> >If you find a less-expensive (although not cheap) set of binoculars,
> >you can also spend the extra money on a nice trip ;-)
>
> I am not aware of this model. Are they waterproof or water
> resistant? i.e. I can drop my Leica bins in a bucket of water to clean them.
Waterproof to 1 meter (dump them in a bucket), nitrogen filled,
phase-coated, roof-prisms, near focus of a bit over 2 meters, quick
focus, etc. binoculars. They just don't cost that much relative to
high-end binoculars. When these came out in the US in 1999 (?) they
were pretty much the only decent alternative to super high-end
binoculars. It's hard to believe that very expensive binoculars aren't
better in some way but I really didn't like the idea of carrying
around super expensive gear. Also, this way we managed to get 2 pairs
instead of 0. (I don't think it's likely I'll be spending 4 figures on
binoculars.)
The DCF WP line was so popular, Pentax sold them in huge numbers. A
year or two back, they phased out the WPs as they had fallen in price.
They introduced a lower-end model and a slightly enhanced model (with
a bit higher price) as replacements. I think the new version of the
DCF WP is the DCF SP. The SP has slightly better specs, including a
bit closer fiew (about 2 meters exactly.) I've found the close-focus
to be a very helpful feature.
> I am often asked what type of binoculars that someone should buy. I will
> mention this model to people.
They're worth looking through, if people have a chance. At the end of
the day, the final choice is personal.
> 95% of birders would get minimal benefit from Leica / Swarovski / Zeiss
> bins. Most birders bird in bright sunlight, with birds easily visible, in
> good conditions at their local wetland, bushland, grassland, etc. Good
> bins come into their own in bad light, or misty / foggy conditions, or
> viewing birds at a distance, or glary conditions, etc. i.e. under the
> extremes.
Well put. I'd like to compare the bins I'm using with some high-end
ones in marginal conditions and see the difference. I've used these in
the rain, dark, etc. but have no idea what another pair of bins would
have done better (plenty, for all I know.)
With low-light conditions in mind, does anyone have suggestions on
night-vision binoculars? I've talked to some British badger watchers
about the gear they use,, but it never really gets full-on dark over
there when they're badger-watching in the summer. (As people know, iin
low-light, you can see pretty well if you wait long enough and don't
add artificial illumnation.) I'm thinking about looking at owls and
such here where nights are truly dark.
---------------------------------------------
David Adams
Bermagui 2546 NSW
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