Bird Watching Binoculars and Telescopes

Binoculars are all about personal satisfaction. If you like the piece, then that's the one for you!

The best way to test a pair of binoculars is to look at a crow against light. More the purple fringing, the inferior the binocular optics are. Rest is all about built quality, feel on hand, angle of view, eye relief, etc.

A good image in low light will be dictated by

1. Size of the objective lens

2. The quality of all the optical elements ( lenses) - glass, coatings and design

3. The baffling and darkening of the tubes so that there  are no reflections from the tubes

4. The quality of the prisms - glass, design and precision, coatings on the prism especially the reflective coatings.

5. Eyepiece design and exit pupil

I checked the price of a Zeiss SFL 40 on amazon India 1.62 L or so. Given that high price, probably one is better off looking around. Also, those who intend to get into the alpha binocular world may like to check the prices of Trinovid, Ultravid, and Noctivid lines from Leica.

What to buy? Budget option roof prism or Porro prism 

During our tours, we used Vanguard Spirit XF 8x42 and Nikon Action 10x50. The Vanguard Spirit XF 8x42 is a roof prism, lightweight binocular. It can be operated by one hand. However, the optics quality is poor and you can’t properly see the detailed features of a bird. Though it is light, it doesn’t serve its purpose. Smart looks are not always good.

However, this Nikon Action 10x50 with Porro prism is optically astounding but heavier and bulkier. Also, it requires two hands to operate which is a big disadvantage over the Vanguard Spirit. But still, our selection would be the Nikon Action 10x50! Because, in the end, it is the visual delight that a birdwatcher would expect. Just not the smart look of the binoculars! 

Binocular Buying Suggestion 

Those looking for binoculars at a low price point should consider Porro prism binoculars over roof prism. From the same price range, Porro prism binos offer a better price-to-performance ratio than inexpensive roof prisms. 

Zeiss Binoculars over others, as it has a History

Let's find out what it is actually about. In the world of optics, one brand enjoys visibility like none other and that is Zeiss. A German company, one of the earliest manufacturers of optics and certainly binoculars, Zeiss has a pedigree that goes back to the 1800s. Many optical formulae, phenomena and designs used in lenses and prisms today have their genesis in research fostered by Zeiss. After the second world war, the original Zeiss works in Jena, went under Soviet and then East German influence. Carl Zeiss Jena grew to become a behemoth - a massive company that ended up being unmanageable. The fall of the Berlin wall saw Zeiss Jena’s disintegration. However, while it existed some of the best post-war optics, especially binoculars, came from their stable.

Carl Zeiss West Germany had to make a new start and was allowed to start manufacturing in the mid-1950s. Functioning in a market economy, they were more flexible and autonomous and soon Carl Zeiss West Germany became synonymous with quality. Sometime in the 2000s, Jena ceased to exist and Carl Zeis became Zeiss. Then there was competition from Swarovski Optik of Austria and Leica of Germany. Zeiss brought back manufacturing to Germany with the introduction of the Victory FL line, the sub-alpha Conquest line, and the budget Terra line. 

 

Conquest HD 10x42 binoculars 

Physics says that the larger the objective, the more the light-gathering capacity. All other things being equal, a 40mm objective will lead to a brighter image and yes the 42mm HD Conquest is much brighter than 30mm Swarovski CL Companions. At 795 gms this is indeed light in weight. 

Eye relief is excellent at 18mm and an exit pupil diameter of ~ 4mm is perfect for aging eyes. The eye cups twist out and stay put when out. The dioptre connection is on the right barrel, and the ring appeared stiff enough to prevent accidental changes during regular use, neither too smooth nor too hard.

Reds were red & whites were white. A very slight blue cast helps attenuate the whites and reds. In comparison, Nikon Prostaff is much brighter, more neutral, and slightly more contrasty. The sweet spot is generous and the very slight softening towards the edge can be focused in. Images are pin sharp in the center. The closest it can focus is 2 mts which is top-notch. The barrels allow a righthander 3-finger grip bringing the first finger straight onto the focusing wheel. 

In Zeiss's brochure, they mention the T* coating here is applied on the prism. Zeiss says, Lotutec is a coating applied to external lens surfaces to allow water to drain off easily and it is anti-reflective.

A grippy armor, but it attracts dust. The objective covers are typical rubber and the eyepiece cover is ordinary with a loop at one end for attachment to a strap. It has the option to carry on the neck or can be harnessed from the shoulders. Big relief for most of the birdwatchers! However, the carrying case could have been a hard clamshell case just like mid-budget Terra for safer carrying.

At approximately Rs 1 lakhs - this is binocular for a serious birdwatcher. Go for it! 

 

Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 - The Spotting Scope

We would love to share some user experience with the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 that we use for our birdwatching tours in Sikkim.

This is a magnesium body with very compact dimensions and lightweight, easy-to-carry spotting scope for all sorts of birding landscapes in Sikkim. For ergonomics, the large focus ring really helps in quick focus adjustments. And all you experience is an exceptionally precise and brighter and clearer picture through the HD lens system. The lotutec coating on the object side lens element keeps it water-repellent, as you need for water-drenched birding in the monsoon of Sikkim hills. In the box, it says T*; which means you experience brilliant high-contrast images even under adverse light conditions. 

Coming to specifications; it has a 30-60X magnification power and an exit pupil diameter of ~ 2.8mm to 1.4mm. At 1700gm, this is a lightweight spotting scope. It wouldn’t bother any young birdwatcher to carry it for a full day of birding. It has a longish slender barrel, 396mm, and feels very easy to rest and roll the left hand over the focus ring. The dioptre adjustment is inside the focuser. Adjusting the dioptre is little doodles as anything but stays put once set. 

30-60x is a lot of room and a very good magnification. However, in the extremities beyond 50x, it shows a lot of chromatic aberration. During our tours we try to keep it not beyond 50x; unless required. We conduct our birding tours in varied weather from the cold and snowy weather of north Sikkim to the tropical sun in south Sikkim. So we experience glares due to low sun in higher elevations and perform better in mid to lower altitudes. The rubber coat on magnesium armor is good enough for our cold weather. 

It has a tripod mount. Fit and finish it on top of a Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod with a fluid head video mount. The fluid head mount from Manfrotto, let our scope play a lot easier. The entire setup is lighter. However, you can opt for PD carbon fiber tripod models as well.

The package doesn’t come with an ever-ready carry case. However, keep this also when you frequently carry it over your shoulder. The objective cover is loose and prone to get lost. The eye-piece cover is attached to straps with loopholes that tie it.

The field of vision at 30x is 33 meters against 1000 meters and goes up to 60x for 23 meters against 1000 meters. It is very sharp and pin-pointed at the center but blurs out at 60x at the edges.  

So who buys this?  Definitely, a super serious birdwatcher who would love to get a wholesome experience. With all the accessories it is over 2.5 lakhs. 

Send us queries about the binoculars and spotting scopes that you want to buy from India. We would love to reply to you.