Are these good for low and high altitude plane spotting?
927858
At 12x they are pretty good for spotting planes if you know where to look - the field of view is fairly narrow. They are rather heavy so without a tripod it will be a challenge to hold the plane in the field of view for long. Unless you need the light-gathering power of twin 60mm objective lenses, smaller and lighter binoculars with even higher power would be a better choice for spotting aircraft.
657153
I can see snowballs roll down the side of the mountains which are approximately 2 miles away with my Leupold. Hits on a target at 200 yards should be super clear/visible. You will need a tripod to keep the spotting scope from swaying.
219559
I think so, not too big like regular size binoculars. I think they would be strong enough for bird watching, thats my personal opinion!
2138394
I tried them outside and I found that I could see objects very clearly at distances ranging from 6 feet to infinity. Those who have problems with their eyesight, however, might find that they are only good for either short or far distances. In my opinion, they would be useful at a live opera performance - as long as you make the modification I made with mine (see the instructions I inserted into my edited review today). Also keep in mind that the magnification, although useful, is not comparable to what you'd get with binoculars.
1924096
Novice skywatcher here, but from what I've researched, it not that they're "better", it just more convenient. You can't see Mars or the rings of Saturn with these, but you can see details of the Moon as well as faint views of star clusters and glows of nebulas and galaxies that you'd never see with the naked eye. Skywatching isn't just about 500x magnification, its also about low magnification observations. So, the short answer is portability, quick setup and overall convenience. People say smaller scopes are used more then larger ones.
1191835
I actually haven't used them in low light conditions. I purchased them for a music event that took place during the day. For being a low cost option they are very easy to use and offer a very nice clear view. I would imagine that you would still enjoy a pretty good view in a slightly darker setting.
1835117
These are not low-light specials but will function more than adequately in most situations. They are however too big and powerful for theater use - these are great for distances of 50 to 500yds. Birds, people, sport - I bought them for golf at the US Masters. If you want theater binoculars, go for small and light-weight, not these - unless you are in the habit of walking into theaters with a brick hanging around your neck!
178704
I find them to be fantastic for general use. Recently used them for inspecting the roof and upper parts of our house from the ground. They are superb for birding and wildlife watching. They focus quickly and work well if tou wear glasses. Well worth the money.
1216740
I have not tried these at night. I use them primarily for bird watching, for which they are excellant. But this is what I will; tonight or tomorrow night I will take them outside and see how they work in "low-light". Tom
1360169
I have a pair of these as a backup to my Zeiss 10x42, and have used them on hunting, fishing, & camping trips in South Central Alaska. They ARE waterproof and have very good clarity and provide good detail out to several hundred yards. I've used them in rain, bright sunshine, low-light/dusk, and have no complaints. I'd recommend them as a really good pair of binocs for the money.
426448
Excellent for bird-watching. At 20x, it's fine. At 40x (long distance) you may want a strudier tripod, and because it's daylight, you can look through the smaller 42mm hole (take off the little cap) in the dust cap and that will improve the sharpness at high power. If you want a better spotting scope, simply buy a fancy wide-angle/high-performance 1.25 eyepiece (super-plossl, etc), around 15 mm focal length.
751981
I consider these binoculars to be high resolution and optically clear. They provide sharp focus on insects and vegetation as well as inanimate objects from as close as 2 1/2 feet (approximate) to many yards away. The answer to your question depends upon your knowledge of snake species, your ability to ascertain distinguishing characteristics, whether the snakes are on the line of sight, and a host of other variables. Are they good binoculars? Yes. Those with whom I have shared them have remarked "these are amazing; I've never seen binoculars like this".
751980
You could easily used these to see a snake 10-20 ft away safely. I would also suggest another trick to use. If you can, you pack a small mirror metal or glass compact. And you reflect light under the ledge at the spot you are trying to look at. You get better clarity with more light as well, but only if there is not enough light. The binoculars work really well at close range and quite well at medium to long range. Just not as much magnification at longer ranges like some of the big ones.I use them for hunting and spotting look at the occasional lizard pumping at me.
1811010
I personally think they would perform perfectly, since mine do. You can always order them and check them out at dusk then if they don't work for you, return them. I would honestly consider the unarmored version as they are lighter but should be the same quality optics. I use the armored at night when I can't see holes in the ground and fall down a lot which messes up my unarmored binos. Go for it and let me know your decision.
1116375
I've never looked ufos!, And I can answer you!, But these are very good for hunting in mountains, all very clearly view.
1811014
I use these binoculars for astronomy, the ultimate low light challenge. Not quite as good as high end binoculars, but excellent performance for the price.
1520984
Have not used them on a plane, but I think they would be very effective for filtering out environmental noise.