A most excellent reply, Doug! Thank you. Knew some of that, I did. But I'd never seen it collated and presented so well. As I'd mentioned to another reply, you posed the questions I neglected to ask in my original post.

Thanks again to you and all the others that have been kind and gracious enough to reply. It's plain to see that I hang out with a great bunch of folks.

Take care and be well all,
Dusty

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-
> bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Doug Will
> Sent: Thursday, March 9, 2017 13:55
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: [Tweeters] Binoculars
>
> Dusty,
>
> I'd like to mention something no one else has:
> There really is no "best binoculars."
>
> If you are backpacking a long way, then weight is paramount.
> If you are working in low light, then light gathering power is important [larger
> front objective lens, the second number].
> If you use a tripod or are especially steady of hand, a higher power
> (magnification, the first number) may be better.
> If you are trying to follow birds in flight or flitting around, then a lower power
> with maximum field of view will matter.
> If you wear glasses, eye relief (usable distance from the back eyepiece
> lens) may make some models unusable.
> For much birding, minimum near focus distance is important.
> Finally, if like me, you have substantial peripheral astigmatism, even if it is
> corrected to first order by glasses or contacts, you may get a sharper view
> from a smaller exit pupil diameter (diameter of the cone of light exiting the
> back of the eyepiece, equal to objective diameter [1st #] divided by
> magnification [2nd #]).
>
> The considerations above are NOT completely independent as several are
> intimately related.
> But the caveat is that you MUST try out the optics yourself.
> Start with reviews in your price range.
> Then find stores with demo samples to look through.
> Then, perhaps, follow Josh Glant's advice to get several you think might work
> from vendors with free return policy.
> Try out your two or three favorites in various conditions for various uses.
> Finally, make your choice.
>
> You'll be happier with your choice if you do.
> And remember, your favorite won't be perfect in every situation, nor for
> every other person!
>
> Good luck getting a great pair for a good price,
>
> Doug Will
> Senior Research Engineer
> UW
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