I currently have this Zeiss binoculars from the 80s (therefore the emphasis on “west germany”). They work good enough and are ok-ish sharp, but i think contrast and color rendering are not very good.
I would be interested what others use and what experiences you have with it.
Like another person mentioned here, I use the Nikon PROSTAFF 3S 8x42. I purchased them because the Audubon Society recommended it. Even on 20 mile hikes, I don’t find them to be heavy or a problem. They’re comfortable for long periods of use.
When I first started to test binoculars, I went to a local retail store and tried a few but didn’t really know what I was looking for. A couple articles from that organization helped me settle on something.
I occasionally put my phone up to an eye piece for photos, which works fair.
I’ve also seen the four brightest moons of Jupiter with these binoculars! I was ridiculously elated by that.
They get the job done. Perhaps I’ll upgrade in the future once I figure out what that would actually improve. Getting anything that can focus further would mean a lot more movement. That could be beneficial for seeing birds a little further, but probably less useful for sky objects like the recent comet which passed Earth. I observed that one with these binoculars as well! 💜
I’ll own it. I’m wildly ignorant. If there’s something less than an amateur bider, then I’m that person. But these binoculars have been kind to me. They recently helped me see my first indigo bunting and eastern phoebes!
Hmm. Now I’m wanting to look up this topic again and see about an upgrade. 🥰