There's a lot more to consider than just magnification and objective diameter.

It has pretty much all been discussed before and binocular technology has not changed much. Biggest innovation in recent years is Image Stabilization, which is well appreciated by those who have it.

Previous discussions:

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/binoculars-for-my-safari.cfm?6

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/binoculars-364091-2.cfm?5

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/best-binoculars-for-safari.cfm?10

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/binoculars-and-cameras-on-safari.cfm?25

10 x 30 is enough. If there are two in your party, take both pairs. It is inconvenient to share a single pair.

Have a great trip.

Here is a copy of a post of mine on one of the links above - I love my Nikon Monarchs and was so happy I took them for our trip to Africa

I looked at several and it came down to the image stabilized Canon 10 x 30

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/binoculars/image_stabilizer/10_x_30_is

or the Nikon Monarch 8 x 42

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7430-Monarch-All-Terrain-Binoculars/dp/B00006AG6C

In the end I chose the Nikon as I didn't really see a lot of difference with the IS when I tested them side by side and the Canon was more expensive. I was absolutely delighted with the Nikon's highly recommend them. I also recommend purchasing a good quality neoprene strap - it makes it more comfortable on your neck

http://www.amazon.com/Optech-Comfort-Strap-Black-Neck/dp/B000928KII/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1284809126&sr=1-1-spell

Have a great time!

Thanks for your comments! I just needed to get advices on whether the 8X was enough or should I go for the 10X. This will be for my wife as I will be carrying a camera instead. Sounds like I should go for at least a 10X so now back to Google to try and find one that doesn't weigh a ton.

I'm not a 'nocs' user (eyelashes just get in the way), but find the zoom on my camera works very well. I'm amazed at how much I can see at distance.

I'm also -not- a binocs user. Just don't find them that enjoyable. So unless you're really sure you do, I'd not spend more than you care to not care for.

regards - tom
ps - it's not my eyelashes, probably my eye glasses. Although I find DSLR cameras are fine with glasses.

My jaw has dropped. Binocs are as important to me as a camera or camcorder. The difference between looking at something through a camera zoom and through decent binocs is almost exactly the same difference as HDTV vs. 1970s color TV. (Viewing the photo or video later, on a decent output device, is a different matter, of course.)

You can forget about seeing any birds that aren't 25 feet in front of you. Forget about seeing detail on other wildlife -- the gash on the lion's hind leg, or the astoundingly intricate way that the elephant's trunk can pick out the best leaves, for example -- without binocs.

You need to find out for yourself if you are or are not a 'nocs user on safari. But don't err on the side of thinking your eyelashes are too long and leave them at home. If you need them and don't have them you may miss out seeing something that you will regret. Even if you are not a birder, you'll be surprised at how interesting the birds are and you need binocs to fully appreciate the birds. They also are helpful for looking at birds around camp. Most binocs have cups the can be rolled up or down for glasses, including sunglasses.

I have Monarch 10 x 42s.

From Audubon about 2 years ago:

“Larger than 42 diameter (the 2nd number) are too big for most people to carry around comfortably. If you are only sitting in a vehicle, this is less of an issue.”

Magnification—“Keep in mind that binoculars that magnify an image eight times also magnify the small movements of your hand eight times. The more the image moves, the less useful information you get from it. Since your brain must work harder to interpret a shaky image, higher-power binoculars will be tiring to use. Higher magnification also increases the distortion from rising hot air currents—called ‘heat shimmer’—which can make it impossible to get a sharp image when looking across a field or a marsh. Ten-power (or higher) binoculars also slash the field of view and are not as bright as seven-power or eight-power. Roger Tory Peterson used a pair of 7 x 42s when he worked on the last edition of The Peterson Guide. David Sibley used the same size when preparing the Sibley Guide.”

“If you pay more than $200 for your binoculars, they should be waterproof and nitrogen purged, so they don’t get fogged in humid conditions.”

“Don’t buy zoom binoculars or image-stabilized binoculars because they are heavy, give up a lot of brightness, and have a much reduced field of view.”

“Hunters, boaters, and hikers may know a lot about optics, but they have different needs than birders.” So don't rely solely on their advice.

Audubon's recommendations:

ALPHA CLASS-less than $2500 “Take the plunge and you’ll never be sorry.”

Leica Ultravid HD 7x42 (8x42, 8x32)
Nikon EDG 7x42 (8x42, 8x32)
Swarvoski IL 8.5x42 (8x32)
Zeiss Victory 7x42 T FL 8x42, 8x32)



ALMOST ALPHA CLASS-less than $1000 “these models come very close to the state of the art and cost a lot less

Nikon Premier 8x42
Zeiss Conquest 8x40 BT (8x30)



BEST-VALUE CLASS-less than $500 “Durable, waterproof, not settling for inferior product..”

Bushnell Legend 8x42
Leupold Cascades 8x42
Leupold Katmai 6x32
Nikon Monarch 8x42 PC ATB
Swift Audubon Roof Prism 8.5x44
Vortex Fury 6.5x32



GET IN THE GAME CLASS-less than $100
Leupold Yosemite Porro Prism 6x30
Nicon Action 7x35

... you making fun of my eyelashes!
... all real, my very own, that adds to my charm!

I'm just jealous, Sandi. You and Liz Taylor. She had a double set.

I bought the Nikon Monarch 8x42 for my trip to Tanzania last year and loved them. I'm definitely a binocs person (along with a camera). They are not too heavy or huge to carry or tuck into your backpack. Price was reasonable for the quality.

...Liz Taylor. She had a double set.

Indeed she did.

Don, Don, Don!

I set that one up for you, didn't I, Don?

Hanuman, even though you are the camera person, please consider bringing your own pair of binocs. If there is something happening at a distance and everybody is checking it out, you don't want to be missing the action when it is not your turn with the glasses.

Oh sure, you can share, but the subject you are observing is not going to wait for everybody to get their views. When something happens, it can happen fast, it can be fleeting, and you have to be on it. Passing the binocs back and forth may mean you BOTH miss out.

If I am all wrong about the binocs (and so is Don and Cateye) and you bring them, then you've merely toted an extra pound or so in your luggage for naught. If I am right about the binocs (and so is Don and Cateye) and you leave them home, you could miss out on an opportunity that will not repeat itself and you'll be kicking yourself throughout the trip.

Pair #2 does not have to be a fancy pair. You don't have to go out and invest in 2 expensive pairs of binocs. One can be the $100 range--or even both can be. Or maybe you can borrow the second pair. Check ebay for something used, even for both pairs. Just be sure you have ample time to test them out and make sure nothing is wrong with them before your departure.

Atravelynn,

Noted your comment and went and got 2 pairs of Olympus DPS I 10x50 binos today. Very good price at roughly $50 a set. Compared it side by side and looking through them with the Canon 10x30IS, 8x25 IS and 10x42 L IS. The only pairs that I considered as "brilliant" was the 10x42 L IS but I could not justify the price.

Sounds good. Now be sure and fly with them as carry-on. Any kind of camera, binocular, electronic gizmos will likely not arrive Africa if in checked luggage.

regards - tom

Tom,

Thanks for the head's up!

You're ready to go, Hanuman!

Hanuman - you did the right thing

i must quote Don for the future generations reading this thread:
"My jaw has dropped. Binocs are as important to me as a camera or camcorder.", my jaw has dropped as well

aby

& a quote from Hanuman:
"Since having binoculars on a safari is highly recommended "- not recommended IMO it's a must!

& thanks Lynn for the Audubon mini guide

Sandy
keep trying, and try different binocs
the eyelashes will surrender eventually
a few LT's have made it
aby

We took binocs on our recent safari to Kenya...I am please to say we only used them once. All of the animals we saw (Big 5 many times over)were very close...as in "should I close my window?" close!! Our guides said in 7 yrs they had never had a week like we had!
Would love to go back but know it could never be that good again....so thinking of Tanzania or S Africa instead!!

N605 is echoing my usage for binocs. If I were a twitcher building my bird list, sure I'd need them. But if the four legged critters are so far away that I need binocs to get a good view, then I'm not that interested to begin with. But that's just me. YMMV .

regards - tom

If you have a "once in every 7 years" trip, then maybe you won't need the binocs.

I used mine last time in Kenya to find a lioness in the brush with two new cubs.

Let me be clear. It is not necessary to have binoculars in order to have a great safari experience. But, if you have a great safari experience without binoculars, I believe that you would have a great^2 or great^3 experience WITH binoculars, unless maybe you were born on Krypton.

Yep, I've been in a vehicle where the lioness brushed against the side of the jeep when strolling past. And a cheetah cooled his heels in the shade of the jeep for a while. Didn't have any use for binoculars then. But then there was the bull elephant, oh maybe 40 or 50 meters away. About as close as you can safely get. Watching this guy manipulate the tip of his trunk as he picked through leaves and grass was unbelievable. I still have good distance vision (don't wear eyeglasses), but never would have seen the detail with the 10x magnification of my Canon IS's. And similar events will happen 10 or 20 times each drive.

Don

An hour watching rhinos jousting, time spent watching a saddle-billed stork feeding her baby, charging eles in the distance, black rhino at a safe distance would all have been lost to me without my binoculars. Will never go on safari without them. Lending them to fellow safari mates - priceless.