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I have this old Leitz Trinovid 8x40 B. They are old, from the early 90's and I inherited them. Still a very nice image and the package size is good.

I have a big camera lens for birdwatching and animal photos. I am considering putting an ironsight or a red-dot sight on my camera so I can line up the lens faster. Does this seem retarded or is it this a viable thing?
Do they make sights that attack to a hot shoe on a camera

how much difference is a prism vs lens only small monocular

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>>2859136
Not sure, but I think you can have less glass/weight in a prism and they are cheaper.

>>2859228
prism ones aren't cheaper

>>2859038
I had that idea too, I can't say if it's a good idea because I haven't done it yet. I was planning to attach it to the tripod foot.

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I bought a cheap "night vision" camera to look at foxes and rabbits on the property at night, for how cheap it is I can't complain, you can see around 100 metres/109 yards and can record video with it if you insert an micro SD card and can swap the 18650 battery out if need be.

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>>2859365
Here's what it records, forgive the shakiness I was recording with one hand held up over the fence trying not to spoop the bunny that was around 50 metres away.

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>>2858968

Have set of vintage Nikon 7x21. Yard sale buy, $5. lightweight and small, fantastic optics. Web pic, not mine.

>>2859038
Your camera should have a built-in distance marker. My Canon has a button that you press and lines just show up on your screen for a quicker capture.
Look in your camera's manual.

I own some relatively cheap Nikon binos. Nothing worth sharing, but what I do want to take a second to mention are the SIG Zulus. I work in a sporting goods store. Whenever I have to cover the area that includes optics, I always play with those I was reading the clock in a building across the street,something I couldn't do with $3000+ Swarovskis. This was all because of the auto stabilization. I don't own any and have no need for them, but they are just so cool. I fish a lot, hunt a little, and take nature walks. Maybe, I'd get some use out of them if I bought them.

I have a pair of Swarovski SLC 10x42 binoculars.
They are very good, and were very expensive, but when I got them and started using them, they were honestly worth the price.
I bought them for hunting, and keep them in a Kuiu binocular bag for that. It's easier to carry for extended periods than the strap you get with them.
For regular hiking, I don't bring them. I just don't see that I would get much use out of them for that.
For a riflescope, I have a 1997-model Swarovski Habicht 2,5-10x42 I bought used. Doesn't have illumination or anything, but it does the job even when there's poor shooting light. I recently had it serviced, and I should say it's ready for many more years to come. I don't do much rifle hunting anymore, so it's mostly just for target shooting and the odd seal hunt. I had a Zeiss Conquest 3-12x50 scope on my last rifle, and that was also a fairly good scope, even if it looked bloody ridiculous with how fat it was.

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tell me everything you know about sight levels. i would use one for being sure which peak or boulder is the highest on a mountain

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>>2858968
I use these swaro ELs for stargazing and birbs. They're amazing, especially in low light that's when pricey glass really stands out. Also looking thru them for long periods of time, less eye strain. Don't have money just worked overtime and saved for them.

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I got these Vortex 10x42s on sale at Costco last year. They're no Zeiss or Swarovski but they're really good for the money and a decent compromise between size/weight and optics.

>>2861306
Does that latch on the case ever come open spontaneously? I was looking to get a soft case for my binos but the closing mechanism on that one put me off.

>>2861306
>good for the money
literally all I've ever heard about these, I got the exact same pair

>>2861382
Honestly I haven't really used the case much, I usually just have them on a strap.

>>2861385
Yeah, that's pretty much Vortex in general, they doo make some high-end stuff but mostly they're all about bang for the buck.

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>>2858968
I have a cheap night vision monocular, a PARD 007 V2. It works perfectly for what I need it to do, namely scout out the nearby fields for foxes, badgers and wabbits. It also works great for looking at the night sky even though the resolution isn't really ideal.
Honestly for the price it is a damn good piece of technology, I have also done some night hiking with it, obviously you can not hold it on your eye for hours, but it helps finding the way the path curves if you want to hide from people.

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>>2858968
(1 of 2)

My 1st pair of binos is a Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42, got off Craigslist for $90 used, in excellent shape. Probably use it the most, just because I'd be less concerned if something happened to it.

I also used to own a Vortex Solo monocular, in 8x36, it was great but looking with one eye always gave me a headache so I sold it.

>>2858968
>>2863080
(2 of 2)
My 2nd pair of bins is a Nikon Monarch M7 8x42, got new from REI with my annual 20% off coupon. Love it, though the rubber armor feels very cheap, cheaper than my older ATB 8x42. But the glass is great.

I have a bulb blower, soft brush, Zeiss cleaning wipes, microfiber cleaning cloth, cleaning solution, the whole shebang. Usually just hit them with the bulb blower after use, but clean them when needed, I keep my stuff clean.

Would love some alpha level glass, but just can't justify paying for it when I'm satisfied with what I already have.

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>>2863083
forgot pic

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>>2858968
I see everything

>>2859038
>Do they make sights that attack to a hot shoe on a camera
https://explore.omsystem.com/no/en/ee-1-dot-sight

>>2863099
here's some video reviews btw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG3sH6IgnBQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odjsRoNr2Lg

I recently received a cheap chinese monocular as a gift. A feemic 8x42. It's pretty basic but I'm never really used one before so I'm having fun playing around with it. How do you use yours/what cool things can I look at with it? I've never really been interested in bird watching but maybe I just need to give it a shot?

>>2863655
The other day I was watching a downy woodpecker jumping around and then he took off, but he took off by just jumping off the branch and free falling like a little ball for like ten feet straight down then swooped to a branch.
It was delightful and I laughed out of surprise.

>>2863655
you can read text from afar number plates etc recognize people or just snoop on them

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Not sure if this is the right place to ask this and I pretty much know nothing about optics but hey
Sister is going on a trip to Canada with her family soon'ish, her daughter (my niece) has her birthday coming up and one of the things her mom put on the wishlist is a cheap pair of child friendly binoculars, primarily to use in Canada during the trip (but perhaps also for forest walks or just messing around in the yard).
I thought it'd be a cool gift and a big departure from the normal book/toy gifts but the linked ones are sold out (and I doubt they were chosen on anything more than a quick search).
How do you guys feel about cheap'ish binoculars aimed at children? I was considering picking up these (8x21) which seem to get decent reviews on amazon and seem to come from China, judging by the fact there's two different brands selling nearly identical versions (and the fact they're sold on ali)

Should I just expect any cheap binoculars to be a complete waste of money or do you think it should fare well for someone that doesn't expect too much and has no prior experience with them?

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>Hawke Nature Trek 10x25
Any good or is there something similar? Had binos crack once so I'd like lens covers.

Super cheap toyish binoculars are a waste of money, but some $30-40 pairs are pretty good for the price. They will at least have real albeit budget glass quality and engineering which will make them completely incomparible with toy binoculars. Look at something like Carson Stinger 8x22

>>2860343
Cool way to cosplay as wall-e.

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>>2858968
A good deal right now are the surplus M24 compact binoculars, if you are'nt bothered by the ranging scale.
The're usually under $200.00 and often in the ballpark of $120.00.

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Just copped these, they seem pretty nice for being $140. My only regret is I thought 10x42 would be best for general use but I realized Id probably want to carry them hiking most frequently. I might exchange them for a more compact 8x30 or something. Does anyone have recommendations for sizes ?

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My Celestron 25x70 had the lens fall out after years of use. Way too much zoom to use without a tripod. The entire reason to go out is use them. Very cool though. Looking at birds, the moon, people just going about their day a mile away. 25x is even strong enough to make out Jupiter and its belt of moons as a line of dots.

Not sure what the replacement I got for my birthday is called right now. The smaller ones posted in here seem nice to have as well.

>>2865118
Stick with 8x42 for general use binoculars. Easy to hold steady, bright image, forgiving of eye placement, does just about everything. 10x42 is too tiring to hold steady to enjoy.

I am completely new to binoculars, but I would like a pair for looking around with whilst hiking in the mountains. what brands should i look for / avoid? and how does the tradeoff between size/weight and image work?

>>2865314
The quick rundown is that 8x42 or 10x42 is the top end of "compact" but 8x32 is true compact as in noticeably smaller and more importantly lighter. 8x32 is probably the best iwhen size/weight to performance goes. It also has a big field of view. However... if you want very good low light performance go with the 42s. You can see tree bark detail at dusk and dawn. Tldr; 8x32 if you want true compacts to carry on your body, but go 42s if you want compactish that you carry in a backpack. 8x42 if you don't have steady hands, but 10x42 if you have steady hands. Bak4 prisms are excellent sub $200. I have carson rd 10x42 that are essentially vortex diamondback hd clones and they have shockingly good glass for the $115 sale price I got them at years ago. The vortex diamondback hd go on sale all the time for like $150 via coupons on places like opticsplanet.

>>2865314
Btw I just saw that the carson rd 10x50 is like $130 on amazon right now for so.e reason. They are not compact, but they would be unbeatable at that price. If you want compact, check out the 10x34.s which are $130

>>2865315
>>2865317
if you mind it being compact or not, shouldn't you just go for monoculars? you get better quality in half the size. and i would guess they are cheaper too

>>2865365
No. Monoculars are not comfortable for anything but quick glances. Having both eyes open is more natural. And they aren't actually cheaper for the same quality because they are more niche and less produced at large scale.

>>2859366
>>2859365
Model name & price pls mite get one too

>>2865485
ELOSUNG 28340 I think, I can only find it in aussie online stores not amazon or ariexpless

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My sick father in law gifted me these Steiner Marine Military 10×50 binoculars on easter because he thinks he is dying. Very good for viewing far distances but not great for things up close because you have to focus each lens separately. I like these a lot but its a bit overkill for birdwatching. Beats the Bushnells I got for 60 bucks. Thanks dad get well soon.

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>>2865633
Well I've already put the new binoculars to good use. Went outside with binoculars at about 1 am cause the moon should be coming out soon. I see three sketchy dudes with flashlights digging through neighbor's trash. Filmed the whole thing through binoculars. Didn't bother calling cops cause I knew they wouldn't get here in time to do anything. I'll let the neighbors know in the morning. I love living in Memphis

>>2865654
lmao anon found some narcs/informants

careful reporting it to your neighbors, they're drug dealers

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How do I take birb pics without buying actual photo gear that's super expensive? Using phone camera through binoculars is extremely impractical

>>2865731
Dress up as a bird and have someone take a picture of you

>>2865731
>How do I take birb pics without buying actual photo gear that's super expensive?
idk, get cheap, 2nd hand camera and telephoto lens?

>>2865891
how about you don't answer a question with a question, faggot.

>>2865941
how about you go suck you own dick?

>>2865978
no, i won't because i'm not a faggot who wishes other men to do that to fuel some sick fetish

>>2865731
You can get adapters that help line your phone up with your binoculars, but it's more common to digiscope through larger telescopes, like spotting scopes.
Getting the alignment just so is one part of it, the other is to hold it steady enough.
If you want to take good pictures, it's probably best to get a real camera. The good thing is, good cameras have been available for an alright price for a long while now. Buy used, buy yesteryear's model, or the model before that. I still have my Canon 550D, and it takes perfectly alright pictures.