Kowa 6.5x32 BD II XD Wide-Angle Binoculars?
I am looking for lower-power binoculars for general surveillance and closer uses. Cheaper big box store binoculars have been a total waste of time (and money) so, QUALITY MATTERS!
I own Steiner, Zeiss Conquest, and Leica NV binoculars for reference. I find I use the Steiner 8x30 and 8x56 most as they are so easy to use, have reasonable weight and handling, and are a good servicable binocular. What I am finding while looking at cattle at 100~200 yards is that the FOV is too small and I generally don't find the 8x magnification to be the best. Lighter, smaller, and handier bins with a better FOV would be super helpful. I also would like something useful at closer ranges for viewing insects in general, butterflies, bees, and similar things.
At $350 retail, the Kowa 6.5x32 BD II XD Wide-Angle Binoculars seem to tick all the boxes. However, I wonder about the Maven B.3 6x30 with their ED lenses but, with the smaller FOV and higher price I wonder if they are a good option. I am also probably overlooking a lot of other reasonable options.
Are the Kowa 6.5x32 BD II XD Wide-Angle Binoculars best for my intended uses? What am I overlooking in terms of performance or in competitive brands at somewhat similar price points?
TIA,
Sid
I am looking for lower-power binoculars for general surveillance and closer uses. Cheaper big box store binoculars have been a total waste of time (and money) so, QUALITY MATTERS!
I own Steiner, Zeiss Conquest, and Leica NV binoculars for reference. I find I use the Steiner 8x30 and 8x56 most as they are so easy to use, have reasonable weight and handling, and are a good servicable binocular. What I am finding while looking at cattle at 100~200 yards is that the FOV is too small and I generally don't find the 8x magnification to be the best. Lighter, smaller, and handier bins with a better FOV would be super helpful. I also would like something useful at closer ranges for viewing insects in general, butterflies, bees, and similar things.
At $350 retail, the Kowa 6.5x32 BD II XD Wide-Angle Binoculars seem to tick all the boxes. However, I wonder about the Maven B.3 6x30 with their ED lenses but, with the smaller FOV and higher price I wonder if they are a good option. I am also probably overlooking a lot of other reasonable options.
Are the Kowa 6.5x32 BD II XD Wide-Angle Binoculars best for my intended uses? What am I overlooking in terms of performance or in competitive brands at somewhat similar price points?
TIA,
Sid
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