For what I use them for around here I can't see spending more than 100 bucks on a pair of binos. I use them on rare occassions as the woods I hunt only have about a 100 yard field of view. If I was a guide out west then I wouldn't settle for anything less than Swarovski or Zeiss (or anything of that quality). Basically, it all depends on what you hunt and where you hunt it. In Mass. I can't imagine needing a really expensive set of binos. I would probably start off with a dollar amount I wanted to spend and then try and find the highest quality in that range.
__________________ Last edited by CalHunter; 08-10-2009 at 01:21 PM. Reason: Inappropriate--called a mbr "douchebag"
you can buy some great bino's for 300-500 $. No , you don't have to spend 1000.00 $. I have some nikons I bought for about 300.00 and I think they are great.
I tend to agree with the others. You most certainly do not need to spend $1000 to get satisfactory optics. How much you want to spend really boils down to two issues, the quality of the image and the ruggedness of the binocular. However, there are exceptions to both issues.
Case in point, I just recently picked up a pair of Leupold Yosemite 8x30s. This binocular originally debuted with just the 6x30 model and it was intended for children and women because the interpupilary distance (how close/wide the binoculars will open up to fit your eyes) can be set very low to accomodate their narrow-set eyes. The image quality on both configurations is excellent and competes directly with many of the $200-$500 8x30-32 mm roof prism models on the market. Durability though with the porro prism design is somewhat of an issue. They tend to go out of alignment a bit more than the roof prism models. I would still suggest this model though for anyone not looking to spend more than $100 and yet stilldesiring good image quality.
At the $300 price point the Nikon Monarch is usually the most often suggested and with good reason. The image quality is excellent especially for the price plus Nikon has a "No-Fault" warranty which basically covers repair or replacement for $10. The Bushnell Legend, Pentax WP II, MinoxBD BR/BLand Leupold Cascades are also very good binoculars at this price point.
At/around the $500 price point I would consider the Pentax SPs, Zeiss Conquest (non-ABK) andMinox HG. They all offer just slightly better image quality, though for some it is barely noticeable, in comparison to the $300 models with comparable durability and warranty coverage.
Between $700 and $900 you have some really superb glass that competes directly with the high end Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica models but with some lesser known names. Companies like Meopta, Kahles or individual models like the Bushnell Elites or the new Pentax ED series offer superb optical performance at roughly half the price of some of the Austrian-German bins.
Type any of the models I mentioned into google and you should find tons of places to buy. I tend to buy from either Cabelas, Cameralandny, SWFA or spottingscopes.com depending on the item and availability. I have a Leica Trinovid I am going to be putting up on Ebay shortly but I have a feeling you aren't looking at spending that much.
Do I have to spend a $1,000 plus for a good pair of binoculars for hunting?? Anyone have any advice...Thanks
I wouldn't say that you had to spend a $1000 bucks, but I would not be without my Zeiss Conquest 12x45 binos. Like most other things in life, you get what you pay for. With a $100 pair of binos, that is what you get.
PAbowhuntr's post is excellent. I have hadto send my truck binos back to pentax porro prisms due to alignment problems. They are decent but just not durable enough to be a great mainstay bino IMHO,go with roof's. A buddy justpicked up Nikon Monarchs andI am impressed. I see why they are recommend so frequently!!
My main binos are 10-42Pentax SP's, whichhave been excellent.
1falcon:
check out www.eagleoptics.com . My dad bought his wife a pair of their binos in 10x40 i believe it is,,,and i would have to rate them as good as my zeiss for sure for half the price,,,kinda hard getting around on the website with all the bird watchin stuff but well worth it.
after checking,,i think it is the eagle optics ranger in 10x42,,price was like 299.00$
Thanks everyone for your input. It has been very helpful to me. I was thinking around a price range of $500. I should have mentioned this earler. More sugestions are welcom...again thanks.... Great info PABOWHNTR.
Million's
