Opinions Wanted Bushnell Legend Binoculars

[X-man]

A neighbour's kid is interested in a new pair of binos to go hunting with his Dad this fall. He's saved it from his part-time jobs, birthday money, etc... He's looking to spend around $250-$300.

He's a great fan of Bushnell's Rainguard coating. He is a strapping 15, going on 16. While he really liked my Leupold Gold Ring binos, they're out of his price range. He looked at some of the lower priced Leupolds, but wasn't too enthused about their esthetics, or the fact that they were made in China.

I'm not sure if the Legend line is made in Japan or China???

He really likes the looks of the roof prisim Legend's and is debating between the 10X42 and 12X50. I recommended either the 8X42 or 10X42, but he wants larger magnification because he really liked the pair a friend let him try last fall.

Anyone familiar with these models? How much flare, blooming, etc... can you expect? The only Bushnell product I'm familiar with these days is their Elite 4200 scope line, and that was before I sold the last one and converted over to all Leupold/Nightforce.

Any input on these binos would be appreciated, as would any suggestions for alternates in the same price range. If I can convince him, I'm going to try and get him to at least reconsider on the 8X42 binos. They're a better general hunting magnification than either the 10X or 12X. From the looks on-line, the 12X model are huge. Thanks in advance!

 

[ajax]

they are good binos!!

 

[kamlooky]

I had a pair of 8x42 and wanted the 10's instead.
Sold the 8's and bought the 10's.
On an even keel, 8's are lots, but us with poopie eyes
need the larger magnification.
I listen to me now.
Yes, the larger you go the more jittery they get but
sometimes there is a word that seems to fit......compromise.
My couple of pennies worth.

 

[Ron AKA]

I would recommend the Bushnell Legend Porro Prism 8x42 or 10x50. Yes, they are made in China, but do use fully multi coated glass and BaK-4 prisms. They have screw up eye cups and work well with glasses or without. Wholesale Sports carry them.

Bushnell Legend Porro Series

It is unfortunate that porro prism binos are becoming harder and harder to find. They have some very significant advantages, than most people do not know about. First the objective lens is very widely spaced compared to a roof prism model. This gives you a much better 3D image, which allows you to see detail and judge distance -- very important in hunting. It lets you verify what you are seeing, and then find it with your naked eye or a rifle scope, after you find it with the binos. I first saw this when comparing the image from some Leupold Cascade Porros to a reverse dogleg compact porro (objective lens dog legs in, instead of out). The difference was startling, and I first thought it was Leupold lens quality. After comparing some other models, it turned out to be lens quality in part, but mainly just objective spacing. That is the process that led me to buy the Bushnell Legends.

The problem with roof prisms besides the narrow spacing of the objective lens is that they are much more expensive to make while delivering the same quality of image. You probably have to spend double or more on a roof prism to get the same quality as a porro at half the price. And when you compare the weight and size, they are not as light and small as their shape would suggest. But unfortunately the consumer thinking is that more expensive is better so they are flocking to the roof prisms, and the manufacturers are loving it. More expensive, more profit.

The two obvious choices are the 8x42 or the 10x50. I have the 10x50, and they are good if you can hold them steady. On a cruise we made they were next to useless. Too much boat vibration to hold then still enough. 8x42 would be much better for that. So be sure the one he chooses he tries to see if he can hold it still enough for what he intends to do.

Hope that helps. Here is a good write up on binos for him to read.

Binocular Design