Need affordable binos
- Thread starter GOUMFACH
- Start date
I picked up a set of Vortex 8 power binos earlier this year, they were priced pretty close to your budget or just a wee bit over, straight bodied style, about a medium size pair of glasses. Pretty nice glass.
I won a pair of Bushnell Excursion compact binos 8x32, in a raffle, and frankly, the visibility through them is a fair bit above their pay grade. IIRC these were retailing here in the sticks at about $150 or so.
I won a pair of Bushnell Excursion compact binos 8x32, in a raffle, and frankly, the visibility through them is a fair bit above their pay grade. IIRC these were retailing here in the sticks at about $150 or so.
The Bushnell Bone collection/trophy roof prism binocs are very good. For hand held would settle on the 8x42's. They are truly excellent. For $50 I bought the set of the Tasco 10x42 and 8x21 on clearance at Canadiantire this summer just for curiousity. The 10x42is roof prism design as well and for the price you can't go wrong except I prefer 8x Bushnells, the 10x just get a little too shaky for me.
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I'm in the same boat looking for some decent yet budget binos. My problem is I wear glasses and would like to find a pair that have good eye relief and soft oculars ... lower power range and portable is good. I'm still looking.
Biggest problem I've found with lower end binocs is they lose collimation after a while, ie one optic points in a slightly different direction than the other due to a weak central hinge. Even mediocre optics are ok if they are aligned properly, I've seen some Leopoldo's that you needed to close one eye if you wanted to see anything! When you are testing them, just look thru them and twist one hand up and the other down, if the image goes funky, throw them back in the bin. A lot of the high end pocket binocs, you could just rip in half and use as monocular after a while... if you are using glasses check the pupil distance, point the binoc at a light and hold above a sheet of paper, move binoculars until the point is smallest then measure between eyepiece and paper- you want the furthest distance, it's amazing how close cheap binocs are.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Summerland, BC
Have a look at the Pentax porro prism binos... no idea what they call them these days.
But the cost of what is "affordable" really boils down to what you need to see. I have been through the little money optics. Sure you have something in your hands but if you cannot identify what you are trying to see, it got real expensive.
The Nikon monarch has some of the nicest glass, function and features in the 'lower' dollars. I got my last pair as a demo for a very nice price.
The Sightron ED family really surprised me as they have increased their performance and eye relief. If they have a familiar look, wouldn't surprise me.
Both offer great optics for the money spent.... at some point, if you can't see what you need to, that bino just got real expensive.
Jerry
Thanks for the suggestions all..
@ mysticprecision; Understood Jerry, I know what you're saying. Sometimes there are great bang for buck optics like Leupold vx1 for instance, and I was looking for something comparable in a set of binos
Thanks for your input.
@ outcast ; I was looking at these and almost pulled the trigger on them, I wasnt sure about the small objective though. I haven't looked at too many bino specs but was looking for a little bigger objective.
@ mysticprecision; Understood Jerry, I know what you're saying. Sometimes there are great bang for buck optics like Leupold vx1 for instance, and I was looking for something comparable in a set of binos
Thanks for your input.
@ outcast ; I was looking at these and almost pulled the trigger on them, I wasnt sure about the small objective though. I haven't looked at too many bino specs but was looking for a little bigger objective.
Guys, Nikon Bino sale here: Prophet River Thread
Saw it and jumped on a pair of monarch 5 10x42's. Should be here next week.
Darn you! I wanted one of those sets but when they went through stock they were sold out. They called me back and offered me the monarch 7 10x42 instead so i got them. Either way incredible pricing on all these optics.
OP- PROPHET RIVER seems to still have a set of prostaff7 at just under your price limit.
I think I've seen these on amazon.ca
