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Author
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Topic: Binocular upgrade
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adkguide
Knows what it's all about
Member # 143
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posted February 25, 2004 05:12 PM
I'm currently using a pair of Leupold Golden Ring 10x28 compacts. It's all I really needed hunting the 'Dacks, but as my hunting horizons expand I'm looking to get a more versatile glass. I would like them to be lighweight with a good field of view, and fast focusing. I was thinking of something like an 8x32 or something. Opinions, suggestions, etc?? I'd like to keep it under $500 but want good glass. Let's hear it.
Posts: 11 | From: The 'Dacks | Registered: Feb 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 25, 2004 07:00 PM
Five hundred should buy something worthwhile, but I'm not up on what's available? Nor am I well qualified to offer optical advice. But, I know what I like.
Field of view is pretty standard; spec. for spec. I think any 7X50 binocular has close to the same field of view as the next, regardless of make?
Light weight indicates some trade offs in performance. You can achieve the light weight by the smaller diameter objective lenses, but maybe the light transmission will suffer?
To get a cost savings, you can get the poro prisims a little cheaper, usually.
Perhaps a pair of 7X30s would meet all your objectives? I mainly use 7X50 from the vehicle and 9X35 for carry and for all around glassing. Any more "compact" than that might affect your performance?
Brands? Pick one you like. The B&L Elite gets good reviews. For $700, the Zeiss 10X40 from Cabelas is one I wouldn't mind owning.
Let's see what others are using.....hello out there?
Good luck, LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted February 25, 2004 07:09 PM
Swarovski 10X42's here. It would be pretty hard to get me to change unless it was to Leica. Those two are the best in my opinion. But it's hard to get them for $500. I'm not impressed with Zeiss as far as clarity, but they are durable. I look at binoculars as a long term investment. Once you finally break down and get a good pair, they will last for years.
[ February 25, 2004, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: Cal Taylor ]
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted February 25, 2004 09:13 PM
Adkguide,
I went through Tasco,Bushnell,and Pentax, before finally coughing up the cash and buying Swarovski 8x30's. My binos are by far the most used piece of hunting equipment I own and have been well worth the cost. The 8X30's have worked well for me. Everything from hunting the heavy timber to wide open stuff. If I were to be hunting mostly wide open terrain I would probably lean towards the 10X.
I have to agree with Cal on the Leica's after getting the chance to use some 8x32 Leica's last spring I would be damn tempted to buy them if I had to do it all over again. Excellent piece of glass but a little heavier and a little more money.
I know its going to be tough finding any of the high dollar optics in the $500 range. If you are going to spend that much you might as well spend a little more and be done. You won't regret it. Good luck in your search Adkguide.
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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adkguide
Knows what it's all about
Member # 143
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posted February 26, 2004 05:18 AM
Yeah, that's kinda what I figured. Swarovski 8x30 might bet the ticket. Lets hear some other opinions too
Posts: 11 | From: The 'Dacks | Registered: Feb 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted February 26, 2004 06:05 AM
Agree with Cal and Lonny. Once you get to the $500 range, it's not that much more for the truly world class glass. And once you've bitten the bullet and bought the great glass, you won't regret it. I use a Swarovski 8.5x42, absolutely love it. For a more compact glass, that 8x32 Leica everyone is talking about would be my choice. Nothing wrong with the smaller Swaro SLC's though!
If $500 is really "it", and I can sure understand that, then I'd look at Pentax or Brunton. They both seem to be offering a lot of value in that range.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted February 26, 2004 08:06 AM
I've been using Swarovski 8X30 SLC's for the past couple of years. Very few complaints from me as far as quality or clarity of the optics. My biggest complaint with them is the amount of focusing required in the 300-800 yard range. Gets to be a pain in the ass when on stand.
Personally I'm thinking about downgrading to the Steiner Military-Marine 8X30's. I had a pair of the discontinued 7X30's that lasted for 8-10 yrs before they finally fogged up. Zero focus comes in real handy when calling and deer hunting timber from tree stands.
Dennis
Posts: 719 | From: IA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 26, 2004 08:41 AM
It's as sure as night follows day that any discussion of optics will keep bumping up to the most expensive available, we all do it.
I wonder if we could list binoculars in one hundred dollar increments? Such as: best available at $100, best at $200, best $300 pair, and so on? It always seems to hinge on specs?
Best eight power, best 10X, etc.
Best 30mm, best 42mm, etc.
Best universal application?
Best hunting glass for $499?
Dennis, that focusing irritation you talk about may be because of the roof prisim design where the lenses are closer together than in a poro?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted February 26, 2004 03:43 PM
The best pair of "low budget" binos I had were Nikons. I don't remember the model, but the were 10X40's and optical quality was great for the money, but the durability sucked. They went out of columnation (sp?) twice from good jolts. But, heck, I withstood them. So my binoculars should have too. Actually one wreck was on a dirt bike that I used to use to run fence snares and it was substantial.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted February 26, 2004 05:01 PM
Adkguide, If your wanting to stay a little closer to your price range you might check out the Kahles line. They are around the $500-700 range. A co-worker bought a pair recently and they seemed very nice.
Thats interesting Dennis. I have always been amazed with how little I need to focus and how fast I can focus with my SLC 8X30's. Except when going from say very close range to say several hundred yards. Maybe its just me though. Have you compared them to another set of 8X30's to see if it is possibly just your particular binos? A friend of mine just purchased a new pair of Swaro SLC 8X30's(after losing his first pair). I compared mine which are 8-9 years old to his new pair. I was checking to see if mine had lost some of the sharpness over the years of using them. Try as I might I could see no difference between his new pair and mine. The eyecups on the newer ones are much nicer though.
[ February 26, 2004, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: Lonny ]
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Bluetrapper
Knows what it's all about
Member # 288
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posted February 26, 2004 05:58 PM
I felt like I needed to be in that 400 to 500 price range 3 yrs. ago.I tried several including Pentax, Steiner, Nikon etc.I settled on the Cabelas 8x42. I believe they are hands down better than any other I tried in that price range. Bluetrapper
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M.J.D.
Posts: 21 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Barndog
Knows what it's all about
Member # 255
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posted February 27, 2004 01:22 PM
Did a bird study with a Biologist from Lake Powell National Park. This desert rat had every bino known to man, I never saw him without a pair around his neck, had a closet full of them (I swear he had over 150 different binos). From sand to water, to snow to 140 F. This guy could write a book on binos. Hands down for durabiltiy he recomends Swarovski- I know too much money $1000+. For the $500 range Bausch & Laumb. For a $100 he wouldn't buy anything than a Nikon travelite. I own a Nikon travelite III, love it, very light weight, I also own B&L elite ($200, Gart's- Big promotional sale). A friend uses a pair of Sightron ($200), they are also a very nice pair.
Good luck
Posts: 185 | From: Idaho | Registered: Dec 2003
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Swift One
Knows what it's all about
Member # 330
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posted March 12, 2004 04:00 PM
Love my Steiner Safaris, but will probably be getting the Predators this coming season.
Posts: 12 | From: Laporte County, Indiana | Registered: Mar 2004
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CougerBait
Knows what it's all about
Member # 149
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posted March 17, 2004 08:31 AM
Last fall I got the wind river 10x42 and love them. I can't afford the high dollar ones. but these set cost me 300.00. I was really impressed with the low light visability. They are worth a look as long as you are looking. But then again i couldn't afford the absolute top of the line.
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CougerBait
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Posts: 60 | From: washington | Registered: Mar 2003
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