Bino help

Camerland NY has an absolutely fantastic deal on right now - the Minox BF 8x42BR has been reduced from US$289 to US$149, and there are demos available for US$119 and salesman's sample unit for US$99.

I think it is probably the best binocular in your price range.
 
For extended use cheaper might be an issue for some but if you just want to glass some movement, or something you've spotted with your naked eye, cheap is better then nothing.
I just ordered a pair of the cheap ($125.00 with tax and shipping)Cellestron's from costco. Costco says they have lifetime warranty for original buyers and they come with fully multi coated lenses and bak 4 prisms. I'll let you know how they look next week.
 
To the OP:

Don't let the haters on here deter you from taking any short cuts on the optics journey with their sensibly quality lowish priced options. You definitely want to start at $50-100 price range.

1. step 1. Go to Canadian Tire/walmart and grab that set of binos in a blisterpack for $59.99. For bonus points make sure to get the most magnification in the smallest package. While your there, why not grab a couple of blisterpack scopes so a couple of your favorite rifles can make the journey with you? Don't worry about passing these onto your kids, if you baby them and use them only moderately hard, they should get you anywhere from 0-1.5 hunting seasons.

2. repeat step 1 as many times as required for extreme frustration to ensue.

3. step 3 now ask for advice here on CGN for what is a decent quality binos/scope for $200-300 range. You will get many choices. These you may be able to pass onto your kids, while you move to step 4.

4. Step 4: You either have a cheap optic fail at a critical time/in foul weather/ or randomly. You now ask on CGN for advice on what are decent binos/scopes/spotters in the $500-800 range. These will be probably be good quality and will give you many happy years of service until...

5. Step 5: You and a buddy are hunting at dusk/dawn or really crappy conditions. You get a chance to peek through his +$1500 Swaros/Leicas/Zeiss etc. You say wow these are really awesome!!! A hunger develops in the depths of your soul, you cannot explain it, you lay awake at night thinking about it, but you know the only thing that will satisfy it is replacing all your good, serviceable optics with top of the line stuff.

Remember OP, optics are a journey, don't cheat yourself on any of the steps. It will be all the sweeter once you arrive (but much, much, more expensive than just buying right the first time). But unless you go through all the steps (some of the early ones preferably repeatedly), you will feel cheated, trust me
 
Guys - look at my previous post - incredibly there is a set of decent $100 binos available now. Plus $27.50 shipping.
 
1899 said:
Guys - look at my previous post - incredibly there is a set of decent $100 binos available now. Plus $27.50 shipping.
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Well save your receipt for the warranty. I looked at those on the Costco website and all I can say is that I wouldn't buy them. For one thing a 10 x 32 is going to give you a really dingy image. Ideally you want an exit pupil of about 5 mm, 10 x 32 will only give you about 3 mm so really poor low light performance. Secondly, Celestron makes nothing, they just resell products. I've looked at their low end stuff and its pretty poor quality.

On the other hand, I've checked out the Bushnell Legacy 8 x 42 binox mentioned above and optically they are a decent entry level binocular for about the same cost as the Celestrons you mentioned. The only limitations is they are not waterproof and they will be slightly bigger and heavier than the Celestrons but will be far more usable.
 
762shooter said:
Well save your receipt for the warranty. I looked at those on the Costco website and all I can say is that I wouldn't buy them. For one thing a 10 x 32 is going to give you a really dingy image. Ideally you want an exit pupil of about 5 mm, 10 x 32 will only give you about 3 mm so really poor low light performance. Secondly, Celestron makes nothing, they just resell products. I've looked at their low end stuff and its pretty poor quality.

On the other hand, I've checked out the Bushnell Legacy 8 x 42 binox mentioned above and optically they are a decent entry level binocular for about the same cost as the Celestrons you mentioned. The only limitations is they are not waterproof and they will be slightly bigger and heavier than the Celestrons but will be far more usable.
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I am talking about Minox 8x42's, not the crappy Celestrons. The Minox BF or BV 8x42 are usually around $300, so they are quite the deal at less than 1/2 that price (including shipping).
 
After an exhaustive search, from everything from tasco to steiner, I picked these. Best compact binos I have had the pleasure to peep through. Save up, buy once.

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http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=62171
 
762shooter said:
Well save your receipt for the warranty. I looked at those on the Costco website and all I can say is that I wouldn't buy them. For one thing a 10 x 32 is going to give you a really dingy image. Ideally you want an exit pupil of about 5 mm, 10 x 32 will only give you about 3 mm so really poor low light performance. Secondly, Celestron makes nothing, they just resell products. I've looked at their low end stuff and its pretty poor quality.

On the other hand, I've checked out the Bushnell Legacy 8 x 42 binox mentioned above and optically they are a decent entry level binocular for about the same cost as the Celestrons you mentioned. The only limitations is they are not waterproof and they will be slightly bigger and heavier than the Celestrons but will be far more usable.
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I will let you know how dark they are next week. I would have preferred the 8X but they don't sell them.

I'd guess that most of the binoculars under $600 are made in Chine these days...... and some that cost more.

Where are the Minox's that are being blown out at $100 from?
 
c-fbmi said:
I guess Zeiss is out of the question.............but they are amazing glass.
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I have owned a pair for close to 8-10 years. The glass is nice but the Bino's themselves have problems. I have sent them back a number of times because the front lens glass seal falls out of them and then needs to be replaced. Just got them back last year ad on a hunt this past week YEP fell out again. This time I found the seal and I am going to glue it into place. These Bino's for the cost is very disappointing in my eyes....
 
i would wait until you save up $250 then go shopping. the pain of looking though $50 binos is not worth it.
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Looking through the cardboard tubes, from used up rolls of toilet paper would be easier on the eyes than $50 binoculars.

I have owned a pair for close to 8-10 years. The glass is nice but the Bino's themselves have problems. I have sent them back a number of times because the front lens glass seal falls out of them and then needs to be replaced. Just got them back last year ad on a hunt this past week YEP fell out again. This time I found the seal and I am going to glue it into place. These Bino's for the cost is very disappointing in my eyes....
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What model? I had my old Zeiss 10x40 classics for over 15 years, with no issues at all.
 
I don't even know what to say to the comments saying to go without other than they DO get nicer at the higher price points but anything is better than nothing. I keep a cheap pair of 10/25 Bushnells in the boat in case a critter is going for a swim or someone wants to look at birds. Crappy tire and others put them on sale all the time and they're compact/durable/disposable. I think the last pair I bought was $20-30. The larger 8-10/40-50 Bushnells aren't awesome either but they would work for about 90% of the glassing that I do. I also really like Vortex stuff. For hunting I use Viper HD 10/42's and a Leupold 60mm spotting scope if I can be bothered to bring it.
 
Well my friend's Minox 10x42's arrived from Camerland NY. They are very, very nice. The 10x42's are a bit over budget at $129 + shipping but the 8x42s may still be available for $99.

Crazy deal and I recommend all you newbie hunters who have been doing without to give these binos a close look.
 
1899, I ordered a pair of the 8X42's but they haven't arrived yet....I've been hunting with the Celestron's for a few days though and they are quite bright and give good detail scanning deep into the woods.
It will be interesting to compare them to the Minox's but comparing them to a pair of Bushnell H2O's 10X42's a buddy lent me they are noticeably brighter, lighter and somewhat smaller.
 
I think you will be very pleased. Another friend ordered a pair for his father and after looking through the ones that are here already we are both tempted to buy one each, even though we both own good binoculars. It's the definition of a good deal - "something you don't need at a price you can't refuse".
 
hoochie said:
Vortex is what I would recommend. I think mine were $250? might be a tad out of reach for your budget
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1899 said:
Camerland NY has an absolutely fantastic deal on right now - the Minox BF 8x42BR has been reduced from US$289 to US$149, and there are demos available for US$119 and salesman's sample unit for US$99.

I think it is probably the best binocular in your price range.
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You may need a little more info... Camberland NY does not google or bing for me.
 
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