I'm looking for a new set of binos. . . . . anyone an expert? I'm lost in all the prism talk, multi coating this and that.
I'm looking at Leupold McKinley HD at the moment but I'm welcoming any other input. Biggest question, can Leupold stack up to Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Vortex? I'm not looking to spend 2k but know I'll have to loosin the wallet for good optics.
I have some Leupold Cascades that are 8 years old and are still going strong,would love me some Swarovski's but can't justify the price.
I'm a binocular junkie and love my swarovkis, but I have tried many others. In my truck I keep a pair of Nikon monarch 3 and minox both great binos and certainly easier on the wallet. Vortex also makes a great bino and offers several levels so you can pick your price. Try to get a pair that's multi coated. Ultimately you should be able to get a great pair for $250-400.
I love my Vortex Vipers. Great glass and you can't beat the warranty. You can run over them with your truck and they will replace them.
Alpens
Leupold Mohave 10x42 ! Clear as just about other brands ! Lightweight ! About 500.00
The basics are to get bino's that are fully-coated (all lenses coated) and multi-coated (all lenses with multiple coatings). A lot of the decision making process after that depends on what you plan to use your binoculars for.
If you plan in using them for long-distance glassing for game and/or trophy evaluation at moderate to long ranges, you want to stick with something in the 8X42, 10X50, or 12X50 range. Smaller objective lenses such as 8X32 or 10X32 do not give a large enough field of view for long distance glassing for game. Of course, if you just want a serviceable binocular for short range viewing with only occasional use rather than constant looking, the smaller objective lenses might be adequate and are generally much smaller and lighter.
I agree entirely that for most applications, you can buy a good quality pair of binoculars in the $250 to $400 range. The really expensive bino's supposedly really show their worth in low-light conditions and their durability,...and I have heard that often the manufacturer will repair or replace them free of charge if you damage them. However, the medium-cost-range bino's seem to be pretty durable, as well, and are perfectly functional under most all light conditions during daylight hours.
The really cheap binoculars you see are generally not worth buying for any serious use. Their problem is often not one of clarity,...many of them seem quite adequate when you look through them new,...but those generally are not durable and can be knocked out of alignment very easily. There is nothing more frustrating than having to use binoculars that will not stay aligned so that you constantly have double vision when looking through them. The cheap ones also tend to get dirt inside the lenses over time and will also fog-up under wet conditions.
My personal choice for the last several years has been a pair of Leupold's in 10X50 that I have used a lot for all kinds of hunting in the west under very abusive conditions. They cost me $250 back when I bought them and they have performed flawlessly. I would recommend that brand to anyone, assuming they are still the same quality. However, I am sure there are other brands that may well be just as good in the same price range or thereabouts.
Obviously, a person can buy the $1,000 + bino's if they can afford them and they feel like they want to. My opinion though is that under most conditions that most hunters will hunt under, those bino's will provide no advantage whatsoever to the user.
Nikon Monarch's
I bought a pair of Nikon Monarch 3's, and I am very happy with them. These were my first pair of quality binoculars, and I felt the price I spent on them was worth it for the product I received. I suppose I am pretty partial to Nikon since every other optic and scope I own is Nikon, but they produce quality products. Good luck with the decision, there are lots of good choices out there.
Quote from: vaturkey on October 28, 2014, 10:33:46 PM
Leupold Mohave 10x42 ! Clear as just about other brands ! Lightweight ! About 500.00
This....
don't know how good they are, but Bushnell Legend binocs have a $100 rebate going on right now
No, vortex cannot stack up to Swarovski, Leica or the high end Zeiss lines. Leupold just replaced a pair of my brother's cascade 10x40s with the new Mohaves. Honestly, they suck in the clarity department and im not impressed with their low light capabilities, either. If I was only looking to spend 450-500, I'd get the Zeiss Terra 10x42s.
Personally, I would get on Ebay and look for a pair of swarovski SLC 10x42 or Leica Trinovid 10x42. You can find them in the 1250-1500 range.
I love my Leupold 10x28 Gold Rings because they are perfect for turkey hunting and hanging off my safety harness for a treestand binocular but there is no comparison to my Swarovski 10x42s for big game hunting and scouting whitetails.
Swarovski customer service will also put anyone else to shame.
I went to Cabelas and tested dozens of binos. Nothing compared to the Swarovski and Zeiss models, but they are of course very expensive. I ended up getting the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, and overall I am happy with the purchase. The optics on the Legend Ultra HD are similar to much more expensive models. In my opinion they give you the best best bang for your buck. The only downfall is that after a good amount of use there is now a little "play" in my "magnification adjuster." (It is somewhat loose, but still functions properly).
I have used Sworovski 8X30 binoculars for years. Crystal clear and tough as can be. I bought my son some 8X30 Leica's. They may even be clearer than the Sworovski's. Both are expensive but if you want a set that will last you 30 plus years then these are good ones.
The top end are better in low light but also in eye fatigue when glassing hours in a day.
Your in Luck and anyone else that is interested. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD are the best for the money right now. They are crystal clear, gather light very well at dawn and dusk and have the Rainguard coating on the lenses that prevents fogging. I just bought a pair of camo 10X42's at B&H Photo for $219.95 and Bushnell has a $100 mail in rebate on these binos until 11/16/14. There is also a 100% Buy Back Guarantee on these if your not completely satisfied. I have a pair of the older Legends that I've had for years so it was a NO Brainer to get a pair of these for $119 after the rebate. Check them out, You won't be disappointed!
With optics you get exactly what you pay for. Buy the best you can afford.
Quote from: bbcoach on October 29, 2014, 03:16:50 PM
Your in Luck and anyone else that is interested. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD are the best for the money right now. They are crystal clear, gather light very well at dawn and dusk and have the Rainguard coating on the lenses that prevents fogging. I just bought a pair of camo 10X42's at B&H Photo for $219.95 and Bushnell has a $100 mail in rebate on these binos until 11/16/14. There is also a 100% Buy Back Guarantee on these if your not completely satisfied. I have a pair of the older Legends that I've had for years so it was a NO Brainer to get a pair of these for $119 after the rebate. Check them out, You won't be disappointed!
Hard to beat that offer. My Legend 8X32's are still like new after 9 or 10 years. Certainly deserves strong consideration from all but the serious western hunters I would think.
In the $500 range I'd go with Vortex, But if you want premium then buy Sworovski and never look back.
I use binos a ton, and did well for years with some 10x42 Leupold Cascades. I have since purchased a pair of swarovskis. They are a much better binocular.
I heard for years to buy the best you can afford, so I did. Just wish I could have afforded better sooner.
You can't buy a new pair of eyes, no matter how much money you got. Save up and buy the best, your eyes will thank you.
I have Nikon 8x40 Action VII Binoculars 7262 and The Steiner Predator Pro 8x22 they both manufacture a great reliable and affordable nocs, my choice would be the Steiners as they weigh 10 oz. and fit in my turkey vest. They both are crystal clear and fog proofed and bot work excellent in early morning conditions and at dawn or dusk situations.
Highest rated bino under $600! They are very good!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=762754&gclid=CN7Azpya1cECFYLyMgodthIABw&is=USA&Q=&A=details
I handled a hunting buddy's Swarovski 8x32 el today and of you can swing it they are amazing. I stand by my Vortex Vipers for the $500-600 range but if I had the coin I loved those Swarovskis.
Swarovski is the only way to roll. I've spent way to much money to learn that lesson the hard way. I own a 10x42 slc bought a pair for my daughter and a 8x30 set for my wife. Best investment I've ever made. I popped the seal on on side of the tube on mine belly crawling on a turkey 2 years ago took them to a sporting goods store (not the one I bought them at) they sent them in and in a few weeks I had them back good as new and it didn't cost me a dime! Customer service at it's best and that is part of what you're paying for as well. Nice to know I'll never have to buy another pair again.
I love my Steiner Safaris 8x30 with auto-focus.
A major point to be made in this discussion is that regardless of how much money you spend on your binoculars, their cost will not make up for poor glassing technique in their use. A guy with a good pair of inexpensive binoculars (yes, there are some of those out there) that knows how to use them will see more game than the guy that has the high-collar pair but doesn't have good glassing technique.
Quote from: GobbleNut on November 03, 2014, 08:55:46 AM
A major point to be made in this discussion is that regardless of how much money you spend on your binoculars, their cost will not make up for poor glassing technique in their use. A guy with a good pair of inexpensive binoculars (yes, there are some of those out there) that knows how to use them will see more game than the guy that has the high-collar pair but doesn't have good glassing technique.
I would argue that a guy with good glass will come in top regardless. Good technique is worthless when your binos give you an excruciating headache.
Quote from: land cruiser on November 04, 2014, 02:01:17 AM
Quote from: GobbleNut on November 03, 2014, 08:55:46 AM
A major point to be made in this discussion is that regardless of how much money you spend on your binoculars, their cost will not make up for poor glassing technique in their use. A guy with a good pair of inexpensive binoculars (yes, there are some of those out there) that knows how to use them will see more game than the guy that has the high-collar pair but doesn't have good glassing technique.
I would argue that a guy with good glass will come in top regardless. Good technique is worthless when your binos give you an excruciating headache.
Although we are getting off-topic a bit, this is a good issue to explore further.
I agree that anyone that gets headaches or eye-strain when using their binoculars for any length of time should look into what is causing that. It could be because they are using a poor binocular,...or because they do not know how to adjust their binoculars properly so that they are in focus,...or they might have underlying vision problems that need attention.
As one who has hunted all kinds of big game in the west under all sorts of conditions,...and has either hunted with, or guided, lots of hunters with varying skills, I can say unequivocally that the skill level of the bino user is the most critical factor in their value to the hunter. I can't tell you how many times I have set next to a guy with $1,000 + pairs of binoculars and watched them overlook game that I picked out with my $250 Leupolds. In fact, I still often intentionally wait, after spotting game, to see if the guy I am hunting with will spot the animals. I have never seen a correlation between the cost of the optics a guy uses and his ability to spot game animals.
In fact, in many instances after spotting game animals, I have asked to look through the high-dollar bino's of the guy next to me to see if I could see the game better with his glass. I cannot remember one case where the difference was noticeable.
Now, I am not saying any of this to discourage anyone that wants to from buying the best they can afford. What I am saying is that anyone that thinks that paying more dollars for their binoculars will magically make them see more game animals, regardless of technique, will probably be disappointed when the guy sitting next to them that knows how to glass sees the same, or more, game with their $250-$400 pair of binos. ...And they will really be questioning their purchase when they look through the other guys $250 pair and find that they can see the animals just as well as with their $2,500 pair!
I see it like buying a pair of blue jeans. The $10 pair will probably perform as well as the $100 pair,...unless you are trying to make a fashion statement.
There is a huge difference between enjoying the view and searching for game. Some people are more focused on task by nature. Some learn it. I have a friend who can pick out bands on goose legs and evaluate turkey spurs much better than me and he is using horrible $80 optics I cannot see through.
Top end are better but several mid range options are very good. I stand by statement that the Vanguard Endeavor is very very good.
Vortex viper HD
Zen Ray Primes
Are solid contenders with the alpha binos at a $600 price range. Me and my father own 1 each of both mentioned and couldn't be happier with lifetime warranties, incredible glass and excellent build.
I have used Docter's, Zeiss and Vortex and liked each pair. This past summer I obtained Swarovski SLC HD 15x56 and the El Range 10x42. So far I have used them on elk and deer hunts. I see more game at a greater distance than the previously mentioned. Both have a great field of view, work exceptional in low light and easy to adjust. With these glasses the old adage is true you get what you pay for and it's worth every $$$$ spent.
As I mentioned before I own several pairs of binos from different makers and varying price ranges. I keep mid range Nikons and Minox in my truck. Can't justify high dollar glass bouncing around even in their protective cases. I have a pair of Swarovskis EL 10x42 that I've hunted with for years. While there are a lot of good binos that are cheaper, there are none that compare to the clarity and low light capabilities of the EL. Secondly, this spring I dragged them through the dirt in TX and filled them full of TX grit. Sent them in to Swarovski and just got them back yesterday. Two pages of repairs and service at no charge!!This is the second time they have performed this service for me, NO CHARGE!!! It's like getting a new pair for free. I know they're are expensive, but with this kind of service and arguably the best optics if you can afford the money, buy them. IMO the best hands down.
Quote from: GobbleNut on November 03, 2014, 08:55:46 AM
A major point to be made in this discussion is that regardless of how much money you spend on your binoculars, their cost will not make up for poor glassing technique in their use. A guy with a good pair of inexpensive binoculars (yes, there are some of those out there) that knows how to use them will see more game than the guy that has the high-collar pair but doesn't have good glassing technique.
:icon_thumright: :happy0064:
I absolutely love my Vortex Razors
Quote from: drenalinld on November 01, 2014, 06:04:47 PM
Highest rated bino under $600! They are very good!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=762754&gclid=CN7Azpya1cECFYLyMgodthIABw&is=USA&Q=&A=details
I bought a pair of these for work after reading reviews and ratings....They are EXCELLENT for the money. Very clear, great in low light, durable. I HIGHLY recommend these!!
Quote from: BigMick on November 20, 2014, 08:55:40 AM
Quote from: drenalinld on November 01, 2014, 06:04:47 PM
Highest rated bino under $600! They are very good!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=762754&gclid=CN7Azpya1cECFYLyMgodthIABw&is=USA&Q=&A=details
I bought a pair of these for work after reading reviews and ratings....They are EXCELLENT for the money. Very clear, great in low light, durable. I HIGHLY recommend these!!
I bought 8x42 and 10.5 x 45 for the same price as a set of Vortex's and I think they are better. Cannot be touched for the money. I believe they are the best for $600 or less and they are a lot less. There is an Endeavor II which is driving the price of the Endeavor down, throw in a $50 rebate from Vanguard and they are a steal in my book.
I've used Nikon's for years; have served me well...