Didn't want to go off topic and hijack Mike Fae Dundee's binocular thread, but been thinking along similar lines, but with the added quandary of monocular v binocular, mainly from a size and weight point of view, plus possibly the expense? Don't have any practical field experience to speak of on either. What are the key disadvantages to a good monocular against binoculars? Anyone use a monocular out of preference? Recommend any good ones to have a look at? Cheers
|
 |
 With optics the quality comes with price basically, so this whole question only really arrises if you are planning on spending a good bit of money outlay really! At the cheaper end of the market up to about forty-five quid or so for either binos or a monocular though the differences are fairly mute really! I have found a monocular useful at times, and a good one is fairly cheaply had at even stores like Millets. If you are more serious about watching birds or wildlife outdoors then go to a birdwatching informational resource website, to see what optics suit your preference or pocket the better!  There are always very good sources of info on this subject in BBC Wildlife magazine, or else Birdwatching magazine for instance too. A good cheap pair of Practica binos is what I mostly use outdoors these days myself though, and they just came from Argos I think.
|
| Edited: 10/03/08 02:10 |
 i've found monos are not good if you wear glasses. i just can't get on with one, although i do tend to carry it for a quick look see in the distance. i prefer binos for viewing.
|
|
The opposite to Parky just to be helpful  ; cannot get on with bino's. I use a Zeiss monocular - great optics.
|
|
 Monocular is not so good for depth perception, and if it's getting gloomy you'll only half the light gathering power so colour will be much poorer. As usual, it depends what you want... an occasional recce of something in the distance, a cheapish monocular will do it at a minimum of weight and bulk. Regular bird watching, high quality (read: "expensive") binos would be much better. Pete.
|
|
.jpg) Ditto the praktika bino,s cheap and cheerful ,light to carry just good enough, TK Maxx £9.99
|
|
 I've got binos, but if you want a monocular experience you can always close one eye 
|
|
 I've got binos, but if you want a monocular experience you can always close one eye And if that works for you, and your reason for going monocular is that you've caught the ultralightweight bug, then take a screwdriver to the bins and you have a DIY monocular. Then if you don't like that you can turn it back into bins.
|
|
 Some people just cannot get a good view using binos, my wife can't use binos, but can use a monocular. I got a cheap pair many years ago, and have never found a better pair at a low price. I picked up a cheap monocular on sale at Millets (£5), the view is slightly duller, but if space/weight are a prime consideration I can't fault them.
|
|
Thanks folks, Some food for thought there. The Zeiss mono looks good and also get recommended in US forum. The Leica and Swarovski binos also look tremendous. Guess the next thing is to get to a shop that has a few and see if they're happy for me to walk out the door with a couple to try out on the street and compare for preference. Cheers
|
|
Failing that, if you are good at competitions winning-especialy if it is for a photo submission type of entry-then why not try your luck with the very regular great optics competitions in the Birdwatching types of magazines, or in BBC Wildlife magazine too even-all available on the shelf in most WHSmith branches! While you are researching your future optics buy, then who knows, you might just win a good pair for yourself for free! One of my friends two years ago did just that! He is the proud owner of Carl Zeiss binos now, and is completely happy with me for suggesting the competitions route for him too! After all someones got to win, so why not you! 
|
| Edited: 10/03/08 14:24 |
Well thanks Trevor - and I guess with a name like 'Lucky Jim' I should give it a go if I see any
|
|
Why not try out your luck by attempting to do the caption competition on the Cotswold Outdoor sites web newsletter for March even! The picture-for them that are not signed up to the regular email newslettter-was of a pair of small monkeys (they look like little South American ones to me) peering closely together through the lenses of a pair of binos, left by some intrepid soul on a table or chair within their bush campsite. The monkeys though are looking through the two lenses of the back end of the binoculars however-the wrong way round as it were!Check out the website there for the details of where to submit your email reply funny caption for the photo, details on the home page of the site-just click on the link there! The prize is simply listed as being a pair of binoculars though, rather than a specific type or brand, but being Cotswold it must be a good outdoors product type on offer anyways! Be lucky, Lucky Jim! Edit - The competition though closes on 31/05/08 so plenty of time for all OM brains to get well and truly ino their "funny" gear and get the entries submitted by return of email!
|
| Edited: 12/03/08 00:57 |
Why use monocular when we do have 2 eyes. ??? Try to walk around one day all -only using one eye and see how happy you will be vs using 2 eyes. The stereoscopic view and deept in field do only works with 2 eyes.
|
|
 Because if you look at it as a 'come nearer device' for occasional spotting the monocular will provide the same magnification as binos that are twice as heavy, expensive & bulky.
|
|
Sorry but binoculars is the only usefull ones for observation. Forget "same magnification. Using 2 eyes and 3D function do works bether than a monocular with the same magnification One example. If you have a zeiss Oem2 with 14 x 45 and a zeiss scope monocular with 20 x 80. Which of them would you prefer to use for observation.
|
| Edited: 06/02/10 10:06 |
I'd take the binoculars, personally I prefer them to a mono. I was just answering you question as to why someone would use one rather than binos. Anyway a 80mm objective monocular is hardly a pocket model.
|
|
This is a pretty old thread but just to add the point of view of a monocular user my purpose for viewing is to see where a path goes on the opposite hillside. Where is the stile? Does that sign in the distance say "blue Lagoon"? without walking further towards it. Are those people in the distance the friends we are trying to catch up? I have a 20mm x 8 Solus prism monocular that weighs 47 grams. If I could find an equivalent binocular of that weight I would use that, but it does not exist. To complete those tasks with binoculars would weigh maybe twice as much. I would imagine but do not know, (as I have never invested that much money in optics) that the Zeiss monocular above would pick out greater detail of the occasional sort that I require than the zeiss binoculars. I assume you are offering a similar weight/expense comparison. If that were so I would choose the monoculars and probably wish they were lighter.
|
|
