Recommendations of a Good Bino for bird watching?

[Adzz]

hi, bird lovers. wanna check out from u guys if 8x25 or 10x25 is suitable enough for bird watching, at sungei buloh or other places? my gf is interested in getting one but wants it to be compact, like the nikon 10x25 sporter IV. hope to get some advice on this, so that we wont regret buying. at 200m, is 10x25 sufficient to get some details of the bird? also, what brands are recommended? vitacon, practika? thanks.

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Originally Posted by Adzz hi, bird lovers. wanna check out from u guys if 8x25 or 10x25 is suitable enough for bird watching, at sungei buloh or other places? my gf is interested in getting one but wants it to be compact, like the nikon 10x25 sporter IV. hope to get some advice on this, so that we wont regret buying. at 200m, is 10x25 sufficient to get some details of the bird? also, what brands are recommended? vitacon, practika? thanks.

10x50 or 12x50 will be more suitable.

[2100]

12x you will need to have steady hands though, if you do not have something to lean onto. Else it is just going to cause eye fatique for long hours of viewing. Usually 8x32 is good and bright and light/compact enough, Singapore has good sun usually. Look for something that does not exhibit CA and is sharp enough, the field is wide and good. Just like lenses, a cheap 300mm zoom + 2x TC does not mean good even if it gets you up close.

[erwinx]

Originally Posted by Adzz hi, bird lovers. wanna check out from u guys if 8x25 or 10x25 is suitable enough for bird watching, at sungei buloh or other places? my gf is interested in getting one but wants it to be compact, like the nikon 10x25 sporter IV. hope to get some advice on this, so that we wont regret buying. at 200m, is 10x25 sufficient to get some details of the bird? also, what brands are recommended? vitacon, practika? thanks.

Actually, you need a scope for Sungei Buloh if you want to see details. Except for the closest birds, 10x is really not enough. Of course, no harm biuying a 10x compact bins as they will be useful in many other situations (can bring them to Zoo, BG, etc)

Suggest you visit Buloh and join a guided tour and look through the scopes the guides use to get an idea how much magnification is needed.

[2100]

Just remember to bring tripod for a spotting scope. I have a 10-30x40mm one and got problem handholding at anything > 10x for more than 5 mins without headache. And it's literally impossible to track flying stuff at high magnifications, which you will use most of the time unless it's perched high up on the tree canopy. Else get something with an accompanying finder at 6x power or so. You will probably be blocked by trees if you aim low anyway. Maybe at the Aerie tower you will be able to make more use of high powered stuff as you are on high ground. Else start with easier venues like SBG.

I saw someone with a reflector telescope before. Too bad i gave up astronomy long time ago. But seriously, won't be able to take the weight of the photo equipment + anything else lar.

[maklawin]

For birds 1 meter to 5 meters close, 10x is best. You can focus that close. 12x is best for objects farther by 25 m. Zooming bins are a come-ons, but you wont be satisfied when you go higher magnification. I bring along my two bins, a pentax 10x25 compact, and a full size minolta 12-36x50. I am happier with my compact, easy to bring wherever you go.
Nikon, Pentax, Minolta bins are good, specially for the compact types. But if you really wanna get rid of the focusing, get an auto focusing bins. Its available now in the market.

[laokayu]

Check this site for ideas, depending on your budget.
http://www.wildbirds.com/watching_binocular.htm