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the Waxwing test



I wasted the morning driving around looking at properties I can't afford
and wondering how Orange Co. went from rural farmland to subdivisions full
of quarter-million to half-million dollar housing in so short a time.
Mostly, I was hoping to see some birds and had planned my route to take me
past dozens of stock ponds and through areas that were forests and
farmlands just a few years ago. Half a tank of gas later, I'd seen 300+
Canada geese, a few red-tailed hawks and numerous crows and who knows how
many Turkey vultures. The highlight of the morning was a Kestrel off Teer
Rd. that allowed a very good close look. Big deal. I was just about fed up
with the whole idea of trying to look for birds and properties in this
entire area.

But the interesting thing was coming home and taking out the trash just in
time to see 33 Cedar Waxwings descend on a tree by my driveway. They waited
while I fished the binoculars out from under the truck seat. Unsatisfied
with the view from the Burgess 7.5x32s, I made the birds a deal: if they
would wait for me to go back inside, I'd come out with an assortment of
glass to properly regard them with. Fantastically, they did indeed wait
while I went inside and gathered 3 more sets of binoculars. 

Now I was armed with Burgess 7.5x32s, Pentax 8x42 DCF WP, Leupold Wind
River 10x50 porros, and Nikon Superior E 12x50 porros. The sky was an even
shade of winter gray that makes one want to curl up with a book in front of
a fire, and coincidentally gives no glare, shadow or other lighting
artifacts and the birds seemed fairly patient. While I was fooling around,
6 more waxwings settled on the tree beside the one that was practically
pregnant with existing waxwings. They, in turn, were joined by 2 juncos and
one, lone Am. Robin. The waxwings began squeaking to me or to each other
while I hauled optics out of cases. The waxwings preened, swapped trees and
just generally milled about, and I was really feeling very fortunate, indeed.

The bargain priced Burgess 7.5x32 roofies gave sharp enough views but were
dim and the colors were hard to appreciate. The birds were easily
identified with them, but they lacked the satisfaction factor that is so
important. (Still, for under $100, these are an excellent buy.)

The Pentax 8x42 DCF WP waterproof roof prism binos were MUCH brighter as is
to be expected when going to a much larger objective. However, the colors
were flat and while I was re-realizing the yellow tail tips and unique
facial markings, I was also wishing for a bit better view. In the case of
the junco, I couldn't see bill color with this binocular, at this time.

The Leupold Wind River porro prism 10x50's really put the Oooooohhh back
into the picture. I suddenly was vividly reminded of why we call these
birds waxwings in the first place by getting my first real view of the red
paint on the wings. I was also very keeny aware that these were the first
bins to show the very subtle color graduation that goes from dark back to
yellow chest and belly. Also, for the first time with this particular
viewing session, I could clearly discern a pinkish tint to the junco bills
with this binocular. (These are not the current roof prism WR 10x50s, but
previous porro prism WR 10x50s.)

For the first time since I've owned them, I was ever so slightly
disappointed in the otherwise excellent Nikon Superior E 12x50's. I've long
regarded these as being among the very best bins for am. astronomy and
distant birding. In fact, when it comes to raptors and, as I learned this
summer, shorebirds, these have few equals. However, in this particular
case, these bins didn't really show all that much more than the basic
Leupold 10x50's at 1/4 the cost of the highly regarded Nikon SEs. There was
a very, very subtle bit better color definition with the SEs, but not much
more. Colors that were identifyable with the Leupold 10x50's were vibrant
and exciting with these binos, but the difference was very subtle. Apparent
shake in the 12x50's was evident. Oddly, I'd not noticed any difference in
shake what-so-ever between the 8x42's and the 10x50s. But it was obvious in
these 12x50s at this time. Perhaps, it was because I was excited.
Previously, I've not noticed a problem with that, even though others have
reported having real problems going to this magnification.

In the past, I've done some static testing of optical resolution and color
identification involving various binoculars and optics, but this was the
first time that I've had the enormous luxury of comparing different size
binoculars under flat lighting conditions on such a real and subtle target
as the lovely cedar waxwings. This is real. It's not like comparing
resolution on a dollar bill or an air force optics target or even on a
supermarket flyer.

After the birds flew on to the next yard, I paced off the distance from
where I was bracing against my truck to the tree trunk. It was 22.5 paces
(roughly yards) to the base of the tree and the birds were about 40ft. up.
If the differences were this dramatic at this short a distance under even
lighting conditions, I wonder what they'd be under longer distances and
worse lighting?

I need to do more testing under different conditions to suit my own
curiousity, but I'm just about ready to give up on the low power, roof
prism binoculars that are so popular with most birders. I'm just not that
good a birder. I'd rather take every optical advantage that I can get.

Regards, and Respect to all,
Mike Swaim
Wandering Orange Co., NC