Binoculars... what to buy for less than $150?

evolture said:
Binoculars... what to buy for less than $150?

I'm looking for some binoculars.. What do you recommend?
Click to expand...

For what application? Are you interested in power or brightness? Waterproof? Coated lenses? Is size a concern? Do you wear corrective glasses?

http://www.opticsplanet.net/binoculars.html

http://www.opticsplanet.net/how-to-buy-binoculars.html

If you need good low light performance, exit pupil is important, 5mm is recommended. Ex: 7x35 binculars, the front lens is 35 mm, 35 mm / 7x = 5mm would give you decent low light performance, but a 10x35 .... 35 / 10 = 3.5mm would be significantly worst at dusk and dawn.
 
For spotting wildlife, all weather.
compact is good. if it is small I'll bring it with me more often. but it does not have to be compact.
I don't need glasses.
 
If you can save up a bit and but the canon image stabilized one. I use them 20+ days per fall and use them hard and they are the best things I have ever had in my hands. They will run you about 350 though (I know that is out of your range from the post but have a look at them).
 
If you have the time, watch the EE, maybe put up a Want To Buy ad, go for old good quality brand names secondhand from someone with a good trader rating or make sure you can look through new ones in a shop.
 
I would look for a porro prism design (dog leg look) rather than a roof prism (looks like two cylinders side by side). Porro prisms have two big advantages. First they have a wide spaced objective and give you a much better 3D image. Second they can deliver equal quality images to roof prism binos that cost 2-3 times as much. If you are on a budget then they are the way to go.

For the $150 I would look for an 8x42 Bushnell Legend in porro design - or perhaps the 10x50 for a bit more. They are getting hard to find as they are being replaced by the roof prism models which are not as good and cost more.

Bushnell Legend Porro at Wholesale Sports
 
Yes the porro prism design can generally be had for a bit less money for similar quality roof prisms. The Vortex Raptors are a nice set of porros that can retail for about $150 new, plus they come with the Lifetime Unconditional No Fault Warranty.
 
Used the Sightron porro prism 8x42 all last season. For $120. I think they are about the best bang for the buck around.
Life time warrenty as well.
 
I bought a set of Vortex Raptor 6x32 binos so I'd have something to use while sitting in a treestand in the woods of central Ontario. Very compact for a mid sized binos. Very impressed with the optical qualities. Good part about them is they are small enough that younger kids can use them due to size and adjustability. Also comes with lifetime warranty. I played $118+hst
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom