New Optics!

I made a major change in my birdwatching gear this week, finally putting down a venerable pair of binoculars I have had since my earliest years and picked up some 21st Century optics, optimized for birding. I retired a 54-year old pair of 7x50 De Wohler Kassels bequeathed me years ago by my father---binocs older than I am! They were feeling heavy, weren't eyeglass friendly, and weren't all that good in lower light. But sentiment must give way when the aging eyes need the help and, after months of research and shopping around, I am now using top-rated (in my budget class) 8x42 Nikon Monarch ATB (7294) binoculars. I figured if they impressed the Cornell Ornithology Lab and Pete Dunne, among others, they would be good enough for me! I took the new optics on field tests yesterday and they performed beautifully. Light gathering is superior, handling is just fine, and the zoom responds quickly. And these puppies are armored, waterproof, and fogproof, so I can expect a good experience no matter the weather. 2010 promises to be a great year for birdwatching, and now I am up to that challenge with this new equipment. Much fun!