I hunt in the Southern Zone of NY State. Primarily hardwoods with maybe a few fields mixed in. No expansive western views. I'm looking for some recommendations for a light, compact, set of binoculars on a budget. looking for something that I can throw in a pocket or a pack and not worry to much about. I'd also like some info and recommendation on power recommendations.
Thx in advance guys.
i like a low magnification for the woods 2 - 4 or so, higher 8 or more for longer distances like fields. thats if you get a fixed mag.
adjustable is nice. my current pair is a bushnell 7-15 i believe.
if your looking for a throw away pair so to speak, you can get tasco,bushnell, nikons etc pretty cheap, but they are not going to be the sharpest, clearest, most rugged.
the more you spend usually the better the optics are.
i like to look at binoculars as an investment. a good pair taken care of will last a long time.
also when in the woods, a larger objective lense will gather more light.
I've got a pair of Leica 8x32's that I love. In fact I can't stand to be in the woods without them no matter what I'm doing. They work perfectly for whitetails.
Hard to beat a set of Leupold Yosemite 8x30's for all around effectiveness and budget. For sheer bang for the buck can't ask for much more.
I'm also a big fan of Alpen binos. Have a set of Alpen Apex 10x40's that I upgraded to from the Yosemites. Super quality Japanese glass and built rugged. I joke about the Alpens being poor man's Swaro's. Lifetime no-fault warranty on the Alpens. No store receipt required. They have different models to fit your budget also. Apex series gets high marks.
You'll get a lot of recommendations for Vortex binos as well. Also great value and have same kinda warranty.
I don't have personal experience with Vortex but you always hear good things.
Can't beat the lifetime no-fault warranty you get with Alpen or Vortex glass.
I would look at a inexpensive Bushnell pair. I have two pairs of Zeiss. I use Zeiss 8X20 compact for the type of hunting you are describing. I own a pair of Bushnell H2O I use out west. They are great and inexpensive. I would look for a compact pair of Bushnell H2O 8x25. They are $50. If they are as good as my 10x40 they will be great. My Bushnells are better than my Zeiss in my opinion.
I have q pair of Zeiss 8x32 conquest. They have been great for my Whitetail needs.
Though 8x is a very popular all around glass, for hunting the thicker woods of the East and Midwest, I'd recommend 6x or 7x compact binoculars. Smaller and lighter than larger power glasses. Easier to hold with one hand without a shaky image. With an objective lens of 26-30 mm, they'll also gather light pretty well in low light situations.
I hunt upstate PA so our terrain is similar. I find 6X32 to be just the ticket. Adequate magnification with a wider field of view than I higher powered pieces. Mine are Vortex and I think they are a great value.
Lots of decent glass is available at lots of price ranges. Nikon is another who makes a small binocular that works very well, and they fit into a jacket pocket. Best thing is the <$100 price tag.
ChuckC
im a fan of the Nikon Prostaff binos. they also have the monarch which are just a tad more $.
very clear and wont break the bank. about 150-200
You will be hard-pressed to find a better combination of price, quality and useful application than the 6x30 Leupold Yosemites.
I hunt in NH, similar to the terrain you are in, maybe just a tad thicker here. I own three pairs of 8X42 or 8x32 binocluars. My favorite is a pair of Vortex 8X32 Diamondbacks, they aren't compact and aren't fullsize, they are kind of in the middle. Perfect size and magnification for the hunting I do. Good glass with a lifetime warranty at a decent price.
I would also look at Vortex's 6X30 binocular, it is smaller and a good glass for eastern whitetail woods.
David
I recommend the Leupold Yosemite 6x30. They are small, but at 6x30 have a large exit pupil and are thus good at dawn and dusk. Plus, they are available all over the internet at under 100 bucks. I think they are perfect for eastern hunting. I have had mine for years and love them.
Leupold Yosemite 6x30 is a good glass for thicker stuff. Around $100. I use the in Texas brushy stuff, also can get you an idea of what is coming if you have 100-200 yard view. Have had mind fof going on nine years.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jim Wright:
You will be hard-pressed to find a better combination of price, quality and useful application than the 6x30 Leupold Yosemites.
Agreed, best bang for the buck I've seen.
vortex, they have a great warrantee, great eye relief, light weight, and........
for the weight you can go with a little bigger glass.
I have the razor 8x40, and love them.
Leupold Yosemites 6x30-
Another vote for Vortex. I just bought a pair of Diamond back MID size in 8x30 with a incredible warranty no questions asked lifetime transferable where they will repair or replace.
THEN what ever binocs you end up buying IF they have the tripod adapter screw in the front Vortex makes a binocular lock that you can lock them to fit the adjustment between your eye distance. Then the only thing you have to do is pull them up and focus! I absolutely love my Vortex binoculars especially with the binocular lock!!
Most of my hunting is also southern zone. I love my Nikon Monarch's. I have the 10x42 and they are perfect for any hunting I've ever done. They arent pocket binoculars but I love them in low light. My father has the 8x32's. Really nice but I'd never go smaller than that.
If I were looking for a new pair, I'd look at vortex for sure
Can't find a better budget bino than an 8X Vortex Diamondback IMHO
There are many good binoculars on the market. Most already mentioned in previous posts.
A lot of folks concentrate on 'where' they will use them, deep woods, open woodlands, mountains, etc.
And that's important. But 'how' they are used is more important. For example, if they are used as quick checks of what's lies ahead (a minute or less viewing), I'd go with the least expensive combination of power, field of view, water proofing, etc. that I will need for the most common terrain I hunt.
If you often spend several minutes looking through the binoculars, perhaps up to a half hour of detailed looking at a time, consider the Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski's of the world.
I know a lot of folks laugh at the high prices and a quick look through them side by side with lower cost alternatives in a store doesn't show any noticeable difference. But prolonged viewing has shown me a real difference related to eye fatigue. I hunt a lot in the wooded farmlands in southern Ohio and Indiana and hunt from the ground. I'm amazed at how many deer I can actually see by glassing a 180 degree arc around by blind continuously. Well, at least 15-20 minutes at a time. Even if the distance I can see is only a 100 yards, I use my Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 often and for extended viewing sessions. Deer sneaking through thickets are easy to miss with the naked eye, but not with the binoculars. I don't know enough about optics to explain why I can look through the CL's without eye strain for extended periods of viewing, but can't with Bushnell Legends of about the same power. Something to consider.
I carry a pair of Leica 10x24 compacts in my shirt pocket when I do hunt. As with most things you get what you pay for so save your money until you can get a pair of clear, crisp and bright binos. This is jmo only.
Regards,
Grouse
Not all that small, but the best I have used are Steiner Predators 8X30.......great in the woods and clear as can be......you see them on sale a lot.
My vote is for Vortex. I've owned a pair of 8x42 Stokes probably 8 years now and last year noticed I couldn't get a pefect focus (thought it was my eyes!) Called Vortex and sent them in where they quickly repaired them and shipped them back to me free of charge. Great product and warrantee that they stand behind.
Can't beat Yosemites for the price and even higher priced!
Most of the time when I am hunting I use a 8X20 Zeiss. they are are just too handy. For any other times I use my 8X30 Swarovskis.
QuoteOriginally posted by george vernon:
There are many good binoculars on the market. Most already mentioned in previous posts.
A lot of folks concentrate on 'where' they will use them, deep woods, open woodlands, mountains, etc.
And that's important. But 'how' they are used is more important. For example, if they are used as quick checks of what's lies ahead (a minute or less viewing), I'd go with the least expensive combination of power, field of view, water proofing, etc. that I will need for the most common terrain I hunt.
If you often spend several minutes looking through the binoculars, perhaps up to a half hour of detailed looking at a time, consider the Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski's of the world.
I know a lot of folks laugh at the high prices and a quick look through them side by side with lower cost alternatives in a store doesn't show any noticeable difference. But prolonged viewing has shown me a real difference related to eye fatigue. I hunt a lot in the wooded farmlands in southern Ohio and Indiana and hunt from the ground. I'm amazed at how many deer I can actually see by glassing a 180 degree arc around by blind continuously. Well, at least 15-20 minutes at a time. Even if the distance I can see is only a 100 yards, I use my Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 often and for extended viewing sessions. Deer sneaking through thickets are easy to miss with the naked eye, but not with the binoculars. I don't know enough about optics to explain why I can look through the CL's without eye strain for extended periods of viewing, but can't with Bushnell Legends of about the same power. Something to consider.
^--------YES!! Well said!
I agree with Leupold yosemites I've had mine for years and hunted Ohio,pa,Kentucky and Wyoming with them great product and a great price.
Lots of good bino's listed for sure! I still say for the best bang for your buck and guarantee at least look at Vortex. BUT even if you end up not buying them look at the Vortex binocular locks. PERIOD. The best $12 accessory you can buy for binoculars that accept or are built for tripod mounting. And most mentioned here are built for this accessory but bet most folks don't even know they have this option or Vortex makes a LOCK for to fit!
6x30 Yosemite are what I am using. Very pleased with the price/performance ratio. Paid $90 A few years ago. Even if I were to buy more expensive glass I would still keep them for the truck.
I've been looking at some Pentax 8-16 X 21 UCF II's. They seem small and have a zoom feature that could come in handy. Pentax is supposed to be pretty good glass. At under 90 dollars they might be worth considering. Does anyone have any experience with them?
Riverrat43, I'd be just a bit leery of that sized glass. My experience, at least with the lower priced compacts, is that they are ok for short duration use during the middle of the day, but most of my hunting activity takes place either right after sun-up, or late in the afternoon and that isn't much of an exit pupil even at 8 power, let alone 16. I would be willing to bet they are going to be pretty dim.
You're right about Pentax making a good glass. I have an 8x32 that is very good - almost as good as my Nikon Monarch X 8.5 x 45HD. Trouble is, all the makers also offer cheaper glasses and I haven't had much luck with them.
I've got the Minox compact 8x25 BV coming in the next day or two (OK, I snooped). Excellent reviews on the birder forums for a compact, and quite affordable. Interested in seeing how they compare to my 8x30 Swaros. Wanted them to keep in the truck; $1000 binos left in the truck console makes me a bit nervy...
I use binoculars every day in the field. I always carry them when hunting. I agree with what many have said. 6-8 power magnification would be max. I would shy away from anything smaller than a 32mm objective. That is about the same light gathering capability as the human eye. Go with anything smaller and you won't be able to use them well in that magic dawn/dusk time frame. Anything over 32mm will gather more light than your eye can naturally. My everyday carry for forest work here in the ozarks is a 8 X 32 nikon SE. I also have the 10 X 42 nikon SE. These are both porro prism design which I just prefer over the roof prism. I also really like the Vortex line. Really good glass and a great company to work with. You can get nice glass for under $300. The $300-$800 has a lot of variability with coatings and special features. My everyday carry bins are in that range. Over $1000 gets into the elite league. Fantastic glass, but not on a teacher's salary :scared: ...someday maybe after retirement The biggest recommendation is to go try several sets and find the one that fits your eyes best.
Vortex diamondback in 8 x 28 are a good value. Personally, my faves for riding in the pocket are Leica trinovid 8x20s. Not great in low light but awesome throughout the day. Clear and easy on the eyes.
Leupold rogues for a man on a budget. Been very happy with them.
Vortex, great glass at a price way lower than what they are wroth
QuoteOriginally posted by larry:
Vortex, great glass at a price way lower than what they are wroth
Dittos, check out Eagle optics. They have great sales. Same company as Vortex
Bladepeek, You're right. The low end zoom binos have really bad reviews for the most part. The Pentax doesn't fare much better if any.
Leupold for 20 years here.
Hey guys, thanks for all the great feedback. Looks like I have a pair of Leupold Yosemites 6x30 in my future. Found them in NYC for $79.
It's been said many times here but go with what REALLY suits your needs and what you can afford. I will say though that I would have been money ahead had I bought a good pair of Binoculars in the first place rather than going through a bunch of cheaper ones that normally ended up just sitting on the dash of my truck.
I hunted whitetails for at least 15 years without ever taking a pair of binoculars with me. I did just fine. I never missed out on a kill due to not having binoculars. Then I went on a hunt in Africa and the P.H. had a set of Swarvoski binoculars. I took a few looks through them and was amazed at what I could see with them...especially at "prime time".
A few years later, I took the money I had saved for a new bow and bought a good set of Leica binoculars. It was money well spent. I never step foot in the woods without them and I use them a LOT more than my bow in a normal hunting day!
Lot's of people say that they all look the same when looking through them in the store. But out in the woods is a different deal.
Will they fog up? Do they gather light at prime time? Will they mostly end up sitting on the dash of the truck?
Consider a pair of binoculars to be an investment. If you by a pair from one of the big 3 companies it will be expensive...but if you do not lose them you will have them for life.
My time in the outdoors has greatly been enhanced by having a good set of glass around my neck at all times. Each year I walk all the way to a pre-set treestand and realize I forgot my binoculars. I walk all the way back to the truck to get them. I simply cannot stand to be without them now. Just my 2 cents! Good luck out there guys!
Anyone use the vortex crossfire 2?
Love my vortex diamondbacks 8x32.
Jonsimoneau nailed it in his last post. That has been my experience as well. Only other comment I have based on my experience is I tried a 10x40 Leica for s few years. I went back to my 8 powers because I did not like that much bulk/ weight when bow hunting- particularly in the mountains.
Update: got a pair of the Leupold Yosemites 6x30 last night. I'm a little bit surprised about the size and weight. I was hoping for something more compact. I hunt from the ground and like to have my bow in hand and at the ready. These are definitely a 2 hand operation. I have a month to return them. So a little more playing around is in order.
Let's switch gears a bit. Anyone have experience with a Vortex Solo Monocular 8x32. Any thoughts?