Bino help
- Thread starter Kcaps
- Start date
- Location
- AB foothills
They also have a banner at the top of the page.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
It has been said previously; but you only get what you pay for when it comes to any optic, especially if your going to actually take it outside and use it. So spending 50-100 bucks my be okay to look at "chickadees" out the kitchen window, but for deer and ducks, you want 10x 42-50, waterproof, shockproof and as clear and crisp as you can afford, especially when your looking at ducks as there not very big to start with. Anything over 10x becomes to jerky in the hand to properly see ducks at a distance.
I was an avid duck hunter years ago and my wife kept buying me Tasco and Bushnell binoculars. Not really worth the box they come in, in fact I still have several of the boxes but the binoculars are long gone. They would get wet and fog up, get dirt and dust on the inside of lenses to the point you couldn't see much out of them. Two pairs I just chucked over the side of boat, as the warranties aren't worth nothing either.
So my experienced advice is, go out and buy one very good pair of binoculars. Spend at least 6-700 bucks on a pair. Personally I have a pair of Vortex Vipers 10x42's, with tax 700 bucks. Very crisp clear glass edge to edge, and a life time replacement warranty.
I was an avid duck hunter years ago and my wife kept buying me Tasco and Bushnell binoculars. Not really worth the box they come in, in fact I still have several of the boxes but the binoculars are long gone. They would get wet and fog up, get dirt and dust on the inside of lenses to the point you couldn't see much out of them. Two pairs I just chucked over the side of boat, as the warranties aren't worth nothing either.
So my experienced advice is, go out and buy one very good pair of binoculars. Spend at least 6-700 bucks on a pair. Personally I have a pair of Vortex Vipers 10x42's, with tax 700 bucks. Very crisp clear glass edge to edge, and a life time replacement warranty.
It seems to me like with most things China is producing higher end products these days. Perhaps the glass is still european and it's just the assembly being done in Asia but most of the $600 and under Binos are being made in China.
I have a feeling that the Minox's that are on sale ( not just Cameraland) are actually close to what they should be selling at considering the cheaper manufacturing in China.
I'm sure the Vipers are nice and Vortex's warranty is great but are they really twice as good as Diamondbacks at around $250-$300 ?
I have a feeling that the Minox's that are on sale ( not just Cameraland) are actually close to what they should be selling at considering the cheaper manufacturing in China.
I'm sure the Vipers are nice and Vortex's warranty is great but are they really twice as good as Diamondbacks at around $250-$300 ?
mrgoat - the days where you need to spend $6-700 to get a decent pair of binoculars are over. You can get good glass for significantly less now. I was comparing my $500 pair of binoculars to my friend's +20 year old Zeiss 8x56's and there really wasn't any difference between them. Technology has come a long way. I agree though that the cheap Walmart and Canadian Tire Bushnells, Tascos etc are not worth the bother.
Buy once, cry once. I didn't do it. I'm getting there though. Having a set of binos should be standard hunting equipment like your knife or ammunition. Too many guys out there still using there scopes to look at things that they have no intention of shooting. I would rather see someone glassing me with a cheap set of binos than their expensive riflescope. Buy what you can afford and use them, you will eventually come to same spot as those who have dished out the cash at first. Bottom line get a set cheap or expensive and use them. Nikon, Pentax, Minox, Bushnell, ect all have a lower end that is serviceable. Stick with a well known name and buy from a reputable dealer such as Cameraland. Just my two cents.
Bought a pair of Bushnells years ago on sale at Cabelas. Somewhere under $200. Not the best but waterproof and the optics were OK. Walking up the dock last year, I fell, and they broke in half. Cheap plastic construction on the hinged part. Considering the rugged use they were supposedly designed for did not really come through in that department. There is more to binoculars than just the optics.
I received the Minox 8X42's today.
about $23 dollars tax at the post office plus the initial price of $99 for the open box plus $27.50 shipping for a total of just over $150.00
Compared to the Celestron's 10X32's from Costco that were $120 taxed and shipped.
The Minox's are noticeably heavier in the hand and just a hair bigger over all.
They are a bit brighter( somewhat expected due to the objective size an power difference) but it's not as noticeable as the weight difference.
One bummer with the Minox's is they don't come with flip off objective lens covers like the Celestrons....I sent Doug an email about it and got a quick reply.
He says he's been hassling Minox about this for years but they don't believe in objective lens covers for some reason?
He suggested Buttler Creek and indeed they do make some that will fit but at an extra cost of about $35-$40 for two caps.
I will definitely get some caps as I don't plan on taking the bulky case with me in the field and much prefer to be able to cap of the lenses and throw the binoculars in a pack or under the seat or where ever without worrying about dirt and scratches.
The other day while in the field I enjoyed the protection of tethered flip off caps that came with the Celestron's . Pushing through snow laden branches with the binos on my chest it was nice not to worry about them getting packed with snow or wet.
Bottom line the Celestron's are a good deal at Costco and are backed by a lifetime Warranty and come ready to go.
The Minox's are heavier, a bit brighter, come with a 5 year warranty and in my opinion are not good to go out of the box for what I want in the field.
I wish I'd known in advance about the lack of caps as I could have ordered some while waiting for the shipment from Cameraland..... for anyone wondering the size 34 buttler creek objective lenses look like a good fit.
I will be using my Celestrons on a multi day trip this weekend.
about $23 dollars tax at the post office plus the initial price of $99 for the open box plus $27.50 shipping for a total of just over $150.00
Compared to the Celestron's 10X32's from Costco that were $120 taxed and shipped.
The Minox's are noticeably heavier in the hand and just a hair bigger over all.
They are a bit brighter( somewhat expected due to the objective size an power difference) but it's not as noticeable as the weight difference.
One bummer with the Minox's is they don't come with flip off objective lens covers like the Celestrons....I sent Doug an email about it and got a quick reply.
He says he's been hassling Minox about this for years but they don't believe in objective lens covers for some reason?
He suggested Buttler Creek and indeed they do make some that will fit but at an extra cost of about $35-$40 for two caps.
I will definitely get some caps as I don't plan on taking the bulky case with me in the field and much prefer to be able to cap of the lenses and throw the binoculars in a pack or under the seat or where ever without worrying about dirt and scratches.
The other day while in the field I enjoyed the protection of tethered flip off caps that came with the Celestron's . Pushing through snow laden branches with the binos on my chest it was nice not to worry about them getting packed with snow or wet.
Bottom line the Celestron's are a good deal at Costco and are backed by a lifetime Warranty and come ready to go.
The Minox's are heavier, a bit brighter, come with a 5 year warranty and in my opinion are not good to go out of the box for what I want in the field.
I wish I'd known in advance about the lack of caps as I could have ordered some while waiting for the shipment from Cameraland..... for anyone wondering the size 34 buttler creek objective lenses look like a good fit.
I will be using my Celestrons on a multi day trip this weekend.
I put a bit of tape on the celestron's to lock them in place.....wasn't to complicated to solve that issue.
I'm happy that you found a solution that worked for you but to me covering the glass lenses when you are not looking through them is a no brainer. I'd also rather have the option of tossing them or not.
The Butler creek's won't have the same problem as the cheaper rubber ones but my buddy's bushnells ( that I didn't really like) had a good system where the tether was well attached to the area where you could use a tripod mount instead of just being looped around the body of the lens.
I'm happy that you found a solution that worked for you but to me covering the glass lenses when you are not looking through them is a no brainer. I'd also rather have the option of tossing them or not.
The Butler creek's won't have the same problem as the cheaper rubber ones but my buddy's bushnells ( that I didn't really like) had a good system where the tether was well attached to the area where you could use a tripod mount instead of just being looped around the body of the lens.
And with one letter, it all becomes so clear!!
This. I have never found any that are good.
Print one of these out:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/maximusotter/Optical%20test%20chart/OpticstestchartUSAF1951.jpg
Put it up in failing light at 25 yards (depending on size you print) and look at them with your binoculars. it is a good way to see real differences in resolution.
