Seaturtlelady

Any suggestions on a really good pair of small binoculars (make/model/brand...I have these mega-sized Swift ones that don't need to be going to CR with me!

Thanks,
Leigh

shillmac

I really like my Leupold WindRiver 10X42's.

They are fairly small, lightweight, and do very well for the pricetag--$250.

atravelynn

I don't know if you consider 10x42 small, but much smaller and it could compromise your bird viewing.

I have a 10 x 42 Nikon Monarch that is waterproof. I really like that feature.

Lots of people have mentioned Image Stabilized binocs and really like them. I have not tried them.

astein12

Love my Nikon Travelite II's... for cheap, check out some of the Bushnell's. Definitely the best 'bargain' brand.

hopefulist

Try pasting celestron into the search window - it should lead you to 4 previous threads with lots of information. I posted all my best binocular advise there and I checked and the links to products I'd posted are still viable.

Keep us posted!

hills27

I love my Canon 10x30 image stabilized binos. They run around $300.

I suggest going to a Ritz/Wolf Camera and trying the image stabilized binos. You'll be a convert.

Also, there are a lot of threads on binos in the Africa forum.

gannetmusic

Try to find somewhere [a local optics or birding store, perhaps] where you can 'try your binoculars on for size' before you buy. Its remarkable how bins that are just right for one person don't seem comfortable for someone else.

Eagle Optics has a very good online resource from people who specialize in optics for birding and wildlife observation. You'll see some excellent compact and mid-sized choices on their website.

I suggest a 10 power binocular [or at the very least, 8 power] for general birding / nature viewing with as much light gathering ability as you can afford. Many of your observations will be early morning, near dusk or in darker locations and the better optics make a huge difference.

cheers

Jerry

Seaturtlelady

Wowwww...thanks for ALL of the helpful information. We do have a Wolf camera shop and a big Bass Pro shop to check out these suggestions on binoulars.

Thanks a bunch!
Leigh