Whats the absolute best binocular for around $250????

darcy32171

darcy32171

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I coyote hunt lots and want the very best binocular for around $250. Has anyone here tried the Bushnell Legend series??? For poops and giggles I looked through a $2800 binocular on Monday....WOW almost get sick looking through them....Motion sickness, but very very clear.
I bought a real cheap Canadian Junk set of Tascos 10x50 and the zoom adjustment isn`t even. One eye relief doesn`t move the same so one eye is blurry (need to manually move it with fingers. I literally get sick and a headache if I look through them too much. I need a new set. Please Help!!!!!!! I want to be able to see from 150-500 yards plus easily. Thanks,Darcy
 
Vortex diamond-back will have you up and running.

I usually say "pay 500-800 for binoculars" but if you've got $250 thats still miles better than $80 tascos.

Look at the Nikon Monarchs, the Bushnell legends, and the Vortex Diamondbacks, but if it were my money I'd buy the diamondbacks every time.
 
TV-PressPass said:
Vortex diamond-back will have you up and running.

I usually say "pay 500-800 for binoculars" but if you've got $250 thats still miles better than $80 tascos.

Look at the Nikon Monarchs, the Bushnell legends, and the Vortex Diamondbacks, but if it were my money I'd buy the diamondbacks every time.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I`ll price them out if I can even get them in SE Sask
 
Ok OK, don`t spank me for saying the next two words: Wholesale Sports shows the Vortex Diamond back in the 12x50 for $289.95
Unsure what all the features are, but this is what it showed:


12x50 Features: FOV 241 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 18.0 / Weight: 31 oz
10x50 Features: FOV 283 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 19.0 / Weight: 31 oz
8.5x50 Features: FOV 283 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 21.5 / Weight: 31.0 oz
10x42 Features: FOV 345 @ 100 yds / Eye Relief: 16 / Weight: 24.4 oz
8x42 Features: FOV 400 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 18.0 / Weight: 25.2oz
9x36 Features: FOV 368 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 15.7 / Weight: 22.6oz
7x36 Features: FOV 418 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 20.9 / Weight: 23.4oz
8x28 Features: FOV 360 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 19.3 / Weight: 14.0 oz
10x28 Features: FOV 360 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 16.0/ Weight: 14.0 oz
10x32 Features: FOV 362 @ 1000 yds / Eye Relief: 16.5/ Weight: 24.7 oz


You would think the 7 x 36 would be better with the FOV at 418 and 23.4oz. Way better field of view and weighs less than the 12x50. Maybe I`m screwed up???? I just want to be able to see a long ways out lmao Is that a good price?????
 
Darcy, I would stay around 8 power, 10 at the highest. Remember, you are glassing them with the bino, not grassing them. :)

Mine are the 8x42, and are not only enough power, but crisp enough to pick up small game and birds quite easily, and do so waaaay out there. You will have no complaints with them on coyotes.

Ted
 
If you don't have above average ability to hold them steady, or you are going to be using them with a solid rest more often than not, you may find magnification above 7x or 8x is counterproductive because it magnifies the shaking of your hands.

Also, for any given quality of glass and coatings, a bigger exit pupil gives a brighter image. But the maximum pupil opening of the human eye is typically 7mm as a young adult, shrinking to typically 5mm by your forties. If the exit pupil of your optic is bigger than that, the extra light is wasted.

The exit pupil is discovered by dividing the objective lens size by the magnification, e.g. a 7x50mm bino would have a 7mm exit pupil and to get that exit pupil at 8x magnification you need a 56mm objective lens. So more magnification requires either a bigger objective lens (the bulk may become inconvenient) or reduces the exit pupil and it doesn't work as well in low light. For older users, a 7x35 or 8x40 will get the 5mm exit pupil that may be the most brightness they can use, in a more compact package.

The other factor is the field of view. More magnification at the same objective lens size will reduce the field of view. If you are scanning for game, giving up too much field of view will be a disadvantage. (A bigger objective lens may be desirable for this reason even if it is giving a bigger exit pupil than you need.)

At any given lens size and magnification, quality of glass and lens coatings can make a difference to brightness and clarity of image. Really good stuff can even overcome some of the advantage of the larger exit pupil in a lower quality binocular. But at the low budget end, to get the most for your money you need to keep it simple and don't go for the really high magnification. And look in the EE for sellers with a good reputation, you might get a better used bino than $250 will get new.

Site sponsor CameraLand NY has very competitive prices and will ship binos to Canada. They have a good reputation amongst CanadianGunnutz. Do at least look at their site for a start in comparison shopping.
 
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Good points by the Tooner, those compact bino's that are so great to carry all day sure aren't your friend early or late in the day. When there isn't a lot of light, like early or late in the day you want a larger objective.
 
TV-PressPass said:
Vortex diamond-back will have you up and running.

I usually say "pay 500-800 for binoculars" but if you've got $250 thats still miles better than $80 tascos.

Look at the Nikon Monarchs, the Bushnell legends, and the Vortex Diamondbacks, but if it were my money I'd buy the diamondbacks every time.
Click to expand...

+1 for Vortex. Very well made & tough. Not the lightest but great buy for the money IMO
 
If you can find them, the only half decent Tasco optics worth owning was the Japanese made EXP series. And IIRC they did make an 8x42 binocular which is pretty comparable to the similar model of Monarch binos IMHO. These Monarchs, also in 8x42 are pretty darn good too.
 
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i would take a look at the Nikon from london drugs ..i was amazed at a pair of these the were on a sale and my kid picked them up for the money wow ..i sometimes wonder why i have the 10x50 swarovski
 
Find some Swift 7x50's. Swift used to supply the US border Patrol. I have a couple of pairs of surplus Swift Border Patrol 7x50's and they are great. You also could look for surplus US Military Steiner Bino's. I have a few pairs of them, but a lot more money. Steiner doesn't have them for sale to the public very often.
 
Was in Wholesale Sports today since I was in the city anyhow. I checked out the Vortex diamond Back in the 8x42 and the 10x42. The 10x42`s seemed abit nicer, but maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. Either way, they WILL be the ones I get!!!! Just trying to find a way of cashing out a couple hundred dollar Canadian Tire Gift Cards. I don`t need them at the moment and need the binos first.
 
I'm quite happy with the two pair of Nikon binoculars I have:
8x42 Monarch ~$250
7x50 Action Extreme ~$175

I bought the both from B&H Photo a few years back. They won't ship Nikon stuff from the US to Canada anymore, so you'll have to look around. The prices on this side of the border are a lot more: Henry's sells the 8x42 for $370. Ouch! Maybe eBay?

Anyway, both units are excellent. The Monarchs are better (more compact, nicer edge-to-edge clarity), but the ATBs are nice too.

For $250 you can get yourself something really nice and avoid the scourge of the $80 knock off.
 
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