Printable View
Hi can anyone recommend to me some binoculars for a first time buy? I don't know much about them but I have recently been hunting the tops and could really do with a pair that's not too heavy/bulky under the $300 mark if possible? Second hand is fine if any members have anything to sell me :D
Cheers
In all honesty mate, your better off saving your pennies for something better, I went down that path of "I'm on a budget" and in the end went through two shitty pairs that would have went about half way to a pair that will last a lifetime. Good optics are the most important thing in a hunters repertoire in my opinion (that includes scope)
Totally agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter
I've been there, done that!
When I bought my first pair of binos I had three little kids, mortgage etc. so limited budget. First pair seemed ok but we're useless. Bought a 2nd pair and they were better but fogged out.
Bought a third pair after learning my lesson. A set of Swarovski. I've had them now for nearly 20 years and they haven't failed me yet!!
You can't buy cheap binos. It's money down the drain! If u can't afford quality binos, then better to go without.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So its not worth paying a few hundred to get some, knowing you will upgrade, so that can get out hunting in the meant time?
Most are going to take a while to save the 5k a nice scope and binos are going to cost
I bought some Bushnell H2O 10 x 25 binos a while back for about $150 and to be fair they were utter shite! They did the job in strong light ok I guess but when they needed to perform i.e. early morning and late afternoon they didnt.Quote:
Originally Posted by sAsLEX
I since saved up a bit and bought some Leupold Mojave 10 x 42 for about $700 and the difference was pretty major. Sooo much better light pick up and the glass quality was way better too.
I reckon you will get some decent entry level for $300 but just bear in mind you will want to upgrade so save save save :D
Since I'm poor I bought a pair of Leupold Yosemites (under $200 if you ask nicely enough at your local shop, probably better online). They seemed to have good reviews online so I went for them and they do ok for me, I am very well aware of how much better more expensive ones are though. Keep an eye on the for sale section on forums etc, bargains pop up now and then.
I've got some lupy cascades.
Should be able to find them for 450-500 bucks.
They have found a lot of deer even out kms away.
Iv had them side by side most of the top binos and yep they are better but not by much at all. Certainly not 4.5 grand better.
But on the other hand they are 10x better than 300 dollar binos.
OK so if I were to spend a bit more what should i be looking for to tell the good from the bad? Someone said I would be be best to look at 10x42 power for deer, is this good advice?
Yep
That would be ideal, I run 8x42's and they do alright but I'll be upgrading later this year to some leica's probably the HD-B's and definitely going 10x42s
Depends what you're after - 8x has wider field of view and easier to hold steady, 10x a bit more magnification for seeing further away. Good optical quality is more important, I reckon you'll see more detail further away with a good 8x than an average 10x.
I have a pair of Zen-Ray ED2 which I got for $300 and they're really nice, but that was half the normal price. As others have said, it is probably worth upping your budget to $400+ and get something that you will keep longer term.
Redfield Rebel's 10x42 are about 3hundy, to look through at a shop they're no different to a 6hundy pair of leupold 10x42.
try to find some Zen-Rays over seas, try camerlandny.com, from what ive read these are the best bang for buck binos in the lower price range
No offense but i've never seen a deer in the shop at 300m plus. Only way to get a decent gauge of their worth is to take them outside and compare against things in the distance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frosty
If you are hunting open tops then get 10x42's, if you are hunting broken country and more bush with shorter sight lines then get 8x42's. It is counter productive to buy shit bino's because you will not enjoy looking through them, therefore you won't use them much at all, then whats the point having them?
Redfield Rebels are the same as Leupold Arcadia's in quality - crap. May look okay in a shop with good lighting, but don't cut the mustard in the field, (from experience with having used/trialled a lot of different bino's over the years). Minimum I would recommend is Leupold Cascades. Speaking from experience, for every $100 you spend (up to approx $1k) you get significantly better optics, after the $1k mark the quality difference vs additional costs reduces.
When looking at optics in a store, try and do it when the light outside is fading (i.e. closing time through winter). Take them outside (with the salesman) and look into the shadows and try and make out objects, the further away the better as looking at something 20m across the road won't show you enough of a difference. You will soon tell which ones are quality and which are not.
Also Looking at one point through binoculars in the store is very different to scanning a hillside. Move them around as you are trying them (as if you are searching), you will soon see that a lot of the $300 bino's will have quite a lot of divergence around the outside edges of the lenses and your viewing picture will distort a lot as you scan. This will cause a lot of strain on your eyes and lead to headaches.
You don't need to spend $1000's on bino's ($500 will get you a very good pair comparative to $ spent). But the difference between $300 and $500 is substantial. Save just a little longer...
my 2c worth (and rant of the day over) :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan
I use some Bushnell 10x42s. They were about $420 and do the trick fine. I will upgrade when the bank allows but no rush.
What these guys say is true, the difference between a pair of $300 vs $600 and the from $600 to $900 is phenomenal. HOWEVER, cheap (at least $300, otherwise not worth it) binos are definitely better than none if your finances really won't allow for more. I have popped many many animals with my set and am in no rush to upgrade. A friend of mine has some redfield rebels and since purchasing he has had 300% more luck than with no binos.
If you can - save and get some goodies, if things are tight then there are some entry level binos that will set you up nicely.
Try and find some middle ground from what these old pro's say, they're right most of the time but not all the time ;)
Well Ill be, In all the years I never thought to step outside the shop doors..... Maybe i should have explained my post better for those that need things spelled out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gibo
Maybe :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Frosty
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiddy
+1 couldn't recommend highly enough, theyre as good as anything in the -1000$ price range
OK looks like I'll hold out a bit longer and find some Zen-Rays or similar. Thank you all for the great information, saved me wasting my money!
Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk
I have a pair of Konus 10 x 40's they are the budget brand from Lica,$250 bucks and ive never had a negative comment from anyone on them even guys using the geovids.They would be the best entry binos going IMO And not to exspensive and awesome back up binos when you do upgrade but you wont be in a hurry if you have these:thumbsup:
Have look at the Konus first don't take internet talk as gospel see for yourself.Quote:
Originally Posted by LifeLust
Thanks I will check them out m8
Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk
http://www.outdoorsupplies.co.nz/Kon...42Titanium.htmQuote:
Originally Posted by Neckshot
These the ones?
Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk
I haven't bought any yet because i dont wanna skimp (too much) I'm in a similar boat to you i guess wanting a first pair but not wanting to pay the earth.. I've got some use of my father inlaws ancient pentax 10x atm but i may a swell cup my hands together and look through them at dusk and dawn. The Zen-rays do rate very very well I must say for the price point. Zen-Ray ED3 demo units are $369US probably be a little less then 5 hundy to the door.? Something to look at.
Leupold 111741, BX-2 Cascades Binocular 10x42mm Roof
There ya go mate, these will do you for now, anybody tried the nikon monarch 10x42s?
Yep they are the ones.if you have time cruse around the hunting shops and try shitloads out.When I work in H n F and guys come in looking at binos I give them every pair we have in the shop we go out side and they try them out,and weather they buy or not it gives them a real good idea on what they want.Quote:
Originally Posted by LifeLust
I got a pair of Vanguard Endevour 10.5x45. I think they are awesome and have had a lot of positive feedback from other guys about them.
Got them off Amazon - highly recommend them.
Good advice there - not only does everyone have different eyes that prefer different things, but (especially with cheaper ones) there can be a bit of variation among supposedly identical binos as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neckshot
My 2c worth. Just got some Vortex Diamondback 8x42 from BandH.com Including a bushnell harness cost me just over $300 nz landed. Having tried them I am chuffed to fuck with them. Arrived in less than a week.
I use Norwest bino's ideal for Tahr and gave up the spotting scope
@LifeLust check out my Zen Rays under the buy and sell section :thumbsup:
I got some Leupold Yosemite 8x30's and I'm bloody happy with them! Shit you can see a lot with them! They are my first pair of binos so I don't have any experience with expensive binos but I compared them to a mates 10x40 Bushnell H2O and the Leupolds are way brighter and clearer! To me they are worth every one of the $220 I paid for them.
I had 8x32 Yosemite, nice and clear byt a little small for the big open Canterbury tops. I lost them in a scurby valley. Now have 10x42 H2Os and find them ok for the price. Have spotted animals over 2km away with them.
Currebt sitting in Heathrow airport waiting for flight to Germany. Might get some new binos there.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2