LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-05 AT 06:14PM (MST)[p]
LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-05 AT 06:13 PM (MST)
I completely agree with what has already been stated. If you've got $200.00 in your pocket and cannot wait and save some more money, I'd forget about a spotter and get a decent pair of porro prism binoculars. Something along the lines of the Leupold Wind River Mesa 10x42's, Swift Audobon 8.5x44's, etc. Porro prism binos are a little bulkier than roof prisms, but they don't need to be phase corrected, so they're cheaper to manufacture, plus the view rivals roof prisms costing several hundred dollars more. Porros are also a little tougher to waterproof, so if you decide to go that direction, make sure they're labeled as such.
If you can save your money and wait, I'd suggest doing so. I realize not everyone needs $1,000.00 binos, but in order to get a really good pair of roof prisms, it's gonna cost you at least $450.00 or so. The Pentax DCF SP's are great binos for the money and many claim they rival the view of top european and japanese makers.
There's also been some great deals on "refurbished" Nikon Venturer/LX's at
www.ewins.com. Last time I checked, they were sold out, but did have them listed at $456.00 shipped. I guarantee you won't find better glass for the money.
Someone also mentioned used binoculars, which is a great way to save money, but still get a good quality product. Just be aware that some makers only warranty their product for the original owner. Leica and Swarovski come to mind. Zeiss' warranty is fully transferable. I recently purchased an as new pair of Lieca 10x42 BN's for $375.00. Yeah, I know it was a fluke deal, but if you keep your eyes open and keep a little money on hand to jump on the deals when they come up, you can find some real bargains.
A real sleeper in the bino market is the line offered by Smith and Wesson. They did a poor job of marketing a good product, so you don't see many of the, around. They're made by the same company that makes the Eagle Optics Platinum Ranger, Alpen Apex, and Cabelas Alaskan Guide Series. They're simply store branded and sold under the various labels. There's pair in the classifieds over at
www.24hourcmpfire.com right now for $160.00 shipped, which is a good deal on a good pair of binos. They're backed by a lifetime warranty also.
Here's a couple sites with bino reviews to check out:
www.betterviewdesired.com
www.optics4birding.com
Good luck.