I picked up the sweetest pair of Pentax 16 X 32s that only have the
stability and depth of field issues. Feather light and way brighter than
I figured they were going to be. They are definitely not good for close
up work but usually a bird that close can be ID'd by eye.

These bins were being cleared for C$59.00. I just about fell over when I
saw how well they worked. I had a pair of 8 X 32s in the same body that
epitomized all the bad things about compact binoculars but not these 16
X 32s.

Roger Craik
Maple Ridge BC

Michael Hobbs wrote:
> Rob - the thing about choosing binoculars is that it's incredibly
> personal.
> Buying binos is like buying shoes - someone else can't easily pick out a
> pair that will be comfortable for you.
>
> The downsides to 10x include:
> Increased weight
> Increased shakiness of the image
> Smaller field of view
> Dimmer image and/or smaller exit pupil and/or reduced depth of field
>
> For me personally, my hands are very steady, my arms are strong
> enough, and
> my facility with aiming binoculars and finding the bird is great
> enough that
> the first three are not a problem for me. For other people, one or
> more of these downsides may make 10x either less desirable or
> completely impossible.
>
> The fourth bullet point above can't be much more specific because, for
> the designers, there are trade-offs involved. They can improve some
> of these items (along with the field of view), but only at the expense
> of other of these items.
>
> Again, for me personally, I find I actually prefer a reduced depth of
> field, so I was able to find a pair which is pretty good on the other
> two. That works for me.
>
> With all of the downsides, what's the advantage? Well, IF THEY WORK
> FOR YOU, then 10x do give noticeably more magnification and a greater
> ability to resolve details. I CAN see more details on distant birds
> (or smaller details on closer birds). There are birds that I would
> not be able to identify with 8x. Also, in general viewing, the 10x
> binoculars make all the birds seem a bit closer, which can increase
> one's pleasure at viewing.
>
> I therefore recommend that people TRY both the 8x and 10x versions of
> any binoculars they are considering. You may well decide that the
> pair you like best is an 8x pair. But you might find a 10x pair that
> feels as comfortable, in which case you should give those serious
> consideration.
>
> Any hard-and-fast rules of choosing binoculars are probably wrong...
> "10x is best", "8x is best", "Buy the best glass you can afford",
> "You have to spend a lot to get a decent pair", etc. About the only
> one that I've felt really holds all the time is that an objective lens
> smaller than about 35mm is simply too small, period. And therefore
> most compact binoculars really don't work for birding. (Having said
> that, someone will probably chime in to say how happy they are with
> some particular pair of compacts...)
>
> == Michael Hobbs
> == Kirkland, WA
> == http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
> == http://www.marymoor.org/BirdBlog.htm
> == birdmarymoor at verizon.net
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Rob Blomquist" <rob.blomquist at gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 8:51 AM
> To: "tweeter" <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: [Tweeters] 8x and 10x not a big deal?
>
>> Seriously, so many are talking 10x I am amazed, my first pair was 10
>> and I
>> was quite relieved to have 8x later.
>> --
>> Rob Blomquist
>> Mountlake Terrace, WA
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
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