On 01/10/2009, at 5:47 PM, Sue Lashko wrote:
I usually use The Binocular and Telescope Shop in Glebe
www.bintel.com.au . If you phone, ask for Don and tell them that you are a beginner and her will recommend something suitable. However, if they recommend Bushnell Excursions, don't buy them - they have great optics but the straps break easily (I know from experience and so do many others). You need to buy 8 x 40 or 8 x 42 or 10x 42 or 10 x 50. Do not buy anything less than 8 x - or anything less than x 40. The general rule is that focal width (objective lens) should be 4 or preferably 5 times the magnification- thus 8 x 40 or 10 x 50. You should not have to pay more than about $350 for a perfectly adequate pair of binoculars. I'm not sure whether you are likely to do quite a bit of bird watching but if you are it is worth buying a harness for about $25 - that way you don't have a strap around for neck. Instead you attach your binoculars to straps which go under your arms, over your shoulders and cross at the back - they are wonderful inventions - and Bintel sells them.
It is possible that Camera House or Ted's in Civic have some binoculars but I am not sure. If they do, ask to take the binoculars outside the shop and test them out in daylight. Try focussing at different distances - you should be able to find a pigeon to look out. You could compare their prices with Bintel's - the latter post them very quickly and tend to give the best prices in Australia.
The other option is to get them from the USA - I have just bought Nikon Monarch 10 x 42 which would have cost around $800 here for about $430 including postage - from
www.bluebazooka.com - they are very well known and very reliable. I had my binoculars within 10 days of ordering. So models that cost around $350 here may well be only about $200 there - stick with brands like Pentax, Nikon, Gerber and you should find something to suit you.
Sorry this is a rather long winded answer but hope it helps.
Sue
On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 3:59 PM, Dan & Heather Buchler
<m("netspeed.com.au","buchler");">> wrote:
Could anyone possibly recommend a brand/model of binoculars for an interested newbie? Aslo where is a good place to buy them from?
thanks,
Heather
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