Date:         Wed, 10 Jan 2001 08:35:22 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         "Harvey, David A." <David.Harvey@JHUAPL.EDU>
Subject:      Re: RFI: need info on economical binoculars
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You say "the only negative".  There is at least one other negative to the
Swift's.  They are easily knocked out of alignment.  A person who takes care
of their equipment would probably not have a great deal of trouble, but
someone who is careless (guess who) will find themselves needing to get the
Swifts bins realigned from time to time.

Dave Harvey
Sykesville, MD


-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Downing [mailto:gregdowning@MINDSPRING.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 6:12 PM
To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] RFI: need info on economical binoculars


My girlfriend bought a pair of Swift Autobahn 8.5/44's for about $225 and
they are very bright and clear. The only negative is that they are not as
light as some of the more compact binoculars, but she preferred the solid
feel. She has since gotten more serious into birding and purchased a pair of
new Leica's. But they cost 4 times as much. The Swifts seem to be much
better than what you'd expect for $225! I highly recommend them.

Greg Downing
Parkton, MD
gregdowning@mindspring.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Marshall Iliff" <Miliff@AOL.COM>
To: <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 6:07 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] RFI: need info on economical binoculars


> Hi everyone,
>
> I find myself in a small dilemma and am hoping some MDOspreyers out there
can
> help me. I have a friend who is a budding birder and is looking to buy his
> first binoculars and is hoping for something in the $200 range. I'm not
much
> of a "gear" person and usually gloss over the product reviews in Birding
and
> other magazines. Unfortunately, while I can give a long and tiring sermon
on
> the comparative merits of Zeiss vs. Bausch & Lomb vs. Swarovski, these are
> all well out of his price range.
>
> Does anyone out there have any advice on binoculars in the $200 price
range?
> A quick look at the ABA Sales Catalogue revealed the Pentax PCF binoculars
> were in that range, as were Bushnell' "Birder" and "Natureview"
binoculars. I
> used Bushnells back in my early days of birding and would hope that there
is
> something better out there. Anyone using these binoculars? Any other
advice?
>
> I'd also be interested in any opinions on spotting scopes in the $400 or
less
> range.
> Please reply to me offline and thanks in advance for any responses.
>
> Best,
>
> Marshall Iliff
>
> Ocean City, MD
> miliff@aol.com
>
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