Binoculars vs. Monocular

[VT Sasquatch]

For a hunter with glasses? I used to wear contacts but I have switched to glasses the past few years as a result of scratched corneas. I tried to use my cheap binoculars for hunting this year and found them pretty much useless unless I took my glasses off. I have had no issues using my hunting scopes or my range finder with glasses on. My initial impression was to but better quality binos but I have started to think a monocular might work better. Thoughts?

[redtop]

I've never had a positive experience looking thru a monocular. Limited field of view, more eye strain, harder to hold steady.... I think you'd be better off getting some better quality bino's with collapsable eye cups. Try before you buy if you can. There is a world of difference in bino's for each individual. Unfortunately you get what you pay for, to a point anyway.

[CurlyTail]

Binoculars are a challenge with eyeglasses for sure. Make sure the eye cups are folded down so that your glasses are right against the optics. Without glasses, you need the eye cups out.

For glassing long periods, I think a tripod is very helpful.

I often end up removing my eyeglasses and adjusting my binoculars to my uncorrected eyes. Another argument for lasix surgery.

[RAMMONT]

I use both a small set of binoculars and a monocular.

Leupold 10x42 Cascades
The best all around binos I've ever had. Small, clear, work well, and best of all I can get a full field of view even though I wear glasses.

Sig Sauer Oscar3 10-20x30 monocular
This is even smaller than the Leupolds. They are a little more finicky at getting a full field of view with my glasses but I can do it. They are image stabilized so I can get a very clear image at max range. A monocular strains your eyes a little more but since I only use mine from time to time rather than spotting animals for hours on end I've had no troubles.

[VT Sasquatch]

Thanks guys. I actually made an appointment to be evaluated for lasik a few months ago. The place called and cancelled my appointment. I took that as a sign and never rescheduled. My uncorrected vision is awful (-7.5, I think) but I am afraid the doctor might screw up the lasik.

[Indian Summer]

I am NOT a fan of minoculars for one reason: They only have half the light gathering capability. They are DIM!

Similarly Swarovski makes a doubler for their binoculars. It screws onto to one of the eyecup threads so you are only using one side of the binos. Holy dim! I sold mine immediately. I've had the same experience with other monoculars but thought that Swarovski would have a superior product but nope.

[RAMMONT]

The Oscar from Sig Sauer isn't dim at all, it's every bit as bright as my Leupold binos.