[CT Birds] Any suggestions for new binoculars?

[COMINS, Patrick]

My tastes in optics are far from cheap, so you might not like my suggestions unless you want to really open up the checkbook :)  If you are serious about birding, good bins and a good scope are among the best investments you can ever make and can think of them as a lifetime investment.  I know I would never be able to afford the optics I have now if I didn't buy them a long time ago, but I'm happy now that I spent the money at the time.

On a brighter side though is that you can get much better quality optics for the price at the low end than you used to be able to.

One suggestion that I do have though is to buy whatever binoculars you get through a local dealership.  I won't name names, since there are several good choices.  That way you can actually try out the bins you get ahead of time and see if they meet your needs and have an expert to guide you in your decision making process.  I also find it good to have someone to pull for you should you have any problems with them.


Patrick Comins, Meriden

PS  Red-breasted Nuthatch has been here off and on and there was a Pine Siskin here yesterday at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River.