Monocular

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I'm off for a bit of a tour on the bike soon (hopefully this weather will warm up). Would like to stop and check out some of the birdlife (feathered ones Fnaar!!) as I pedal along so thought a lightweight Monocular would do the business. I think I want a 10x30 (or similar), no weight and bash/water proof but good (not cheap nasty) optics for spotting those feathered friends. Don't want to spend an arm or a leg really either. So any recommendations?

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I can't help with any recommendations, 26, sorry. But where are you planning on touring?

I'm off up the West Coast of Scotland. Doing islands and Hebrides and some of the more remote bits. Bit of nostalgia and some very new bits too. After seeing those recent pics of snow on Arran and Kintyre (I start on Arran and then go over to Kintyre) I'm hoping things will have warmed up considerably by the end of April.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Sounds a great trip - I'm jealous. Are you camping or doing B&Bs?

Mind you I am planning a tour to the Alps to camp with Mrs R in July. I'll cycle to Lille and Mrs R will take the Eurostar. We'll then head in the general direction of Chamonix and spend a week exploring before heading back to Lille and London. I'm going to do the Way of the Roses and C2C to warm up for it in June.

All this touring is quite exciting

No - not camping (I'm a wimp). Mixture of B&B and Hostels When I was a lad it was Hostels all the way so some bits I never got to as no Hostel was available. I'm now a (small) bit richer.....

Wow Rocky - you have some trips planned. Hopefully June will be summer up there in the presently frozen North. Nice that you get Mrs R out on a tour too. Sounds like a great trip

I'm off on a supported tour with a local club in June. Tuscany/Sardinia/Corsica and finish on the Cote D'Azur. Not much sightseeing as it's miles every day (5 days I think). But the beer and the craic will be good

After that Mrs 26 is hinting at us taking the bikes to Corsica in September. It would be rude to refuse

 

[P.H]

I've had a mono for a couple of years, Helios Ranger 7 X 32, it's fine as a carry anytime occasional use thing, probably about as good as it gets at the budget end. It isn't something I'd use for long, I find focusing a monocular isn't as easy as binoculars and also following moving objects is harder. I tend to take it when I'm just out for the day, either walking or cycling as it fits easily in a jacket pocket or saddlebag. When touring, I carry binoculars, Opticron Discovery 8 x 32, not as easily pocketable, they're still small and light and a joy to use.
Opticron make monos as well, I went to one of their field days, you get to play with all the toys but they're not selling, so you get to go away and think about it. and find the best price Well worth it if you get the chance, if you want to try something specifically give them a ring first to make sure they bring it.
http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/field_events.html

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I've had a mono for a couple of years, Helios Ranger 7 X 32, it's fine as a carry anytime occasional use thing, probably about as good as it gets at the budget end. It isn't something I'd use for long, I find focusing a monocular isn't as easy as binoculars and also following moving objects is harder. I tend to take it when I'm just out for the day, either walking or cycling as it fits easily in a jacket pocket or saddlebag. When touring, I carry binoculars, Opticron Discovery 8 x 32, not as easily pocketable, they're still small and light and a joy to use.
Opticron make monos as well, I went to one of their field days, you get to play with all the toys but they're not selling, so you get to go away and think about it. and find the best price Well worth it if you get the chance, if you want to try something specifically give them a ring first to make sure they bring it.
http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/field_events.html

Thanks PH. I'll check it out. Those Opticron events are all a bit of a journey for me. Slimbridge is the nearest. Maybe I'll pop along
I'm not planning on using the monocular for lengthy viewing. It's just a way of having a look at stuff I might happen across. Quick and hopefully easy.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Blimey, that sounds great. We'll have to compare sun tans at the end of September

Did you have any luck with a monocular?

Good idea Rocky

I'm getting there with the monocular

 

[Poacher]

If Slimbridge is the nearest but still a bit of a trek, then I'd guess you haven't got a nearby London Camera Exchange either, which is a pity, as they're usually very helpful with trying out various products. Might also be worthwhile asking about the possibility of a cheapish adaptor for whatever digital camera you have available, so you can try out a bit of digimonocing (a new word wot I just invented to describe digiscoping with a monocular). Not worth considering if your camera already has an amazing zoom capability, but can produce impressive results even with cheapo optics - here's a pic of a first winter Mediterranean gull taken through Lidl 10x50 binocs which cost about £12.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Wow - that's an impressive result Poacher!! Especially for £12 optics!!

I see Worcester has a LCE branch. That's fairly close. I don't go there much so was unaware of them. I'll toodle off there after Easter