huntingtanner

I am looking to purchase a set of binoculars and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on what to purchase for $500 or less? I was thinking of purchasing the Ziess Conquest - anyone have any input good or bad ? [8D]

North Texan

I haven't ever seen anything from Zeiss that I wouldn't own. Cabela's has the Classics for $700, and they seem like solid optics. I use Swarovski SLC's, but they would blow your budget.

skeeter 7MM

I have 10x43 Pentax DCF SP they have been excellent, they might be worth a boo.

gselkhunter

I will second Pentax. I have 2 pairs 8X42 & 10X42 DCF WPs. In a word, great!
Gselkhunter

RoyalWapiti

I was in market for about the same price range, I saved alittle and bought the Nikon Monarch 10x42. They sell for $300 in stores or you can buy them online for $250 delivered.

I compared them to Leupold, Zeiss shurfin??? and steiner. All in that 300-400 price range. Can't beat Nikon's no-fault warranty for 25 years.

sam 444

I also bought the nikon monarch 10x42. I compared them side by side with the leupold,bushnell and zeiss.I found the nikon clearer than some and a lot easier to use with glasses than ant of the others.

Power

I've got the Zeiss Conquest 10x30 and they are perfect for the price plus lifetime guarentee. Got them online for just around $400.

PABowhntr

I had owned a pair of the Zeiss Conquest 8x30s. In my opinion they offered the sharpest image of any binocular I have owned....particulary in the center of the field of view. However, I did experience I slight "halo" affect in the separation area between crispness and the fuzziness that surrounds the other 1/3 of the field of view.

Other pluses:

They are exceptionally lightweight and the focus is very slow and extremely accurate. Just when you think you have an object in focus you turn the knob a bit more and it becomes even crisper. At $450 they are a good buy.

However, even in the 8x30 configuration they have a relatively small exit pupil size of 3.75. Exit pupil directly affects the brightness and contrast of the image. If you talk to most optics/hunting authorities they generally suggest no smaller than a 4 mm exit pupil if you are going to be using the binocular in less than perfect lighting conditions...ie, dawn, dusk and or deep forest.

Personally, I have opted for the 8x42 configuation but think that an 8x32 configuration would be about the lowest I would go to expect decent low light performance. Here are some to consider at your price point and lower.....

Pentax DCF-XP 8x33 $399
Burris Signature 8x32 $349
Leupold Wind River Olympic 8x42 $369
Leupold Wind River Katmai 8x32 $309
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 $289
Bushnell Legend 8x32 or 8x42 $289
Pentax DCF HR II 8x42 $289

Those are Cabelas prices. You should be able to find them one or two places on the web for a bit cheaper.

IL-Cornfed

I've tried several of the optics that have been mentioned and ended up buying the Nikon Monrachs. They were great binos UNTIL I compared them to Baush & Lomb Discoverers...... MUCH better in optical quality! You would not believe how crystal clear these optics are.... in fact they compare to the $1000 B&L Elites my Dad uses. You can buy 'em at lancaster for around $400. A best buy in top shelf optic IMHO. You've got to check 'em out!

Allegiance05

I have the 10x30 Conquests and they are great. I compared them to Nikon / Bushnell / Pentax / Leupold Windriver / Steiner. They were easily the best ones I looked through and tust me I tried to find a cheaper pair that would make me happy. You definately won't be disappointed.