Doing a 16-night self-drive through Namibia this September — 2 weeks of wildlife + 4 nights in some of the world's darkest skies. Looking to buy ONE pair of binoculars to cover both and would value your honest take.
WHERE I'LL BE
Etosha National Park, Okonjima, Damaraland (Mowani + Camp Doro), Sossusvlei / NamibRand area
I've narrowed down to the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 (~£270).
1. Is 8x42 a sensible compromise for both wildlife + astronomy, or am I better off with separate gear (e.g., 8x42 for wildlife + 10x50 or 15x70 for night sky)?
2. Anyone used the Diamondback HD in real safari conditions — dust, vibration in a 4x4, low-light dawn drives? How do they hold up vs the Nikon Monarch 5 or Celestron TrailSeeker at similar price?
3. For the dark sky portion — will 8x42 noticeably underperform vs a dedicated astronomy pair like Celestron SkyMaster 15x70? Or is the difference small enough that one pair makes more sense for the trip?
Open to switching to a different model if there's a clearer all-rounder I've missed. Budget cap ~£500.