Get closer to the wild side of Ireland
Docter 8×42 ED Binocular: Short Review Pros: High quality optics deliver a very sharp, clear image with excellent resolution, contrast and colour fidelity. Excellent edge sharpness and no sign of colour fringing (chromatic aberration). Handles glare well in difficult light conditions. Clean, understated design and lightweight construction makes for a compact and comfortable package. Cons: Somewhat constrained field of [...]
A good base layer makes a real difference When you’re out watching wildlife you often find yourself in unpredictable weather, in inaccessible and exposed places, out early in the morning or late into the evening, and often a combination of all those things. If you want to stay comfortable you need the right kind of [...]
Staying dry is one of the most challenging aspects of wildlife watching in Ireland. Keen birder Colin Barton puts Paramo’s flagship Halcon waterproof shell through its paces during one of the wettest sea-watching seasons on record. I’d been meaning to replace my old and by now rather leaky Berghaus Goretex jacket for the last two [...]
Vanguard Endeavor ED 8.5×45: Short Review Pros: Price; solid, lightweight magnesium alloy body; high quality finish and attention to detail; bright, sharp image across almost all of the field of view; excellent contrast, detail and colour rendition; superb strap and high quality accessories; very comfortable to carry and use for extended periods. Cons: Field of view [...]
Swarovski CL Companion: Short Review Pros: Compact size; light weight; bright, sharp image; excellent build quality; great strap, case and accessories; high quality Swarovski glass and coatings, good balance and handling for its size. Cons: Fairly narrow field of view, and softening at the edge makes extended viewing a little uncomfortable in some condition; surprising amount of [...]
Vortex Talon HD 8×42: Short Review Pros: Bright, high-contrast image with vibrant colours and good detail across most of the wide field of view. Solid feel with good balance and ergonomics. Nice wide focus wheel with plenty of grip. Good close focus of under 2m combined with wide field of view makes it ideal for [...]
Vortex Viper HD 10×42: Short Review Pros: Outstanding optical quality, superb bright image with excellent detail and very good edge sharpness. Compact and robust, great build quality, balance and handling. Bordering on an “Alpha” quality view, but only 1/3 the price of the big guns. Awesome close focus, great low light performance for a 10x. Lifetime, [...]
Opticron Verano BGA HD Binocular: Short Review Pros: Excellent image quality from a mid range binocular that packs plenty of optical punch. Bright, sharp view with great detail even in low light and outstanding close focus. Low weight and good balance a bonus in the field. Cons: Design feels a little unrefined for a binocular that’s [...]
Scopac’s “Scopac Lite” and the Cley Spy Mulepack go head to head in our Scope Carrier review. There’s no denying that a spotting scope can add a tremendous amount to your wildlife viewing enjoyment. For years I managed without one, but since getting my first one (an old Kowa acquired second hand through eBay) I [...]
I was given my LowePro Scope Porter 200 AW as a birthday present last November and I must admit I was quite surprised. I never saw myself as needing such a thing. Most times when I go birding (and I do go birding a lot) I prefer to be a Highly Mobile Unit (HMU) and [...]
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