Monoculars

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Daydreamer

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I have various pairs of binoculars of different makes and sizes Pentax and Nikons but the most generally satisfactory are a pair of Barr and Stroud 12 x 42. I would like a monocular with this spec as I like to be able to carry such things in pockets rather than round my neck.
There is a bewildering range available online from just over a fiver to about 500 pounds, many with names I have never heard of. 12 x 42 seem to be unavailable so it looks like it will have to be 10 x 42. Barr and Stroud appear but names like Avalon, Celestion and Hawke seem to be possibilities.
Can anyone offer any opinions or suggestions from experience?
 
Daydreamer said:
I have various pairs of binoculars of different makes and sizes Pentax and Nikons but the most generally satisfactory are a pair of Barr and Stroud 12 x 42. I would like a monocular with this spec as I like to be able to carry such things in pockets rather than round my neck.
There is a bewildering range available online from just over a fiver to about 500 pounds, many with names I have never heard of. 12 x 42 seem to be unavailable so it looks like it will have to be 10 x 42. Barr and Stroud appear but names like Avalon, Celestion and Hawke seem to be possibilities.
Can anyone offer any opinions or suggestions from experience?
Click to expand...

Spend about a tenner, carry it all the time, no worries if it gets lost or broken. Do you really need 10x? 8x seems to be the "bog standard" for monoculars.

Also, I think Barr and Stroud is only a "brand" now, with no connection to the former optical company.
 
I used to have a cheap monocular, it was very good for sailing at night.
Be sure to get one which you can focus without your glasses is you wear them.
Being able to tweak the focus really helps identify lights, at least for me.
 
I haven't tried lots of monoculars but, FWIW, I'm a fan of the "Docter Monocular", originally designed and manufactured in 1921 by Carl Zeiss. Only 8x21 but, in my experience, plenty good enough in most circumstances. It is particularly small (fits on the palm of your hand) and light - so easy to use with one hand on a pitching deck). It is a hinged design, used folded and stored flat. There are a number of cheapish copies around but I suspect the quality of the optics varies with price.
 
The 12by is important for my old eyes. Found one sold by a company called K&F Concept, All the right words, 44% discount, Under 30 pounds, free delivery. Never heard of them.
We shall see.
Thanks for the helpful comments
 
My son had one as a present which fitted to an iPhone. No idea why. Looked like an eBay job. Cheap and cheerful.
He tossed it, so I Stole it, hid it on the boat, and it was very useful over the summer on some passages and spying on military ships passing by.

I even found a submarine !
 
kacecar said:
I haven't tried lots of monoculars but, FWIW, I'm a fan of the "Docter Monocular", originally designed and manufactured in 1921 by Carl Zeiss. Only 8x21 but, in my experience, plenty good enough in most circumstances. It is particularly small (fits on the palm of your hand) and light - so easy to use with one hand on a pitching deck). It is a hinged design, used folded and stored flat. There are a number of cheapish copies around but I suspect the quality of the optics varies with price.
Click to expand...
I had one of these, which I thought was made by Pentax! Excellent view and fitted in a tiny case (or my pocket) found it really practical.

But having used binos with a compass I think I'd never again bother to use anything wthout a compass...
 
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