Anyone recommend Bino's for hunting 150$-200$

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dwight_Shrute

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So as title says I'm looking to not spend a fortune on a good pair of Binoculars for small game hunting. CT has Steiner Champs 10-26 on sale at 140$ down from 200$. Anyone have/use these? Or recommend something similar/better in same price range? I'll be using mainly for small game (hare, woodchuck, dove etc etc... So is 10-26 acceptable? Should I try and go for 30mm plus? Any suggestions from experienced hunters?

Have only hunted casually last 2 years (like 4 times total but will be going out more seriously/often and alone) anyhow any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance.
 
A month ago I ordered a pair of Military Surplus Steiners 8x30 from Ebay for 180.00 shipping free.They came out of Germany,I actually ordered them for my neighbor.I also own a pair of Steiner Merlins 10x30 and these surplus military glasses were just as clear.My Neighbor was really happy for what he got at 180.00.Good Luck in your Search.
 
One thing to bear in mind is size. I have to keep my binos tucked in my jacket so they stay warm. As anyone can tell you, when you put cold optics to a warm face it's fogged lenses time! I have a nice pair of Bushnell compact binos that give good resolution and are small enough that they don't bother me sitting on my chest inside my outer clothes. Please note, I'm talking about fall hunting when it's cooler out.
 
I've had Steiner binos for the last thirty-something years, zackly the same as our Army-issue. My latest are over five years old and were factory refurbs even then.

Great deals may be had from the factory - for optics as good as they come in all conditions and for all purposes. I currently have six pairs...

tac
 
I do not know about prices, but an 8 power by 40 mm is about as perfect you can get in my books.
Lots of FOV and not so powerfull that your breathing would cause the binos to jump around with each heart beat.
I have a pair of Birding Minox and they are pdg in my books.
A shade over 2hundie iirc.
Rob
 
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LawrenceN said:
One thing to bear in mind is size. I have to keep my binos tucked in my jacket so they stay warm. As anyone can tell you, when you put cold optics to a warm face it's fogged lenses time! I have a nice pair of Bushnell compact binos that give good resolution and are small enough that they don't bother me sitting on my chest inside my outer clothes. Please note, I'm talking about fall hunting when it's cooler out.
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Thats what I generally do and to build on LawrenceN recommendations ... I really think highly of the Bushnell (Bausch and Lomb etc) Custom 7x,26 which is reviewed here .. http://betterviewdesired.com/Bushnell-7x26-Custom.php and has been around a long time and occasionally gets a small name change .. but the basics are porroprism, 7x power with 26mm objective. I have a set of these I use occasionally and they are excellent... I bought mine used (lnib) here I believe for around $200. Alternatively look at the Leupold Yosemite 6x,30 if you can find them .. also a very good hunting bino.

As for Steiner - I do not have a particularly high regard for them ... and do not think they represent good value. I am sure they also have a low regard - or no regard - for me - so take that for what it is worth!! :)
 
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Anything under $200 ( probably under $700) is going to be made in China even if it has a German name printed on it.
The good news is the Chinese have gotten very good at building quality/budget optics.

I bought a pair of these a couple years ago and they are compact, bright and lightweight.
Lifetime warranty and backed by Costco's satisfaction guarantee.

http://www.costco.ca/Celestron-Nature-DX-10-x-32-mm-Binoculars.product.100041141.html
 
Can-down said:
Anything under $200 ( probably under $700) is going to be made in China even if it has a German name printed on it.
The good news is the Chinese have gotten very good at building quality/budget optics......
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Completely agree! Above 500 (Cdn) there may be a few actually made in Japan .. but the vast majority will be Chinese and manufactured on pretty sophisticated machinery.. possibly Malaysia as well.
 
Thanks for the replies all. Some good points that I had not considered. Costco has a 8-32 for 130ish shipped which is more ideal than the 10-26 on sale at CT. However they are 2x the weight and larger than the steiners so not sure they will easily tuck into my jacket when it gets cold.

I realize these are all made in China at this price point but it is what it is, so I have to make the best of the situation. 200$ remains my upper limit and 150$ would be ideal. I've considered used but people on Kijiji all seem to be looking for fish lol.
 
Well the one's I linked to above are 10X32 and I don't find them that hard to hold steady and they are plenty bright for my eyes though they will never be as bright as something with a larger objective. Most likely any Binocuolor you purchase for $150 will not be your last pair but I can say the Celestron's will still serve you well as backup or in the truck if or when you upgrade..... I also got a pair of Minox's from Cameraland that were on sale for around $150 2 years ago but I ended up selling them to my buddy as I found them to noticeably heavier and not noticeably better optically. They were 8X42's if I recall correctly and while that would mean better light transition and clarity when compared to 10X32, to my eyes I noticed the extra weight more.
Check out Cameraland for close out and demo units..... the US dollar is up quite a bit so I doubt they are as cheap as they were when I got a pair but still worth looking at.
 
Can-down said:
Well the one's I linked to above are 10X32 and I don't find them that hard to hold steady and they are plenty bright for my eyes though they will never be as bright as something with a larger objective. Most likely any Binocuolor you purchase for $150 will not be your last pair but I can say the Celestron's will still serve you well as backup or in the truck if or when you upgrade..... I also got a pair of Minox's from Cameraland that were on sale for around $150 2 years ago but I ended up selling them to my buddy as I found them to noticeably heavier and not noticeably better optically. They were 8X42's if I recall correctly and while that would mean better light transition and clarity when compared to 10X32, to my eyes I noticed the extra weight more.
Check out Cameraland for close out and demo units..... the US dollar is up quite a bit so I doubt they are as cheap as they were when I got a pair but still worth looking at.
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Yes CanDown those Are the ones I was referring to but i might prefer the 8x model. I rarely spot anything farther out than 20-30 yards or so with the naked eye in the forest. I'm just afraid 10x will be too much magnification in dense foliage. But I guess come December or Jan when forest opens up 10x might be more ideal? Anyhow those Celestrons get really great reviews around the web so they are probably my best bet and at a great price. Thanks for the suggestion ;)
 
dwight_Shrute said:
Yes CanDown those Are the ones I was referring to but i might prefer the 8x model. I rarely spot anything farther out than 20-30 yards or so with the naked eye in the forest. I'm just afraid 10x will be too much magnification in dense foliage. But I guess come December or Jan when forest opens up 10x might be more ideal? Anyhow those Celestrons get really great reviews around the web so they are probably my best bet and at a great price. Thanks for the suggestion ;)
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if you are hunting in the great lakes - st lawrence forest region --- there is more use for a 6-8 power binocular which will give you a wider field of view and better exit pupil for hunting purposes. Wider field of view will improve your odds of "finding" game. Higher power "may" be useful for "studying" game once you find it. Most guys buying their first binocular will gravitate towards a higher power. If you hunt on foot and in the areas I mentioned you will find a lower power more useful - but you can convince yourself of anything.

I have/had binoculars from 3.5 - 12 power. I find the most useful for hunting are 6x,30 although 6.5x, 7x and even 8x are all fine in 30mm objectives. Larger objectives are fine but increase the weight to the point that they can become annoying after a full day of walking and add little advantage during legal hunting hours. If you are a stargazer or like to sit on the cottage deck and check out the bikini's across the lake ... buy a 10x, 50 ... but dont plan on spending a lot of time in the field humping them.. unless you just walk to a stand overlooking a beaver meadow or power line...even then the lower power/wider field of view will pick-up the small flick of ear more frequently because of the wider field of view .. and the ease of longer duration glassing when using a lower power glasses. Optically and build wise one of the finest hunters binoculars are the Cdn Military issue ELCAN 7x,50 (I have a couple of sets I am so impressed with them) waterproof, extremely tough, great eye relief, FOV and brilliant to very low light conditions ... BUT I can tell you that after a full day humping those glasses while on foot ... and carrying a small day pack ... I am very happy to put them down for a lighter Swarovski Habicht 6x, 30 porro.
 
So just thought id update. i ended up buying the Steiners from CDN Tire, they seemed good in store, brought them out to the Range and promptly returned them. 10x is way to shaky for me, Too much zoom for my application and the FOV too small. Live and learn. A few days later i was at Sail and saw a pair of Simmons 8x42 at Half off for 65$. Checked them out and they seemed fine. Took them out and 8x42 is way better for my needs, though they are heavier but not unbearably so and for 65$ (1/3rd what i wanted to spend) I've not much to lose lol. Thanks all.
 
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