Are you confused by the plethora of information you find about binoculars floating around on the internet? We’ve now streamlined all that content into a simple Binoculars Guide designed to help you understand the basics of Binoculars and guide you through picking the ideal pair for your needs. Enjoy!
The Hummingbird - the magnificent - is really a testament of the amazing creatures of nature. This video will tell you more about Hummingbirds.
I had a chance to have a better play of the Bushnell Tour V3 which I wrote about earlier. The first thing I wanted to do was to obviously switch it from Yard readings to Metre readings. Previously the V2 came with two buttons and the logic of switching between units was straightfoward.
Not with the Tour V3. Reading the manual also made it more confusing. I’ve found out how to make the switch and it is actually quite simple. To save you the frustration, here is how you do it.
1. Turn off your Tour V3.
2. When you turn it on again, but this time hold the button down for at least 5 seconds.
3. The readings should start interchanging between yards and meters. when it shows meter readings, hit the button again to confirm the switch.
Hope that helps. Cheers.
I’m just taking a break from Binoculars to let you know of a new set of Laser Range Finders that have come in store. The Bushnell Tour V3 Laser Range Finder has been improved from the popular V2 series, making it more intelligent and accurate for golfers. Boasting a new “JOLT” Technology, this range finder vibrates when it has definitively sought out a pin. It’s precise sensor also helps separate the trees from flags, making it one of the more accurate range finders in the market today.
Starting at AUD $379.00 for the V3 (non-slope) Edition, it is a good companion on the golf course that will help improve your game.
In this series we look at the best of birdwatching binoculars. I’ve gauged them in order of their brand and similar specifications, so the image-stabilized types are not included in this list. I do like some image stablised binoculars, and perhaps will do a review of a few in the future. For now, 10 of the Best Birdwatching Binoculars:
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x42 ED
It seems to be an unsaid fact that some of the most renown optics manufacturers come from a single country - Germany. Some brands like Leica, Zeiss and Steiner remain favourite photographic and telescopic gear around the world, and rightly so, having handled products from these brands and compared it with others - they are quite a class above.
I tried asking Google(search) the reason for Leica, Zeiss and Steiner’s superiority in the optics industry. Nothing directly linked me to the reason of such excellent glass make, however from what I could deduce, Germany jumped on the glassmaking bandwagon in 1400s and it stayed a critical industry for the country. The Germans started way earlier than the Americans, English and Japanese. Their experience and technique is unrivalled.
Today, some of the best binoculars are produced by Zeiss and Steiner. I’ve waxed lyrical enough about Carl Zeiss Binoculars, and it is well deserving. However a younger brother to the Zeiss is Steiner, a specialist in Binocular technology that started in 1947 and deserves equal praise. Making an excellent product range from hunting to marine binoculars, Steiner may cost just a bit more than your Nikons or Burris but they are well worth it. Below I give a short review of two beautiful Steiner Binoculars.
Steiner SkyHawk Pro - For Birders (pictured above)
The Steiner SkyHawk Pro series is specially designed for birdwatchers. This particular set comes in the 8x or 10x (birdwatching standards) magnification and proportionately balanced with a 26-42mm aperture. The best pair in the lot is the Steiner SkyHawk Pro, 8x42. This pair is perfectly weighted, developed with a new series of optimised optical system and exceptionally durable with its new fiber-reinforced composite material.
Steiner Commander XP - For Boaters (pictured above)
This series is designed for the rough seas. Brilliantly armoured, no oils, acid or salt-water will deter if from some of the sharpest views in the world. Steiner themselves invented the compass binocular together with world class sailor, John Kostecki. The compass is HD-stabilized, fitted on the binocular. A reticle accompanying makes it possible to calculate size or distance precisely. A world class pair that is beloved by marines, is the Steiner Commander XP 7x50 Marine Binoculars. Of course, it comes with a compass.
I’ve handled these myself so I know they are top-class optics. Give them a go at your nearest binocular store, or some camera shops might also have them. I think you might be as suprised and awed as I was the first time I handled these babies. :)
Another shot of Endeavour flying over Austin today. I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but I sensed its spacey presence, like a disturbance in the Force.
It was as if somewhere, suddenly a great explorer had been grounded.
Hope you didn’t miss this epic shot from this morning.
(via Statesman.com)
View high resolution
Good read.
Climate Change Dramatically Increases Rainfall in the Tropics
Extreme precipitation in the tropics comes in many forms: thunderstorm complexes, flood-inducing monsoons and wide-sweeping cyclones like the recent Hurricane Isaac.
Global warming is expected to intensify extreme precipitation, but the rate at which it does so in the tropics has remained unclear. Now an MIT study has given an estimate based on model simulations and observations: with every 1 C rise in temperature, the study finds, tropical regions will see 10 percent heavier rainfall extremes, with possible impacts for flooding in populous regions.
Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2012/09/climate-change-dramatically-increases-rainfall-tropics
View high resolution
Here is an informative visual that gives you an overview of bird species found in Australia and the endangered count. Also a chart of the birds that represent each state in Australia.
Designed by Michelle Hardi and brought to you by OpticsCentral - Australia’s favourite destination for Birdwatching Binoculars.
I’ve been very surprised by VIXEN Binoculars that i’ve recently handled. They feel extremely hardwearing and also super sharp. Their optics are well coated so imaging is always very crisp, warm and brilliant in contrast. For compact binoculars they may scale on the heavier side, but that is a slight compromise to have for it’s high-strength casing. Overall it handles very well and cost a fraction of a ZEISS binocular.
The Vixen Series include:
Vixen Atrek 8x25 Compact
Vixen Atrk 10x25 Compact
Vixen Atrek 8x32
Vixen Foresta DCF 8x32
Vixen Foresta DCF 8x42
Vixen Foresta 10x50
Vixen Foresta 10x42
Vixen Foresta 7x50
Vixen’s come from Japan. They are not very well known in Australia, but some online stores will stock them. Overall - 4.5/5 stars!
What a lovely play with city lights, at night.
The city lights of Europe and Asia.
(via jtotheizzoe)
