Hi Guys,

I just discovered someone has broken into my hunting rig and stolen among other things my binocs - they were water resistant (proof) Pentax DCF 8x42 ... loved the glass for the price but hated the push up eye cups.Their weight was a bit of an issue at 28oz I recall, but they were a great pair of binocs for what I used them for.

What recommendation do you have for a replacement around $300 up to aqualified max of $500?Let me know why you recommend them too of course. By qualified I mean if you guys have some strong reasons to spend that much, etc ... also places to buy them online - not too many sporting goods store around me in Kirkland WA and I've got the ML opener kicking off Oct 7th.

as always thanks a bunch guys!
phil

In your price range,Leupold has a few...

I bought a pair of Steiner 8x30Binoc. in 1998. They are fog proof and very durable. The clarity is unbelievable. I also like that they have lens covers that hang from them so you don't loose it and it keeps the lense protected.

I love my Brunton Eterna 10x32's. They're clear, well built, and a heck of a deal. I use them all day long every day for the entire months of May and June, and my eyes never get fatigued. They are that nice. Another guy who sometimes works with us has been using his binoculars to help him make a living for much of his life (retired game warden), and he also uses Brunton Eterna's (he has the 8x42 I believe). Brunton's customer service is excellent as well. If you ever need to send your binocs in for repairs, you can rest assured they're in good hands. I say this with confidence because I know several of the people who work for Bruton's headquarters here in WY. The Eterna's are going to be hard to beat with your price range.

I have the Nikon Action Extreme ATB bino's and love them. They are really sweet. Really niceclear images. And for the price u can't beat it. I own the 8x40, and think there great for hunting.go to ur local shops and see if u can check one out. http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=55930&hvarDept=400&a mp;hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=1&hvarSubCode= 4&hvarTarget=browse

The Pentacx DCF SP are available on the net for around 420. They were an editor's choice last year on outdoorlife.com. They beat out some fine German glass.
But also in your price range, here are some of my favorites. (I am an optics geek so forgive me)
Sightron SIII 8x42 probably under 400 bucks at Wholesale hunter. They have an ebay store
Docter opitc 8x42. Under 5 bills. Fine German glass but the eye relief is only 15mm so if you wear glasses you will have to use them with your glasses off which is a hassle
Swift audubon Ed and Audubon roof prism. All around 375.
Cabela's Alaskan Guide. These are great binos but a little over 5 bills.
You can even find the Bushnell elites in 8x42 for around 5 bills on ebay occasionally. The elites are exactly the same as the Famous Bausch & Lomb Elites. Same bino, same factory, same engineers. same lifetime warranty.
Also look on ebay for a used mint pair od Bausch & Lomb Discoverer roof prism binos. They should go for around 250-300 and are great.
Good luck
okcmco

okcmco- just back from the ML season ... don't know what happened to this thread as it looks like a couple posts were never restored! Bottom line is the Minox 10x52 bins rock. They're way way better than the Pentax 8x42 DCF bins they replaced. Had a chance to compare the Kahles 10x42 with them too and in my opinion the Minox bins took the day and about $75 cheaper too. I mostly did a bunch of close in work in covered to semi covered situations.

One of coolest things that happened this trip was at one point I was in my truck with three other guys driving to our next hunting spot when we spotted lots of mulies in a big bowl.Being the only one withbins we ended up passing mine around to all of us over a period of about 45min - it was great, the more we glassed, the more bucks seemed to stand out.Counting major points was pretty easy out 500yds or so.

This week its modern elk and I'll be perched on a ridge glassing 300-600yd distances for at least 2-3 days so it'll be a real world test of the new bins.Balance is a little bit towards the objective lenses, but not enough for me to complain about at this time. The weight is still an issue, but I knew that with the Pentax bins so a bin harness should help with the both the weight and the sway when humping. These bins are true open field and so the size is ok by me.They even weigh just a tad less than the Pentax(1oz less).

I'm an advid birdwatcher and demand awesome optics. You can not go wrong with the Leupold 8x42 Green Ring ones ..these I LOVE THEM!!!!

Some Walmarts now sell them for about 260. normally about 350.00
Bought mine new off Ebay for 300.00