New Binos

[Moe.JKU]

Hello all, I am looking for new bino's. I mine were recently stolen out of my vehicle. Now as i was not expecting to buy these this year i was planning on saving for good ones for two years. However i need them for my hunts this year.

I need what i can afford with is $300. Looking for new or used, what would you suggest in that price range. I was just using crappy bushnells before.
I know i have to sacrifice from HD, and euro glass but, i can't afford them now so please don't suggest saving for more expensive ones.

I forgot 8x42 or 10x42 both work.

[Cpl_Punishment]

I'm very happy with my Vortex Diamondbacks. I went for the 10x50's. lifetime garrentee for under $250. i also use their scope on my rifle. Do a search on here for Votex and you will find plenty of happy customers and even a few leupold converts.

[BRvalley]

I also have a pair of diamond backs and they are ok...just FYI the vortex warranty is not over the counter, that was a common sales pitch but in reality is not true with their binos, you need to send them away

I need to warranty them (dropped them and landed on the eye piece while it was extended, wouldn't turn in or out after), I haven't gotten around to sending them in for warranty

while I was waiting for a manager to clarify that his sales staff sold me a BS sales pitch just 3 months earlier, i bought a pair of bushnells elite on sale, amazing value for the money, but about 500 retail regular price

if the elite's were not on sale, I was going to buy bushnell legends, I spent an hour at wholesale, took them outside, they are absolutely better than the vortex diamondbacks...about 300-350 depending on model

[Moe.JKU]

Just wanted to let you know the ones that are being looked at are :

Leupold BX-2 Cascades 8x42 Roof Prism Binoculars

http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-8x42mm-bx2-binoculars-cascades-roof-prism.html

Minox BV II 8x42 BR Full-Size Waterproof
http://www.opticsplanet.com/minox-bv-ii-8x42-br-full-size-waterproof-binocular.html

Vortex Diamonback 10x42
http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-10x42mm-binoculars-d241.html (http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-10x42mm-binoculars-d241.html)

For all of them all their reviews look good. If anyone has used one of them or multiple and can give a comparison that would be great

[shotgunner]

Bushnell legends have HD glass and far and above what you have looked at for colour, clarity, light gathering. Less than 300 at Wholesale sports last I looked.

[BRvalley]

don't bother looking at the diamond backs, they are ok but just ok....the bushnells for the same money are far better

soon as I warranty my diamondbacks I'm selling them

[coach]

Just wanted to let you know the ones that are being looked at are :

Leupold BX-2 Cascades 8x42 Roof Prism Binoculars

http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-8x42mm-bx2-binoculars-cascades-roof-prism.html

Minox BV II 8x42 BR Full-Size Waterproof
http://www.opticsplanet.com/minox-bv-ii-8x42-br-full-size-waterproof-binocular.html

Vortex Diamonback 10x42
http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-10x42mm-binoculars-d241.html (http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-10x42mm-binoculars-d241.html)

For all of them all their reviews look good. If anyone has used one of them or multiple and can give a comparison that would be great


You may want to strongly consider the difference between 8 and 10 power. I read a lot of great stuff here on HBC about 8's and made a switch to them from my 10's. I'm really wishing I'd stayed with the higher magnification. This is despite purchasing a very good pair of leupold mojave's. they have great glass, very good clarity and are good in low light - but 8's aren't anywhere near as good as 10's at longer distances IMHO.

Another bino to look at in your price range would be the Nikon monarchs in 10x42.

[ACE]

Contacted Leupold and asked where their binoculars were manufactured ..... e-mail answer, China, Japan, and Korea.
Have looked at the Vortex Viper 10x ..... liked them, but haven't bought them. Have been using Bausch & Lomb Discoveror 10x for the last twenty years. A good glass.

[Everett]

Just wanted to let you know the ones that are being looked at are :

Leupold BX-2 Cascades 8x42 Roof Prism Binoculars

http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-8x42mm-bx2-binoculars-cascades-roof-prism.html

Minox BV II 8x42 BR Full-Size Waterproof
http://www.opticsplanet.com/minox-bv-ii-8x42-br-full-size-waterproof-binocular.html

Vortex Diamonback 10x42
http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-10x42mm-binoculars-d241.html (http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-diamondback-10x42mm-binoculars-d241.html)

For all of them all their reviews look good. If anyone has used one of them or multiple and can give a comparison that would be great


Of the three you list I would say the Minox is the best choice here is a couple other options

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/meopta.pl?page=meopta523470 Meopta are European made binos and even though these are cheap they are pretty good quality

http://www.eurooptic.com/swarovski-slc-8-x30-wb-ub645.aspx These are more than your budget but a hell of a deal

[Mr. Friendly]

if you can swing a bit more, you can get a $50 MIR on the Vanguard Endeavor ED's, which brings them mighty close to what you can afford:
http://www.vanguardworld.com/index.php/en/os/products/hunting-outdoor/list-2-10-149.html

they're very light for their size and these are what I bought my brother for hunting.

if you want to see them in person, pm me and I'll tell you where you can try them on for size.

[Talons]

I am very happy with my Vortex Diamondbacks, but I heard through a friend that Camera Land has good prices but not sure about the taxes and customs charges.

[BiG Boar]

See and I would completely disagree. Maybe it's the age of my eyes, but I just switched to 8 power from 10 and I would never go back. With about 1/3rd the extra viewing space I love them. Spot more animals, less shakey, I love them. So far only just over 3 weeks of solid glassing, but I wish I had switched years ago. Then again, if you're more of just a road hunter, 10 power may be better for identifying.


You may want to strongly consider the difference between 8 and 10 power. I read a lot of great stuff here on HBC about 8's and made a switch to them from my 10's. I'm really wishing I'd stayed with the higher magnification. This is despite purchasing a very good pair of leupold mojave's. they have great glass, very good clarity and are good in low light - but 8's aren't anywhere near as good as 10's at longer distances IMHO.

Another bino to look at in your price range would be the Nikon monarchs in 10x42.

[dana]

See and I would completely disagree. Maybe it's the age of my eyes, but I just switched to 8 power from 10 and I would never go back. With about 1/3rd the extra viewing space I love them. Spot more animals, less shakey, I love them. So far only just over 3 weeks of solid glassing, but I wish I had switched years ago. Then again, if you're more of just a road hunter, 10 power may be better for identifying.

I'm the opposite. Used 8x for years. Switched to 10x and will never go back.

[dana]

As to the original poster. When dealing with cheap glass, you will get what you pay for. Vortex would be the best IMO. You might be better off looking for something in that next quality bracket but used rather than new. You probably can get into used Gold Ring Leupold's in that 350-450 range.

[1899]

I have a pair of Nikon Monarchs - 10x56. They are excellent, but a bit more at ~$350-$400.

And I'm with Dana on this, I went from 8x to 10x and can't see myself going back either.

[Singleshotneeded]

Hello all, I am looking for new bino's. I mine were recently stolen out of my vehicle. Now as i was not expecting to buy these this year i was planning on saving for good ones for two years. However i need them for my hunts this year.

I need what i can afford with is $300. Looking for new or used, what would you suggest in that price range. I was just using crappy bushnells before.
I know i have to sacrifice from HD, and euro glass but, i can't afford them now so please don't suggest saving for more expensive ones.

I forgot 8x42 or 10x42 both work.

In your price range most likely the best bang for the buck is the Bushnell Legend HD, I'd get 10X42 unless you're constantly hunting in the thick stuff...or constantly on the move. The 10X is best for looking over clear cuts/valleys when you're on stand/in the truck. Amazon.com has the Bushnell Legend HDs 10X42 on for $242, free shipping if you have them sent to a receiver at the border. If you look at both the Legends and the Nikon Monarch 10X42s and the Nikon suits you better, they're on for $299 at Amazon.

[igojuone]

Hello all, I am looking for new bino's. I mine were recently stolen out of my vehicle. Now as i was not expecting to buy these this year i was planning on saving for good ones for two years. However i need them for my hunts this year.

I need what i can afford with is $300. Looking for new or used, what would you suggest in that price range. I was just using crappy bushnells before.
I know i have to sacrifice from HD, and euro glass but, i can't afford them now so please don't suggest saving for more expensive ones.

I forgot 8x42 or 10x42 both work.

I don't understand why you don't just do the same crappy Bushnell binos. I've used cheap yard sale $5-7 binos for the last 8 years and still manage to get 2+ deer every year, no moose or elk but then again I haven't hunting them. Sure it's not the greatest experience but until this year I never had anything better, I'll see if it makes any difference.

[Moe.JKU]

I will have to look at some of the suggestions as well, Bushnell treated me well in golf with range finders, so I might switch to them with HD. As i like to usually be on the move, Ill probably stick with 8x to have a little better fov.
Thanks for the input.

[David]

Everyone's eyes are different - many people on here are recommending Bushnell's and I honestly find they have the quality of a $50 set of Tasco's. In your price range I like the Vortex, Nikon Monarch, and Leupold Cascades.

You can compare the Monarch to the Bushnell's people seem to like at any London Drugs - I'd bet a case of beer you'll throw the Bushnell's away after that. I haven't seen many hunting stores with the Monarch's in stock, but most will have the Vortex and Leupold that you can compare side-to-side.

[BRvalley]

bushnell gets a bad rap, I don't know why, I hear they don't have the best warranty service but I've never had to deal with their warranty, so that says something too, I've accidentally kicked my bushnells off the top of my truck canopy and they surived, vortex diamonback's can't say that and they only fell out of my hand...

it's like any other manufacturer, low end is low end, and bushnell is mostly low end but I've found their higher end stuff to be value for dollar

[Singleshotneeded]

Everyone's eyes are different - many people on here are recommending Bushnell's and I honestly find they have the quality of a $50 set of Tasco's. In your price range I like the Vortex, Nikon Monarch, and Leupold Cascades.

You can compare the Monarch to the Bushnell's people seem to like at any London Drugs - I'd bet a case of beer you'll throw the Bushnell's away after that. I haven't seen many hunting stores with the Monarch's in stock, but most will have the Vortex and Leupold that you can compare side-to-side.
In the case of the cheapest Bushnell binos I completely agree, but there's nothing wrong with the Elites, and in the case of these Legend HDs, Bushnell has done a good job and they represent good performance for the money. The reviews online tell the story.

[Ride Red]

Contacted Leupold and asked where their binoculars were manufactured ..... e-mail answer, China, Japan, and Korea.
Have looked at the Vortex Viper 10x ..... liked them, but haven't bought them. Have been using Bausch & Lomb Discoveror 10x for the last twenty years. A good glass.

I also have used the Bausch & Lomb for 20 plus years without isssue from -40 to +100 degrees. I started out with cheaper 8 power bino's for the first 15 years, but once switched to 10 power, I'll never go back.

[Mr. Friendly]

again, don't discount the Vanguard Endeavour's. They are fully multi-coated and use ED (extra dispersion glass), which allows for best light throughput as well as reducing any false color inherent to glass telescope systems. bino's are two scopes put together...so they're essentially two short focal length achromatic refractors.
they're also very light!

[cataling]

Take a look at this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Sightron-SIIBL832-8x32-Binocular-Green/dp/B004MFBSL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375247437&sr=8-1&keywords=sightron+8x32
You can find lots of reviews on web and all of them are good.
For this price, I'm impressed. Lightweight, big FOV, and good grip.

[Weatherby Fan]

Hello all, I am looking for new bino's. I mine were recently stolen out of my vehicle. Now as i was not expecting to buy these this year i was planning on saving for good ones for two years. However i need them for my hunts this year.

I need what i can afford with is $300. Looking for new or used, what would you suggest in that price range. I was just using crappy bushnells before.
I know i have to sacrifice from HD, and euro glass but, i can't afford them now so please don't suggest saving for more expensive ones.

I forgot 8x42 or 10x42 both work.

I would suggest Minox BL 8 or 10x42 for $300.00 Made in Germany model,I have 2 pair at home the 8x42 I donated to HBC and a 10x42,best binocular for the money in the $300 price range,next up is the Votex Viper HD very clear but twice the cost of the Minox and I can't see them being twice as good,if you want to go up to 1000.00 price range you won't find a better binocular than the Zeiss Conquest HD for the money......
WF

I have the next week off work if you want to meet up and check them out.
Just send me a PM
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j466/WeatherbyFan65/donations020_zps2c23cb55.jpg (http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/WeatherbyFan65/media/donations020_zps2c23cb55.jpg.html)

[Weatherby Fan]

Take a look at this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Sightron-SIIBL832-8x32-Binocular-Green/dp/B004MFBSL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375247437&sr=8-1&keywords=sightron+8x32
You can find lots of reviews on web and all of them are good.
For this price, I'm impressed. Lightweight, big FOV, and good grip.

The company I work for bought a Sightron 7x50 binocular and I was amazed at the clarity of them,I'm going to check your recommendation out this week.

[Shooter]

Zeiss has a new model out, Terra, they retail a little over $400 and are very nice.

[Weatherby Fan]

Zeiss has a new model out, Terra, they retail a little over $400 and are very nice.

Any stores you know of in the lower mainland that have them in stock ?

[Shooter]

I don't know the lower mainland stores sorry. I know that Tyee Marine here had a couple pair. I looked through them and they were pretty good. Im sure any store that carries Zeiss should be able to order them in.

[Moe.JKU]

Thanks guys, i ended up with the bushnell legend hd. Found a good deal on amazon. Just waiting for them to get here, it was hard to turn them down for the price. They also seemed to focus to my eyes better than the vortex ones.

[GoatGuy]

Hopefully they don't break, the warranty isn't good for much.