Bino help

K

Kcaps

Regular
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Calgary
I'm looking to pick up my first pair of binos and need some input from all you experts.

I will be using them primarily for duck and deer hunting so I would prefer them to be compact. I've never owned a pair before, so I have no experience but also no biases. I would LIKE to keep them around $50 if that is even possible, but would go up to $100 if necessary.

I'd be interested in suggestions one what to look for while shopping as well as personal reviews and product suggestions. Any and all help is appreciated!
 
Binoculars in the $50 - $100 range are going to be of very poor quality, but Bushnell is probably the best known brand in the lowest price category.
 
I just picked up a Vortex 10-36 monocular not to long ago used for 60 bucks. So far its working out for me. Dont know if these work for you or not

I like monoculars better because they are much smaller then binos
 
The same applies to binoculars as does every thing else.
Buy what you can afford but be aware you get what you pay for.
If you require a high degree of light transmission for early morning or later afternoon, you have to pay for it.
If you are going to spend a lot of time glassing, you have to pay for it.
If you are going to try to determine whether an animal is legal or not, will a $50-100 paid suffice. The answer may be in getting closer.
The same answers can be applied to the cost of a scope on a rifle. 50%, 100% or wherever based on the cost of the rifle. It is quite conceivable to pay more for the glass than the rifle.
My binoculars are 7 x 50 but I am out early in the morning. They are 30 years old and were worth $500 when bought.
There are better available but they are good enough since I have passed my best before date and will work to my end date!
 
Thanks for the responses so far. I know that I am not going to be getting great binos for that price range, but I hate to splash out hundreds of dollars right out of the gate for something. I DO like the highest end products, but often I end up buying MORE than I need because I am focused on getting the 'best' and not what is 'sufficient' for my needs. In this case, I plan on buying something budget and then upgrading in the next year or two when I know exactly what my needs are. I figure I can always let my kids use the cheaper binos when we are out and about, so no real loss!
 
c-fbmi said:
I guess Zeiss is out of the question.............but they are amazing glass.
Click to expand...

Zeiss is out of the question, but maybe a pair of Ziess from the Richmond Night Market...

All kidding aside...$50-$100 is pretty junkie glass. You should go to some shops to take a look at some binoculars. Adjust them and find some print at a distance in the store - see how clear and legible the print becomes at a distance. Of course you would want to check poor light performance too.
 
Bought Bushnell XLT Trophy binos 8x42 and love them.First ones I've ever owned that I didn't have to remove glasses to use. That was worth the price right there.
 
I have Bushnell H2O 8x42 that I paid just a bit under $100 for a couple of years ago - so far I'm very happy. I can use them with glasses with no problems, have bumped them, got them soaking wet, and no major issues. The only thing I'd change is the way front and rear lens caps are attached.

As a cheapo alternative I got a pair of noname 10x50 binos from a cash and carry surplus type store - big and heavy, but very clear. I hand picked them from 10 or so boxes, and these were the only ones that were sharp, so ymmv, but I paid $14 for them about 5 years ago :D
 
I have a pair of Nikon action ex I picked up for about 85 bucks.... as said earlier, binos in this price range are not going to be the best but the Nikon look clear and suit my purpose well...
 
I have found some of the very low end binos to be clear but I can only look through them for about 3 minutes and then it feels like someone is trying to suck my eyeballs from their sockets. This and low light capabilities are the major differences between economy binos and super high end binos..................and price of course!!
 
Nester said:
I've been looking at these one's. People seem to like them alot and they have a lifetime warranty.



Vortex 8x42mm Diamondback Binoculars

http://vortexcanada.net/products/binoculars/diamondback/diamondback8x42.html

http://vortexcanada.net/dealers/dealers.html


Google these and check out the reviews.
Click to expand...

Good recommendation Nestor! Some of the budget glass today is likely better or on par with the primo stuff from years gone bye......

Here's a cheaper option from Celestron and Costco.
I've found Celestron's to be pretty good cheap binos in the past and this one says warrantied for as long as the original owner has it. Costco is also pretty good for warranty issues and satisfaction.
I don't know how they get Bak-4 prisms into a hundered dollar pair of binos but they might be worth a gander if you are near a costco.....
http://www.costco.ca/Celestron-Nature-DX-10x32-mm-Binoculars.product.100041141.html
 
Last edited:
Vortex is what I would recommend. I think mine were $250? might be a tad out of reach for your budget
 
If you have managed this far (I'm assuming you are not new to hunting, just new to bino's), with that budget I would continue to go without. Seriously - at that price point you have to think, are they worth their weight?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom