Boy was I wrong

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bumperfood

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I have never owned a quality pair of binoculars in my live, let along looked through a good pair. Well last week I got the oportunity to use some in the field while hunting. They were Lecia with a built in rangefinder. I could not believe the difference between his and mine. The view was crisp, clear and almost 3D. No more Canadian tyre for me. What I have been missing all these years. I fear I may have to sell my first born to get a pair like that though:(. Some research is in order and I thought here would be a place to start. My budget would not exceed 7-800$, less if possible. I don't really know where to start, soo many choices. I will heed all your advice and suggestions. Thanks.
 
If you don't need range finder and just good bino's, Sightron's got a few nice ones, quite pleased with my S2BL 8-32, compact/light, nice clarity and not too much $(200ish?) there's others in the 400-500range from others that are no better, to my eyes anyway.

But if you want high end Fujinon Polaris are pretty awesome, 7x50 or 10x50 no focus to adjust, 600-700 range I believe which is quite reasonable for what they offer. Or for $1,400 ish and you get image stabilization... but they are quite big.

Best would be if you can go see a few types on person, more $ doesn't always get you more.
 
Get on the net and look for a set of vintage Bausch and Lomb Elite in 10 x 42, not the new stuff by Bushnell. I bought them new from Lebaron for $1299 in 1997 and they are amazing. They were very popular with the "bird watching crowd" . I had the same eye opening experience while hunting Sask with a friend who had 9x40 steiners. We were looking at long distance animals ans when he could just tell something was a buck, I could tell how good the rack was. They blow away the steiners and I have put them up against Swaro, Zeiss and they compare very favourably. I acquired a pair of Leica 10x42 Geovids last year that are definitely top of the line, but I still grab the B+L sometimes and never feel disadvantaged.
 
What do you have now? That will set the base line better. Bang for buck is very relative. If you're trying to compare to the Leica's the $1000 mark is where you'll find stuff that is just beginning to compete. The Meopta Meostar's at $1,099 for 10x42 are comparing favorably to the high end stuff(outdoor life gave a rave review and award). Zeiss Conquest Binos are similarly priced. There are some older Zeiss etc on the EE that'll get you into good glass for less because they're used and older.

I had that same type of moment with my friend's Swarovski Bino's, now he has those Leicas with the build in Range Finder.

I'm wishing but will probably upgrade from my cheapo's to the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, by all accounts(and the half dozen guys I know who have them) they are very hard to beat for under $500. I have 3 kids who are hunting now so the budget is spread quite thin.

Willy
 
Start on the website of site sponsor CameraLandNY. I doubt anyone has such a wide variety of good quality at good or very good prices. If you find something there that you want, you'll get good service, and a good deal. And if you don't buy from them you'll probably learn something useful just from looking there.
 
I can only say I have a pair of Zeiss dialits 7x42 and a pair of Leica geovits (sp) 8x32. Both pairs are over 20 yrs however despite a lot of hard field use neither has had an issue and still to this day every minute I look thru either pair I am in awe.
 
Wow, I did not expect this many responses, this is great. It is a torrential downpoor here today with a howling southeaster, so a good day for internet research. We are heading for Vancouver in the new year, so I will check them out there and maybe in Washington, as well as around here, although the choice is limited.

I do have some vintage B&L rifle scopes and yes they are quite clear, I wouldn't mind a matching set of binos for sure.

What do I have now, Canadian Tyre specials, and yes they are not worth what I paid for them. Anything would be an upgrade imo. My budget is limited too--- six grandchildren :).

Cameraland will probably be where I will start my research, from a quick perusal this morning it looks like a good place to start.

I have a Nikon scope on one of my rifles, and it is good as well, so will have a decco at those for sure

I have bought a few things off ebay, but when spending a lot of money I like to feel the product beforehand, but I will check that area out as well, especially the feedback.

Thank you all for your suggestions, Your knowledge and advice is appreciated
 
wilbar said:
What do you have now? That will set the base line better. Bang for buck is very relative. If you're trying to compare to the Leica's the $1000 mark is where you'll find stuff that is just beginning to compete. The Meopta Meostar's at $1,099 for 10x42 are comparing favorably to the high end stuff(outdoor life gave a rave review and award). Zeiss Conquest Binos are similarly priced. There are some older Zeiss etc on the EE that'll get you into good glass for less because they're used and older.

I had that same type of moment with my friend's Swarovski Bino's, now he has those Leicas with the build in Range Finder.

I'm wishing but will probably upgrade from my cheapo's to the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, by all accounts(and the half dozen guys I know who have them) they are very hard to beat for under $500. I have 3 kids who are hunting now so the budget is spread quite thin.

Willy
Click to expand...

Same here...put my Nikon's to shame...
 
When I used to sell binos I always took three sets outside for the customer to try...the ones he wanted, the mid range ones he should be buying and the best ones in the shop. Sold a lot of mid range glass by showing customers what they get for more money.
 
wilbar said:
I'm wishing but will probably upgrade from my cheapo's to the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, by all accounts(and the half dozen guys I know who have them) they are very hard to beat for under $500. I have 3 kids who are hunting now so the budget is spread quite thin.

Willy
Click to expand...

I have the bushnell Legend HD's these ones actually LEGEND ULTRA HD 10x 42mm Realtree AP
I have also got a few other different more pricey binoc's aswell.
for Instance minox , leica and meopta's , a couple older binoc's as-well kicking around the homestead.

But i find the bushnell's to be really great you wont be disappointed in them imho these are what i used hunting this year and it was all good glassing out bucks in the field.
 
BigUglyMan said:
When I used to sell binos I always took three sets outside for the customer to try...the ones he wanted, the mid range ones he should be buying and the best ones in the shop. Sold a lot of mid range glass by showing customers what they get for more money.
Click to expand...

I'm curious which mid range ones would you steer them towards?

OP, here's another spot to do some research reading: http://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=678
 
I have Zeiss binos. I will never buy inexpensive glass again. In the realm of optics, one truly gets what one pays for. It also helps if it says "Made in Germany" or something along those lines.
 
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