I need new Bino's

W

windy

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I have lost my binoculars and this is a good thing. I did not like my old pair for a number of reasons but could not justify buying another pair till the old ones were done. What would you Gun Nutters recommend? My parameters are such. 10x power 42mm objective and 500 - 600ish bucks. I handled some Vortex Razors the other day and they were dreamy but 1300$ which is too much. These will be used for western hunting and occasional range days.
Thanks for your input. Links to sponsor sites and deals would be appreciated.
Windy
 
I have zeiss terra ed 10x42. Normally I only buy Leupold optics but the price was right and I couldn't be happier with them. I may even try a Zeiss scope next time.
 
You might be able to get a set of vipers in that price range. Look at the ee. Nikon monarch is also a good buy in that range. I've heard good things about the vanguard endeavor line.
 
I bought Vortex Diamondback, but it was a close call between them and the Terra ED. I have a couple fo the Terra scopes and I really like them, but the Vortex was a bit less expensive and good enough for what I was looking to do.
 
Anyone wanting the lowdown on binoculars or spotting scopes should check out the optics review and discussion section at birdforum.net , a British based but globally populated site for birdwatchers. Birders are the top users of the things and they really know their stuff. Just don't say too much about being a hunter or whatever if you get into discussions, I mean it can be done but don't anyway.


The best selection of binos I see in a regular store is in Cabelas. Cabelas used to be a good place to buy the very top end of the line, like Zeiss Victories, but they are Bass Proing themselves and they're not as upmarket now where I live, still their selection is as I said broad so you get to try a lot of them for yourself.

I favour Zeiss and Bushnell now that Baush and Lomb doesn't make high end stuff anymore, or maybe even exist, but a lot of informed people swear by Swarovski. Buy a pair you like, don't suffer with a bad pair, especially if they're not aligned properly. That's just nasty and Sail sold a lot of those, or was trying to anyway, last time I looked.
 
Swarovski, Zeiss, Leica, Kowa, etc are amazing but you're really paying to wring the last bit of performance out when you're buying their top end stuff.
 
Yup. I have a Swarovski ATX spotting scope and Leica Geovid HD-B's and I totally agree they are better and in the end worth it.
 
Leica (Leitz) 7X35's, 7X42's, Zeiss 7X42's are all excellent older model roof prisms if you can find them. Even though they're all at least 30 years old the glass is great, especially the 42's that are really sharp & bright in the dimness of the evening. I don't see them much but the PENTAX 8X42 DCF WP's are excellent as well. (phase coated & waterproof) A friend and I were at SAIL and looked at several models under $500. The NIKON MONARCH 5's ( 8X2 or 10 X42 ) were the best of them all. Sharp and felt great in your hands. The Nikons get great reviews on several optics forums.
 
Athlon gets really good reviews on the western hunting/bird watching forums. Many are comparing them to high end Leica and Zeiss glass and better than the vortex razors for a decent price. Might be worth a look .
 
I have 2, Bushnell Excursion HD and a Nikon Monarch 5. Both are great glass but the Nikon's win hands down in low light. There prices range about $350 and $450ish, Nikon on the higher side but worn it IMHO.
 
big boar said:
Leica (Leitz) 7X35's, 7X42's, Zeiss 7X42's are all excellent older model roof prisms if you can find them. Even though they're all at least 30 years old the glass is great, especially the 42's that are really sharp & bright in the dimness of the evening. I don't see them much but the PENTAX 8X42 DCF WP's are excellent as well. (phase coated & waterproof) A friend and I were at SAIL and looked at several models under $500. The NIKON MONARCH 5's ( 8X2 or 10 X42 ) were the best of them all. Sharp and felt great in your hands. The Nikons get great reviews on several optics forums.
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all of this is worth repeating!
 
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