MIRAMICHIER
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Miramichi,Nb
Have a look at the Steiners.I have a pair Merlins 10x40 can not beat the optics,warranty and price.Good luck in your choice and purchase.
Recommendations for Binoculars for Hunting
- Thread starter Mik123
- Start date
Thanks for all the great comments everyone. This is definitely a bit more complicated then I thought. After doing some more reading I've broadened my picks to Zeiss Conquest HD ($750) , Leica Trinovid ($1000) and Meostar ($850). All of these are 8x42 display binos from the Cameraland site. I can't make up my mind between them. I don't mind paying the higher price for the leica bino's but so far from my research online I don't know if they're worth the extra 150-250 over the other two.
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I have some Vortex Viper 8x42s from Doug at Cameraland NY and they have been exceptional. I won't touch vortex scopes anymore, but continue to be impressed by their binocs. For the $425 or so I paid for them, they are pretty hard to beat.
I feel better banging them around in the field than I do with my Leica Geovids. Don't like rough handling those.
I feel better banging them around in the field than I do with my Leica Geovids. Don't like rough handling those.
I think we are in a golden age for quality affordable optics..... you don't always get more for your money that's for sure! It's also important to remember that everyone has different eyes so their will be some personal bias.
Is their a retailer near you where you can check some out in person?
Is their a retailer near you where you can check some out in person?
I have some Vortex Viper 8x42s from Doug at Cameraland NY and they have been exceptional. I won't touch vortex scopes anymore, but continue to be impressed by their binocs. For the $425 or so I paid for them, they are pretty hard to beat.
I feel better banging them around in the field than I do with my Leica Geovids. Don't like rough handling those.
It's amazing what you can get for under $500.00!
Used Vortex's are even cheaper and still covered by the VIP warranty.
The important thing to remember about binoculars used for hunting is that you will looking through them for long periods of time. Quality optics will allow you hours of use without eye strain.
If you don't have binoculars that have good optics and are properly aligned, they will "suck the eyes out of your head".
Don't buy cheap! You will regret it later.
B
If you don't have binoculars that have good optics and are properly aligned, they will "suck the eyes out of your head".
Don't buy cheap! You will regret it later.
B
Your price range puts you in a great spot in that there are a number of binos in that price range that have beautiful glass and optics. Can`t go wrong with many of them either. My personal choice is 10x30 Zeiss Conquests. They have amazing glass for the price range and are small enough that you will actually wear them even when still hunting. I have seen many binos in that price range that are nice, but they tend to be 10x40`s and end up under the seat of your pickup instead of around your neck.
I have a pair of Zen Ray ED3 from Cameraland 8x43 and they are excellent. I would wager you can see limited difference between them and a Vortex Razor. They were about $420 to my door in Edmonton.
http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened3/zened3-8x43.html
http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened3/zened3-8x43.html
My advice would be to look for a pair of Fujinon M22 (milspec 7x50). They are used by the US (and Canadian) military. Given that the military can buy anything they want - why do the buy 7x50? and from Fuji? Because they are superb. I picked up a pair for $300 - brand new. You can buy them on ebay. The real milspec ones have a laser filter (to stop rangefinders blinding soldiers) and a reticule for distance estimation and sometimes push on antiflash fittings (so you can look sniperish if you wish). I took those out as they both interfere with the image quality. I had Baker Marine in San Diego do that for $60. They are waterproof, rugged, optically superb and great in low light
I have both the 6x30 and 7x50
I have both the 6x30 and 7x50
Attachments
Just a suggestion!!!! Check out the Bushnell Fusion's. I think they are call Bushnell One mile now....binos plus 1800 yard range finder with bullet drop compensation. They are around the 1 grand mark and I would NOT go hunting without them after using them for the last 3 or 4 years.
Honestly, to my eyes I couldn't see a difference when comparing them to the Leica geovids outside of the sports store in Calgary when I bought them. They both ranged to the same distances and the clarity was on par with eachother.
Honestly, to my eyes I couldn't see a difference when comparing them to the Leica geovids outside of the sports store in Calgary when I bought them. They both ranged to the same distances and the clarity was on par with eachother.
These are outstanding binoculars and "may be" only exceeded by the Fujinon FMTR-SX line of porroprism. I say "may be" because these as shown by Zipp0 could be the same. In any event if weight/size is not an issue -- the 7x,50 are a top pick ... my TOP pick would be the 6x,30 Zipp0 mentions above with their great field of view and lighter weight. BTW where did you find your 6x,30? I have the Swarovski Habicht 6x,30 and really treasure them along with a few pairs of ELCAN 7x,50 (civvy and military)
EDIT to ADD : OP said "hunting and occasional trip to range" etc ... I think the bins shown are fine for hunting and ok for seeing markers on targets at 1000 yds .. but they generally arent a good choice for belly shooting at a range or watching mirage or even picking up holes at 100 yds - which some spotting scopes can do. At a bench at 100/200 yd range they are ok I guess but be careful that you dont push them off the bench onto a concrete pad - not ideal for the optics.
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WeatherdoG
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Trenton, ON
Interesting advice... I control the Binoculars on the ships I'm posted to and the Steiner binos we bought locally were preferred to the issued ones by a large number of the lookouts and officers of the watch. I can't recall the model but they were in the 8x50 range and cost somewhere in the vicinity of $500 a pair.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Because it's much cheaper than buying Swarovski EL's. Don't think for a minute that they buy the best out there.
Very likely because the Steiner were a lot lighter - they are typically built using plastic housings - Fujinon will be constructed with magnesium housings and the rubber armouring is not light.. just don't drop them and don't expect the same optical performance from Steiner. But for most guys who operate with greasy thumbprints on the objective and ocular lens - it probably doesnt matter
Some Naval use of 8x,56 or 8x, 50 is not unusual ... most folks who use bins continously will like a 7x,50 as it provides a better fov and motion has less ("apparent") effect than an 8x.Either way .. hanging a heavy binocular around your neck for several hours at a time is no fun - another reason I like the smaller 6x, 30
If you are military of course optics are serialized and accountable ... maybe they like them because there wont be a summary investigation if they go missing?
I think you would be shocked at the cost to the Canadian military of the 7x,50 Elcan binoculars that were in use for a number of years. The Swarovski EL's would have been a terrific deal!!! Unfortunately they wouldnt have performed as well as needed given the treatment military binoculars sustain
Generally speaking military will treat themselves rather well when it comes to optics (for good reason) they work when needed.
I have an Leitz Apo Telyt that got developed and finally offered for civy sales - courtesy of the US Navy; when it was first put on the civilian market - the price they sold at was considered "ample"
(edit to add - if you ever come across a binocular issued to Kriegsmarine WWll with the letters "beh" ... which is not rare by any means ... examine them -- they are often still very serviceable - they were built by Ernst Leitz Wetzlar; fwiw "cag" was Swarovski; The Swiss army used to use Kern bin's .. pretty nice optics .. but these guys were associated with Wild Heerbrugg which became Wild Leitz -- certainly not inexpensive etc etc etc -- as mentioned the military have always treated themselves well when it come to optics. As for the Fujinon .. it is less expensive (so the optics companies regularly point out) to build an exceptional Porroprism binocular than it is to build an exceptional Roof Prism binocular. That is why the Fujinon are such an excellent value when it comes to a great image!)
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I lucked out on a pair of Bushnell Excursions.
I believe just over a hundred bucks.
End of the aisle, last pair and a bonus coupon in me pawket..............
Great pair of binos and the price was right.
I said to meself, "dew it".
No regrets on this purchase.
I believe just over a hundred bucks.
End of the aisle, last pair and a bonus coupon in me pawket..............
Great pair of binos and the price was right.
I said to meself, "dew it".
No regrets on this purchase.
