49 replies to this topic

[bulletdodger]

     I am interested in every bino-holic's beater pair. These are near the door, or even kept outside on the porch or in your vehicle. Apologies in advance as I am sure this has been asked before.

     For all my many nice binoculars, the one that spends the most time in my hands is a Kmart 7x35 10° 

JB-133. I bought it for part missing from my otherwise pristine Kmart pair.  The objective lens rings are pretty beat up and it has a bit of fungus on one lens, but optically it is a match for the pristine one. 

 

Post your beater, extra points for the ugliest pair!

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[sevenofnine]

Not really beaters but if I'm going somewhere where that might happen then I take my Oberwerk 6.5x32 porro's. They're armored, waterproof, lightweight with good optics. They're also not expensive new so if something happens to them, I'd just get another pair  

 

https://oberwerk.com...ght-binoculars/.

Edited by sevenofnine, 22 June 2025 - 09:58 PM.

[Inkie]

Mine are Pentax 10 X 38, about CDN$180 20 years ago. Nice and smooth, easy to focus, decent optics, light and maneuverable...what's not to like?!?  Except I wouldn't ever let them get to 'beater' status.  They still look brand new. 

[NinePlanets]

HAHA!

ALL of mine are beaters! I have about 8 (?) pairs and only 1 of them cost more than $100 (in the 1970's.) I get binocs from flea markets and thrift stores in the $15 - $25 range. Easy come, easy beat.

[f18dad]

8x30 Nikon P7 + 8x40 Nikon AE

Edited by f18dad, 22 June 2025 - 04:54 PM.

[Rich V.]

Not so much a "beater" but more "grab-n-go".  Nikon 8x30EII by a downstairs window and 10x35EII upstairs.  Both are over 20 yrs old but clean and in good repair; ready for immediate use.

[gwlee]

I have two high quality binoculars, use them a lot, take good care of them, no need for a beater. 

Edited by gwlee, 22 June 2025 - 06:20 PM.

[fsphotography]

Mine is a pair of early Nikon ''TRAVELITE'' 10X25 5* picked up in an opportunity shop
for very little money, compact and nice soft case. Sharp too.

Frank.

[NinePlanets]

I have two high quality binoculars, use them a lot, take good care of them, no need for a beater. 

You don't keep a pair bouncing around behind the seat of your truck to grab at an instant's notice to check on the happenings around you?

[gwlee]

You don't keep a pair bouncing around behind the seat of your truck to grab at an instant's notice to check on the happenings around you?

No. Although I often travel with binoculars,  I don’t store them in my vehicles. If I think I might need them quickly, I might lay them on the passenger seat beside me with their ocular and objective covers in place. When I leave the vehicle they are cased and carried in my daypack unless they are in use. 
 

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Edited by gwlee, 22 June 2025 - 10:15 PM.

[glittledale]

i've kept a vortex 8x 36 monocular in my truck console or bicycle bag for years.  i don't have a beater pair of binoculars but travel with 10x 40 dialyts, probably my most reached for binoculars.

Edited by glittledale, 23 June 2025 - 08:46 AM.

[ckwastro]

Athough I’ve been doing astronomy for nearly 40 years, binoculars have only been serious instruments for me (for both day and astro use) for about three years. So, I don’t have any beaters. All are kept inside, and are all ready for grab n go, day or night, either on the counter for hand-held use, or on monopods near the back door. 

Edited by ckwastro, 23 June 2025 - 10:52 AM.

[JoeFaz]

My 8x40 Nikon AE are on a shelf downstairs, and my 10x42 Meade MMC are sitting by my office desk so I can grab them and use them immediately, but I definitely wouldn't call them a "beater," I still take good care of them. Binoculars don't lend themselves well to having "beaters" since quick deployment doesn't do you a whole lot of good if they were knocked way out of whack the last time you used them.

[Erik Bakker]

As long as the sun is up, my most used instrument is my Nikon 8x42 EDG. At night it is great too, but I usually prefer my Nikon 7x50 SP or 10x70 SP with their 7mm exit pupils for hand held observing. All are taken very good care of, none are a beater pair.

[skyops]

*

 

Any binos which came into my possession considered "beaters" have been passed on to friends, neighbors or co-workers (the number of folks who own no binocular of any kind, I find remarkable), as my way of encouraging any type of observing.

 

I have in the garage an old pair of Jason 7x35s ready for quick daytime use:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For quick night use I have similar-vintage classics with 50mm objectives.

 

For serious observing the high-end glass gets deployed.

 

 

 

 

.

 

[gwlee]

As long as the sun is up, my most used instrument is my Nikon 8x42 EDG. At night it is great too, but I usually prefer my Nikon 7x50 SP or 10x70 SP with their 7mm exit pupils for hand held observing. All are taken very good care of, none are a beater pair.

To me, “beater” suggests intent to abuse or allow a binocular to be abused, which isn’t something I would willingly do. High quality binoculars are not only more fun to use, but they are more likely to survive unintentional abuse. One my goals to own fewer binoculars of better quality, so having an additional “beater” binocular doesn’t appeal for me. 

[nowhere]

Closest thing I have to a "beater" is my Pentax SD 9X42. Not abused but I do usually leave them in the car. Since they are fairly inexpensive I wouldn't feel too bad about them being stolen - unlike the Fujinon 7X50s I foolishly forgot in my truck when I was visiting a friend. Came back to find the window smashed and the binos (as well as everything else that wasn't fastened to the car) gone. They weren't visible from the outside either (nor are the Pentax ones now) so it wasn't the binos that precipitated the act. 

 

The Pentax 8X36 AD binos that preceded the 9X42s did kind of fall into the beater category eventually. My wife and I took our niece and nephews out for a stargazing trip and I let the youngest use them to see if he was mature enough to be trusted with more expensive optics. As it turned out, he wasn't. Better them than my 7X50 SPs or my wife's telescope I guess.

[luxo II]

No decision required if you only have one pair, as I do; so I suppose they must be my "beater pair".

They're Zeiss Terra 8x42...

Edited by luxo II, 24 June 2025 - 07:25 PM.

[J. Barnes]

This actually fairly easy to decide. My Leupold Yosemite 6x30s have seen the most extensive use while taking the most abuse of all the binoculars I own.
They spent a couple of years on a chest harness. I used them on a number of peak scrambles in Glacier National Park and thankfully had them when I encountered any wildlife while on the trail. Spotted a Grizzly in the distance foraging for berries. Also had an extremely rare treat to see two wolverines tussle along a ridge line. They banged around on a few rocks and saw a fair amount of sweat and trail dust.
When the kids got in high school sports, they lived primarily in a backpack. Watched a lot of football and track meets in less than ideal conditions. I brought a few other pairs from time to time, but was always fretting about the treatment of the expensive moderns or rarer collectables. Never really worried about the Yosemite’s.
Yet through it all, they are still going strong. If Sky Rover ever releases their 6x32s, they may get replaced. But until then, they still get thrown in the pack whenever I think I might need a pair.

[jarrodeu]

I usually have multiple binoculars laying around, and at least one in the car. Lately I've had a very beat up old civilian Spencer Mark 30 7x50 from WWII that I bought for about $25, disassembled, and cleaned. Works great as a car binocular.

 

Jarrod

[Jon Isaacs]

"Beater" comes from the world of cars. A beater is a car that's a "runner", probably has a lot miles, worn upholstery, probably body damage. You typically buy a beater cheap and just drive it until it dies. It was a new car once but has lived a long life.

 

How that translates into the binocular world, that's hard to figure because decent binoculars can last a lifetime.

 

I keep a pair of 6x30 Yosemite's in the truck, a pair of Meade 7x42 Montana's in the car. They're not beaters.

 

Jon

[tbumpus]

"Beater" comes from the world of cars. A beater is a car that's a "runner", probably has a lot miles, worn upholstery, probably body damage. You typically buy a beater cheap and just drive it until it dies. It was a new car once but has lived a long life.

 

How that translates into the binocular world, that's hard to figure because decent binoculars can last a lifetime.

 

I keep a pair of 6x30 Yosemite's in the truck, a pair of Meade 7x42 Montana's in the car. They're not beaters.

 

Jon

Goodness.  I bet you're fun at parties.

[Pinewood]

I usually have multiple binoculars laying around, and at least one in the car. Lately I've had a very beat up old civilian Spencer Mark 30 7x50 from WWII that I bought for about $25, disassembled, and cleaned. Works great as a car binocular.

 

Jarrod

Hello Jarrod,

 

A civilian Mark 30, seems to be an oxymoron.  Is it a commercial version of the Mark 30?

 

I have a Spencer Mark 30, which is  smaller than the other WWII US Navy or Army 7x50 binocular, with just a little more FOV. There is a problem in that the eye cups seem to be unique.  In good shape, it is a very nice glass, even if it older than I am.

 

Clear skies,

Arthur

[Jon Isaacs]

Goodness.  I bet you're fun at parties.

 

I joke a lot even here on CN so be careful taking everything I write seriously.

 

But this thread, it's clear that true beater binos are not common..

 

Jon

[tbumpus]

Sorry Jon, you're right and in retrospect my comment wasn't warranted.

 

Back to my spot under the stairs.

 

- Robert