I’m headed to Colorado this august to archery hunt for elk and need to get a pair of binoculars. Question is which do I get? I’m wondering what power will be the best for the seeing long distances. Looking at 10x42 right now. Also looking for a price range of $100-200 if possible…
Vortex
Thanks Carolina Boy. What power would you suggest?
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
I only use www.SWFA.com for optics go to this link http://www.samplelist.com/ all these are used by pro’s for reviews and such so like brand new without the sticker shock. Just pay attention to lens condition. They also sell new and will match any online price. They ship fast.
I use Leupold 10X42 Acadia binos. They work great for me, and they are especially helpful in low light conditions. Vortex makes goods ones for the money as well.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
Thanks Tiger and Skeeter. I took at the website and found a couple pairs to consider from Leupold.
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
Oh, I forgot to mention, I used my buddies $1800 binos a couple of times, and my $200 Leupold binos are just as good or better. I have been able to see deer well before legal shooting time with my binos. I could not make out if it was a buck or a doe at 180 yards, but I could clearly tell there was a deer there.
quote:
Originally posted by huntnfishThanks Tiger and Skeeter. I took at the website and found a couple pairs to consider from Leupold.
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
Yeah, no. A $200.00 set of Binos isn’t on par with an $1800 set at any level.
I agree with shopping the Sample List, CameralandNY an Europtic. They all have demo and used as well as Opticsplanet. Almost every $200-$400 pair of Binos has the same lenses, made in the same factory by the same people at LOW. The manufacturer dictates the coatings to be applied and lense size/magnification. They then put them in their housings. The difference you pay is based on the mechanics, housing and name plus the # of coatings. Lots of people like the Nikons, never had good luck with Nikon other than their warranty. Vortex is OK, Steiner is better Leupold holds their own. Bushnell makes some decent lower end Binos too. Weaver has good ones.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Yeahhhhhh… those cheapo binocs will NEVER compare to the good stuff. I would try and find a used pair of Swarovski’s and let it ride.
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.”
Will Rogers
I have Leica, vortex and a pair of nikons. I can assure you the cheaper ones do not compare to the Leica. Will they work yes but for clarity and low like conditions it’s not even close. If I were spending the money to go on an elk hunt I would not skimp on binos. I would look for a good used pair of a quality brand. I see them online quite often at a big discount.
Pioneer 222sf
250 Yamaha
Well, I’m not an optics expert, but my buddies $1800 binos are no better than mine. The biggest difference is the price tag. Perhaps there is something wrong with his (IDK), but they don’t perform $1500 dollars better than mine…that’s for certain. I have a Vortex scope on my 308 and a VX6 on my 300 Win Mag. Both are good scopes, and the VX6 is a little bit better, but it is not $1000 better.
quote:
Originally posted by saltydog235Yeah, no. A $200.00 set of Binos isn’t on par with an $1800 set at any level.
I agree with shopping the Sample List, CameralandNY an Europtic. They all have demo and used as well as Opticsplanet. Almost every $200-$400 pair of Binos has the same lenses, made in the same factory by the same people at LOW. The manufacturer dictates the coatings to be applied and lense size/magnification. They then put them in their housings. The difference you pay is based on the mechanics, housing and name plus the # of coatings. Lots of people like the Nikons, never had good luck with Nikon other than their warranty. Vortex is OK, Steiner is better Leupold holds their own. Bushnell makes some decent lower end Binos too. Weaver has good ones.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
Your buddy may have told you his bino’s cost 1800$, they sell knock offs on eBay everyday. There is no comparison between quality glass and 200$ binoculars. I’ve looked through kahles and Swarovski and there Isnt a product Sub 1k that compares to the kahles, believe the pair I used what’s 800$ or so .Buy once cry once.
His are Swarovski. Mine are Leupold. Both are 10X42. No real distinguishable difference except the price. I used both of them, and compared them side-by-side. They ARE NOT $1500 better in any way shape of form. It is more of a status symbol than superior performance. His Swarovski binos have a very slight advantage in clarity in good light and better lens caps, but otherwise, there is no way I could justify spending $1800 on a pair of Swarovski 10X42 unless I had more money than I had sense (there were times when my buddy had more money than sense). But, I agree, cry once…but I will do that on my rifle scope and not binos–even if I was loaded with money. Ziess was not better either. I compared them as well. And, the warranty on all of them is the same. If I needed something that expensive because I lived out west, it would required more than 10X42 binos for great distances anyway. We will just have to agree to disagree because I used them too. They ain’t as good as the price tag. Not even close. Next time I see my buddy, I get a picture of both of them side-by-side and post it up so you can see they are not knock offs as well.
quote:
Originally posted by salty849Your buddy may have told you his bino’s cost 1800$, they sell knock offs on eBay everyday. There is no comparison between quality glass and 200$ binoculars. I’ve looked through kahles and Swarovski and there Isnt a product Sub 1k that compares to the kahles, believe the pair I used what’s 800$ or so .Buy once cry once.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
I’ve looked through swaros, leupolds and steiner side by side in my yard, 500yds to the back ditch. Swarovski is better hands down, is it worth 1500$ more, depends on if you have the coin. I refuse to spend money on binoculars period because they don’t have a gun mounted underneath them. To each is own.
quote:
Originally posted by salty849I refuse to spend money on binoculars period because they don’t have a gun mounted underneath them. To each is own.
Well, we do agree on that part. Great binos don’t do me a bit of good if the scope is not up to the job or distance.
2012 Skeeter ZX22 Bay
Yamaha 250 hp SHO
Minnkota Riptide 101
quote:
Originally posted by salty849I’ve looked through swaros, leupolds and steiner side by side in my yard, 500yds to the back ditch. Swarovski is better hands down, is it worth 1500$ more, depends on if you have the coin. I refuse to spend money on binoculars period because they don’t have a gun mounted underneath them. To each is own.
Only time I ever brought Binos in the deer stand with me was as a kid for the very same reason. It allowed me to be occupied without scoping up on everything that moved. When I started hunting alone I usually only scoped up for a shot or just kept my gun on the rest at all times anyway. However we have a new large cutdown around a stand now that will be tedious to scope 360, might have to get a cheap pair of binos for it. Between the 360 view and distances it’s a bear for a single hunter. I think most of us in SC would agree that the best optics we carry should be on our gun.
First, Most, Biggest
Ok, so I’ve continued to research and watch the websites for prices. I think I’m still leaning toward the Leupold. I don’t want to end up with a cheapo pair but can’t justify spending a whole lot because I just don’t need binocs hunting around here.
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
Not trying to hijack your thread huntnfish but I am very surprised to hear you guys don’t hunt with binoculars around here. The field of vision is so small in a scope compared to using binos And if you zoom the scope way out you can’t judge the deer at all. To me it just makes deer hunting far more enjoyable. I wouldn’t turkey hunt without them either. They give you the ability to look through brush and see so much clearer. Makes running/gunning and sneaking up on fields way easier.
Pioneer 222sf
250 Yamaha
I use my Binos all the time. I can work the woods and pick out that nose or a tail or ear ■■■■■. Only time I put my eye to the scope is after I’ve found the deer. I don’t ever want to be pointing a rifle down range and find the movement on the other end is a person while I have my finger on the trigger.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
X2, I have a pair of Swaros given to me 13 years ago. They are a quality company, and at no charge take the binocs back and clean and repair lens caps or rubber eyepiece.When they return they look like new.
See what some Texas deer dudes have to say about Swaros.
http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177761