Thread: What binos are you using?

I'm on the lookout for a pair of decent binos for glassing when out hunting. Still quite new to the hunting scene, so I wanted to know what binos (or spotting scopes) everyone is using. Tell me what's some great qualities about it, and what you would recommend.

Is it worth spending more than a grand for good quality? or will your basic vortex diamondback do the job?

I'm currently looking at Leupold's Alpine HD 10x42 binos.

Looking forward to reading everyone's comments!

have a look at the Nikon 10x compacts- rubber coated- shock proof- water proof and really good glass and well under a grand cant recommend enough

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x42 are very good. I have a pair and Swaro EL range at 4 times the price and there is not much in it. There might be at last light but excellent value none the less.

Im on BX2 Alpine 10X42

Was using 12X50 HD aliexpress binod before that, while very good during daylight they lacked in low light

Originally Posted by Billbob

Im on BX2 Alpine 10X42

Was using 12X50 HD aliexpress binod before that, while very good during daylight they lacked in low light

I'm very close to going ahead with purchasing a pair (BX2 Alpine HD 10x42). Do you have anything negative to say about it that will make me think twice?

Originally Posted by Billbob

Im on BX2 Alpine 10X42

Was using 12X50 HD aliexpress binod before that, while very good during daylight they lacked in low light

It's not a particularly useful comparison - I have a pair of toilet rolls taped together and I'm sure your AliExpress binos are better!
But seriously I use a pair of Nikon HD 10x42s which replaced the top tier Leupolds I had before that.

@BravoBoss458 head out to Ammo Direct in Rolleston he had Leupolds and will let you step outside for a test

If your budget allows have a look at both the BX2 and BX4. Make sure you take them outside to look. My mate had the BX2 and when he looked through mine he wished he had got the BX4. If you can’t see any difference then go with the cheaper ones.

I have pair of GPO binos. One in 10x32 that I've had for 10 years and a 10x 42 that I got recently for tops trips. I think there great value for money.

My 2 cents on optics is you definitely get what you pay for so get what you can for your budget.

If you are going to upgrade from your toilet rolls and get ali express ones like i first did. You have to search through alot of crap and what deciding factor was I brought the ones with the biggest eye peice lens I could find at the time. As said they are good when glassing during the day but lack clarity in low light. They will be for my son now.

Re the BX2 I brought them second hand off another forum member here. Absolutely no regrets with them.

Zeiss Terra ED 8x32's. without having the money to jump straight to the high end stuff I found most 10x42's were just taxing to glass through for any period of time unless I was looking further away than I could walk in a day... 8's just have a lot less shake to the image, really comfortable to live with. If it's that far away that I can't see, then I can afford to walk a little closer and not spook it.

Wish I'd gone the 8x42's for better glassing on last light though! But the compact binos are great, barely notice them on the chest and run a swazi bino beret instead of a full on bulky harness.

I have a near new pr Leupold 10x42 Alpine HD - they were my spare pr while my Kahles were repaired. Brought off the forum, willing to sell back to the forum. PM me.

Originally Posted by Hunteast

I have a near new pr Leupold 10x42 Alpine HD - they were my spare pr while my Kahles were repaired. Brought off the forum, willing to sell back to the forum. PM me.

Maybe I'm blind, but I can't see a way to PM you. Might be cuz I'm still new to the forum?

Originally Posted by BravoBoss458

Maybe I'm blind, but I can't see a way to PM you. Might be cuz I'm still new to the forum?

I think you need a certain amount of posts before you get PMing abilities.

I reckon binos in the 1k range are a good compromise between quality and price. I have a pair of 8x42 Steiners which were about $900 new but got second hand for about $450. Second hand is a good way to go there are plenty of good condition second hand ones out there. Ive side by side looked through 1k binos and 4k binos and I can barely tell the difference, mind you its usually in adverse conditions the expensive ones come into their own, like low light and sun being on bad angles etc.