The local Audubon shop is a Pentax dealer. So some of Pentax's
offerings are probably suitable for birding.
I have an older version of their UFC 16x25, (the newer ones are
waterproof, I think, mine aren't), that work well enough.
They're not particularly expensive, pretty regularly on sale for about
$160.00. I have no Idea what they are at regular price. They're light
weight and fairly sharp.
I also have a pair of compact Nikon binoculars I keep in the glove
compartment of my car, which are somewhat lower power, and pare of
conventional design Bushnell glasses that I don't use much.
The most annoying thing about the Pentax glasses is that the rear lens
caps don't stay on particularly well, always falling off.
On 4/16/2011 11:25 PM, Stan Halpin wrote:
Meg and I will probably be buying at least one pair of binoculars for birding. Something
in the $250-500 range - i.e., quite a bit better than the $40-50 compact everyday binocs
we have now, but not anything in the $1000+ "serious birder" category.
My inclination to brand loyalty tells me to buy Pentax, all other things equal.
But the few reviews I have found (e.g., in Cornell's birding magazine) put
Pentax toward the bottom of the list. And I don't want to buy a clearly
inferior product just for the Pentax name.
So, anyone here with experience with Pentax binoculars? Can you provide any
comparisons with other brands in the same price range? Can you convince me that
I should (or should not) go for a Pentax? Note that I am not that concerned
with the price as long as it is in my general price range; if there is a Pentax
model that costs $499 that is equivalent in features and performance to
something else that costs $349, I would probably buy Pentax. I just don't want
to pay the same or more for the Pentax if it is clearly inferior. And I don't
have any local stores where I can go and see and try out any of those I am
thinking about.
I am also toying with the notion of a spotting scope, and Pentax has an
eyepiece adapter that converts their scopes to a 780mm or 1000mm f/12 K-mount
lens. But, again, the reviews put Pentax spotting scopes toward the bottom of
the list. Anyone here with experience with this class of product?
Any information, opinions (informed or otherwise), pointers to good web
resources, etc. would be greatly appreciated!
stan
--
Where's the Kaboom? There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom!
--Marvin the Martian.
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