Binoculars or Monocular

[bigtiller]

I am looking for some optics that I can put in the glovebox of the truck and use on the road or maybe in the shop. The main use will be for looking at nature but I want something that is compact but somewhat high quality for the low light times. The ranges will be from 50 feet or out to maybe 1000 yards. Another use will be at the shooting range. Right now I am thinking monocular, but that may just the pirate in me.

Has anyone tried a monocular and how do you like it?

 

[PILOON]

My thoughts are that you need 2 items.
A spotting scope for the range and at that probably mounted as well as a decent pair of general purpose binoculars for the truck.
I simply do not believe a bullet hole at 1000 yards could be seen hand held as the smaller and further the more power needed and the more the slightest movement will cause you to wander off target.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Western]

For 1000 yards, your talking spotting scope!

I have a compact pair of Leupold Acadia's 10x42, I use them Elk/deer hunting and just general use. They are great, have a quick focus and adjustable for eye dominate, also has a nice rubber armor.

I think a monocular would tend to be unsteady and less field of view, my spotting scope is nice, but at long range it has to be solid.

 

[2458n]

Monocular for me as I am blind in the right eye!

 

[tcreeley]

A spotting scope needs a tripod or mono pod to steady it, though I have mine so that it mounts onto an old gun stock as well. I bird and I have a 1987 Bausch + Lomb 9x35 porro prism binocular that is extremely sharp and allows me to pick out fine details in all sorts of light. I like wide angle. The sharpest I have looked through are a Leitz 7x35. After that I found little if any difference between Leitz, Bausch Lomb Elite, Zeis, Swarovski in the 8 and 10 power binocs. I was at a birding conference where you could go outside with the binocs. I did not like nikon or pentax. All of them have their adherents. It is a mtter of how much you want to spend. Eagle Optics and Christophers give a great amount of info and help in selecting optics. A cheap pair in the glove compartment is also a good way to go. Every one's eyes differ, go shopping and look through them, then look online. Take your time.

 

[dusty3030]

Nikon Monarch 5's 10x42 shown here are really clear and bright. Not cheap but not crazy either a good value I think.

Elastic chest harness, clear and steady I can use all day no fatigue.

For riding in the truck I have some Burris landmark 10x42's Good glass but colors don't pop like a better pair. Very inexpensive for the quality but not bad.

 

[Mace Canute]

I am looking for some optics that I can put in the glovebox of the truck and use on the road or maybe in the shop. The main use will be for looking at nature but I want something that is compact but somewhat high quality for the low light times. The ranges will be from 50 feet or out to maybe 1000 yards. Another use will be at the shooting range. Right now I am thinking monocular, but that may just the pirate in me.

Has anyone tried a monocular and how do you like it?

Arrrr! Avast matey! I translated ye message into scurvy pirate speak. irate:

I be lookin' fer some optics that I can put in th' glovebox 'o th' truck 'n use on th' road or maybe in th' shop. th' main use gunna be fer lookin' at nature but I be needin' somethin' that be compact but somewhat high quality fer th' low light times. th' ranges gunna be from 50 feet or out to maybe 1000 yards. Another use gunna be at th' shootin' range. Right now I be thinkin' monocular, but that may just th' scurvy pirate in me.

Has anyone tried a monocular 'n how do ye like it?

 

[RobertN]

Spotting scope and your choice of monocular/binocular.

I had issues with double vision for a few years. Using microscope/binocular, I closed one eye. I got a monocular at the time; it worked out well. After surgery to correct eye muscle problem(myacina gratis), I use binoculars just fine. And, that is what I use.

At the range though, I use a high power spotting scope.

I will point out as I have before, there is glass, and then there is glass. You get what you pay for... Good binoculars/monoculars/spotting scopes/microscopes/camera lenses/rifle scopes cost $$$...

I have a nice older Redfield spotting scope when they used to make good glass. I got to use a Swarovski spotting scope down in Costa Rica looking for Sloth's. Oh my, it was SWEET! The clarity was amazing, thru the whole zoom range. But, it was $$$$$

 

[bigtiller]

I have a Vortex Viper 15-45x65 spotting scope


that I seldom use in the truck because it gets a little bulky, even though I have a window clamp for it. That is why my first thought was a compact monocular but if they don't pick up much light or have much clarity I'll easily look a the binoculars.

I am looking at an 8x36 from Vortex but at $140, I am not sure if that is the quality I want.

Vortex Optics - Solo 8x36

 

[Chilly807]

A binocular will be better for extended viewing times, even a good monocular will cause some eyestrain over a longer period. I've got some cheap Bushnell 8x42 binos for 3-D shooting, they wouldn't be my choice for spotting glasses for hunting. They're ok for what they do, which is identifying an aiming point before you shoot. For picking an animal out of a mixed background, you need quality optics and they just don't cut it for me.

Nikon makes a decent bino as seen above. They'd be where I'd start looking. Most of us have a tough time justifying $1K or more for binos, I know I can't do it. Swarovski, Steiner, Zeiss, etc are wickedly good optics, but do I need them? No. Do I want them? Oh yeah, baby...

Sean

 

[bigtiller]

A binocular will be better for extended viewing times, even a good monocular will cause some eyestrain over a longer period. I've got some cheap Bushnell 8x42 binos for 3-D shooting, they wouldn't be my choice for spotting glasses for hunting. They're ok for what they do, which is identifying an aiming point before you shoot. For picking an animal out of a mixed background, you need quality optics and they just don't cut it for me.

Nikon makes a decent bino as seen above. They'd be where I'd start looking. Most of us have a tough time justifying $1K or more for binos, I know I can't do it. Swarovski, Steiner, Zeiss, etc are wickedly good optics, but do I need them? No. Do I want them? Oh yeah, baby...

Sean

I wondered about that. I sometimes put on an eye patch when using the spotting scope for extended periods. Without it, a headache comes too easy.

 

[NorTracNY]

As many have stated, for higher power optics, you will need a tripod or some type of stand to hold it steady. I would suggest you look at two aspect of the optics that you're considering.

Make sure you are comfortable with the eye relief. The pupil of the optics needs to match the location of the pupil in your eye. For people who want to wear glasses (or need to) with their scope this is a more important aspect.

The second thing is the actual power and aperture of the scope. There are A LOT of cheap optical system out there. The cost is not always the way to judge this. They may say it's a 10X system with a 40mm Diameter from optic, but look through the front end of the optic. You should see a circle of light that actually fills the front lens. If it doesn't, it's likely junk optics and you won't resolve anything close to what you should.

 

[mikehaugen]

As many have stated, for higher power optics, you will need a tripod or some type of stand to hold it steady. I would suggest you look at two aspect of the optics that you're considering.

Make sure you are comfortable with the eye relief. The pupil of the optics needs to match the location of the pupil in your eye. For people who want to wear glasses (or need to) with their scope this is a more important aspect.

The second thing is the actual power and aperture of the scope. There are A LOT of cheap optical system out there. The cost is not always the way to judge this. They may say it's a 10X system with a 40mm Diameter from optic, but look through the front end of the optic. You should see a circle of light that actually fills the front lens. If it doesn't, it's likely junk optics and you won't resolve anything close to what you should.

doesn't this depend upon how far away you are from the front lens?

 

[CurlyDave]

When I lived in the SF Bay area, I used to keep a monocular in my car. The use may sound funny to some of you, but we would have many mile long traffic jams, and I would use it to read road signs up ahead, so I could start working my way over to the correct lane. Almost any cheap optic would work, and I had a $20 one with a reticle calibrated for determining the distance to a golf green. You can get a similar one at almost any sporting goods store.

This would be suitable for animal identification, but not for longer term observation.

 

[arrow]

You'll be much better served with a binocular. Better in lower light and your brain/eyesight dynamics will thank you.

 

[bigtiller]

I finally made it to the big city today looking for optics. I looked at 3 monocular and decided I wanted something better. I decided on a pair of Nikon Monarch 7. They are 10x42. Not exactly compact but they are smaller than my old pair of Bushnell.

The sun is getting low now so I going to check them out.

 

[dusty3030]

I finally made it to the big city today looking for optics. I looked at 3 monocular and decided I wanted something better. I decided on a pair of Nikon Monarch 7. They are 10x42. Not exactly compact but they are smaller than my old pair of Bushnell.

The sun is getting low now so I going to check them out.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=307135"/>

Nice!!!!!

 

[RobertN]

Huh? Equal optics, it would make no difference in light gathering monocular vs binocular.

You'll be much better served with a binocular. Better in lower light and your brain/eyesight dynamics will thank you.

 

[arrow]

Huh? Equal optics, it would make no difference in light gathering monocular vs binocular.

Actually it can and here is why. Most of the time a monocular is trying to be compact. It can have great glass but if in its attempt to be space saving, it is compacting placement of this glass and thus can very well restrict its exit pupil. This can especially happen at certain price points. If your eyes are capable of 4 mm opening in low light and you have an instrument of an exit pupil of only 2 mm, then you will be better served with the 4mm entity. The other side of the coin is that perhaps your eyes of not equal prowess in their ability of light passage. Most of us are going to use our dominant eye and that eye may not open as much as the other. Sure through trial and error you'd find that out but a binocular eliminates that aspect all together.

 

[Western]

I finally made it to the big city today looking for optics. I looked at 3 monocular and decided I wanted something better. I decided on a pair of Nikon Monarch 7. They are 10x42. Not exactly compact but they are smaller than my old pair of Bushnell.

The sun is getting low now so I going to check them out.

View attachment 307135

Those should last you a long time. I like Nikon products overall, I have several of the scopes, good all-around for the price.