March 27, 2007

Audubon Equinox HP Binoculars: One of Your Best Choices

Tip! Finally, consider the weight of the binoculars before buying them. If weight will be a consideration for activities such as hiking, then perhaps plastic lenses will be best that are specially coated to produce a high quality, sharp image.

Starting from the fact that the “HP” part of the name of those binoculars stands for “High Performance” it is definitely expected that the new, improved Audubon Equinox HP binoculars have something really interesting to tell us. Sheltered Wings .Inc, the manufacturer, have done a really good job with those binoculars; not only are we satisfied to see a few optical improvements but the new, revised models feature some neat, ergonomic improvements too.

Tip! It is not that binoculars are only for outdoor use. They can come in handy indoors too.

Specifically, the eye cups have been remodeled and the twisting mechanism now features an intermediate position which allows for extra flexibility. Furthermore, the eye cups will fit a lot better to the eyes of the user. This will not only make you feel more comfortable but it will also improve the viewing quality drastically.

The barrel has been lightly improved while the overall shape remains the same as the one of the simple Equinox model. Both the old and the new models feature a hard - to - slip textured surface for an easy, secure grip.

Although the diopter adjustment mechanism is hard to twist (in order to avoid unintended slips) I think that the new HP version should feature markings. I believe that this improvement is a must for the next version of the Equinox binoculars; in fact, this is probably the only fault/wish-list that I have regarding those binoculars.

Tip! Roof-prism models are generally lighter and smaller than Porro models, but you will usually pay more. If the binoculars are sealed and filled with nitrogen gas, they will not cloud with condensation.

The size of the binoculars remains untouched, 5.75 x 5.1 inches (width and height accordingly). Not surprisingly, the weight remains virtually the same; 23.8 ounces for the 8x model and 23.5 ounces for the 10x version.

According to the manufacturer, the XP model is brighter than the older version. If you compare the old model with the new one, you might notice the difference; on the other hand, you might notice no brightness difference at all! The truth is that even if there is a difference regarding this subject, it’s so minor that the only way to notice it is to be willing to do so! Honestly, if you asked me personally I would simply say that I don’t see any difference!

If you are a newcomer to the world of binoculars and you have only a limited budget to spend then those binoculars will really do a great job for you. They will more than serve your amateur/intermediate skills and you can always get them for something close to 250$!

John Gibb is the owner of binocular sources
For more information on binoculars check out http://www.binocular-sources-4u.info

Tip! Viewers can use a pair of binoculars for bird watching, star gazing, observing far off animals, spotting ships at sea, watching a concert, or enjoying a sports game from a ‘nosebleed seat.’ They can be used while hiking, camping, boating and hunting.

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