CN FORUMS ARCHIVE Telescope Reviews: 6x30 Yosemite as a birding binocular?

Report from Dick's Sporting Goods and Mismatched Sneakers:

Went to Dick's SG&MS today. The sporting good's salesman was giving a very large, middle aged woman a fishing license application (w/ trout stamp) -

She can bring home the trout (ba, BA, ba, BA)
Dip it in lard from the drippin's can (ba, BA, ba, BA)
Throw it in the skillet (ba, BA, ba, BA)
Go out and do her shopping (ba, BA, ba, BA)
and be back before it melts in the pan (ba, BA, ba, BA)
'Cause she's a fisherwoman
F I S H E R W O M A N
Can't say it again

When he was finished with the fisherwoman, I asked to see the Nikon 9x25 Prostaff and 8x36 Monarch.

Some quick suppressions:

Monarch -- Nice size for kids and the missus, Neal (unless she's as big the fisherwoman), good ergonomics even for my freakishly large hands, as Kenny would say, surprisingly heavy feeling for only 23 oz. but I liked the weight and balance to help steady the shakes. In fact, I liked the ergonomics better than my 8x32 LX (did I really just say that?!).

The optics, however, were disappointing, the little Prostaff inverted nipple porros with their tiny 2.7mm exit pupil were actually BRIGHTER and sharper than the 8x36 Monarch, and despite being a roof, which usually gives you a size larger image scale than a 8x porro, the Prostaff's image scale was even larger than 9x due to its very close objectives.

The edges were fair to poor, as Todd Gross might say. The colors seemed okay, but not vibrant. Then I stepped out from behind the aisle of fishing tackle where the F I S H E R W O M A N was testing 20 lb. MUSTAD test line with her teeth and looked at the sneakers on the other side of the store in the sneaker dept.

The image was a bit soft despite the fact that the Monarch's are phase coated (said so right on the box, and also "Made in China"). I went to adjust the right diopter and the plastic ring surrounding the ridged metal diopter came right off. I quickly slipped it back on and left the binoculars on the counter. (Whistling sounds go here)

Nikon 9x25 Prostaff: The edges were a bit better in that the fall off was more gradual, but the sweet spot was about the same, maybe a little larger. Overall, the images were crisper, brighter, and more color vibrant. The ergonomics left something to be desired, namely something to grip with my big mitts. Small kids would probably be okay with this short, sharpely tapered nose bin, maybe even small handed women, but not this guy or the F I S H E R W O M A N, the images were flappin' like a fish out of water. Made in Japan for Japanese hands.

The prices: $259 for the Monarchs. $195 for the Prostaff. Both are overpriced, IMNSHO.

Conclusion: Look for a better sample 6x30 Yosemite Sam, but if the wife's using it also, make sure she doesn't get the dreaded blackouts or ask Steve M. to teach her the "upper eyebrow technique."

I didn't have much time left after that exhaustive test, but I badly needed a pair of sneakers so I went over to the sneaker dept. and looked at what was on sale for under 50 bucks. Saw a style New Balance similar to the one I have, which is comfortable, but worn down to my heel spurs.

I also saw a sneaker/hiker and since I do go hiking with LOUDO and have to wear my heavy, monster sized Herman Munster boots, the sneaker/hiker hybrid appealed to me, but unfortunately, they didn't have it in size 12 1/2 or 13. I tried on a 14, but it was too large, but good for water skiing.

So then I tried on the pair that was similar in design to the old worn 428s (473s), the right sneaker felt good, but the left one was tight. The salesman checked the label, it was a size 12! A mismatched pair. He apparently didnt care to check all the 12 sizes in the back to see if there was a size 13 model 473 lurking inside a size 12 box, but just said that I'd have to wait for the next shipment from China, which could come in tomorrow or in two months, depending on the trade winds. I realized that this guy wasn't on commission, and it was getting late so I had to leave with my tread worn sneakers and heel spurs.

They also had the NB 999 for $119 (made in USA, all the rest are made in China or Korea). The 999 was the same one I used to buy for $69 back when it was only a 666. I tried one on the last time I was at the store, but it wasn't as comfortable as my old 666, said the Beast.

LOUDO will be waking me up in a few hours so I'll have to end this TAIL of woe, but my advice is to stick with Leupold where the binoculars are always greener except the Sams, which are black, natural (natural what?), and red. Kids like red.

Brock, a fisher of W O M A N
I'll say it again,
but not now, 'cause I'm living in Little Belize where the dog barks before the rooster crows

Dr. Scholl

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Press: Are you a mod or a rocker?
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