Question

I am looking for binocular for near runway (~600-800m) aircraft viewing as well as wildlife safari, with good low light performance.

My short list is :
1) Nikon Action Ex 7×50
2) Nikon Action Ex 10×50
3) Celestron Skymaster 9×63

Which would you recommend ? Any other suggestion around same price range is welcome.

Answer

As of yet, I have not actually reviewed any of the choices on your short list, so cannot comment on their actual performance, but based on their specifications, I would probably go with the Nikon Action Ex 10×50′s as they have a little more power and the 50mm objective lenses will definitely let in plenty of light.

Sure the Celestron Skymaster 9×63 has the potential to work better in low light conditions, but for me, they would be just too large to take with on safari.

Alternatives
I have just done a search using the Feature Search facility on my site that makes it easier to find and compare binoculars that I have reviewed with specific constraints:

What we need is a binocular that:

• Has good low light performance – so large objective lenses (>=42mm) and quality glass and anti-reflection coatings
• Fairly Powerful – I would say, a magnification of 10x or more
• Price: Mid Priced Binoculars ($130 – $300 / £130 – £300)

Click here To take a look at my search results

Vanguard 10×42 Spirit ED Binoculars
Form that list of binoculars that I have reviewed, I can highly recommend the excellent Vanguard 10×42 Spirit ED Binoculars – especially if you want a binocular that is a little more compact than the Nikon Action Ex 10×50 and therefore will be easier to carry with you on safari.

Yes, they may not have the large 50mm objective lenses, but the quality of the anti-reflective coatings and the fact that they use higher quality ED (low dispersion glass) means that they perform very well in low light.

Minox 10×42 BV BRW Binoculars
The next option for me would be the also very good Minox 10×42 BV BRW – the newer models may be righ at the top of your budget, but sometimes (especially on Amazon) you can still find the older (green models) that perform as well, but cost a whole lot less.

I hope that this helps.

I recently wrote about me taking a pair of Luna Optics Night vision binoculars with me on safari that worked incredibly well. But as well as these, I also obviously took a pair of “standard day-time” binoculars with on that trip as well.

My usual choice and my general advice for a good pair of safari binoculars is to take a fairly compact and tough pair, something like the Steiner 10.5×28 Wildlife Pro or the excellent Minox 8×33 BL Binoculars that actually won my award for the Best Safari & Travel Binocular back in 2010. The main reason I recommend and usually take a compact or mid sized binocular is because when travelling, I like to keep my luggage as light and compact as possible. Then once you have arrived and whilst actually on safari, especially when walking in the bush, I also usually have my camera with me as well and so in this situation, the more compact my equipment is, the better.

For this trip however, I knew that as well as all the big stuff like elephants and lions, I would also be doing a lot of birding, often very early in the mornings. So this is why for this trip I decided that I wanted to focus more on the binoculars performance and in particular their low light performance than their physical size and weight.

Therefore a “full sized” 8×42 binocular would be ideal, but which ones should I take on safari? For me the decision was not very hard, I had just finished a review of the Vanguard 8×42 Spirit ED Binoculars and I was so impressed with their performance that I decided that these would be my choice of binocular to take with me on safari.

My Findings

As with my initial review, overall I was really impressed with the 8×42 Vanguard Spirit ED and they performed really well for me.

As far as full sized binoculars go they are about as light as you can get, meaning even though I had decided upon a full-sized binocular, they were still pretty lightweight. This combined with the very good neck strap that they come with made carrying them in the field as hassle free as possible.

And as expected, their performance, especially when the light was not optimal like on the few occasions when I got up before sunrise to go out on safari was excellent.

It also felt really good to know that the view through them was just that much better than what I would usually have got from a fully compact binocular. On top of this, because they use ED glass and other quality optical components like Bak-4 prisms and anti-reflection coatings meant that even if I was to compare them with other 8×42′s, the quality and brightness of the image produced would be superior.

This however does not mean that I have now changed my tune and will no longer use compact binoculars on safari – for most situations I do still feel that when travelling a compact or Mid-sized binocular is the way to go. But for this particular trip I really enjoyed having the Vanguard Spirit ED 8×42 binocular with me

Not always for looking at things in the distance
The main photo above of me looking at the elephant through these Vanguards was taken by my wife. Being so close to an elephant, you may be forgiven in thinking that binoculars may not be necessary, but what I find really interesting is to look at all the details of an animal like this at close range. Things like the eyes and the skin of an elephant are so incredible and a quality pair of optics like the Vanguard 8×42 Spirit ED can really help you to to appreciate them in very fine detail. (I must confess however that my heart was in my mouth, but I knew that from their body language, we were not really in that much danger and it was far safer for us just to remain calm, moving slowly away.)

Tough Waterproof Body
It never rained during this trip, but water is not the only thing that a fully sealed binocular like these Vanguard’s protect against. I was visiting Zimbabwe in the dry season, and in places it can get very dusty. Having a binocular that is fully air-tight means that it will prevent any fine pieces of dirt from entering the system and ruining your view and is for me an important consideration when choosing a good safari binocular.

For more, please read:

• My full review of the Vanguard 8×42 Spirit ED Binoculars
• Where to Buy Vanguard 8×42 Spirit ED Binoculars

I have already written a number of articles related to the subject, so I wont go into too much detail in this one:

• Best Digital Camera Binoculars
• Digital Camera Binoculars Vs Camera + Binoculars

But from these two articles above, I hope that you will agree that you are still far better off getting a separate pair of binoculars and a digital camera rather than combing them into one unit. The main problem is that it is technically very difficult to achieve and so at the moment the camera part of digital camera binoculars don’t not use the same lens as that of the binocular and so the zoom does not match that of the binocular and so you don’t actually take a photo of exactly what you see through the binoculars.

Camera vs Binoculars with Digital Camera on Safari

If you still do not believe me, and whilst the review is rather simplistic, the Gadget Show’s (a UK TV Review Show) Really Wild Challenge compared the suitability as a safari camera of the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 Superzoom Bridge Camera with the 8X30 Bushnell Compact Instant Replay binocular with digital camera with Sync Focus. This section of the show is really worth watching if you are still undecided as to what is the better option: Gadget Show’s Really Wild Challenge – Part 2 (sorry you will have to watch an advert before seeing that part of the show)

So as you can see, in my opinion and that of the Gadget Show, you are far better off getting your self even a half decent safari binocular and a separate digital camera.

This weeks question come from someone looking for some tough, inexpensive binoculars with plenty of eye-relief that are ideal for travelling with:

Question

I would love some assistance in selecting a compact binocular. I’m going to be spending some time in the jungles of Central America. I also do a fair amount of hiking and backpacking in the US. This will be mostly for spotting wildlife, birds, identifying characteristics of trees, etc. I might be riding on a riverboat in the jungles looking for birds and monkeys, hiking a ridgeline in the rockies, or whatever.

I’d like something rugged and waterproof. While I realize the most compact binoculars will be double-hinged with roof prisms, those won’t be dealbreakers.

I’m not too concerned with minimum focus distance.

I wear glasses and eye relief is important. I am leaning towards 10×25, but I’m wondering if 8×25 might be better for quicker target acquisition. I do not have much recent experience with either. Larger FOV would be nice, especially while on a river boat, tracking a bird, or trying to acquire a target, but getting closer is also really nice.

I have looked at two binoculars you recommended.
The Steiner Safari Pro 10X26. I like the durability, the looks, the eyecups. I think I think I have to eliminate it due to 11mm eye relief and the fact that it is not waterproof.

The Nikon 10X25 EcoBins. I was actually thinking the Prostaff 10X25s might be better. While a little more expensive, the FOV (field of view) is 330 ft as opposed to the 226 of the EcoBins. I was concerned because of the few reviews out there, I saw two that mentioned they were fragile. One had a piece fall off and the other reported that it was easy to run into alignment problems. They don’t have the widest field of view out there, but these seem OK. Currently the Prostaff 10X25s are where I am leaning.

The Pentax UCF WP. I do not know much about these. I don’t know if they’re any good. They look a little larger in size. Waterproof, Eye Relief looks good. FOV is in the middle at 261 ft.

Eschenbach 10×28 Farlux B Silver. Your review makes them very tempting. They seem to meet every criteria. They don’t post eye relief specs, but you mentioned it was fine. My concern with these is the price. They’re just too expensive.
When I’m out having fun in the field, I want to spend time thinking about fun, not breaking my gear. I don’t want to be worrying about breaking an expensive camera or expensive pair of binos. I’d be crushed if I spent $400 on these babies and then broke them. The $100 Nikons seem like a more reasonable amount to “worry” about. Plus I guess they have a lifetime no-fault warranty.

Are there any other binoculars I should consider? Should I expand my list?
Any recommendations on the ones I’ve got on my list? I’ll eagerly listen to any advice to give me.

Answer

You seem to have a really good Idea of what you want which is a great start.

Water & Fogproofing
Whilst I have not yet been lucky enough to visit any part of Central America, I am pretty sure that because you will be spending some time in a jungle environment, it may be wet and most probably humid, so I would definitly ensure that the binocular that is both water and fogproof.

Field of View
As for field of view, there is no doubt that a wider field of view makes it easier to scan a terrain and spot objects, especially faster moving small ones like birds. I also feel that if you are in an area with lots of close, thick vegetation like a jungle, the extra bit of zoom that a 10x magnification would give you would not be that important and so yes, in this environment and for your intended uses, I would opt for an 8x over a 10x binocular.

8x binoculars are also often a little brighter than a 10x (8X32 binoculars have an Exit Pupil of 4mm, whilst 10X32 binoculars have an Exit Pupil of 3.2mm), which will help in poorer light conditions like what you may find under the thick canopy of the jungle.

Which Binoculars?
I am a big fan of Steiner binoculars as in general they are tough, well made and don’t cost the earth, but I don’t wear glasses, so eye relief for me is not an issue, so I can see why you are eliminating them from your short-list.

The Eschenbach 10×28′s that I tested were excellent and the image quality was very impressive and I would highly recommend them, but as you say I also understand your need not to worry about breaking or loosing an expensive pair of optics.

If I had to choose between the Pentax UCF WP’s and the Nikon Prostaff 10X25s, I’d probably go for the Nikon – I haven’t actually tested them, but the Nikon’s that I have looked at in the past are generally pretty good considering the amount they cost.

You did not mention if you live in the UK, but I am guessing that because you quote all the prices in dollars, that you don’t. If you do you may also consider the Barr & Stroud 10×25 Sahara Binoculars. The have a FOV (field of view) of 314ft, 14mm of eyerelief and a nice tough body. For the money (under £60) they were really good, but only currently available in the UK as far as I know.

Vortex binoculars may be another brand that you should have a look at, they produce a huge range of binoculars, with many in the lower price brackets. Whilst I have not actually reviewed them yet, the Vortex Crossfire 10×32 or 8×32 Binoculars look to have most of the features that you are looking for and are available for around $100.

Having recently written a review on the Eschenbach 8×25 Club W Binoculars, designed especially for women, I thought it may be an idea to put a page together of a few of the best women’s binoculars to make finding them easier for you.

Binoculars for Women?

If you were hoping to find that a binocular designed for women would have some sort of special eyepiece, or some magical lenses that only work for women, I am sorry to disappoint you. Technically there is no difference between “normal” binoculars and womens binoculars. The difference is in the styling, because most binoculars have a strong masculine look to them, a few manufacturers have decided to design some of the binoculars with more of a feminine touch.

Nikon SHE Safari Monarch 10×36 Binoculars

This is not only one of my favourite looking women’s binoculars, but under the styling is a pair of the excellent Nikon Monarch 10×36 DCF binoculars.

Nikon Sport Optics and SHE Outdoor Apparel have come together and designed binoculars specially for a woman. The mid-sized 10×36 Safari binoculars offer women the best of both worlds – trademark Nikon optical performance and attractive SHE styling.

This mid-size binocular makes an ideal travelling companion: It is lightweight, waterproof, fogproof and comes with a protective rubber-armored coating. This with the powerful 10x magnification means I would highly recommend it as an ideal safari binocular.

Features
Make no mistake, these are high quality binoculars and the main features include

• Fully Multi-coated Lenses
  Increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces.
• Phase Correction Coated Prisms
  Enhances resolution and contrast through roof prisms.
• Waterproof
  The Optics are sealed with O-rings to prevent moisture, dust, and debris from getting inside the binocular.
• Fogproof
  Barrels are filled with nitrogen gas to prevent internal fogging.

Accessories
The binocular comes with a great looking and excellent quality embossed leather binocular strap in a chocolate brown colour as well as a leather and canvas shoulder bag in khaki with chocolate brown trim, that has multifunctional pockets and a built-in optics case with plenty of room to store your binoculars as well as a few other goodies making it perfect for travel or day trips. As a point of interest, when sold separately the bag retails for around $80

Full Review
Read my full review of the Nikon 10×36 SHE Safari Monarch ATB Binoculars

Cost & Where to Buy
Unfortunately I have not been able to locate this particular pair of Nikon Monarch binoculars in the UK, but the “normal” Nikon 10×36 Monarch’s are available. In the US, they have a List Price of $480.95, but they are available at a few places including Eagle Optics, Binoculars.com and Amazon where they cost just over $300. This price is pretty good considering the standard Nikon 10×36 Monarch ATB Binoculars also cost a similar amount.

• Buy & Compare Prices for the Nikon SHE Safari

Nikon SHE Adventure Monarch 8×36 ATB Binoculars

Like the Safari version above, these Nikon SHE Adventure binoculars are designed around the very popular Monarch ATB binoculars. The Adventure binoculars come in a “Kiwi and Plum” theme and the binocular has an 8×36 configuration, giving you a wider field of view, making these binoculars more suitable as birdwatching binoculars.

The mid-sized plum 8×36 Adventure binoculars offer women the best of both worlds – trademark Nikon optical performance and attractive SHE styling.

Main Features

• Fully Multi-coated Lenses
  Increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces.
• Phase Correction Coated Prisms
  Enhances resolution and contrast through roof prisms.
• Waterproof
  The Optics are sealed with O-rings to prevent moisture, dust, and debris from getting inside the binocular.
• Fogproof
  Barrels are filled with nitrogen gas to prevent internal fogging.

Accessories
The 8×36 Adventure binocular comes with an excellent quality embossed black leather binocular strap as well as a plum and kiwi canvas shoulder bag, that has multifunctional pockets and a built-in optics case with plenty of room to store your binoculars as well as a few other goodies making it perfect for travel or day trips. As a point of interest, when sold separately the bag retails for around $50

Cost & Where to Buy
To my knowledge these women’s Nikon Monarch ATB binoculars are not available in the UK, but in the US, they have a List Price of $440.95, but are available for sale at a Eagle Optics, Binoculars.com and Amazon where they cost under $300. This price is pretty good considering the standard Nikon 8×36 Monarch ATB Binoculars also cost a similar amount.

• Check Price on Binoculars.com
• Check Price on Eagle Optics
• Check Price on Amazon.com

Eschenbach 8×25 Club W Binoculars

Eschenbach have spent a lot of time on the styling, but it does not stop there as within the impressive mother-of-pearl effect body are state of the art optics that will please even the most discerning user.

These 8×25 binoculars come with quality BaK-4 prisms and the lenses are fully multi-coated. The Club W binoculars is also 100% waterproof and has been nitrogen purged, making them fogproof as well.

The more compact 8×25 configuration make these binoculars ideal sports binoculars and I could see them being used to take to a day at the horse races, Wimbledon or other stroll in the countryside.

Accessories
They are supplied with a stylish white soft leather carry case, padded strap and draw string pouch for protection when carried in a hand bag.

Read my full Review of the Eschenbach 8×25 Club W Binoculars

Cost & Where to Buy
Available in both the UK and USA on Amazon:

• Check Prices

This weeks question comes from a South African, who often visits game reserves in South Africa and in particular the Kruger National Park:

Question

I live in South Africa and regularly go to game reserves and, in particular, Kruger National Park. I am looking to buy a decent pair of binoculars in the next few weeks as I am going to Kruger at the end of the month.

I have done some research and have basically narrowed it down to 2 options:
1) Bushnell Natureview
2) Nikon Monarch ATB

I see from your reviews that you like both of them but would like to enquire if you would have any reason to prefer the one over the other?

Also I have heard that 8x is better than 10x for game viewing use, would you agree with this?

Answer

First off let me just say that I really envy you, I have been to the Kruger a few times, it is a wonderful game reserve with an astounding amount and variety of game and birdlife. Also because it is so vast, there are plenty of places to get away from the crowds, where it gets truly wild.

Basically what you are after is a good wildlife observation binocular and If I had to choose between the Bushnell Natureview and Nikon Monarch ATB, I would probably go for the Nikon. They have a closer minimum focusing distance, longer eye relief and weighs less. In my opinion, they also have a nicer overall feel to them and just that little better build quality.

You may also wish to take a look at the Barr & Stroud 8×42 Savannah Binoculars that I have just reviewed, an excellent binocular at a similar price (actually cheaper). They also do a 10x version, but I am not sure if they will be available in SA?
Also worth looking at is the Minox 10×42 BV Binoculars, there is also an 8x version: Both are really good binos again in the similar price range to the Nikon Monarch ATB.

8x or 10x for Wildlife Observation?
I personally prefer a 10x magnification when I am in the bush.

Compared to 10x, you get slightly less “image shake” with an 8x binocular, although unless you have really shaky hands, this should not really be a factor.

8x binoculars also generally have a wider field of view compared to 10x ones. This can be useful for spotting and keeping in view fast moving objects, like birds for example, but for larger game, I just like the slightly bigger magnification that gets me as close to the animal as possible. This is just a personal preference and I am sure you will be fine no matter which you choose.

Full Size Binoculars
The fact that you are choosing binoculars with a 42mm objective lens, rather than a more compact size is good as they generally giver you a slightly brighter and often sharper image.

For safari binoculars, I usually recommend that most people should go for a more compact binocular. But then most people are travelling from overseas and carrying a larger binocular with all your luggage can be a little more difficult. Although if you plan on doing any walking safaris, and you also carry a camera with you, you may still consider a smaller binocular.

Photo Credit: Arno & Louise

Today’s question comes from someone looking to choose between two different models of Steiner binoculars, to take on safari.

Question

I can afford a Leica Ultravid compact but am also impressed (looks and review) with the Steiner 12×30 Wildlife Pro’s & the Steiner Merlin 8×42 binoculars. I am not a birder but am interested in getting hold of a good Safari binocular. Can you tell me which one I should get if this is the case. Anything higher than a Leica Ultravid compact means taking out a mortgage for me!

Answer

Personally I would opt for the Steiner 12×30′s – Not because of the increased magnification, but more because they are more compact. This means that they will not only be easier to carry in your luggage, but more importantly easier to carry with you when on safari. This is even more important if you plan on any walking safaris. If you also carry a camera, I would even consider an even more compact pair something like the Steiner 10.5×28 Wildlife Pro’s that you can fold and carry in a jacket pocket.

If size is not a problem, the larger Merlin 8×42′s will have a larger field of view and produce a brighter image because of the larger objective lens diameter.

Whichever pair of optics you choose, it is always important to go with the best you can easily afford, for more information take a look at my article on the Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays.

(I took the photo of the elephants in Zimbabwe on Lake Kariba, whilst I was on holiday there)