Binoc's

[Water_Gremlin]

For the sake of conversation say I have $1109.96. What pair of binoc's would get me the most bang for my buck?

I have been looking a few sets in the Cabela's catalog. First, Zeiss Conquest 15x45, second Cabela's Euro 10x42, Leupold Gold Ring 10x42.

Other suggestions are welcomed too.

 

[Shortwave]

Pentax

Pentax

WG:
Gotta say I really like my Pentax DCF SPs.
Great clarity and durability. Priced right too.

Regards

 

[Snyd]

I second the Pentax DCF SP's. I have the 10x42's. I have posted about these numerous times. Excellent glass. Retail for about 650. Got mine online a couple years ago for 425. For another 650 or so you can get a Pentax 65ED Spotter (my next optics purchase). There's your 1100 bucks for excellent glass. Binos and spotter in same league as the big three without the price inflation. My .02.

 

[Bill S.]

I would stay away from the 15 power binoculars, impossible to hold steady. A friend took a set of 15 power swavorskis last year on a caribou hunt and althought they were GREAT boinoculars, we had to use a tripod to use them with any effectiveness. You other two choices are both great. PM me and I can get you in touch with Iron Bridge Optics that can usually get you a great price on optics.

 

[northriver21]

Pentax

Pentax

I agree with the Pentax. I have the DCF HR 2. Great binocs for the $$$.

Dont spend that dividend all in one place..

 

[AkHunter45]

I'd take a look at the Zeiss Conquests, I got a pair for the wife and she loves them. Talk to Todd aka "Duster" here on the forum, he has all kinds of optics you can check out. Nothing wrong with the Swarovski's either!!

 

[Paul H]

A friend who charters out of Kodiak had an optics dealer on his boat for a fishing trip, and the optics guy brought a large selection of binos from Pentax, Minox, Swarovski, Leica and Zeiss. There were several guys on the boat that spent some time driving the glass. I talked to my buddy and a friend that tried the various wares. There conclusions were thus:

The pentax which has recieved so much hype is far from top end glass.
Swarovski was good but not up to the hype.
Zeiss lives up to the billing
Leica was the favorite
Minox was the suprise, and my buddy said to him they were better than the swaro's.

I say go for the lifetime investment and get the Zeiss or Leica. There is no better place to put your money in hunting gear than top of the line binos.

 

[BucknRut]

Wish I could help...problems of my own!

Wish I could help...problems of my own!

I purchased the Swaro's and Leica's, each in 8x42 and the 10x42.

I was real nervous about "vibration" out of the 10x42 because I've had that problem with other glasses (Need a pod to keep 12x swaros steady...I should have bought a spotter). I loved the 8.5 Swaro's, but did not like the 10 power. Another comment about Swaro...whenever I used them on a sunny day, I inevitably always saw this "rainbow" effect in the glass! Not sure what the deal was with that, but it was annoying as heck.

I was almost settled on the Leica 8's or 10's (liked um both), but I saw these darn half rings around the bottom of view. They were a cloudy white color. Not sure what the deal was with that, but it was annoying as heck.

Not willing to drop $1800 on glass that I fear will give me a headache everytime I use em, I sent them all back!

Now I get to go through it all again...bitter sweet deal, I know. All I hear about is 10 power...am I going to be underpowered with 8 power glass?

bnr

 

[Paul H]

The 10 power vs 8 power is an interesting question. The guys who I know are serious about their glass, ie it is their primary hunting tool, swear by 10X. You do need to learn how to hold steady with them though, but when you spend hours behind them, the skill will come.

I don't think you'll be undperpowered with 8X, but if you can learn to use the 10X you'll prefer it.

 

[BucknRut]

the secret to holding still...

the secret to holding still...

The 10 power vs 8 power is an interesting question. The guys who I know are serious about their glass, ie it is their primary hunting tool, swear by 10X. You do need to learn how to hold steady with them though, but when you spend hours behind them, the skill will come.

I don't think you'll be undperpowered with 8X, but if you can learn to use the 10X you'll prefer it.

I have a gut feeling that I just would not be happy with the 8x and feel like I should go with the 10s.

I never would of figured that I'd need a training course in using binoculars, but I am open to any suggestions and if anyone has "the secret to holding still"...please pass it on my way!!!

 

[AlaskaCub]

I got to tell you that after owning and looking through many different binos, I know this is going to be hard for some to swallow. The ones that still amaze me are the Nikon Monarch ATB's. I have owned Nikon Monarchs, Pentax DCF SP's Minox ASPH's, and have looked through friends of mines Zeiss Victory's and even the Leica Ultravid's. For the roughly $250-$275 dollars these Nikon binos can be had for on ebay they simply amaze me in the quality and clarity of the glass for the price. I havent personally jumped up into the $1000 + stuff but have a hard time swallowing that high of purchase after looking through them. To me theres just not that much difference to offset the price. I am a gear junkey I assure you, and it seems to me that a guy like me always feels that there is something better out there and easily justify selling one thing to buy another but I think you get to a point where you are counting pennies in quality but hundreds and thousands of dollars in money. This is just my opinion. I did find out that the money spent in a spotting scope was well worth it but just dont see the same difference in quality for my binos. Theres a huge difference between a Nikon Spotter XL and my Lieca Televid spotter but I cant say the same with the binos.

 

[AkHunter45]

If you sepnd any amount of time behind the "high dollar" bino's you will see the differenece between those and the those with a lower price tag. There's a reason they are so expensive.

 

[AlaskaCub]

I agree to disagree, theres lots of good glass out there for a lot less than the "high dollar" glass. Binos to me are used for scanning terrain. If you are looking at something to far out of range for say 10 X binos to tell you anything specific about the animal, no matter how good the glass in the binos is you'll need a spotter to make specific distinctions. To me finding binos that works for your individual eyes and face is more important than the price of the glass. Now dont get me wrong there are really cheap binos that fog up, dont have coated optics and such but theres a lot of great glass out there for less than $500.This is just my opinion however.

 

[AkHunter45]

I agree, there are some very good bino's out there for under $500, thats not what I was trying to say. My point is there is a reason that "most" of the high dollar glass are priced like the are because of the quality of the lenses and coatings used plus craftmanship of the whole product. As for spotters, most people use them to zero in on the animal they are targeting and not for searching for game, thats where bino's come into play.

 

[Snyd]

I agree. The big 3 are nice but not 15-1800 bucks nice. If you do a little research you can find that there are a few places in Japan that make glass and a lot of optics companies get thier glass out of the same factory.

 

[AK Wonderer]

The never ending debate

The never ending debate

The debate over bino's will be one that will go on forever. Which pair is the best?, is it worth spending $1,500?, will I be able to tell the difference?, etc., etc. Bino's always make for great debates and discussions.

For me if I had a $1,000 to spend but didn't want to jump up to $1,500 for one of the Big Three, I'd look at the following:

Pentax DCF SP
Kahles
Steiner Peregrine
Minox (not sure of models, but have been reading good things about them)

I have a pair or the Pentax and am very happy with thier performance. The Kahles seem to get less publicity, not sure why more Alaskan hunters don's have them, they have excellent glass and are tough as nails. They might be my first choice.

 

[H_I_L_L_B_I_L_L_Y]

for the money

for the money

I agree with the nikon post. I know nobody beleives it but i love mine. I spent 6 days glassing in Arizona for coues and fell in love. My buddy has a set of swarovskis and a set of doctor(spelling). I spent allot of time behind both and i was really glad i hadnt spent 3 grand that he has on optics. Yes the swarovskis are a touch brighter in low light but i picked out just as many deer as the others. The only thing i have negative about the nikons is that the covers suck. Hillbilly

 

[coues32]

Nikon Binos

Nikon Binos

Just bought Nikons Premier LXL in 8x32 and our great,I have SWARO 15X56,
LEICA 10x42BN,the nikons are clearer all the way to the edges and are very bright.I wanted to lighten up and aint gonna pay the extra money now that euro went up.I researched them and the MINOX HG 's.Both were great but LXL's are better and only cost 639.00 from Camraland.If you want to get steady put even 10x binos on a tripod,there is a big diference or use a walking stick.15 power binos have there place and wouldn't buy nothing but Swaro's,the best 10 powers are better than cheaper 15's.8 or 10 's and good spotting scope is hard to beat.COUES

 

[Snyd]

The only thing i have negative about the nikons is that the covers suck. Hillbilly

Same here.

 

[alaska bush man]

Leupold Golden Ring

Leupold Golden Ring

I use Leupold Golden ring Compact 10x25.........super glass and fit in your shirtpocket!