Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!rising From: rising@utzoo.UUCP (Jim Rising) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: binoculars Message-ID: <9061@utzoo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 7-Dec-87 12:53:39 EST Article-I.D.: utzoo.9061 Posted: Mon Dec 7 12:53:39 1987 Date-Received: Mon, 7-Dec-87 12:53:39 EST Organization: U of Toronto Zoology Lines: 21 Traditionally, birders were told to get 7X50 binoculars because (1) they were easy to hold still, (2) let in a lot of light (thus little colour loss), (3) and it was easy to get the bird in the field of viewing. However, I have used 10X50 for years, hand have never had any trouble with them. I need the extra magnification, myself. Also, I know many others that use 10s without difficulty, so I recommend that you at least look at these. As for scopes, I have an old Baush & Lomb scope that still has excellent optics, and I have played around with a number of different oculars. I find that my 40X ocular distorts colour on occasion (legs of Great Black-backed Gulls look yellow at a great distance)--so I've become cautious with colour judgements when using it. 15X ocular is great, but then I have 10X binoculars. I find that I use my 22X-wide angle the most. Colour is great, and I still get some magnification. I've looked through many scopes with zoom lens, and find them disappointing. Colour is generally awful. As one friend commented about his, "With this, I can get chromatic aberation of any size I want!" -- Name: Jim Rising Mail: Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1 UUCP: {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!rising