Orion 25x100 Binoculars with Aluminum Case

Added on: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:26:43 PST
Sale Ends: Friday Jan-09-2009 11:25:43 PST

Current Price: US $67.66 (4 Bids)
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Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars $169

Added on: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:34:07 PST
Sale Ends: Friday Jan-09-2009 17:34:07 PST

Current Price: US $24.95 (1 Bid)
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Orion MegaView 20 x 80 BAK-4 Hunting Binoculars W/Case

Added on: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:50:12 PST
Sale Ends: Saturday Jan-10-2009 7:50:12 PST

Current Price: US $5.50 (3 Bids)
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Orion Paragon Plus Binocular Mount with XHD Tripod

Added on: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:14:48 PST
Sale Ends: Wednesday Jan-14-2009 13:14:48 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $299.95

Current Price: US $299.95
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Orion Paragon HD-F2 Binocular Tripod and Pan Head

Added on: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:14:57 PST
Sale Ends: Wednesday Jan-14-2009 13:14:57 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $99.95

Current Price: US $99.95
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Orion Explorer Series Binoculars 8 x 40

Added on: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:32:08 PST
Sale Ends: Tuesday Jan-20-2009 14:32:08 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $12.95

Current Price: US $12.95
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Orion 05250 Large Binocular Tripod Adapter

Added on: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:28:35 PST
Sale Ends: Thursday Feb-05-2009 9:33:35 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $22.00

Current Price: US $22.00
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Orion 10x70 Binoculars with Carrying Case

Added on: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:40:36 PST
Sale Ends: Friday Jan-09-2009 13:39:36 PST

Current Price: US $41.13 (3 Bids)
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 Like the Wind River Katmai binoculars, the less expensive Celestron Noble 8x32 binoculars (*est. $230) are easy to carry because of their compact size and light 19-ounce weight, though their 393-foot field of view is narrower. They have fully multicoated lenses, Bak-4 prism glass and are waterproof, fogproof and rubber-armored. The Cornell Lab review ranks them below the binoculars discussed above, but Celestron binoculars still make the top ten and cost less than most. In a large comparative review for Bird Watcher's Digest, Diane Porter says that the Celestron Noble 8x32 binoculars "were an absolute joy to pick up and use -- I had to fight with my testers to return them." As with all 32mm-aperture binoculars, the Celestron binoculars are dimmer than larger 42mm-aperture binoculars, but they are good for daytime use.

The Celestron Noble 8x32 binoculars offer 19mm eye relief with twist-up eyecups, and while some reviews say they're good for eyeglass wearers, the Cornell Lab review rates them quite a bit lower for "eyeglass-friendliness" than the Nikon Monarch ATB or Wind River Katmai. If you do wear glasses, it's a good idea to try them for yourself first (or buy from a store with a good return policy). Overall, the more expensive Wind River Katmai 6x32 has better image quality, but the Celestron binoculars are a good value.
Best compact binoculars

Compact binoculars with an aperture of less than 30mm are ideal for hiking and backpacking, as well as for concerts, operas and for children (since the small size fits children's faces better). Ken Rosenberg, in the Cornell Lab review, warns against compact binoculars for birding, saying they're too dim and show too little detail. However, even bird watchers might want compact binoculars as a second pair, so as to have binoculars always handy. Some experts say that compact binoculars are quite usable for hunting. A 2005 Field & Stream review recommends 6X binoculars -- a magnification often used for compact binoculars -- for still hunting in big woods.

The Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 (*est. $130) compact binoculars are recommended in more reviews than any others in this category, even though they're not waterproof and carry only a one-year warranty. They have a 393-foot field of view, good eye relief and weigh only 10.2 ounces. The Papilio binoculars, which are a top pick at Outdoor Life magazine, are noteworthy for their ability to focus as close as 18 inches. In an in-depth review at BetterViewDesired.com, Wayne Mones says that the Pentax binoculars focus so closely that you can actually use them as a field microscope. The author's field tests also show that the Papilio binoculars are quite suitable for birding: "They do not show the detail and brightness that I expect from birding binoculars with larger objective lenses, but I was surprised to find the image to be quite acceptable. Color fringing is a bit better than average, and there is little edge distortion." He also recommends the Papilio binoculars for travel sightseeing.

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