Looking for a new pair of binoculars. I hunt the northeast thick woods open fields. Also I am going to do an elk hunt out west and I need a new pair of binoculars. I like Leopold and Zeiss. What r ur recommendations

I normally use a pair of 8X binoculars (Swarovski) for general hunting, and 10X for hunting elk. The only drawback with the Swarovski is the price, but you can not find better binoculars.

I bought a pair of Leupold McKinley 10X about a year or so ago and really like them. They run about $600 and to my eyes they were slightly better than the Zeiss Conquest, and $400 less in price. When I bought them I was looking for a nice pair of $1,000 - $1,200 binoculars and this pair was fully the equal of anything I found in that range.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-...ars-black.html

For around $300 the Nikon Monarch 5 is hard to beat.

Certainly you will get different opinions here and everywhere else, but the only one that matters is yours. You need to find a retailer and look at them yourself.

I use 8X Steiners & I love them. They are smaller & lightweight. The optics are phenomenal. I've had them for about 10 years, I hunt woods & open fields for Whitetails & have never regretted buying them. You won't believe how much easier it is to see fine detail with a quality pair of binos.

Vortex Razor HD in 8 or 10X. Meopta would be another solid consideration.

I looked at those when I bought the McKinleys. They were both very nice.

The Meopta was my second choice. A good friend has the 10X Razors and they have held up well.

It is hard to go wrong in some price ranges.

Some really good advice here. I would echo everything said here.

I picked up a pair of McKinley's for last deer season. They are fantastic, IMHO. I lucked out and Cabelas had the 8x on sale for $399. After I ordered they didn't even have the 8x on the website and a few weeks later they were back at full price. I would have felt I got my $ worth at $599, but I got a steal at $399.

I use Nikon Monarch 12X42

They have served me well for years....................

I have a set of Pentax DCF WP's and they are great. My next set are going to be either:

http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/spor...s/DCF_ED_10x50 or http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/spor...s/DCF_SP_10x50

Both sets have 94% Light Transmission.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/pentax-1...inoculars.html or http://www.opticsplanet.com/pentax-10x50-dcf-sp.html

These binoculars are right up there with the best. FOR THE MONEY THE SP'S ARE THE WAY TO GO!!

Good luck.

If you can go about $1100-$1200, take a look at Nikon's top of the line. These were recently named the "Venturer" but are now markleted as the "High Grade". I have a Swarovski bino that retails for aobut 2X this price ... and franly I cannot tell any difference between the Swarovski and my Venturer. I have a similar Monarch and there is absolutely no comparison.... and should not be for the additional MSRP!

Very clear, very crisp, wonderful at low lght and so far have held up great .... -10F in Montana. !00F+ in SE Alabama. Rain, snow, lots of dust ... not a problem.