Subject: [Tweeters] Good Budget/Christmas Gift Binoculars
Date: Dec 11 11:03:49 2012
From: Kevin Purcell - kevinpurcell at pobox.com


On Dec 11, 2012, at 12:51 AM, Devorah the Ornithologist wrote:

> sounds like the Leupold Yosemite BX-1 6x30's might also be useful for
> those who like to spot butterflies or dragonflies whilst out birding.

Not so much. Their specified closest focus is 10 feet. Depending on eyesight accommodation they may work closer but not down to 3 feet.

Also the porro's field of view overlap for each eye for close targets is much worse than for roof (or reverse porro) binoculars (easier to show than to describe!).

I have a couple of pairs of the previous model of the Leupold Yosemite 6x30 that I keep for introducing non-birding adults and kids to birds. And for spotting from a moving car when I'm a passenger e.g. looking for sorting out geese, swans and raptors in Skagit Valley when on the move). They have the same spec as the BX-1. They are good new birder bins for both those classes of people.

The Pentax Papillo are binoculars designed for close focus use (they toe in the objectives too so they give full fields of view to both eyes for targets down to 18 inches away) for butterflies and other insects. THey can act like a portable "stand-off microscope" to watch insects of all sorts. And they make good kids bins too (plenty of things to look at). I'd recommend them as an additional pair of "insecting bins" to anyone who want to watch out 6 legged friends.
--
Kevin Purcell (Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA)
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