What ya got for Binoculars?

[drobinette]

I know everyone says buy the best you can afford when it comes to optics. For the past several years I have been making due with a pair of Field and Stream 10x25 binoculars. They work fine when it is sunny outside, but in fog or in those ever so critical twilight moments, they have failed me miserably. On Saturday evening at last light, I had a buck at 65 yards rubbing a sapling for all he was worth and I could not see him through the binoculars at all. Just to make it through this season, I had on a dead zone scope on my 350LE, which wasn't any better at drawing in light in trying to ID the buck. I am looking to upgrade but I see a lot of good options out there. Mainly looking at some of the Vortex line and a few Nikons. Not looking to spend more than 300. I am interested to hear what you guys use and have had success with.

[galamb]

Both myself and the guy I hunt with use Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10X42's.

I will say that I rarely use binoculars when deer hunting although I carry a pair of compacts in my hunting pack - but for deer, the area I hunt doesn't lend itself to "glassing" - too dense/not needed.

But when hunting moose/bear (gun hunting) where we can see "for miles", that model Bushnell "won the contest" a few years back when we finally decided to spend "a few bucks" on glass (these retailed in the 350'ish range/Canuck bucks).

(I sell guns/ammo/hunting supplies at work so had the advantage of doing side by side comparisons on a couple dozen different pairs)

If I had to replace these today I would be opting for a pair of Steiner Predator 10X42's. They go for about 100 bucks more than the Bushnell's. But until I looked through the Steiner's I thought the Bushnell's were the clearest/brightest glass in the "under $400 CAD" market.

Both that I have mentioned, "in my eyes looking through them" were far superior to the Nikon Prostaff 7 but will say that the Monarch 5's were better than the Bushnell but below the Steiner's (and cost within 20 bucks of the Steiner's - 100 more than the Bushnell).

[TPM]

I use Carson 842HD 3D. On par with Vortex Diamondbacks. Both a great choice in the $300 range.
Good rule of thumb for longer range clarity is to make sure your objective lens us at least five times your magnification. In other words 8 power should be at least x40 and 10 power x50 etc.

[Fred T]

Bushnell Trophy XLT 8x42.Suit my needs perfectly and couldn't pass up the $69 sale price and a voucher for a $30 mail in rebate.Nice glass even for the normal retail price IMO.

[Hillcountry]

Wife and I took up birding so I was looking high end. Found a half price sale on two new pairs of Zeiss'' best HD binoculars, one 8x42 Victory and a nice compact 8x32 Victory. A lot of dough but once and done for life and the lives of my descendants (unless they sell them off)
Couldn't pass on the half price either!

[ThackMan]

I use Steiner Predator 8x30 I bought them several years ago. You can see in near darkness (dusk/dawn)with them.

[Flecha]

Zeiss Terra work for me.

[JerseyJeff]

I won a pair of Leupold Rogue compact binocs last year at Bass Pro.
Not the best, but the price was right.

[wabi]

Leupold Yosemite 8x30.
Lower price range for Leupold, but still good optics.

I watched a buck I could not see with my eyes after sunset the other evening. I watched him from about sunset as he worked his way in to eat at the feeder and food plot, and then he stayed around until it was too dark to see him. When I could not follow his movements with my naked eyes any more, the Leupolds brought him into clear focus.

No - I didn't shoot him.
Here's a picture of the same buck at the feeder that might explain my not being too upset with letting him walk.

[Boo]

You will be happy with either of these.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/steiner-hun ... ulars.html

http://www.opticsplanet.com/steiner-10x ... ulars.html

[Buszone]

I carry Leica 10x25 for the bow hunt and Leica 10x42 for with the rifle and use a Leica range finder 800, worth every penny. I also had a pair of Zeiss 10x25 that were real nice but I gave them to my friend and big game guide in B.C for a Xmas gift.

[roly]

Zeizz Terra ED. 10X42


Only cause I won them at BooFest 2 years ago.

They are nice though. A lot of bird watchers like this model.

[Patcon]

I did a search for binoculars on the forum a while back and read every thread that came up. There is a long thread titled binoculars I believe. After doing all the reading and handling the Steiners and a nice set of Vortexs I went with ZenRays. If I remember right they are the Summit HD's about $240 (dielectric mirrors) and I can see until almost total darkness. The only problem now is I need to upgrade my scope because that glass can't keep up...

[mchurch]

Leica ultravid HD 10x42

[vpsaline]

'Vanguard' brand gives you good bang for your buck.

But it simply comes down to looking for model between 200-300$ with 'ED PRIME GLASS'!!!