I have some amazing views from my new home in Oregon but I'd sure love a pair of binoculars that I could look at the mountains around me and even some of the lights that I see so far away I think it would just be fun to see where they're coming from Plus from my balcony I can actually see I-5 I don't know I just think a pair of binoculars would be fun and a lot easier than the telescopes I have which I have to either give away or sell probably give away that's just easier
I received a pair as a gift for my 35th work anniversary, in 2004. They are made by Pentax (10x42 DCF HR II). We used them for bird watching, mainly. Somewhere they were dropped and a lens moved. I sent them in for repair and they were repaired and returned (limited lifetime warranty). The still hang by the kitchen door and we still watch watch the birds. They have become old, reliable friends, that hang around the kitchen. The magnification is amazing! Since I have retired (2007), I have also used them to observe linemen working on the poles on both roads and the dairy farmer working on in the fields and on the hills around us. We also do some cow- watching!
@Joe Riley !! Thanks so much! I will look and see if I can find a similar "pentax" brand! These look smaller too as it's hard for me to hold up too heavy a pair I just think it would be fun to see our beautiful hills closer since I know I won't get out there much anymore Birds fascinate me as well, so I probably could see a lot of interesting things. If they are light enough, I could wear them when I go for my hikes around the area I live in. lots of streets that go uphill, and at the top I can even see more of the hills, mountains, and lots of trees huge trees in the neighborhood as well Here's a pic taken from my balcony, just a little of the area I have to look at, denise
The first pair I saw on Amazon look good and a couple good reviews. I think the weight is really good for me at 0.65 lbs. Not sure but I've heard tinted ones are best, and also, eye-relief. The last pair I tried I had to send back for a couple reasons. The main reason was when I held them to my eyes, I'd get that "shadow" I think that happens when your eyes are too close?? I'm not real edgee'cated on these little contraptions. Sorry bout the huge link, just how it came out What do you think about this set Joe, or anyone that knows a bit about these things? https://www.amazon.com/Pentax-8-5x21-U-Papilio-Binocular/dp/B00SKO4AUY/
10X can get shaky views when hand held. 7X might be better for you if hand held. Consider a tripod too. No shakiness.
Thanks Ed, I'll take my time studying anything I get here, or online. I saw one negative review that made me a little concerned, because I think some folks get payed for "good" reviews. What a world hey, all about money. But also, I was a little concerned that so many were saying that the magnifying of close-up things was so good, and I want a pair for longer distances. Not sure how far away those hills are, for example, in my photo. Not good at measuring distance without driving it, or a measuring tape
I like my monopod: It collapses so you can carry it like an umbrella, and it doubles as a walking stick. I got it when I was filming a family of owls in my backyard, and had my camera attached to a tripod. When they flew off, I could not follow them with the camera because the tripod had it stuck in one position. The monopod lets you pivot in a bunch of directions but still stabilizes the image. The one I got is no longer available, but here's a similar one on Amazon for $20. I don't know if binoculars have an attachment point for these. Mine don't, but you could rest the binoculars on top. Keep in mind that monopods and tripods are generally no more than 5 feet to 5 1/2 feet tall, so you would have to crouch (or sit) to use the cheap ones. There are some that extend up to 6' tall, but the price gets around $100. If I was gonna use it for binoculars, I'd get a tall one, unless I was real short.
I'm five too John so I'm not sure how this works with a set of binoculars I'll look it up see if I can find a video on how how they work I'm sure they'll be one seems like there's a video for everything thanks much for the info
This is like the set I bought about a year ago. They’re inexpensive, do the job and I like the center touch focus on them.
I'll check them out Bobby, especially for "weight of" and also that shadow I get when I've tried some binos, I think which has to do with eye-relief. or it might be the vignetting I see the definition of by googling the word.
Do the binoculars that give you the eye problem let you set the spacing between your eyes (in other words, does one or both tube swivel), or are they a fixed spacing from each other?
I'll show you the pair I ordered before and sent back that did this John better that you just see them and maybe you'll know what I'm talking about cuz I don't even know what I'm talking about haha I'll be back in a minute
The distance between the centers of our eyes is called "Interpupillary Distance" (IPD, or sometimes just IP). Some binoculars have a fixed IPD, while other binoculars have an adjustable IPD. The Nikon 7237 binoculars you posted have an adjustable IPD range of 56mm-72mm (the same as my binoculars.) It's possible that you need an IPD smaller than 56mm so that both pupils are centered on the eyepieces. (Were you aware that you could adjust the distance between the lenses by squeezing the barrels together/pulling them apart?) Here's an article on IPD. It tells you how to make this measurement for your own eyes. You could also stop by an eyeglass shop and ask them to take this measurement for you. If I were you--given the vision issue you had with those binoculars--I'd measure my IPD before I went shopping.
Yes, I know about the changing the distance between lenses, and squeezing/pulling them apart. Sounds good John, I will see if I can have that done at the place I get my Glasses. I don't have to wear my glasses, thank goodness, when I use binoculars. I only need reading and faraway now help so I decided on bifocals since I couldn't stand the weirdness of progressives.