Couple of months ago, I started looking for my binoculars. I, at one time, owned a nice Japanese binocular. Back in the 80s, I paid about $100 for them. They went with me to the woods, and to the training fields. 10X, bright and clear. The last time I recall suing them was on a deer lease in LaSalle parish, sometime after the turn of the century. I can't lay hands on them now, they seem to have gone away.
On Thanksgiving, I ordered a new set. This time it is Vortex Diamondback. For a bit over $200 from Optics Planet. They came in yesterday after Optics Plante's deplorable shipping methods. We found them shortly after dark last night when checking the mail.
I was sitting on the back patio, playing with them, when I noticed what I thought was a planet in the southeast sky. About 8:30 pm. Sure enough, it was Saturn. I could see the rings plainly through the lenses. Neat! They seem to have good glass at a fair price. Not as good as the Steiner binocs with the artillery reticle, but good enough for my uses.
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Surfing the YouTube, I happened to see the noted English physicist Brian Cox talking about astronomical things. He was saying that gold and diamonds are fairly common in the universe, but somewhat rare on Earth. He thinks that one of the rarest things in the known universe is weed. Earth is the only place in the solar system that has wood, and he suspect that it is uncommon in the broader universe. Interesting.
I have a Japanese Unitron binocular I paid $35 for well over 35 years ago at The Big 'E'. It stays in my truck and is used to this day. They are as bright and clear as the day I bought them. During the summer while on duty at the FD, I sit in the apparatus bays with the doors open watching the various birds of prey that live in the area; hawks, Osprey, and the occasional Eagle.
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