My SO is going to Africa next month and the tour group recommends that they take binoculars - they go so far as to recommend a particular brand and model and give a special price.

The brand is Carson and the binoculars are their 8x42 model. Carson's website makes them sound impressive and we really haven't found anything bad about them on the net.

Wondered if anyone here has any experience with Carson optics generally and these binoculars specifically. Weight seems to be a critical factor to my SO and she has only found one comparable model lighter.

Thanks for any response.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

I am not sure what your budget is, but those are entry level binos and a good set will provide better performance in every aspect.
I like the Swarovski optics and their binos will provide a wider field of view, closer focus, better resolution, better low light performance and less colour aberation. Unfortunately all of this costs $$$$

I briefly had Carson SW842 binoculars (8.5x42, weighed 30 oz) touted for their very wide 11 degree field of view, but they had very tight eye relief and significant edge distortion making them untenable. I quickly sold them.

There are much much better options out there to choose from that won't break the bank. That said I too have Swarokski bins (7x42 SLC) that are stellar.

Just get the 8x42 Nikon Monarchs and be done with it. The Monarch 5 is probably the best bang for your buck.

Not that I know anything about that specific brand (and that might be a clue in itself), but the fact that it’s lighter than most others may be an indication that the components are not too robust, and/or that the binoculars contain plastic lenses and/or prisms.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Just get the 8x42 Nikon Monarchs and be done with it. The Monarch 5 is probably the best bang for your buck.

Good advice. Even the older Monarch binoculars are quite good for the money.

We used Leupold BX-3s for our two trips to Tanzania - 8x42 for the wife and I used 10x50.

Here is an article about the “optical triangle” that discusses the relationship among eye relief, magnification, and field of view. In short, though, increasing one automatically means that one or both of the other will be reduced. Wide field of view? Less eye relief and/or magnification.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Just get the 8x42 Nikon Monarchs and be done with it. The Monarch 5 is probably the best bang for your buck.

Good advice. Even the older Monarch binoculars are quite good for the money.

Another huge +1 for the Monarchs. Can't beat the quality in that price range, IMO. I was just using a pair this morning scouting for bald eagles at Blackwater NWR this morning, in fact.

-Rob

quote:

ust get the 8x42 Nikon Monarchs and be done with it. The Monarch 5 is probably the best bang for your buck.

Any of the Monarchs. My current favorite is the 8 x 30 Monarch 7 because light and compact, but still outstanding visually.

I have 2 friends with Carson Binos and I've heard no complaints. Try to borrow someone's to try or at worst buy a pair to experiment.

For Africa, I'd research what hunters use. Being able to see animals at dusk/dawn will probably be important.

I have a Carson monocular. I bought it because it is lightweight. Its optics are not very good.
Nikon Monarchs are excellent for the $$$.
And I have a small pair of Vortex binos that are excellent too.

Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss HD glasses are where I would start. Then I would look at Cabela's Eurovision which are surprisingly good. Nikon, Leupold, and Vortex would be where I would look next. As an FYI, the Nikon EDG is a high-end glass too. Carson reminds me of Christensen Optics. I had a friend who was with Christensen when they started up. Their goal was to compete with the Big 3. To keep costs down, they had their optics made in China at a tier 1 factory. They had a good product, just not as good as Swaros, Zeiss, Leica and the Cabelas Euro. If I was going on a once in a life time trip, I would buy the best optics I could afford.

Edited to add: I would go to Cabelas, Sportmans, etc. and look through the Swarvovski HD as your pinacle lense and then work down from there until you meet your price and quality point. By starting with the best, you know what you are getting.