[NatureNS] Cornell Lab of Ornothology Binocular Ratings

DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
References: <0CBABBA97BA0428CAC97718F893C2606@hans57ff9baf63>
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:43:02 -0300
From: Ronald Arsenault <rongarsenault@gmail.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

Index of Subjects
--e89a8f235089349f2b04bd8ed096
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Sorry, sent before I was finished.  Second try;

Hello,

Though dated and limited re the number of models, not to mention the
changes since, I agree with Hans that the Cornell review is very useful.

My choices, based upon the price categories given in the Cornell review,
are as follows:

1.  Economy:  6.5X32 Vortex Raptor (8.5X32 also available). Formerly the
Audubon line, as mentioned by Tom, the warranty is the best in the
business.  I understand that they do live up to their promise and that the
delay is very reasonable. Also available in NS.

2. Mid-price:  Nikon Monarch 8X36  There are several lines, all solid
performers.  Big advantage is that these are likely the
most readily available everywhere. Check camera stores. Warranty not as
good as Vortex, though.

3. Top affordable:  Pentax DCF ED  As good as it gets in its price range.
Can't comment on warranty though.

4. Top guns: Agree with what has been previously said by Hans and Richard
(Zeiss)

Note that in all categories, there are competing models that would be
equally acceptable.

Good luck!

Ron

4.

On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 9:26 AM, Ronald Arsenault
<rongarsenault@gmail.com>wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Though dated and limited re the number of models, not to mention the
> changes since, I agree with Hans that the Cornell review is very useful.
>
> My choices, based upon the price categories given in the Cornell review,
> are as follows:
>
> 1.  Economy:  6.5X32 Vortex Raptor (8.5X32 also available).
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 8:40 AM, Richard <sternrichard@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I agree with Hans. I have Zeiss FL*T s, and they are superb. I also have
>> Eagle Optics Rangers which are 90% as good ( the difference being a
>> narrower field of view and very slight loss of image brightness and
>> sharpness if you're very critical) for 25% of the price. I recently send my
>> Zeiss to be repaired and serviced - they had to be sent to Germany and it
>> took 4 months. I don't think their build ( focus wheel play, rubber coating
>> etc.) is as good as the Rangers.
>>
>> Another good source of info is eagle optics web site (www.eagleoptics.com)
>> and browse the reviews and prices for all the binocs. there.
>>
>> Richard Stern
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On 2012-04-13, at 8:04 AM, Hans Toom <htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca> wrote:
>>
>>  There is no recent update on the attached review that I can find but it
>> still exists as the best and most reliable, read unbiased, review of
>> binoculars I have found.
>>
>> The Zeiss FL T* are the top rated as usual. I have owned and used these
>> binoculars and they are indeed bright and sharp. Unfortunately, the law of
>> diminishing returns kicks in and you can get 90% of the Zeiss quality at
>> 10% of the cost. I sold my Zeiss FL T*'s and now use a less expensive and
>> lighter pair and I am quite satisfied with my decision.
>>
>> The Cornell review breaks your options down into Economy, Midprice and
>> Top Gun. There is no need for me to parrot their work so here it is:
>> http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/Winter2005/Age_Binos.html
>>
>> Hans
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
>> Hans Toom
>> Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
>> http://www.hanstoom.com/
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Ronald G. Arsenault
> Moncton, N.B.
>



-- 
Ronald G. Arsenault
Moncton, N.B.

--e89a8f235089349f2b04bd8ed096
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Sorry, sent before I was finished. =A0Second try; =A0=A0<div><span style><b=
r></span></div><div><span style>Hello,</span><div style><br></div><div styl=
e>Though dated and limited re the number of models, not to mention the chan=
ges since, I agree with Hans that the Cornell review is very useful.</div>
<div style><br></div><div style>My choices, based upon the price categories=
 given in the Cornell review, are as follows:</div><div style><br></div><di=
v style>1. =A0Economy: =A06.5X32 Vortex Raptor (8.5X32 also available). For=
merly the Audubon line, as mentioned by Tom, the warranty is the best in th=
e business. =A0I understand that they do live up to their promise and that =
the delay is very reasonable. Also available in NS.</div>
<div style><br></div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans=
-serif">2. Mid-price: =A0Nikon Monarch 8X36 =A0There are several lines, all=
 solid performers. =A0Big advantage is that these are likely the most=A0rea=
dily=A0available=A0everywhere. Check camera stores. Warranty not as good as=
 Vortex, though.</font></div>
<div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><br></font></=
div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif">3. Top af=
fordable: =A0Pentax DCF ED =A0As good as it gets in its price range. Can&#3=
9;t comment on warranty though.</font></div>
<div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><br></font></=
div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif">4. Top gu=
ns: Agree with what has been previously said by Hans and Richard (Zeiss)</f=
ont></div>
<div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><br></font></=
div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Note that=
 in all categories, there are competing models that would be equally accept=
able.</font></div>
<div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><br></font></=
div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Good luck=
!</font></div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"=
><br></font></div>
<div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Ron</font></d=
iv><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif"><br></font=
></div><div style><font color=3D"#222222" face=3D"arial, sans-serif">4.</fo=
nt></div>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 9:26 AM, Ronald Arse=
nault <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:rongarsenault@gmail.com">rong=
arsenault@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quo=
te" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"=
>
Hello,<div><br></div><div>Though dated and limited re the number of models,=
 not to mention the changes since, I agree with Hans that the Cornell revie=
w is very useful.</div><div><br></div><div>My choices, based upon the price=
 categories given in the Cornell review, are as follows:</div>

<div><br></div><div>1. =A0Economy: =A06.5X32 Vortex Raptor (8.5X32 also ava=
ilable). =A0<div><div class=3D"h5"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Fr=
i, Apr 13, 2012 at 8:40 AM, Richard <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto=
:sternrichard@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">sternrichard@gmail.com</a>&gt;</=
span> wrote:<br>

<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><div>I agree with H=
ans. I have Zeiss FL*T s, and they are superb. I also have Eagle Optics Ran=
gers which are 90% as good ( the difference being a narrower field of view =
and very slight loss of image brightness and sharpness if you&#39;re very c=
ritical) for 25% of the price. I recently send my Zeiss to be repaired and =
serviced - they had to be sent to Germany and it took 4 months. I don&#39;t=
 think their build ( focus wheel play, rubber coating etc.) is as good as t=
he Rangers.</div>

<div><br></div><div>Another good source of info is eagle optics web site (<=
a href=3D"http://www.eagleoptics.com" target=3D"_blank">www.eagleoptics.com=
</a>) and browse the reviews and prices for all the binocs. there.<br><br>
Richard Stern<div>
Sent from my iPad</div></div><div><div><div><br>On 2012-04-13, at 8:04 AM, =
Hans Toom &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca" target=3D"_blank">ht=
oom@hfx.eastlink.ca</a>&gt; wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type=
=3D"cite">

<div>






<div><font face=3D"Arial">There is no recent update on the attached review=
=20
that I can find but it still exists as the best and most reliable, read=20
unbiased, review of binoculars I have found.</font></div>
<div><font face=3D"Arial"></font>=A0</div>
<div><font face=3D"Arial">The Zeiss FL T* are the top rated as usual. I hav=
e=20
owned and used these binoculars and they are indeed=A0bright and sharp.=20
Unfortunately, the law of diminishing returns kicks in and you can get 90% =
of=20
the Zeiss quality at 10% of the cost. I sold my Zeiss FL T*&#39;s and now u=
se a less=20
expensive and lighter pair and I am quite satisfied with my=20
decision.</font></div>
<div>=A0</div>
<div><font face=3D"Arial">The Cornell review breaks your options down into=
=20
Economy, Midprice and Top Gun.</font>=A0<font face=3D"Arial">There is no=20
need for me to parrot their work so here it is: </font><font face=3D"Arial"=
><a href=3D"http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/Winter2005=
/Age_Binos.html" target=3D"_blank">http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publication=
s/LivingBird/Winter2005/Age_Binos.html</a></font></div>


<div><font face=3D"Arial"><br>Hans<br>_____________________________________=
____________________________________________________________________<br>Han=
s=20
Toom<br>Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada<br><a href=3D"http://www.hanst=
oom.com/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.hanstoom.com/</a></font></div>
</div></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"al=
l"><div><br></div></div></div><span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888=
">-- <br>Ronald G. Arsenault<br>Moncton, N.B.<br>
</font></span></div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Ronald G. Ar=
senault<br>Moncton, N.B.<br>
</div>

--e89a8f235089349f2b04bd8ed096--

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects