Patrick invited us to share a bit about the first pair of binoculars that we used for birding. Unlike Patrick, I came to birding kinda late in life, when I was in my mid-twenties, and bought a pair of Kowa’s at the nature center where I would end up volunteering a few weeks later.
They were cheap and pretty awful, but nothing as bad as what I see some people trying to learn birds with. I used them for a couple years until I was able to appreciate the difference between a $100 pair of binoculars and a $1000 pair of binoculars. I saved up for the Zeiss 7X42’s I use now and still keep those old Kowa’s on the counter to grab when I see something interesting out the kitchen window. They’re always dusty, but I still see nice birds with them once in a while.
Now I’m trying to remember what my first bird was with the new Zeiss’… I think it may have been a prothonotary on the first day of the spring weekend in Cape May in 98 or 99.
Ha ha… After mon@arch let me borrow his binocs while we were out chasing owls (http://winterwoman.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/short-eared-owls/), I realized that if I had a good pair of binoculars, I might actually become a Real Birder, instead of a Reluctant Birder. $1000, huh? Yikes… But I’m trying to save up for a telephoto lens for the camera… Hmm….
I remember asking a lady at the Los Angeles Audubon Society what was the difference between a $150 pair of binos and a $1,000 pair. She let me look through some zeiss (we were using some $150 Bushnells at the time) and the world opened up. Crisper colors, more light entering for better dawn/dusk birding. Needless to say we started saving our money quickly.
The Swarovskis are almost $2000 now! Yikes!
And you’re right Laura, it’s amazing what some people use to learn birds. I’m sure it’s very frustrating for them to see the birds and I think it can have negative affects on their continued pursuit of the hobby. It takes a passionate person to get past that obstacle since they can’t be expected to shell out $300 for decent bins. I have yet to see someone with true opera glasses on any of my beginner trips yet!
Oh dear … The bunns will never tolerate diverting greens money for binoculars! Guess I’ll have to stick with the old Goldcrest Hand coated, triple tested (?), diamond polished 6 X 30 and keep wondering what I am seeing!!
I’m still using my first pair–my old Leupold gold-ring 9×38. I luvs dem.
We had some big old binoculars that are terrible for birding. I just got my first paid of Eagle Optics for Christmas and I love them! $2000? Never!
I have a mini-pair of EOs on the kitchen counter for quick views out back and my new ones are used for the elaborate birding trips I take all the time :o)