Hey guys....I'm looking for some recommendations before I buy a set of binoculars. I'll be hunting mostly small plots that range from thick cover to some open farm. However, most of my hunting will be treestand, blind, and ground in the thicker woods.
Could you please share your thoughts and recommendations on magnification choice, brand, size, etc...? I'd like to have a smaller more compact pair to minimize obstruction....like to see photos of your carry straps as well if you have them.
I don't mind paying for quality but I'd like to stick some where within the $85-$200 range. I should be able to get a nice pair within this price range?
Any help you can give is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
CJ
Leoupold Yosimite 6 X 30's. $100 or so. Great image for the money and waterproof. Lin
Thanks Lin...
I found a pair of Leupold 8X23 "Green Ring" at Wallyworld on clearance for $75 and they're pretty good for the money. But.....yesterday I was in BPS and messed up and looked through a pair of Swarovski's. I'm ruined for life. :scared:
I've found a smaller "shirt pocket" pair of binocs is more likely to actually make it out with you than larger ones you leave at home. Of course the larger the lenses the better they do in low light.
If you hunt the thick stuff, I don't think binocs are much use.
I have a small pair of Minoltas and a pair of Nikon Monarchs that I like if I want something larger.
I second the Leopold Yosimite 6x30, got a pair off an internet store for about 90.00 inc. shipping. I think thier agood compromise between hard to use mini's and full size
Having been doing this bowhunting stuff for over 30 years, I would recommend 8x42s and a Crooked Creek strap to support the bino's off your neck and on your shoulders. In my opinion and with my experience, if you use the small pocket bino's with a small lens, you will leave them home after a while because you won't be able to see in the low light when most deer are most active. The larger the exit pupil, ( divide the objective lens dia. by the magnification power ) the more light the bino's will draw in. Anything over an exit pupil of 7 will be more than your eye will take in. 8x42 exit pupil is 5.25 while that of a 8x23 is only 2.875. Although 5.25 is not 7 it is a good compromise between physical size, weight and performance.
I'm currently using Bushnell's Trophy binoculars and they are "ok" but not as clear as better units but they fit in my budgit. Shop on-line and you may find much better deals than you will find in most catalogs.
7X42 Bausch & Lomb Discovery's great light gathering and clarity.
Most things in life are a compromise and few things demonstrate that like binoculars. You will need to weigh the options and decide what will work best for you. For hunting in the woods, I recommend a lower power like 6 or 7x. Better field of view and easier to hold still while still powerful enuf to pick out details at normal distances. Smaller sized glasses are much more convenient and likely to be carried while bigger glasses offer better performance, particularly in lower light. You will get more "bang for your buck" with porro prism vs roof prism but the roofs are more compact. Expect to get what you pay for.
I just got a pair of Nikon Action 7x35's from opticsplanet.com. $55 shipped w/case and strap, and the image is pretty good.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-7x35-action.html
Mark
Thanks guys for your feedback. You all make good points. I've begun searching on optics planet.
I'm leaning toward making the investment in a decent pair that will last. Fellow tradganger recommended the Nikon ATB line....they look like a good, quality product for the price. I looked at both the 8x36 and 8x42's.
What do you think?
Thanks again....CJ
The Burris Signature Select 8X32 at $253 from swfa.com (or slightly more from other sources) are a bit more than your stated top end, but you will never regret spending the extra money to buy quality. These are the best binoculars you can buy in a "budget" range. I know -- I have the very expensive Leicas and Swarovskis, and while this Burris model is not up to the quality of the finest European optics, it is darn close at a fraction of the cost. I promise you will love these Burris binoculars but will be disappointed with many of the other models that you may think are bargains now. There is nothing worse than a crappy pair of binoculars when you are out hunting. I have owned several bargain models in the past and wished I had spent the money on the binoculars and cheaped out on the bow and arrows instead of the optics. You spend most of your time looking for the animals, not shooting at them. You might as well enjoy the hunts by having a good time looking, because most of the time you will never get a shot off. It is true that the most important equipment on a bowhunt are your binoculars and your broadheads. Even a $100 used bow and some cheap arrows will deliver the broadhead to the deer if you get close enough, but you have to see the deer first and have to cut through its vitals in the end. I love my bows and arrows too and have spent way too much money on them, but I made sure that I bought good optics and broadheads as my first priority. I recommend the 8X32 model because of 3 reasons. They are small enough that you will carry them all the time. They are big enough and powerful enough to give you adequate light gathering and magnification for most situations. They are much cheaper than the Burris Signature Select models with bigger objective lenses that are of comparable quality, so they are still close to the top end of your price range although still 25% more than your highest price. I took a pair to Africa last month and asked my Professional Hunter what he thought of them. He has a pair of Leica 8X32 binoculars like mine and thinks the Leicas are the greatest, as do I. He told me that the Burris binoculars were "BRILLIANT!!! -- almost as nice as the Leicas" which is nearly the highest complement he could give them. I agree with him. Even though the Leicas, the Swarovskis, the Zeisses and a few other brands (most of them costing over $1000 and some over $2000) are clearly superior optically and otherwise, the Burris binoculars are 95% of the really expensive ones. I only recommend the Burris Signature Select models in the Burris line. Some of the other less expensive models are pretty good for the price, but you need to get above a certain level of excellence or you are just wasting your money and probably ought to just do without any binoculars at all, which in my opinion is the best option if you don't want to spent the money on quality.
Allan
The very best bowhunting bino I've ever used is the Swarovski SLC 8x30. I've tried a bunch of different brands and power combos and these will do everything required for woods hunting.
Optics are where I never try to compromise. Spend as much as you possibly can afford, you won't be dissapointed. Mine are Kahles 8x40s.
Told the wife I was buying one pair to last a lifetime- spent $699 on them 9 years ago, and they go with me where ever I go. I've got the strap system to wear them hunting and then a plastic box for when they are in the truck. Splurge a little- and get better ones than you really want, you'll be glad you did.
I use Zeiss 8x40s - and I hunt THICK stuff hee in Easern NC. little big I think but I double duty them using them for spotting around fields as well. Little spensive as well for what you want BUT they are worth every penny. The more time you are gonna spend behind binos the better you need to buy! or get tylenol to go with em!
Got to agree about the swarovskis they WILL spoil you if you look through them. I planning an elk hunt in the near future and gonna drop the money for a pair of EL 10x42s in January. Again WAY spensive but worth every penny.
For your case, like others have said leupold is AWESOME and the have GREAT customer service should you ever have a problem which I doubt you will.
I worry about last light - look into binos that will draw light for that last little bit of glassing before night.
J
I'd go with the Monarch 8x36 ATB over the burris 8x32. I have the burris now and am saving to buy the Monarchs. I'll give you a deal on the Burris if that's what you want.
BD
I just picked up a pair of Steiner 8.5x26 binocs from for use this year. I love my 10x42 Leicas, but they are just to big. The Steiners seem to be a good glass, worked good at first and last light. Not as good as the Leicas, but good.
By the way, bird watching websites often have good reviews of lots of binocs.
i have an older model of zeiss 10 x 40 that are a little heavy...my goto pair day in and out is Minox...picked up a demo pair and saved a couple hundred bucks..very nice glass and more compact than the zeiss...
For open country hunting I love my 10x40 Zeiss. In the woods and on tree stands I reach first for my 7x24 Bosh & Lomb Discovery compacts. These are the same optics Asbell recommends in his "Still Hunters and Ground Hunters Bible".They are hard to find now, but if you do come across a pair don't hesitate. Great glass and small enough that you will crry them with you everytime you go to your tree stand. :thumbsup:
I'm Very happy with my Nikon Monarch 8x42. For the $$$, (about#300) they do everything I want in optics.
I had a pair of Nikon binos that lasted me along time, they were good binos. They got tore up on the return trip from Africa??? a lens got loose in them some how.
J
Thanks all...a lot of mixed reviews here. The Nikons keeps popping up. I was sold on the Burris based on a lot of good points made by Allan.
Would you guys say the Nikon and Burris are very comparable in quality, etc??
If not, what specifically would you say is the difference?
Thanks again....CJ
I have a pair of Leupold Wind River Katmai in 8X32 and absolutely love them. I have never had the pleasure of looking through a $1000+ pair of binocs simply cause I don't want to spoil myself since I can't afford them, but I feel these Katmai's will "hang with the best". They are small, but not small enough to be discomforting to look through like pocket models usually are, have awesome light gathering capabilities, and are very very clear and sharp.
Generally they run almost double what your stated price range is, but I found mine online as display model and got them for under $200. They are also available in 6X32 if you prefer a lower power.
QuoteOriginally posted by Lin Rhea:
Leoupold Yosimite 6 X 30's. $100 or so. Great image for the money and waterproof. Lin
I'll second that. For less than $100 you'd be hard pressed to find anything better.
If you hunt around on some bino forums, there's a common theme of Vortex being one of the best for the money out there right now.
Based on this I bought a pair of Vortex 8x42 for something like $200...all I can say is...wow...
It would be very difficult for someone to find better bino's for the money, and to top it off with their guarrantee...basically you can send them the parts in a shoebox and they'll repair or replace...LIFETIME
Just want to piggy-back on this thread. What is the best size optic for light gathering and yet still small enough for mobility? I have the Leupold Mesa 8x23 ( http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-8x23-wind-river-mesa-binoculars.html ) I got them because I wanted small enough for one-handed use and I have to say I'm disappointed in them. The last twenty minutes of light I just put them away because I can see better with my naked eyes.
There's a huge difference between 8x23 and 6x30. There is a coefficient directly related in the factor of the first number as it relates to the second number. I don't remember it except that the factor of 5 is the max that the human eye can deal with or something like that.
In an 8x23 that factor is roughly 3....so the light gathering capability will be less than stellar in that pair.
I wrote a review of the 6x30 Yosemite by Leupold- I owned Leica 10x42's and Swaro 8x30's for a long time and I am telling you, for eastern US work, the 6x30 is a fantastic pair of binos - inexpensive, waterproof, and the image is fantastic. Lin Rhea knows what he is talking about.
This is just a thought but if you need very expensive binos to gather all the light you can at the last moment so you can see an animal far away, wouldn't it be to late to start the stalk on him anyway? If I carry a pair, I don't need anything higher than a 4X because the woods are so thick here its useless to use anything bigger. I could see the need for a strong set in the wide open spaces out west though.
Leopold Katmai 6x32 is the best I have used seperating brush and fur.
I am with Bjorn on the Katmai 6x32. A little more expensive than what you are looking for but well worth the investment.
Oh Yeah,,,right now optics planet has some of the best prices I have seen on most bino's mentioned. Plus free shipping and great customer service.
I just went with the Leoupold Yosimite 6 X 30's based on all of the comments. Can't wait to get them.
I have used Stieners 8X30's for 4 or 5 years and have found them to be excellent! In good weather and in bad, they have never let me down.