There's an excellent, thorough, 2005 review of binoculars at all 
prices in Living Bird:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/winter2005/Age_Binos.html

Roz Renfrew
VINS

At 12:36 PM 3/27/2007, you wrote:
>I think this is could be the most basic (and therefore important)
>topic for birders.  Without really good optics we can't do our job
>(birding) very well.
>
>Several birder-friends have purchased Celestron Regal binoculars
>(8x42) and absolutely love them.  Consensus among these 4--5 birders
>is that the Regal is a "Zeiss with a price" (that we can afford).
>Price is $300--350.  Last year I bought the Regal and they are the
>clearest lenses I have ever used. (I've Not played with Zeiss or
>Swarovski optics).
>
>I have seen the Celestron Outland, but have not used it in the field.
>  It seemed very similar to the Regal, but made in China, not Japan.
>At only $100, however, it must be lacking some feature found in the
>$300 Regal.  Online research might provide more information on
>specifications of the two.
>
>Bruce Parfitt
>Johnson, VT
>
>"Let no bird go unseen."
>
>--- "Gregory R. Askew" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > I have decided I'm ready for a upgrade in the optics
> > department...I've been using a fifty dollar pair
> > of Bushnell for far too long. Yet my money's kind of
> > tight right now. Can anyone recommend a good pair of
> > straight-design binoculars for under $200? Please reply off the
> > list.
>
> > Thanks,
> > Greg
> > Vergennes
> >
>
>
>
>
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