RE:[cayugabirds-l] Binoculars - reasonably priced?
Hi Kathleen, Disclaimer -- The following is my own personal opinion, and not intended to represent endorsement by any group or organization. I've given Wingspan Optics FieldView 8x32's as gifts to multiple people, who love them. They've gone up in price, from $60 a couple years ago to $80 on Amazon today: https://www.amazon.com/Wingspan-Optics-Spectator-Binoculars-Lightweight/dp/B01AHC6IZG/ They're smaller than the 8x42 size preferred by many, but my wife and my mom both wanted something lightweight, which these are. I've also used them myself and compared them to several other more expensive options. My opinion as both a birder and an educator, these are great for a beginner, or anyone else. My only other suggestion is to steer clear of Celestron brand. Whether it's binoculars, microscopes, or telescopes, Celestron has a consistent pattern: Their expensive high-end stuff is very good, but anything they offer on the lower end of the price range is usually cheaply made, difficult to use, and prone to breaking very easily. That's why most of the binoculars in the Lab's Visitor Center (all $100 Celestrons) are broken. Their optical quality was once highly reviewed by the Lab, but reviewers tend to only look briefly through a brand-new pair and not consider durability. Don't let anyone push you to spend a lot of money. It really, really isn't necessary to spend much more than $100, and you can get away with less. I know many on this list will say otherwise, or share review articles that push expensive stuff. I've heard multiple esteemed ornithologists tell people to never spend under $300. I respectfully but very strongly disagree, AND I think such advice hurts our ability to recruit new birders, especially from working-class backgrounds. We should probably all have a community conversation about that issue sometime! Best, Leo -Original Message- From: bounce-126152155-83239...@list.cornell.edu On Behalf Of Kathleen P Kramer Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 11:13 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Binoculars - reasonably priced? Hello, I hope this is an acceptable message for this ListServ. Can anyone suggest reasonably priced binoculars for a beginning birder? I’m taking a chance that the recipient will even pursue birding and I also know that “bad” binoculars can discourage a beginner. So I’d really appreciate a couple of suggestions! Many thanks, Kathleen Kramer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] book request
Hi birders, Before I order one up online, I thought I'd check to see if anyone has a used copy of this book they'd be willing to part with: Ospreys: a natural and unnatural history by Alan F. Poole. I know it's a long shot, but if anyone is willing to part ways with their copy, I'd appreciate it. Thanks for reading, Robyn Bailey -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Binoculars - reasonably priced?
And a note to choosing binocs for another, especially a young person. Almost never mentioned in reviews but critical is inter- pupillary distance. As someone with a smaller than norm distance between my eyes, I can comfortably use < <80% of binocs. And more expensive ones are, sadly, often the only options. Check this out in the detailed specs if you think it might apply. There is wide variation between individual models I can testify that seeing two partly overlapping images is a downer. Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 16, 2021, at 7:27 AM, Chris R. Pelkie wrote: > > https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-binoculars/ > Just updated in late Nov. I didn’t disagree with anything said but I’m not > familiar with all the models reviewed. > Written by a birder/ornithologist/real user. > > ChrisP > > __ > > Chris Pelkie > Data Manager; IT Support > K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics > Cornell Lab of Ornithology > 159 Sapsucker Woods Road > Ithaca, NY 14850 > http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/ > > In office: Tue, Thu 0730-1130 > Else: working remote > >> On 2021-12-15, at 23:13 , Kathleen P Kramer wrote: >> >> Hello, >> >> I hope this is an acceptable message for this ListServ. Can anyone suggest >> reasonably priced binoculars for a beginning birder? I’m taking a chance >> that the recipient will even pursue birding and I also know that “bad” >> binoculars can discourage a beginner. So I’d really appreciate a couple of >> suggestions! >> >> Many thanks, >> Kathleen Kramer >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Binoculars - reasonably priced?
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-binoculars/ Just updated in late Nov. I didn’t disagree with anything said but I’m not familiar with all the models reviewed. Written by a birder/ornithologist/real user. ChrisP __ Chris Pelkie Data Manager; IT Support K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/ In office: Tue, Thu 0730-1130 Else: working remote On 2021-12-15, at 23:13 , Kathleen P Kramer mailto:k...@cornell.edu>> wrote: Hello, I hope this is an acceptable message for this ListServ. Can anyone suggest reasonably priced binoculars for a beginning birder? I’m taking a chance that the recipient will even pursue birding and I also know that “bad” binoculars can discourage a beginner. So I’d really appreciate a couple of suggestions! Many thanks, Kathleen Kramer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
