Search results for: outdoors buying guide
About 57 filtered results
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Binoculars are a birdwatcher's best friend. They allow you to get close-up views of distant objects without having to actually get close. Some birders use spotting scopes and others use cameras with telephoto lenses, but you may be hard-pressed to find a serious birder without a pair of binoculars at the
by Morgan Lyle · Posted
Time was, the smallest flashlight you could get was a penlight. It had an incandescent bulb that was dim by today’s standards and required disposable batteries. You can still get penlights today—many people like having a slim light with a clip that slips easily into a shirt pocket—and they’ve come a long way, with bright, long-lasting LEDs having replaced the bulbs and rechargeable batteries that never need to be replaced. But these days, there are many
by Christopher Witt · Posted
This is the time of the year that we give and receive great gifts… and if you’re anywhere near the letters “B” and “H” in your Internet searches, you’ll probably be looking at electronics in some shape or form. Sadly, as great as all those electronic gadgets are, they tend to be hungry for power and you need to give some consideration to protecting them and all the information you cram into them. So, for your consideration, here is some gear to help you prepare for the inevitable storms that can wreak havoc on your electronics.
Power
First up
by Morgan Lyle · Posted
You don’t have to be a hunter to have fun with a trail camera. Monitoring your property with one (or a few) of these handy little gadgets is a fascinating hobby for birders, wildlife enthusiasts, kids, or just folk who enjoy being surprised at what goes on in their backyard after dark. Also known as a trap, game, or wildlife camera, a trail camera is equipped with a passive infrared motion detector that triggers the shutter when an animal (or trespasser) walks into
by Christopher Witt · Posted
In today’s world of keyless… well, everything, the ubiquitous keychain seems like it’s becoming something of a dinosaur. But I disagree. I don’t think we’re that close to getting rid of the keychain just yet, and so I present some gear that will make you more than a little reluctant to give it up if and when you can lock your house, get into your car, and start the engine with your smartphone.
Flashlights
There was a time, not that long ago, that keychain lights were barely useful. They had dim incandescent light bulbs that often broke, and
by Morgan Lyle · Posted
Portable electric and electronic devices enhance our work and play, but only when there’s electricity to power them. There’s a wide range of equipment designed to store power, or to convert solar energy into electricity, to extend the time we can spend un-plugged-in. Whether it’s an extra charge or two for your smartphone, a boost for a navigator in the back country, or portable power stations that permit the use of household appliances and tools during blackouts, B&H has the gear you need. Here are few examples of modern technology
by Christopher Witt · Posted
You see a flutter of color outside of your kitchen window. You rush over, only to see this mystery critter as a distant speck working its way through the dense shrubs of your yard—it's just too far and too obscure to make it out. What do you do? Do you shrug it off and go about your day, or do you grab a pair of binoculars to get a closer view?
We know what our answer would be, and we feel that nearly every household could use a trusty pair of binoculars, also called "bins" for short. Whether it's for bird watching, sporting events, the opera
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
A few times over the past year, I have met people who, when they had a youngster express interest in astronomy, rushed out to B&H Photo to purchase the family a telescope. In a few of these anecdotes, the telescope saw limited initial use and then it was simply incorporated into the home’s décor—gathering dust in a corner. It became obvious to me that what the family could have benefited from more would have been a
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Regardless of your occupation or location, the things in your everyday carry (EDC) kit will often be essential to get you through the day. I have several pseudo-EDC kits in my life. I have a kit in the car, one on the boat, one in my bike pannier and, when on foot, a few items that make me feel unbalanced in their absence.
Most EDC kits comprise what some consider essential gear, but if you are looking to add to your EDC, check out this list of suggested gear.
1.
by Christopher Witt · Posted
Typically, discussions centered around introducing people to stargazing focus on children and adolescents, but I think that is too limiting. The reality is that there are as many and varied people who are interested in, and excited about, learning astronomy but are either confused about where to start or are unaware of the progress technology and manufacturing processes have made in recent years that make stargazing as simple as it is fascinating and rewarding. In this piece, we’ll look at different age groups and people with specific
by Christopher Witt · Posted
From personal experience, whenever I try to describe to someone who’s never seen what the rings of Saturn look like through a telescope or how a sunspot moves and changes shape as it transits the chromosphere over the course of weekend, there is definitely something lost in the telling. Wouldn’t it be great if even a novice astronomer with just some basic gear and knowledge could capture their own images of heavenly bodies to post on social media or (to go old-school) print them and hang on a wall?
Well, wish no more, dear reader! We live in
by Meryl Greenblatt · Posted
With the fall season upon us and bird migration going full throttle, bird-watchers and their best friends—their binoculars—are out in force. I took this opportunity to try two new pairs from Olympus, the Pro Series 8x42 and 10x42. At
by Christopher Witt · Posted
We’re all familiar with basic handheld flashlights and how they generally work: switch for on/off and maybe different brightness levels. But their convenience is often their greatest drawback; they’re handheld—meaning that if you need more than one hand, you’re pretty much out of luck (unless you want to hold one in your mouth. Yuck). But there’s good news! We’re living in a future benefiting from advances in LED and battery technologies and there is a growing list of options for lightweight
by Christopher Witt · Posted
Whether you’re heading out on the open waters (like we did here), or hiking through the Adirondacks (like we did here), or going off the grid for a week-long camping trip, it’s hard to give up our technologies completely. Maybe you must snap and selfie with a brown
by Cory Rice · Posted
You've been studying star charts for weeks. You’ve read “Tips for Buying a Telescope,” picked out, and purchased your first telescope. You can hardly contain your enthusiasm while setting up your new scope. Finally, the moment arrives—you take your first magnified look at the night sky, prepared to be blown out of this world. It is a beautiful sight. Yet after the initial awe wears off, you can’t help feeling a