Can you recommend good binoculars?
 

I need good binoculars or maybe a small telescope.

There is a bald eagle nesting about half a mile from me and I'd like to keep an eye on it. They are pretty rare around here.

I can see it better through my camera with a 300mm lens than through the binoculars I have - Bushnell 10x50. The image is hazy through the binoculars.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1524416928.jpg

What would you recommend I use to watch the nest?

Cheap spotting scope with a tripod will be less than quality binocs. How much do you want to spend?

That's really it with optics...how good do you wish to spend? I second the spotting scope/tripod comment.

http://www.opticsden.com/best-spotting-scope-aw-lp/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI75Gb8bfO2gIVCb3sCh3YGQiBEAMYASA AEgIUdfD_BwE

Craigslist.

There’s a pair who used to nest in our yard. I called them Ron and Nancy. My wife called them screechy and cat killer. Beautiful to look at.

There are a few optic gurus here. Are you looking in low light or broad daylight?

I have a set of these and like them. They are 20x, so they'll provide twice as much magnification as your current 10x. You'll probably want a tripod to mount them to or something to brace them against as they are pretty big. I use them for astronomy from my balcony, and a little bit for looking at birds.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1113197-REG/pentax_65874_20x60_sp_wp_binocular.html

Otherwise, yeah, a spotting scope would be a good option too.

From 1/2 mile away, you'll want 50-60X on a tripod. Spotting scope is the way to go. Just go to Amazon and search spotting scope. There's dozens of decent ones on there. I'd go with an 80mm diameter lens - it will be far brighter than a 60mm.

Hook up a digital camera. Post pics.

flyby with a quadcopter?

That's possibility. I was looking at spotting scopes on Amazon and they have one that you can mount your iPhone on. The price is reasonable, too.

Super cool! How long till that tree grows some leaves?

I have a 45x 65mm Vortex Vioer sporting scope that I like. Mid pack scope since it is my least used optics. About $500 IIRC.

LEICA SPOTTING SCOPE APO TELEVID 82.

Spoil yourself

My friend left me one for two years. I almost cried giving it back to him. At 70 yards you can read the text on a a dollar bill. With clarity.

At 75 yards I use my Leica 82 to dial my .22 FX Wildcat Pre charged air rifle in to the point that I can hit the phosphorous head off matches.
Sometimes they even catch fire if "grazed"..

Harbor Freight sells a cheap 60 power spotting scope that will work just fine if you only want to spend a few bucks. Even includes a cheap tripod.

I have a pair of Vortex Crossfire’s that I like. As said above, half mile is far for binoculars.

Several years ago I needed a spotting scope for use at the shooting range. I bought a Barska 30-90x100 for a bit less than $100 and now it is a bit more. The important number is the last one as the larger it is the more light gets in. I can see hits at 300 yards when we do night shoots and it is nearly dark. I seldom take it off the 30 (min. magnification) even at 300 yards away.

Dont get me wrong,, you need not spend a fortune on optics theses days.
$150 USD will get you everything you need, with perhaps a camera or iphone mount so you can record the going on's in that nest.
It really is lot of fun,,