need some recommendations for binoculars under $500

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FakeChinese

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hi everyone,

i’m new to hunting, started last year. Looking at getting binoculars for hunting $500 budget
cabelas has the vortex diamondback hd for $320 right now but anyone got any other recommendations?
I do like vortex warranty
 
Minox makes some great binoculars in your budget range, that would perform very well for you. (Have bought these for my wife and daughter)
Some of the Bushnell binoculars can be had with Bak4 prisms in your budget range as well and would work well for you. (Actually bought my mother a pair of the 10x42 Engage this past Christmas)
The Nikon Monarch 5 get great reviews as well.
Leupold is another great option, and their Canadian warranty centre is in Okotoks. Lifetime warranty regardless of owner. So do not be afraid to look at used, as you may be able to get better glass than for new price.
 
Buy the best you can afford.
I hunted for over ten years, using cheapo tasco compacts. I thought they were good enough. One day I was in a truck with three buddies. We saw a herd of deer. They all commented on how the bucks rack was not very big. I could NOT even see it had a rack.....
They had swarovski and leupold binocs.....
How many other times had I put in the effort, and likely didn't see antlers that were there?
After that I upgraded. I now have two good pairs. My German Minox are very good and about half the price of my Zeiss conquests.
 
Diamondback are good for the price. I use a pair of 8x32 that I carry everywhere in my car. I don't mistake them for my Swaro but they still get the job done.
 
I have an inexpensive pair of Bushnell ENGAGE EDX 10X42 BINOCULARS. I find them very good for the areas I hunt and they have great low light clarity.

Tenda has them for $499 and their warranty is as good as Vortex.
 
10X42 Leupold BX2 Alpine would be a great choice
I have the BX2 they are clear great for glassing ,
About 10X42 is the highest power for general use , higher power and they are hard to hold still
Strain the eyes more
The leupold warranty is great no hassle Korth Group in alberta handles the warranty
I had a pair break in the center , still don’t know how that happened , but I sent them in and requested a price to repair,
As I wanted how much it would be , they sent me back a new set BX2 binoculars no charge
 
I checked vortex and leupold and ended up with athlon midas . Store only had crossfire, hd2 and vipers and out of 3 vipers had least amount of chromatic aberrations but at different price point. I bet something like hd4 would have been nice as well. I ended up with athlon midas g2 though in 8 since larger fow. Multicoated ed glass and dielectric prism is a step up from same price range of big name brands as well. Mystic Precision and wolverine supplies can hook you up, give them a call to check what they would recommend. I believe midas could be same as that Bushnell from few posts up ( specs are identical but not sure if Bushnell is purged ) or made by same subcontractor but havn't seen one irl to compare. There are few things that could be better about midas like tighter internal glare control (it could be light bleed from eyepiece though) and less distortion, but it would increase price tag. See what you can find at your local Cabela's as well and compare side by side. None of the options at this price range are bad, some are just marginally different if you know what to look for.
 
FakeChinese said:
hi everyone,

i’m new to hunting, started last year. Looking at getting binoculars for hunting $500 budget
cabelas has the vortex diamondback hd for $320 right now but anyone got any other recommendations?
I do like vortex warranty
Click to expand...

In your budget used birder binoculars are probably going to be your best bet. In edmonton there is a birding store on 99 st, south of 51st ave, north of the brewery, on the west side in a strip mall. You can see and try out some good glass there. Good luck. - dan
 
I have a pair of Minox 10x42 that I have had for a number of years now.
They do well in the early first light and at last light from clear cut to edge of timber.
I thought I lost them, but found them in a tote I had forgotten about, something to be said about labeling totes...
I have forgotten how much I paid, but under $500.00 for sure.
Keep us posted on your choice ..for educational purposes for the next new guy ;)
Rob
 
so, i went to cabelas, tried on almost every binoculars in store and outside the store on a cloudy day and i went back on a sunny day. all the vortex (crossfire, diamondback, viper and razor in that order), leupold bx4, steiner predator, some bushnell, and nikon monarch 5. i did not try swarovski or leica because it is to expensive….cabelas mostly had 10x42 and some 8x42. the 8x42 fit my eyes the better because i wear glasses. but the one binoculars that caught my eye was the cabelas intensity 8x42. it has hd glass ,solid build and it’s as clear as any of the $700 binos….best of all it’s on clearance for $220 i don’t think any binos can compete in this price range….it was so good i even bought the 10x50 because it’s on clearance too for $260. the 8x42 will definitely be used for all purposes and small game and the 10x50 will be used for big game in the more open country. i’m impressed with both of these binoculars. they’re both very clear day and night. no distortion. true colours. focusing ring is easy to adjust. just a beautiful bino. i’ve showed it to many of my friends and they’re all impressed with it too. best of all there’s lifetime warranty for defects and workmanship too! as long as i keep the receipt, really happy with my purchase
 
FakeChinese.
I'm sure you'll enjoy your nikon monarch 5. They're nice binocular.

- What's your intended use? As in, hunting sheeps on mountain side... or chasing deers in the wood...

Personally, never used binocular for small games. I'm at that point in my life where smaller is better.
- Minox 8x32 are getting the most use... and I've been toying with the idea of having a pair of Kowa BD 6.5x32, for that extra large FOW
 
i actually got the cabela's intensity 10x50 for big game. Mountain/countryside/farm is mainly where ill use it. I'm waiting for the intensity 8x42 to go on sale too then ill get that for the deer and small game in the woods for that bigger fow or ill probably look into the swarovski 7x42 if i can find a good price on those too and they'll be my all purpose binoculars. I rarely see any binoculars lower than 8x
 
I bought Diamondback HDs as beaters about 3 years ago when the kids wanted to start camping a lot more and promptly lost my Swarovskis. Mad as f@ck about that. So I've been using the D-backs for scouting and glassing. They are quite good. Not blow your mind incredible, but solid overall. That said, sub-$500 opens the door to a lot of nice options. In this price range I'll stick with unconditional lifetime warranties for my own peace of mind.
 
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