $175 shipped from B&H Photo. As many of you pointed out, they are lighter and easier to carry. The warranty is also a big plus because we have little kids and just maybe my wife will share with them.

Big thanks to this amazing community and everyone who took the time to respond.

Swarovski

Just purchased a used SkyMaster 15x70 binoculars. Never owned one before. When I turn the focus wheel only the right eyepiece moves forwards and back with adjustment of the focuser. The left eyepiece stays in place so it seems always slightly out of focus. Why is the left eyepiece not moving with right? Any ideas on how to fix this? When I searched for answers I only found that there seems to be adjustments that can be made to this model for the purpose of improving astronomy viewing, but have found nothing on why the left eye piece might become stationary. Did something get adjusted on this binocular that is locking the left eyepiece from traveling with the right eyepiece? Any ideas on a fix?

Does anyone have a copy of the manual for these binoculars? I've searched relentlessly across the internet, but I've been unable to find the manual for this specific pair.

I'd need either this, or more comprehensive specifications (such as its IPD).

I am new this field and am looking to pick up my first set of binoculars. I intend to use these primarily during hiking and camping trips (for nature viewing and stargazing) as well as for shooting (primarily 100-200 meters).

As this is my first pair, I am still learning and figuring out what exactly I need, like, and dislike, so I am working with a limited budget of 100 USD.

I was largely settled on a pair of Fujinons, but am now debating a couple of other options and am hoping that someone who is far more knowledgeable than me may have some insight or experiences to share. I have also looked at models from Nikon, Hawke, Celestron, Viking, etc. but they generally exceeded my budget for this first pair, were difficult to obtain, etc. With that said, I am open to other suggestions.

1. Fujinon KF 10x42 H-R II (100 USD): The original choice, they seem to meet most of my requirements and are good quality for the price point. They're durable/compact enough for hiking, sufficient for shooting/stargazing, and made in the Philippines by Kenko (I prefer to avoid made in China).
2. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 (135-150 USD for the OPMOD version): Often recommended, they have dielectric coating and a better/easier warranty. With that said, they are made in China and even at the sale price of 135 for the not-ideal OPMOD version, are still over my budget. There would need to be a pretty significant difference for me to justify the cost difference with the Fujinon.
3. Pentax 8.5x21 Papilio II (100 USD): Well regarded and loved, I will likely get these eventually regardless for the close focus and compactness alone, but I am concerned they won't be great for stargazing and are not waterproof/durable enough for more rigorous backpacking or shooting.

Any thoughts or experiences with these units (or in general) would be greatly appreciated, particularly regarding what kind of tangible differences I might see between the three, as an amateur. Thanks in advance.

Our 10 year old daughter has recently taken a passion to astronomy and I can't decide which out of the following would be best for her?

Vortex Optics Bantam HD 6.5x32 Youth Binoculars

Opticron 30687 Adventurer T WP 8x42 Binocular, Black

Oberwerk 6.5x32 Explore Binocular - Professional Binculars

Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 Swarovski curio 7x21

I’m going to a mountain range and I want to experience all it has to offer. I’m considering nocs provisions or Nikon because I get discounts at both places. Which from both would be best suited for nature/landscape and animal watching around the $100-200 dollar price range? Thanks!