Dear Gary & Tweeters,

I love my B&L 8x42 Elites. The features I most enjoy are:
-the close focus of about 5 feet (this, along with the 42mm objective lens, makes finding Tapaculos in thick roadside vegetation doable) ,
-the quick focus (focus close to distant with a small turn of the focus knob), and
-the easy roll down eye cups with great eye relief for eyeglass users.

I agree that in high end binocs personal preference is a large component of the choice, so trying them out is important. My Elites fit my hand and are comfortable which is so important when you are birding dawn to dusk.

I just saw them priced in the latest ABA Sales catalog for $895.

Happy shopping!
Sherry Anderson
Sequim, WA
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Bletsch
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 7:53 AM
Subject: binocular suggestion requested


Dear Tweeters,

I love my Swift 8.5 X 43 binoculars, nine years old
and still excellent, but am going to Costa Rica soon,
where it will rain some. The Swifts don't do well in
downpours.

I am planning on buying a pair of waterproof,
fogproof binoculars, 8 power or thereabouts (I find I
am not steady enough for 10-power).

Would any Tweeters care to offer suggestions?

Assuming the Chancellor of the Exchequer (AKA my
wife) gives me the green light, I can purchase some
expensive ones. Even so, I understand that there are
some for less than a thousand dollars that are just as
good as some of the $1500 ones.

Looking forward to your suggestions,

Gary Bletsch

PS I saw a phalarope at the little pond east of Lyman
yesterday. Unfortunately, a cow scared it off before I
could study it well. I presume it was a Wilson's
Phalarope. It was gone today.



=====

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com





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