Best Binocular?

[Muab Dib]

Well, the boy's car was broken into the other day and naturally he had a backpack in it with some hunting gear. Binocs were in it and need to be replaced. So...what would you recommend in the price range of $200-300 (give or take). Will be used primarily for hunting in the mountains. Right now I'm looking at the Nikon Monarch 5 in 8x or 10x and the Bushnell Legend. Leaning toward the Nikon. Thanks for any advice.

Muab


PS: Evidently the bad guys can now bypass those automatic car door locks we all have. Technology!

[ridgecommander]

In that range, Nikons are tough to beat, glass wise. I have the Monarchs 10X.

[Muab Dib]

Ridge, think 10x would be too much for the mountains? And can you give me any insight as to how they hold up under use and abuse?

Muab

[Deleted]

I have two Cabela's brand 8x32 and 10x42...I've had these for years now. I paid around $300 back then and both of these have handled rain, snow and ice w/out a problem.

Good optics do cost a bit...but "you get what you pay for". Sorry to hear about the theft.

[Muab Dib]

Well, the bad part about the theft wasn't the binoculars or the other stuff in his backpack but an older Browning sheath knife that I bought in the 80's and had given to the boy when he "came of age". Had notches on the ebony handle for each deer he had shot. The binocs can be replaced but that knife had a lot of good history behind it...

Muab

[ridgecommander]

Aug 5, 2014 13:10:37 GMT -5 Muab Dib said:

Ridge, think 10x would be too much for the mountains? And can you give me any insight as to how they hold up under use and abuse?

Muab

I use the 10X exclusively, even while archery hunting in the early season. Yes, for under 20 yards the magnification is a bit much but at 80 or 100 yards, the extra 2X is worth it, IMO.

I have had this pair for about 8 years. I hunt a lot in archery and Into late flintlock season is all weather. They go with me every trip and I have had no issues.

[jk]

To bad about your son's car, I hate thieves! Will your insurance cover that? I think it falls under homeowners.

Anyway, I have a pair of Vortex Diamondbacks that I am happy with.

[Deleted]

In that price range also be sure to consider Leupolds Acadia  offerings.

Hopefully your insurance will cover some of the loss. Of course no way to replace that treasured Browning knife.

[Deleted]

Own two pair of Alpen binocs. Very good binocs for the price.

[Deleted]

I have a pair of Zeiss binoculars that I think are pretty good.  When you are checking out binocs, try to find a sign or poster with fairly small print at a decent distance and see how sharp the image is.  Nikon are also pretty decent in your price range.  Six to eight power is certainly adequate for nearly everything you would want to use binocs for in PA.  

[fleroo]

I bought an $80 pair of Barska, and they are completely horrible. Did the in store look at various "things" with them and thought they weren't too bad. Got in the field, and completely fuzzy at longer distances, 100+ yards.

My friend bought a pair of, what I'd consider lowend Bushnell. Well under $100, but were on a very good sale price, so he got them chep, $50 or so. I brought mine out, and he his. It is incredible the difference. Those Bushnell's were every it as clear as a Zeiss, Swarovski, or any other top-end optics.

[acorn20]

I don't know if brand name binoculars are like household appliances or not. When my wife and I took up housekeeping, we checked Consumer Reports on the best gas ranges and refrigerators. Tappan and Westinghouse were the number one rated range and refrigerator. We didn't like the knob location on the range and a couple items, that now escape my memory, on the fridge. The number two rated range and refrigerator was Montgomery Ward; remember them? Guess who made the number two range and refrigerator...that's right...Tappan and Westinghouse! Everything was where we wanted them on these two models and they served us for over thirty years!

A friend of mine bought a couple of pair of binoculars for he and his wife. They were planning a trip around the Great Lakes and he decided he was going to spend what he had to spend to get nice binoculars. He had them all laid out in front of him in the store. Burris, Leupold, Nikon, Swarovski, Zeiss, as well as Cabela's brand. After looking at all the options, my friend said that Cabela's was far clearer than the other brands and honestly couldn't see paying thousands of dollars for glass that he didn't think was any better. He ended up buying a pair of 8 x something and 10 x something. The 10x's can be a little jumpy when hand held but both are crystal clear and have served him well. I imagine his purchase was at least 10 years ago and last week, when I used the 8x's at his cabin, they were still clear as a bell. I don't know if Cabelas make their own binos or if they outsource them to the lowest bidder.

[GlennD]

I've had a bunch over the years as i suspect many of us. My current favorites are Nikon Monarch 8X42. I have the camo model. Currently on sale at Cabelas for $249.
I also have Zeiss 10X42 Classics. One thing cool about them is the ability to clearly focus at short distance. Great for bird watching



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using proboards

[Muab Dib]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I looked at Leupolds, Bushnells and Nikons in my price range (Zeiss was out'a my price range Muttley) and pulled the trigger on a set of Nikon Monarch 5 8x42's. $249 no tax, no shipping. They should do him good I think. Better then the Swift that was stolen. Appreciate all your input.

Muab

[dennyf]

Like most of us old boys, have looked thru/had lots of binocs over the years. My deceased huntin' bud generally had more money to spend than I did, but back in the early 70s we both had Kmart 10x50s made in Japan.

Pretty good glass for the roughly $40 we spent back then. He had lost his by the early 80s, still have mine, but finally retired them. Too many summers wiping the objective lenses with a shirt tail while shooting 'chucks.

He replaced his with a pricy pair of B&L 10x50s. Replaced mine a few years ago with Nikon Action 10x50s, which run around $130 or so. Paid less than half that for my "demos". Great for 'chuck hunting or driving around glassing for deer, too heavy to tote much.

Those B&Ls my bud had were nice, but cost well over ten times what the Kmart ones did and were not ten times clearer.

He also had a pair of 10X Leupold compacts that I really liked and carried often years ago and had bought a pair of Zeiss 10x60s(?) a few years before he passed away. Not sure what model Zeiss, recollect they were about $1400? Forget if they were 10 or 12 power.

The binocs I carry the most while actually hunting, are Leupold Yosemites in 8x30. They run around $100, suit me fine. Also come in 6x30. Have had them for about 4 or 5 years now, don't need anything else.

[Deleted]

Hard to beat some of dat ole Jap glass.

[Dutch]

I have the Monarchs. Damn plastic eyepiece cup or whatever ya call it cracked. Hate plastic where it might take a ding.

10x42's and I was happy with them, but the 8's would be great as well.

[dougell]

I have a pair of Leupold wind river cascades that are very hard to beat in that price range.I glass constantly when I'm on stand and when I still hunt,I glass more than I move.I can honestly say that good glass has accounted for a pile of deer for me over the years.Last year I bought my son a pair of Leupold Yosemeties and they're by far the best glass in that price range.

[Deleted]

Nikon's are never a mistake. Binoculars or Riflescopes.

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2014 10:26:50 GMT -5 dougell said:

I have a pair of Leupold wind river cascades that are very hard to beat in that price range.I glass constantly when I'm on stand and when I still hunt,I glass more than I move.I can honestly say that good glass has accounted for a pile of deer for me over the years.Last year I bought my son a pair of Leupold Yosemeties and they're by far the best glass in that price range.

Amen on the Leupold Wind River Series. I have  the Wind River Mesa 10X50 bino's and they are fine glass.

[ridgecommander]

Leupolds are tough and are backed up by one of the best warranties and customer service departments in the industry. That comes at a cost, which is subpar glass compared to many other binos/scopes at the same price point.

Flame away!

[dougell]

I'm not going to flame anyone as I don't do quality control for an optics company.When I went to buy a pair,money wasn't a huge issue.I looked at everything side by side from the mid $200's to around $800.I kept coming back to the cascades so that's what I bought.Not long ago I was thinking about upgrading and went through the same.Believe it or not,the pair I liked the most was the Bushnell elites.I'm still kicking that one around.

[Deleted]

If the Bushnell Elite binos are comparable to their Elite scope line...they would be a very good choice. I have an Elite 3200 on my 6.5 Swede and love it. As of 3 years ago they were still using high quality Jap glass which were then made by Jap company Light Optical Works.  I know some of the cheaper lines are sourced out of the Phillypeans, China, Korea,  etc.  and are lacking in many regards IMO.

[dougell]

I have 4 bushnell elite scopes.I think they're a decent scope for the money and the rainguard is a nice feature.For your typical Pa deer rifle,they're certainly adequate.However,I feel there's a pretty noticeable difference in optical quality between them and a Leupold vx2 or vx3.I also have a couple Sightron scopes and I like them as well as the Leupolds.

The rainguard is nice and one of the main reasons I'm considering the elite binoculars.I'm naked without good glass and those misty foggy mornings drive me nuts when I'm trying to glass and they constantly fog up on the outside.

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2014 17:22:37 GMT -5 ridgecommander said:

Leupolds are tough and are backed up by one of the best warranties and customer service departments in the industry. That comes at a cost, which is subpar glass compared to many other binos/scopes at the same price point.

Flame away!

I've always felt Nikon's were clearer than Leupold's.