Calling all Pirates: Monoculars vs Binos?
- Thread starter TyKing
- Start date
I am not sure what real benefits there are.... weight? sure, but small binos are pretty light.
I prefer binos, easier on the eyes and depth perception.
however, quality glass is the key, and binos will be twice the price due to twice the glass... all things else the same.
I prefer binos, easier on the eyes and depth perception.
however, quality glass is the key, and binos will be twice the price due to twice the glass... all things else the same.
TheMinusHuman
CGN Regular
- Location
- Chilliwack BC
I've used both, Binos are way better. Monos are harder on the eye, they don't work as well in low light as binos. Not to mention there are going to be like way more options for binos out there. if you're getting into hunting specifically get binos, Binos are what give you an edge when you hunt. if you want to get a spotting scope for shooting so you can see bullet holes in paper thats different but a mono is kinda like the worst option for both in my opinion.
If I have no reason to expect I'l need it, a monocular may turn out to have been worth carrying just in case. But if I expected to use it, I will have taken binoculars instead.
I don't actually own a monocular, unless my two spotting scopes count. (One of them is a compact type, but I have binoculars that are smaller.) I have five pairs of binoculars, ranging from compact (no name 8x20, B&L 7x26) to big and bulky (two Bushnells 7x50) with my best in the middle, (6.5x32 Minox.)
I don't actually own a monocular, unless my two spotting scopes count. (One of them is a compact type, but I have binoculars that are smaller.) I have five pairs of binoculars, ranging from compact (no name 8x20, B&L 7x26) to big and bulky (two Bushnells 7x50) with my best in the middle, (6.5x32 Minox.)
Last edited:
Generally the best is to start with a decent set of binos, Steiner comes to mind for price/quality, then transition to monocular. It’s called a scope...
Seriously, get a decent set of no focus binos, you won’t be looking at the tweety bird at 20’ but past that, everything’s in focus with no adjustment. Look for large pupil distance, like 9mm or better, 7x is adequate for most use, 35mm objectives minimum. Tie it on with a good set of binoc holders, the kind that strap on your chest, you won’t even know you are wearing them.
Seriously, get a decent set of no focus binos, you won’t be looking at the tweety bird at 20’ but past that, everything’s in focus with no adjustment. Look for large pupil distance, like 9mm or better, 7x is adequate for most use, 35mm objectives minimum. Tie it on with a good set of binoc holders, the kind that strap on your chest, you won’t even know you are wearing them.
I have different vision in both eyes, with my left eye stronger. I though mono would be the ticket for me, but bino require and have space to hold with both hands. This makes them easier to hold for longer periods, and more stabilized with both hands. Advantage - binos
Monoculars are OK for taking a quick look but become very tiring and therefore hard to use over any length of time. The field of view, the amount of terrain you can see at one time, is also more limited, half that of a similar binocular in fact. It's also true that a lot more quality gets built into even a modest binocular than any monocular I ever saw. But if I wanted to have something I could carry everywhere in a shirt pocket, a mono would be the thing.
Any binocular with a focus knob should also have a way to adjust the individual focus for one eyepiece, usually the right, and most often found by turning the nokkies over. Then to customize you binocular, you should cover the side that is individually adjustable (if you just close one eye, it changes the focus in the other one), then focus the binocular on the side you're looking through. Once that's done, you cover the side you just focussed to and use the individual adjustment knob to bring that eye into focus too. Note the setting and then you will always have a binocular that focusses perfectly to both eyes.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Depends what you want to do.
For the last year of, I've taken to carry a pocket spotting scope instead of binocular while hiking
- Weight about the same as the bino
- larger power range
A Celestron Monocular 8x42 Oceana would be fun
- Built in compass and mill-reticle
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1BhtWPV###Xc3###Xq6xXF###e/Celestron-8X42-OCEANA-Spotting-Scope-Telescope-Monocular-With-Integrated-Compass-Reticle-for-Hunting-Hiking-Camping-Travel.jpg
-
This been said, it's easy to see the appeal of a nice pocket monocular, like a Leica 8x20 or similar.
- Small and easy to carry
- Nice optic (all thing considered)
- Just make sure you've got a lanyard on it, it would be a shame to have it gone missing!
For the last year of, I've taken to carry a pocket spotting scope instead of binocular while hiking
- Weight about the same as the bino
- larger power range
A Celestron Monocular 8x42 Oceana would be fun
- Built in compass and mill-reticle
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1BhtWPV###Xc3###Xq6xXF###e/Celestron-8X42-OCEANA-Spotting-Scope-Telescope-Monocular-With-Integrated-Compass-Reticle-for-Hunting-Hiking-Camping-Travel.jpg
-
This been said, it's easy to see the appeal of a nice pocket monocular, like a Leica 8x20 or similar.
- Small and easy to carry
- Nice optic (all thing considered)
- Just make sure you've got a lanyard on it, it would be a shame to have it gone missing!
