On a recommendation from a guy on another hunting forum, I purchased a new pair of binoculars. They are Pentax 8x42 DCF WP (water proof) roof prisms. This is Pentax's top of the line binocs. They are listed in Cabelas for $450 (minus $100 rebate) but I bought them from a place called 17th st. photo supply in New York for $325 (minus $100 rebate). So my cost for them with shipping is $240 after rebate.

The reason they are supposed to be better than earlier models is that the prisms are phase coated. Well, my brother has the exact model (8x42 DCF roof prism) but NOT the WP model and I did a side by side comparison. There is a very noticable difference in clarity and light trasmission between the 2. I compared them at noon and very dark dusk, and the difference in clarity is very noticable.

Unless you spend $800-1000 on binocs, I doubt you can find a better deal. I was skeptable until I did a side by side. I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but I am excited. I leave in 2 weeks for an elk muzzleloading trip to Colorado, and now I have a new set of quality optics to take along.

Good hunting

txhunter58,,,,, Read your comments about binoculars and I am interested in purchasing the one you mentioned... Do you have a phone number or an email address?... I would like to contact them.... Also, if you have an email address for Pentax. ... Thanks. ( I should mention that I only bowhunt...would the Pentax 8x42DCF be the one I would need? If not, please advise....Medium price is preferred... )

Pentax is 1-800-877-0155. www.17photo.com 1-800-664-1971. I wanted the 8 power because I use them a lot in Colorado. A more compact model could be used if you only need them for close work.

Edited by - txhunter58 on 08/29/2002 07:33:16

I just bought the pentax PCF 10 x 50. Great binocular. They are
the same as the DCF series, but they Porro prism instead of roof
prism. They are a little bigger also. I got them for $115 with a
$25 dollar rebate. They are waterproof and fogproof also. I went with
the PCF series because they were a little easier on the pocket book.
I think cabelas had them for $180 but I found them a lot cheaper some
where else.

That is a pretty good price on those bino. I have been looking at Pentax for about a year and finally bought some but I found some great sites to buy optics. www.aaabinoculars.com has those same ones for 246.00 and the other place is www.hotbuyelectronics.com.

Good prices, but I paid $225 after rebate plus $15 shipping. Actually, the price in aaabinos for the 8x42 DCF WP is $264. This is after rebate and before shipping charges. They do give you the rebate up front though.

17th st is still the cheaper option.

Well this is my first post around here but after reading the info you all had about Pentax I just couldnt help myself. Anyways hunting in Alaska for these last few years has taught me many things, but there are 2 statements I came up with to describe it the best. 1-Nowhere you hunt will ever be flat, even if the pilot says so!
2- Alaska is hard on gear! With that said , for this past year and they are about to get used again I have carried a pair of pentax DCF WP 8X32 Binos. LOVE THEM! They are very popular here due to the fact they are so rugged. Why 8X32-Light, compact, greater field of view. I had the 10X42's but after carrying these I decided to stick with them, since there rarely a heat mirage in the 8X. These things are great though. Even when I went for a swim with them in a glacier river by accident, they never failed me. Great price especially with the rebate, and comparable, to optics 3X's the price. Yeah I said it, I would take mine over buddy's heavy new swarovski's. Final thought- Very clear, Very rugged, buy em now and never need another pair. Oh yeah with the 8X32's They feel and perform like full size optics, without the weight and bulk, which is very important around here!

How do they stack up in low light? I would love the lighter weight, but know you would be giving up some brightness at dawn and dusk (4.0 exit pupil vs. 5.25).

By the way, this and other threads must have had some effect, because 17th street photo is now sold out of the 8x42's. They still have the 8x32's though ($205 after rebate).

You can also try www.cameralandny.com
That is where I got my Pentax binos. They have great prices also.

Just a newbie question - what is the major reason for going for 8x42 vs 10x42..the price difference is not that much..any reason why not go for 10x42? Is there a lose of light/sharpness?

Thanks