Date: 12/8/25 6:24 pm From: Rob Rogers (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: [gcbirdclub] Monocular for birding question
If you would like, I can help you through how to adjust binoculars in the
way R. McLean is referencing. Email me directly if you are interested.
Rob Rogers
On Mon 8 Dec 2025 at 15:29, Robert McLean <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> P.S. it is not a problem to use binoculars if one eye is much better than
> the other because binoculars have a main focus wheel, and one of the lenses
> has its own separate focus.
>
> Taylor McLean
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 8, 2025, at 1:18 PM, Robert McLean <tmclean1090...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> Since your friend wants to reduce baggage and carrying weight, I would
> recommend 7x32 or 8x32 (30 instead of 32 can work too).
>
> Here are just a couple of suggestions that B&H photo carries; (B&H are
> reputable in my opinion)
>
> B&H Photo online ( has 30 day return policy)
> Opticron Savanna WP 8x30 (under $150 and porro prism which is old school,
> but can work. Read up on the difference between Roof prism and Porro prism
> binocs.)
>
> Leica 8x32 Trinovid HD Binoculars roof prism ($920)
>
> I am not clear on what binoculars
> are good between $300 and $800. Others will know better.
>
> I have heard that roof prism binoculars under $ 500 may not be so good.
>
> What is the budget? Also if you get binoculars with a return policy, I can
> tell your friend 5 or 6 things to test. Have your friend contact me upon
> getting a new pair and I can explain the tests to do.
>
> Regards,
>
> Taylor McLean
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 8, 2025, at 12:25 PM, <gravermoen...> wrote:
>
>
>
> I prefer binoculars but the one thing I think is really cool about
> monoculars is you can use some of them to take pictures with a smart phone
> vs having to lug a camera around.
>
> My main camera weighs 8 lbs and I was quite jealous of my travel companion
> with a monocular being able to take 90% of the same photos I was while only
> lugging around a few ounces.
>
>
>
> David Gravermoen
>
> Moore, SC
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> *On
> Behalf Of *Sophia Cox (via carolinabirds Mailing List)
> *Sent:* Monday, December 8, 2025 11:34 AM
> *To:* Chris Marsh <cmarshlci...>
> *Cc:* Kevin Kubach <kmkubach...>; GCBC <gcbirdclub...>;
> Carolina Birds <carolinabirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [gcbirdclub] Monocular for birding question
>
>
>
> Thank you all for your suggestions! To answer Chris's question, she is
> mostly interested in looking at birds (perhaps also mammals, if she were to
> come across a bear or fox or something). She owns 8x42 binoculars that work
> great, but she often doesn't bring them with her due to their size/weight,
> which is part of the appeal of the monocular to her. She also mentioned
> that one of her eyes is much worse than the other, so she wondered if a
> monocular would be easier in that sense. She may reconsider, after hearing
> many of your reservations, but if she does go through with it, how much
> difference does the 32 (8x32 field tube or 10x32 field tube) vs. 25 (10x25
> zero tube) make? My understanding is the x25 would let in less light, but
> it also seems to be smaller/lighter-weight/more portable, which is
> important to her. If anyone has thoughts on the specs specifically, I'd
> love to hear your opinions.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 8:09 AM Chris Marsh <cmarshlci...> wrote:
>
> I agree with Kevin. Monoculars are a waste of money. Question: is she
> interested in looking at just birds or does she also want to look at
> butterflies and dragonflies? Close focus is another consideration. When
> looking at small, lightweight binoculars Nocs 8x25 binoculars only focus
> down to 20 ft but are waterproof. Pentax Papilio II 8.5 x 21 binoculars
> focus down to 18 inches but have a very shallow depth of field when looking
> at birds. They are very compact and my daughter who has general nature
> interests loves her pair, but they are not waterproof. They only cost about
> $100.
>
> Chris Marsh
> Winston-Salem
> <cmarshlci...>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM Kevin Kubach <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
> Hi, Sophie. I understand the concept of saving space, but my $0.02 would
> be--for that amount of money ($125-150+)--to buy a decent waterproof
> binocular with a good warranty, such as the Vortex Crossfire series in 8 or
> 10 x 42. All the reliable brands should have waterproof options in the
> price range with good warranties. Crossfires are on the larger/heavier side
> but might not be out of the realm of what your friend finds suitable; I'm
> sure there are other slightly lighter or more compact options.
>
>
>
> In my experience, monoculars like that essentially require 2 hands to
> operate with any stability (especially with higher magnification and/or
> smaller objective lens), so why not just get a good, fully waterproof
> binocular (which provide a steadier, clearer image with less visual
> interference or strain on your other eye)?
>
>
>
> Kevin Kubach
>
> Greenville, SC
>
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 8:37 AM Sophie Cox via groups.io <sophiatcox=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> Good morning, all,
>
>
>
> Another birder recently asked my advice on whether Nocs Provisions
> Monoculars (https://www.nocsprovisions.com/collections/monoculars) would
> be good for birding. She is specifically contemplating whether to purchase
> the 8x32 field tube monocular or 10x32 field tube monocular (or possibly
> the zero tube 10x25, but my sense is that would be less useful). She
> already has binoculars; I think the appeal of the monocular as additional
> birding gear is that it takes up less room and apparently is completely
> waterproof. Her binoculars are 8x magnification, so my thinking was that
> the 10x magnification would be a better bet so that she'll have more
> magnification power in situations where the 8x binoculars are maybe not
> quite strong enough to clearly see a distant bird. But I thought I'd
> consult the club and see if anyone has insight. The monoculars she's
> considering can also be viewed here:
> https://www.rei.com/b/nocs-provisions/c/monoculars. Any and all opinions
> welcome!
>
>
>
> Thanks, all, and good birding!
>
>
>
> Sophie
>
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