Binoculars

J

jabames

New member
What are the best binoculars to buy for de huntin :3 (not too expensive), that are very durable and of high quality optics. About de price range of 300-400 dollars.
 
VERY hard to answer question so I'll only offer so insight from what I've found.

Magnification.....more is not necessarily better. If you will be using them from a STABLE position with support then 10, or even 12 power can be used but if you plan on using them from a boat or moving truck go lower. I've got a pair of 10X Steiner ( Very clear ) but holding them stable is a hard thing. Even the vibration of the truck motor will transfer into a bit of shaking.

Objective lens........bigger may be better.....as long as the size of the binocular does not become a problem. Bigger helps with light gathering, which in hunting/scouting situations may be important.

Eye relief.........if you wear glasses this is well worth considering.

Others will add on but this gives you something to start on.

And do know that if you look about you'll find that the various manufactures will offer "Open Box" & "Salesman Sample" & "Refurbished" models for sale that generally come with full warranties........a great way to go!
 
7x35 or 8x40 in a lightweight binocular has always worked best for me. Field of view seems more important than higher magnification.
 
Field of view seems more important than higher magnification.
Click to expand...

+1 for that statement. There are many companies making good binoculars in the price range you stated. I would take a hard look at the Vortex brand, the reviews I'm seeing on their products is outstanding and the pair I got to use really impressed me.
 
Within the price range you stated, there are a number of excellent binoculars to choose from. My two would be: Leupold Green Ring in a 10X and the Nikon Monarch, also in 10X. I've spent a lot of time behind glass out here and a couple of things to help in your decision. Light binoculars mean more comfort and the ability to hold steady for long periods of glassing. Roof prism binoculars are clearer, brighter, and much lighter than poro prism. An objective size of 40 using a 10X magnification is all you need as the exit pupil (what defines the amount of light delivered to the eye) is actually greater than the human eye. 4 mm is the standard used for this measurement and is derived by dividing the objective by the magnification (40/10=4mm).

Beyond that one pays for: how well the lenses are positioned, how strongly they are mounted, the quality of the glass used and the coating on the lenses. These things will dictate in large part how bright and clear they are and in low light conditions the quality of the glass and coatings can be miraculous.

Spend as much as you can afford. Don't buy variable power. Buy a roof prism. Get a good harness. You'll never be sorry.
 
I have tried many brands over the years. The best quality for price has been Vortex. http://vortexoptics.com the prices listed on their website are MSRP, you will find them for less at retailers. More than 10 power seems to limit my field of view too much unless they are too large to carry afield. I prefer a 10x50 or 8x40. I hunt in broken timber and open clearcuts. My vortex diamondback in 8x40 works well in close up brush and clearcuts out to 500+ yards. I also had a pair of Wind River (Leopold imported from somewhere, can't remember where) 10x50 that were very good. Price in 2001 or 2002 was $300.

Whatever you decide on, look through them before purchasing. Make sure you don't see double images. And check for clarity. Compare with as many other models as you can, side by side.

The best warranty is with Vortex. For any reason if your optics fail send them back for repair or replacement. That speaks volumes to their quality. You won't stay in business very long with that policy if your product is not the best.
 
I picked up a Nikon 10X50 a couple of years ago at a big box store for about $100.00.

Great binoculars for my purposes. They've ridden on ATVs, in the back of pickup trucks, been slung around my neck, and have held up wonderfully. Nice and bright, they're my go-to binocs when I want to carry a set in the field.
 
Considering weight, ability to see in poor light, and FOV I am persuaded that either 7X35 or 8X 30/32 offer the best combination for hunting. I have hunted with various people who were so proud of their 7X50 or even 10X50. They might look great in ways , but you have to carry them. They always ended up being left in camp after the first couple of days.

The small bins lilke 10X20/25 do not have the light gathering powr for early and late hunting. In my view over 8 power makes the shake too noticeable unless you can rest over something or sitting.

Porro prisim glasses are better in the moderate price as they are not so difficult to manufacture.

There are some good brands like Nikon, Vortex and Leupold. I have been happy with good Bushnell.

Here is a forum that is a bird forum, but has a section about bins. Of course the requirement for bird watching, considering the size and colors of birds are somewhat different from hunting, and they tend toward 10-12X. But they have a lot of expertise.
http://www.birdforum.net/index.php

Jerry
 
I hunt in Tundra, marshes, woodland, and the most we can glass out at times is like into meadows and not that far, Im getting a cheap pair of 8x42s and later on I wanna get a lil more spendy ones :D.
 
I will recommend very highly the MINOX brand!! Mine are 10 x 40 and are extremely clear with adjustable eye cups to change the eye relief. I purchased them in 2010 in preparation to going to South Africa.

They are extremely clear and comfortable to use for long periods of time. I think I paid about $250 for them from Camerland of NY. My pH in Africa was using Zeiss and I couldn't tell the difference in the quality of glass and the Zeiss are much more expensive. The pH also commented on the quality of Minox.
 
I have had quite a few mid-priced binos over the years. I finally gave in, saved up my money and bought a pair of Leica 10X50's for glassing. Expensive, yes. But the first time I used them, it was, "Oh, OK. I understand." When I am walking, stalking, I use a pair of Nikon Travelites. They fit in my pocket and and are reasonably clear...
 
I have a set of Leupold Cascades 8x42. I have been very impressed with them. I use them while deer hunting, mostly in thicker terrain from my bow stand. I am impressed with the light transmission and the field of view. I also use them pretty extensively for scouting goose hunting fields. If I see the birds land a half mile out in a section they tell me exactly where the birds landed so I can set up there in the morning. When I see a flock of 12 set down I use them to see how many other birds are already there, and what size the family flocks are. I can do this effectively from somewhere around 600-800 yards and in, looking out into black plowed fields trying to find black and brown birds. If I spend a lot of time looking through them I don't experience any eye fatigue whatsoever. If you are looking at other binocs for comparison I would definitely check out either the Redfield line or the Nikon Monarchs (also supposed to be a very, very good value).
 
I have a pair of Nikon Monarch 8x42 that I like a lot for the money. Believe I paid $300 for them and suspect they are a tad more expensive now.

Also have a pair of Leupold Yosemite 6x30 that I use for general use and hunting in the woods. Like them a lot and take them kayaking, canoeing, and other places potentially dangerous to binocs. Inexpensive at about $100-$120. I have been most impressed with these low cost binocs.

Don't waste your money on the $39.95 binoculars.

Have looked at the Leupold Cascades mentioned above and they seem like okay binocs.
 
IME, I would spend $300 - $600 on Pentax, Minox, Nikon, or Leupold glass. Those all looked and felt good to me. Watch the field of view. That is a clear symbol of a model where they aren't using the whole lens, but you are carrying it.

8x42 is a great balanced approach. If you are doing much beyond 300 yards, 10x is better, but under 100 yards 6x or 7x is better IMO.
 
I went from 8X32 Leupold RB800 binoculars to a set for Minox BL 10X42. Huge difference in my ability to spot deer and elk way off in the distance. It was a big difference as well in the field of view.

I went looking for Nikon or Leupold for binoculars but I'm very satisfied with the Minox. I bought them off of SWFA's "The Sample List". Another brand I seriously considered after asking several places was Zen Ray as they seem to have a huge following in the birding community.
 
I have a set of Vortex Diamondbacks (~$220). They are the best binos I have ever used for hunting. Excellent warranty too, that I tested out :).

Low light they are excellent, I've been at points in the day where its dark enough your eyes can't pick up movement well yet the binos grab that last bit of light and allow you to see deer moving.
 
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