Contributors to this thread:
Ok with my up and coming Archery Mule deer hunt in Co. I figure I should probably upgrade my binos, cant really afford top end stuff, just a working guy here, say $500 tops, would appreciate any and all comments good or bad.
Mattfish7
Vortex makes some great Binos for the price.
Start watching the auctions on ebay for Swarovski binos.
There are great deals available you just have to know what you want and what they are worth. The warranty is transferable, good for life and 2nd to none. Hell I've purchased binoculars on ebay used them for a year sent them in to Swarovski for a tune up and they have replaced them with a brand new model. When it comes to glass don't skimp buy the best the first time and you will have them for life.
ya I have a pair of Nikon monarchs, there ok, but at distance they struggle.
Mattfish7
What Ermine said. My son bought a pair of the 10x42 Vipers last year, and I was amazed at the clarity and how well they did in low-light. In fact, I've got a pair on order as we speak. Obviously, top of the line optics like Swaro's are as good as they get, but I'm like Scoot. There's no way I can justify spending what they're asking!
Thanks 8x42 or 10x42 ?? doing a Mule deer high country hunt,only $10 difference.
Mattfish7
Strictly personal preference. I prefer the 10x42's, and that's what I'd recommend especially for open country/longer distance glassing.
10x42 are my favorite for all around use.
Take a look at Leupold BX4 Mckinleys. I have a pair in 10x42 and I have zero complaints. Last fall, in Montana, one of the guys in camp borrowed my glass to get a look at a mountain goat even though he had a much more expensive set with a foreign sounding name hanging around his neck.
pav's Link
The guys at CameralandNY put me on to these...and I've never regretted the choice.
I was leaning towards Vortex Vipers (comparable price). They sell Vortex...and compared this glass to the Vortex Razor HD...which at the time was about $300 more.
Any body else have any experience with
Promaster Infinity Elite ELX 10x42 ED which is referred to above? ?
Mattfish7
What about Leupold BX4 Mojaves??
For open country there is no question: 10 power.
Do you know any guides? Anywhere... as long as they have a license. If so tell them to sign onto the Leupold outfitter/guide program and hook you up. Half off.
IMO, 8x binos are forest/park-country binos and 10x are open country binos.
If you're sitting in a tree stand, you will not want to be carrying your 10s so keep that in mind for future hunts/use as they'll probably stay home. For me, 10s are just too big unless I really need them.
But if you're looking 1.5-2 miles across a huge drainage looking for animals and looking through 8s, you'll wish you had 10s.
I spent a lot of time looking through Monarch 8s at that distance before I bought Vortex 10s and the difference in upgrade was huge. It didn't take long to realize that the price tag on the Swaros is worth it and I'll be buying Swaro EL 10s as soon as I can do it without my wife noticing $2500 missing as she seems to have this idea that big hunting purchases automatically clear her for an equal purchase on worthless chit.
"What about Leupold BX4 Mojaves??"
The Mojaves are BX3. Decent glass for the money but not on par with the BX4s IMHO.
Cannot go wrong with vortex. 10x42
Viper, razor or even the DB series are all solid and lifetime warranty
Vortex vip warranty is hard to beat also
I might add a suggestion! Why not go for another top pair. Suck it up and buy it. Use it for a season then turn around and sell them and call the difference a rental cost? Just a thought! I have thought about this for a spotting scope when I draw a top tag. Buy a 1000 spotter then after season sell it for 10% off...
Just a thought! I do know people who buy things like GPS and map chips and turn around and sell each for a small discount and they do pretty well!
I like coelker suggestion. I "rented" a Swaro HD spotter for 9 months for about $250 one year.
Still regret selling it. Stupid
Couple suggestions for you.
"these are pretty much the same as the Razor HD at 1/2 the price" Excellent value http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/zenray.pl?page=zenray-primehd10x42
"hard to beat for $330" http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/zenray.pl?page=zenray-zened31043
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentax-DCF-ED-8x43-Binoculars-New-In-Box-/311328960563?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487ca6f033
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentax-DCF-SP-10x43-Binoculars-With-Case-for-Birding-Hunting-Astronomy-NEW-/271813610196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f495a8ad4
I have owned 12's & 10 Vortex's and 8's in Minox. All I own now are 8x43 Minox and have never regretted it. If you can see it with a 10 you can see it with an 8 providing you are looking thru decent glass to start with. If you can't make out what your looking at with either you're going to need spotting scope.
Well full confused now, lol, was leaning towards vipers, but now not sure,
I think that for hunting in the Rocky Mountain West, 10x42 is usually going to be a better choice than the 8 power. Personally I upgraded to the Vortex Razor 10x42 last year and have been very satisfied with them.
What about these Zeiss 10x42 Terra ED Binocular, any body own a pair, on ebay for 389 new.
I have no problem using 10s from a treestand for deer. If I can't see something with the naked eye I can look through the holes and REALLY see what I need to. A single tine, a longbeard etc. I have 10s and 8s and the 8 have a pretty good layer of dust on them I can tell you.
You won't go wrong with the vortex 10x42. They even have a lifetime no fault warranty. Can't beat that!
Ok thank for all the info and comments, just ordered the Vortex Vipers 10 x 42 HD. $499
Mattfish7
You should have gave those Zenray Prime HD a try, you could have had allot more optic for the same price. Heck they will let you try them for 30 days and you can send them back.
And I'm not blowing smoke, I have Swaro ELs and Zeiss FL T. Vortex charges allot because of thier warranty. Them and Zenray are probably built at the same place.
Here was a Prime HD review by western hunters.
http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-05-09-42/optics/232-zen-ray-prime-hd-10x42-binoculars
another
http://www.firearmreviews.net/zen-ray-prime-hd-8x42-binoculars/
Actually 8.5 x 42 is perfect.... =D
I've never felt I missed anything with 8s I would have found with 10s. 10s have an edge for judging trophy quality at the outer limits. Much of that open country you will lose any advantage when it heats up anyway.
10s are good when sitting and glassing with no wind. For me, not only glassing but using them on a stalk, etc. 8s are much more versatile, I can use them one handed easily and still be steady enough. And they aren't nearly as bad in the wind.
There is a point of less return WRT power and versatility, a place you have to draw the line. For many that is 10x and 12x. For me it's 8x and 10x.
Very long range open stuff nothing beats a spotter and tripod anyway. That will be my next upgrade.
vortex diamondback 10x42 can not beat them for price
Actually a lot of great ideas and products listed...All I can say is what I was told long ago! 'By the best you can the first time!'
Went home, sold a bunch of things I didn't need and boom...Swaro's, never looked back!
im with ike. good glass is something you buy once. you can buy four or five pairs at 3-500$ a crack to upgrade or you could buy top end and be happy & done forever. goodluck
You know you always here that, buy the best stuff. But there is something to be said about today's $500 glass. Its pretty much on par with euro glass of not long ago. And now that I have alpha glass I still probably get more worry free use out of my less expensive glass. I carry them everywhere because I'm not worried about getting them stolen or damaged in the truck or atv. And You never worry about them when your crawling/stalking in on something. I just find myself "babying" my expensive glass I guess. I always tell folks out west here to spend your main money on the best spotter you can afford. You take exceptional care of them it seems no matter what. And then buy the best you can with what you have left as far as binos I guess. Like I said those $500 Zen ray prime HD binos are every bit as good as the Razor HD vortex that cost $1200. And when I put them up against my ELs and FL T there is a difference but it sure isnt $2000 more of a difference. To tell you the truth I bought my Zeiss 8x42 FL T brand new for less than what they want for the Razors. Just found a great deal at the right time. Allot like my first 7x42 swaros slc, found them on ebay and stole them for $460 like new! For all around glassing I prefer 7x binos, wide field of view and you never have to focus them and they are always bright. Each to their own thou I guess!
10 x 42's. Best all around glass from tree stand to sage brush. Use the spotting scope after you find a critter NOT to find a critter!
Rich man poor man living on a budget. My suggestion to you is buy Swarovski, Zeiss, or Leica. That way you'll never need to buy another set of binos ever again. 10x42 great for open country. 10x56 even better!! Check deals on eBay
I have a set of Zeiss 10x40 and a set of Leica 10x25. I pack the 10x25 when I hunt. The 10x40 only stay in the rig. A buddy of mine gave me the Zeiss and I got my Leicas on Ebay for $200 used. It mite take you a while to win a set but when you can pick up top end stuff on Ebay its worth the wait.
+1 for 10 power.
Have a pair of 8's from when I bowhunted whitetails and now that I live out west they are just not enough. Constantly wishing for 10X.
I have been looking myself at some reasonably priced binos for awhile too. I have a Swift brand scope and for the money it rivals my Leuopold, actually prefer it over the Leuopold. The reviews for Swift optics are pretty strong from what I can find online. Might be worth a look.
Good luck with your decision!
Ok changed my mind and order from Vortex Vipers, now going with the Zen Ray Primos HD 10 x 42, hope I don't regret it, not a big fan of China made. Mattfish7
Matt vortex is china glass as well. Try those Zenrays they have a 30 day money back garrantee you can't beat that. Compare them to a bunch of others, if you don't like them send them back. There is a reason the birdwatchers like them so much. For the money you want to spend I think you will be very happy...for a couple years anyways lol! Thats the way it is in the optics world! Buy the Cameraland Demos, all mine have been new.
That's where I bought them. $499,
Mattfish7
Cabelas HD..made by Meopta....
Cameraland is a great company to deal with!
I have the Zen Prime HD. Great glass, the ocular lens take some getting use to. Zen's customer service has really slipped the past couple years. I bent an ocular lens in November and still don't have the part yet.....even after its been paid for 6 months now. Now they don't even respond to my emails. Ergonomically the ED3 are better and the glass is not far behind the Prime HD's but if you don't mind the oculars on the Prime it is great glass for the money.
FWIW the very few small issues I ever had with Meopta and Swarovski have been taken care of instantly and with no charges ever.....even if it was my completely my fault. Just can't say enough good things about eithers customer service.
Cabelas HD..made by Meopta....
Elktrax those Cabelas are great glass, where did you find them for $500 thou?
Cameralandy.com, Demo's, discounted
Mattfish7
Ha ha no matt I was asking elktrax about those Cabelas HD for $500. Most of the time they are over twice that.
Lots of good opinions, but proof of the pudding is an optical acuity test. Some of the hunting mags actually do that.
When I was looking for a mid-range set of binos (before I sucked it up and bought my forever swaros), I went into a Cabelas megastore, pinned the acuity sheet on the far wall, then camped out at the optics counter for 2 hours. The salesguy was cool because I assured him I was leaving with a purchased pair. For $500, you should be able to get edge-to-edge clarity, a quick giveaway of cheapo models. Ended up with Cabelas Alaskan's - they proved to have the best glass in my price range.
If you do deep research you'll find that it isn't just make/model, it's a particular pair, since you have two independent lenses, and they aren't always assembled the same. It came down to three pairs of the same make/model, and the best one was the floor model.
This points out a huge benefit of Cabelas - great selection and a big store for test driving.
The one thing I didn't test was low light. The mag comparisons help with that, maybe try to use their bow range with the lights off.
Western muley hunting, imo no question 10x.