What is the best compact binoculars that won't drain your wallet
I'm pleased with Vortex diamondbacks
I carry the Vortex Solo Monocular....Very compact, light weight, and Very clear.
http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/solo_monoculars
There's a pair of Leupold's in the classifieds
Love my Swarovski SLC's, I have a pair of 10x30's but it took me a while to find them, I got them at a a steal of a deal!! Pretty hard to beat them as far as optics go.
MK M GOBL
Quote from: MK M GOBL on February 11, 2019, 12:38:01 PM
Love my Swarovski SLC's, I have a pair of 10x30's but it took me a while to find them, I got them at a a steal of a deal!! Pretty hard to beat them as far as optics go.
MK M GOBL
Not sure you can group affordable and Swarovski together very often.
Quote from: dirt road ninja on February 11, 2019, 11:47:48 AM
I'm pleased with Vortex diamondbacks
I think your going to see these come up quite often when talking about quality binos at an affordable price.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190211/34b2d144fa7f7f6048de23ea56c538ad.jpg)I picked up a pair similar to these in 8x a few years ago. They were on sale a bass pro for a 100 bucks. I haven't had a chance to compare the to anything similar but they do what I need them to do.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Agree for the money Vortex diamondbacks ... customer service is outstanding if you ever need them ....I lost the rubber eye piece covers and i call them to buy some more and the lady said no charge and i will ship you new ones ....
For the money the Vortex Diamondbacks. I have a set of 10X42. if I ever need to exchange those I'll ask for 8X.
Vortex Viper Hd 8x42
Quote from: Gobble! on February 11, 2019, 12:48:45 PM
Quote from: MK M GOBL on February 11, 2019, 12:38:01 PM
Love my Swarovski SLC's, I have a pair of 10x30's but it took me a while to find them, I got them at a a steal of a deal!! Pretty hard to beat them as far as optics go.
MK M GOBL
Not sure you can group affordable and Swarovski together very often.
Right? "won't drain your wallet"
Another vote for Vortex. I have the diamondbacks, but not sure what size you consider compact. They are quality glass for the price.
http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/binoculars
I really like the Cabelas Intensity HD binos - they will fit in your shirt pocket . They look like a small pair of Swarovski's. ? $150 range
I have a set of vortex and I guess in the minority, I don't like them and never have.
I purchased a pair of Maven 9x45s for deer hunting and they are the best binoculars I have ever used. They are too big for turkeys, so I've been looking at getting some of the compact Mavens and giving them a shot.
Vortex diamondback user here also. Had my pair for a few years now. Zero complaints
Quote from: Gobble! on February 11, 2019, 12:48:45 PM
Quote from: MK M GOBL on February 11, 2019, 12:38:01 PM
Love my Swarovski SLC's, I have a pair of 10x30's but it took me a while to find them, I got them at a a steal of a deal!! Pretty hard to beat them as far as optics go.
MK M GOBL
Not sure you can group affordable and Swarovski together very often.
l have to agree, I was using my 8x42 Alaskan Guides for years when I found these, just couldn't pass up the price :) and yes it was that good, but better 5 years in the waiting.
I have had a lot of customer go with the Nikon Monarchs in a 8x30's
MK M GOBL
Hard to argue with the Vortex Diamondback. Great price and a quality optic.
Quote from: Sixes on February 11, 2019, 07:33:18 PM
I have a set of vortex and I guess in the minority, I don't like them and never have.
I purchased a pair of Maven 9x45s for deer hunting and they are the best binoculars I have ever used. They are too big for turkeys, so I've been looking at getting some of the compact Mavens and giving them a shot.
What is it about them you don't like?
I have a pair of Zeiss compact binoculars that I have had for years that I got on sale. I bought my daughter Swarovski compacts last year and they are pricey but the optics is second to none.
Try Steiners head to head with some of these. I use 8x30 military marine, not compact but smaller and I like the way they auto focus. They are clear and sharp. Predators are also good.
Quote from: longspur on February 12, 2019, 04:53:58 AM
Quote from: Sixes on February 11, 2019, 07:33:18 PM
I have a set of vortex and I guess in the minority, I don't like them and never have.
I purchased a pair of Maven 9x45s for deer hunting and they are the best binoculars I have ever used. They are too big for turkeys, so I've been looking at getting some of the compact Mavens and giving them a shot.
What is it about them you don't like?
Mainly the design around the eye piece, even with the eyecups twisted out, my eyelashes push against the lens so I have to hold them a little out front and that narrows the field of view to looking in a circle and makes them hard to focus with. My problem must not be common because people rate them very high.
I love the size and weight, but they are just not right foe me.
Many thanks guys. Lots of help
Vortex Diamondback
My compacts are some Nikons that are so old, I do not recall the model. At least 20 years old. They still are crystal clear.
But when I went shopping for some larger ones for scouting ducks, I talked to a buddy of mine that is an expert on optics (optometrist and hunter) and he suggested Vortex was the best for the price. He gave me a lot of complex reasons, that I sorta understood. Of course, if money is not an issue Swarovski. Or Zeiss.
(https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images500x500/vortex_db_203_10x32_diamondback_binocular_green_black_1200178.jpg)
After hearing guys suggesting the Vortex Diamondbacks for a while on this site, I picked up a pair last year. I chose the 10 x 32 size because the are a little smaller than the 10x40 size I typically use for deer hunting. For me, I am only using the binoculars when the sun comes up later in the morning and on when I would be hunting/travelling through more open areas. With good light, you don't need large objective lenses. I have used the compact type in the past like these and they don't seem to hold up for me. I am very pleased with the Diamondbacks and would purchase them again.
(http://nykaerqi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/10x40-Edu-DCF-binoculars.jpg)
Another vote for Vortex Diamondbacks, 8x32 here.
Bought a pair of vortex diamondbacks 10x42 last fall for deer and turkey hunting. I've loved them so far. Look on Ebay before you by retail. I saved more than $50 on brand new pair on Ebay and didn't pay tax and free shipping. Good luck.
Quote from: dirt road ninja on February 11, 2019, 11:47:48 AM
I'm pleased with Vortex diamondbacks
I agree, I love my pair. I toted cheap Wally World tasco's for years but the Vortex Diamondbacks were very impressive. They have nice rubber eyepiece covers and lens covers if you want to just keep them in your pack and not worry about dust/debris getting on them. Mine are 10x42 and are great for glassing fields.
I have a pair of Nikon Aculon that I really like.
Quote from: h2obil on February 11, 2019, 07:15:41 PM
I really like the Cabelas Intensity HD binos - they will fit in your shirt pocket . They look like a small pair of Swarovski's. ? $150 range
x2 This is what I have
Seems all vortex diamondback 10x42 are not the same. DB205 and D241. Anybody know the difference
I think they have discontinued them, but I have a pair of Vortex Talons in 8x32. They are very light, and compact, and I much prefer the 8x over 10x. Clarity is excellent. The optical sweet spot is large. And best of all, Vortex is incredible when it comes to customer service. One of my eye cups ended up binding for some reason so I sent them back and they completely took them apart, cleaned things out and sent them back within a couple of weeks. I own a couple of Vortex scopes as well. You can find less expensive binoculars, but you won't find a better company for customer service.
Quote from: longspur on February 14, 2019, 04:42:57 PM
Seems all vortex diamondback 10x42 are not the same. DB205 and D241. Anybody know the difference
The DB's are the newer model. The D's refer to the Diamondback "Classic" model.
I don't leave without my Bushnell perma focus 8x25's,my good friend got me hooked on them about 11 years ago when we were out turkey hunting one morning.After the hunt we went for breakfast and then to the store and I bought the same pair.I have never hunted without them since,bear,deer,turkey,moose etc.They are perfect and compact.
Quote from: Rapscallion Vermilion on February 14, 2019, 04:57:42 PM
Quote from: longspur on February 14, 2019, 04:42:57 PM
Seems all vortex diamondback 10x42 are not the same. DB205 and D241. Anybody know the difference
The DB's are the newer model. The D's refer to the Diamondback "Classic" model.
Does one have any great advantages over the other?
Quote from: longspur on February 15, 2019, 05:51:19 AM
Quote from: Rapscallion Vermilion on February 14, 2019, 04:57:42 PM
Quote from: longspur on February 14, 2019, 04:42:57 PM
Seems all vortex diamondback 10x42 are not the same. DB205 and D241. Anybody know the difference
The DB's are the newer model. The D's refer to the Diamondback "Classic" model.
Does one have any great advantages over the other?
If you go to this Bird Watcher's Digest link and scroll down you can read a review of the new Diamondback series with some comparisons to the classic.
https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/explore/optics/affordable-8x42-binoculars.php (https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/explore/optics/affordable-8x42-binoculars.php)
My version of compact is something I can put in my cargo pants pocket...I use the $25 binos from Academy or Wal Mart. All I'm interested in is scanning and determining if a turkey I'm looking at is a Gobbler or not, and they do that very well.
Alpen compact binoculars all the way. Fantastic customer service!%
If you are worried about cost then pick up any pair under $200 dollars no big difference other than vortex offers lifetime warrenty. My friends that use them said they are quick to replace or fix. Quality optics cost for a reason.
I found a pair of vortex Diamondback 10x42 (DB205) for $175 shipped. Really wanted something smaller for turkey hunting but they will fit in my vest pocket and I can get a harness for bow hunting plus when trapping season opens I need to be able to tell the difference in a mature red tailed hawk and an immature at a distance, which is difficult with el cheepos. Thanks for all your input, you were helpful.
Quote from: dswmsn on February 15, 2019, 11:32:51 AM
Alpen compact binoculars all the way. Fantastic customer service!%
I have a pair I have had for a long time they are way better than my buddy's Nikons. I don't remember how much they were but not much
Alpen Optics unfortunately has gone out of business...what a shame. Their customer service sent me a free updated version of the Apex 8x42 after I called requesting a replacement part on an earlier version. If you can locate a pair of the 8x21 Compact binoculars consider yourself lucky. These are the cheapest quality compact binoculars that money can buy.
Also use the Vortex compact monocular, which fits right in my vest, don't even notice it.
I have the 10x25 model, which is very clear and more than suitable for determining "does it have a beard?" when trying to discern between black blobs in big fields here in the East. I guess in Wyoming or something you'd need something more substantial.
I use Leupold rogue 8x25 for turkeys. Very compact, will fit in a vest pocket and light weight.
The diamondbacks are great, I use them for deer hunting but bigger than I like for turkey.
Where did you find the binos on sale? Id be interested in having another pair as back up.
If I was buying a set of binos just for turkey hunting and wanted a pair of compacts I'd get maven 7x28
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Bushnell H2O 8x25 for me.
https://shop.opticsplanet.com/buh2o8xwabiw.html?_iv_code=BU-BI-SKI8-138005&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=plusbox-beta&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5NPjBRDDARIsAM9X1GJy2j6eBNXq8LtGBNwAI5zy9nHPInCQ8HDqQMHQrTmxi-p3mmpXJYIaAkXvEALw_wcB
Find the power and size you like then find the ones that are fog proof water proof with multi coated and fully coated lenses. Check warranty and go from there. If they are only for Turkey hunting I use my Nikon range finder for both.