Same thing here,.. what's your favorite brand of binoculars,.. and why ?

 

I'm currently useing and VERY happy with a set of Nikon 10 x 42mm Monarchs. Lightweight and very clear renditions of what you are looking at with a very good field of view.

 

 

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

I also have 10x42's but mine are Swift Horizons. Very clear binos and very sharp contrast. I personally can't tell the difference between them and my buddies Nikons, but I don't have perfect eyesight. I am also not refined enough to tell the difference between a Bose radio and regular radio. I did get my Swifts new in the box for under $100 however.
Once known as 3does,1buck pre-"upgrade" : It is better to rule than to serve.

I'm using Leupold Wind River Pinnecals 10x40. Ultra clear, fast focusing and very durable. Picked them up about three years ago and haven't used anything else since.

Oh and another good thing about these are that they come with two different sets of ocular rings. One for use with no glasses and the other is slightly molded to fit eyeglasses ( which is what I wear).

Did alot of shopping before I bought these. Looked at Swarvaski,Leica,Ziese, and a few others and for the clarity, multi-coated lens, warranty and price you can't beat them.

Paul "DUCKWILD" Snyder "if its got fur, feathers or hair, I'm hunting it!!" NAHC LM SCI Member NRA Member DU Member

 Ok, I have used Bushnell, nikon,swarovski & fujion binoculars of various magnifications over the last 40 yrs. I have hunted Michigan (woods and fields) Maine, (big woods) and out west, Colorado and now Montana, spending hours glassing the mountains, If you spend alot of time behind your binoculars onder all weather conditions, you need the best optics your wallet can afford. I currently use Swarovski EL 10x42 WB Binocular and LOVE them. I had 8x32 before, which were very clear, but the magnification was lacking. I USE these binocs...they are out in all weather conditions and get knocked around while climbing or sneaking theough thick woods. Simply...they hold up!

My hunting partner uses Meopta 10x42. they have great lenses, but they are a little heavier and the eyecups sometimes don't stay in place...but they are 1/2 the price of the swarovski. They are a great buy and should not be overlooked. Cabelas caries them and markets them as their Euro model.

 

Good hunting!!

Hunterjim

Yeah,.. I've used mine 4-5 seasons out West I use them on the "bino-system" carrier harness and that worked out really well. I use the Nikon Monarchs for large area scanning and then my spotting scope for a closer view on specifics.

I also own and use a set of Nikon compacts in a 10x25mm magnification. I use these more for hunting here at home in Michigan but have used them out in Idaho elk hunting along with the 10x42mm  but only in the tighter cover areas.

Plus there are a couple of Bushnell bino's (8x36mm  & 10x50mm) that I keep in the house on the back window sills for scanning the back fields here on the farm.

 

Not quite the claitity with the Bushnells,....

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

I bought my daughter a set of Bushnell Sportsman 10X42 for Christmas. That way she can learn to take care of them before I get her a more expensive pair. She loves them and it was a good starter set, if she breaks or loses them they were under $30 so easy to replace. She won't be looking through her scope like I have seen others do!
Once known as 3does,1buck pre-"upgrade" : It is better to rule than to serve.

Swifts 8x40mm, very clear and rugged and come with a great warranty just in case I might ever need it.

 

evoguns@gpcom.net

 

 

evoguns@gpcom.net "Gun Control, Is Hitting Your Target" NAHC Life Member - DU Committee Member - Pheasants Forever Committe Member - NWTF Member - NRA Member - RMEF Member - Certified 4-H Shooting Instructor - Gunsmith/FFL Holder

These are what I got although I bought them from sportsmans guide for around $50 dollars.  They work great I tested them against the Nikon and the Leupold same same.  http://www.galileosplace.com/Binocu...042MC.html

 

 

 

OTSS, Disclaimer-All views and opinions in this post are of my own and not subject for change as I can think what I want when I want and will not be held acountable for the pissing and moaning brought on by reading said words. G&M Wild Game Processing, Helena, MT "You Guttem We Cuttem" Mike R. Life Member Since 2001

I too have what Duckwild has and love them.  I also have a Bushnell that I got with a scope deal and they are good as well.  I have a had time paying over $300 for binoculars, is $1000+ worth it?

 

It is NOT what your Country can do for you; it's what YOU can do for your Country (JFK). NAHC LM 1993. Hunter Ed Instructor, Greater NW WIS.

I don't think that paying a $1000 dollars for a pair of binos is even an option for me.  You can get the same glass the same coating and all of the same options for less why would you pay more?  Just to say you own a certain brand of this or that.  I am not a material person if it works and is low cost I will buy it no need to spend a fortune to go hunting.  I haven't paid a thousand dollars for anything that I use just for hunting and never will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTSS, Disclaimer-All views and opinions in this post are of my own and not subject for change as I can think what I want when I want and will not be held acountable for the pissing and moaning brought on by reading said words. G&M Wild Game Processing, Helena, MT "You Guttem We Cuttem" Mike R. Life Member Since 2001

Nope,.. not me either !

 

$1,000 is WAY too much to spend on a good set of binoculars!

 

When I purchased my Nikons I got them on SALE,.. paid $239.00 for them and they are an excellent set of optics. I felt they were even better than the Leupolds when I was comparing them,..and I really LIKE Leupold.

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

I don't know about that guys.  I paid around $500 for my bino's and they are well wroth every penny!!  I looked at at every other brand out there and for what I could afford they are the best.  If I could afford a more expensive pair I would have bought them but my budget didn't let me.

Bino's are like scopes, you get what you pay for. I can't see myself buying a $800 or $900 gun and then buying a $100 scope for it.  It wouldn't be using the gun to its full potential.

Every company makes different grade glass, so buy what you can afford. But I allows try to buy the best glass I can. It does make a HUGE difference!

 

Paul,.. your talking about the Leupold Wind River Pinnecals aren't you ?

I kinda' look at optics like apples and oranges,..  binoculars are apples, and rifle optics are the oranges,.. two different catagories.

 

While I like ANY optical glass to be crisp and clear without any blurring at the edges of the field of view I personally prefer the BEST glass be purchased for my hunting rifles and hand guns. Those are to me by far the most important,... as they are the tools your actually using to focus in on for the real deal,.. the KILL.

I want the BEST I can afford on the weapon itself for the required application it will be used for!

 

For my money that's Leupold,.. made right here in the good ol' USA.

 

I've got a new VX-3L 4.5 - 14 X 56 mm Long Range on my 7 Mag and it is the best piece of glass that I have looked through in a very long time!

 

Now that I didn't mind spending the money on,.. it has the Boone & Crocket reticle which has a drop compensation system built into it.

 

 

 

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

I agree with you there, Terry. But What I was trying to say was, buy the best glass you can afford. I agree buy the best possible glass for your gun, but also for your bino's. And I too love Leupold!! I think there's no better glass from another US maker. I do have to say that companies like Lieca and Swarvoski make some of the best glass on the market. Just can't see spending that much.

You will use your binoculars many many more hours than your gun/scope, especially hunting elk, moose, caribou, and such... It is not only the quality of the optics that will save you frtom eye strain, but how well built the binoculars are...will they fog up, are they able to work at dawn/dusk.... Owning a quality pair of binoculars is not a status symbol...it is just giving you the hunter the best chance to find the game you seek, I have heard manytimes from fellow hunters standing next to me...where is that elk...straining their eyes through their cheap binocs.... Like with anything else...you get what you pay for.

 

Good hunting!

Hunterjim

 

 

Very true Jim,.. I have used this set of Nikon Monarchs out West elk hunting on several occasions. I like the 10 X42's for their field of view and these Nikons I picked over the Leupold's for what I felt had the crisper, cleaner image. Never had a fog up issue with them, and they have been exposed many times to the conditions that would present those problems with any cheaper optics. 

 

The light gathering characteristics on them is very good as well. I found out that when it gets dark enough out that I can't see very well with the Nikons,.. it's time to call it a day anyhow as the legal hunting hours have already past.

 

That's about as good as it's ever going to get in my book.

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

I also have the 10X42 Nikon Monarch binos.  I think they are very good.  Actually within the last 12-18 months I read an article in one of my hunting/shooting magazines and the Monarchs rated second only behind one of the european (not swarovski) binos in a comparison of most the big name high dollar manufactorers.  My hunting party is 6 guys.  3 of us use Nikon Monarchs, 1 pair of swarovski and 2 pair Leupold.  I would not trade my Nikons for either pair of Leupolds and have not looked through the Swarovski's enough in low light to make a call there.  During mid day the difference is not enought to justify the $700+ difference.  For the money I think you would be hard pressed to find better glass than the Nikon. 

I also will say, get good glass.  I have never seen a pair of $100 or less binos that hold a candle to what any of my hunting buddys carry.  It will make a difference in how many animals you will spot and how tired your eyes will get especially in the big country we hunt elk in.

That's a good point Northerner,..for what I paid for the Nikons and the quality of the glass in them,.. I can't justify another $700-$1400 for a pair of Ziess or Swarovski's just for the 1st or last minutes of daylight.

 

 

The differences that might be there in daylight hours to me just aren't there in my opinion and I refuse to spend that kind of money just to be able to say that I have either one of those names in my daypack,.. that's money saved for other hunting stuff I can get further on up the road.

 

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Mine were less than a hundred and are just as good as the Nikons and Leupolds that I tried out course I got them onsale and they are regularly priced around the $200 mark I think.  I hunt in MT and need good glass but have not got the money to drop on other high dollar brands.  My scope on my 338 win mag is a Nikon I would like to get a new BDC from Leupold but can not afford one.  I am looking into a Swift cause of price + quality I have a couple of them on other guns and like them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTSS, Disclaimer-All views and opinions in this post are of my own and not subject for change as I can think what I want when I want and will not be held acountable for the pissing and moaning brought on by reading said words. G&M Wild Game Processing, Helena, MT "You Guttem We Cuttem" Mike R. Life Member Since 2001

I have used all european high dollar brands, and owned all sorts of glasses. I have two favorites based on their merits. The Leupold Katmai 8 x32 for my favorite compact size binocs; they have clarity. wide field,  brightess and dependability ; my small bino favorites. In big class, my favorite hunting glass is the very affordable Bushnell Legends Porro prism type 10x50, They are almost as bright as Leica or Zeiss (but admittedly not as bright or clear as Swaroski) but close enough and they have one feature that makes them stand apart, the Rainguard rearlly works and offer all day glassing, in hunting weather variables. I will take a clear field with slightly reduced brightness over any glass through which I can not see game because of inclement weather. For $125.00 purchase price I will live with the $1,300 difference and see the game at 200 yarsds when the sky spits rain or snow a bit. I also like my Leupold Gold Ring hand held 10-20x spotting scope,  fits in one hand, works well in the sitting arms supported position or mounted on my mono pod  walking stick and  having up to 20 x works pretty well for glassing long hours hillside.
JPOOL

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/...dback10x28

 

 

 

LM since 1995,NRA,Sons of Confederate Veterans.Colorado Springs,Colorado.

Now that's a name I don't ever recall hearing before,... how did you learn about them?

 

Where are they manufactured ?

 

USA,... Europe,...  Asian???

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

My bi-nocs are Kahles 8x42.  Great clarity and great at low light. I can actually see deep into the woods long after sunset. A little on the heavy side but quite durable. And Kahles backs it's products (scopes and binonculars) with unconditional guarantees even from the owners abuse. I think that Nikon makes a great bi-noc for the price.

7 mag,if the question was for me....they are made in Minnesota and have a lifetime warrantee,regardless of why they get busted.

 

 

LM since 1995,NRA,Sons of Confederate Veterans.Colorado Springs,Colorado.

 

 

Yep,.. was to you!

I'll have to see if Cabelas handles that make next time I'm downstate Michigan.

Where did you get them ??

I'd like to check them out,.. I'm thinking on another another set of some deceint glass for the boy.He's currently serving in the US Navy but I know he doesn't own any binoculars as of yet and I wan to give him a set.

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Vortex Viper 10x42, regularly $518-$618 I payed $350. So far I love em.
Patch 1010

I got mine on the website i posted above.got an even better deal because mine were "seconds" only because the color was off a shade.

this pair is $150.00 and they are awesome,and heres the home page:

http://www.vortexoptics.com/

 

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/vortex.pl?page=vortexdiamondback10x28

 

 

LM since 1995,NRA,Sons of Confederate Veterans.Colorado Springs,Colorado.

Obxman, did you get the Vortex Viper 10x42 for $150? I found the Vortex Diamond back for $150, but not the Vipers. Where on the web site do I need to look? My son and I hope to go caribou hunting this Aug or Sept. He needs a good pair of binos? For that price, I'll buy him some for his birthday in June.
Patch 1010

i have the d-backs and would take them on any hunt,any where......the vipers are running about $450.00

 

 

LM since 1995,NRA,Sons of Confederate Veterans.Colorado Springs,Colorado.

I've found out that the older I get the better the glass has to be. When my eyes were younger the lower priced binoculars were just fine. But now I have to look at the higher priced ones to get the brightness and crispness that I want.  I have Leupold, Olympus, Minolta, Stiener, Minox and Leitz. I like them all and I think I've turned into a binocular junkie.

---Life Member since 12-18-96 ---- ---Endowment Member NRA---- ---Nothings impossible.........for the person that don't have to do it!!

Field and Stream Editors pickeed the Vortex Vipers as "the best of the best" in their gear reviews last fall. The editor of F&S has high standards and knowledge in most areas and when I have followed his advice I have found it to be valuable.
JPOOL

alpen teton 8x42 got them for $250 on a last year modle close out about 3 years ago love them.  spent long hours behind them in the mts of colorado, the praire of south dakota and the woods of wisconsin and minnesota.  i orignally gbt ot them for bow hunting but liked them so well that i abandoned my nikon action zooms for the long range glassing

here is another plug for Vortex.  I have the 15x50 and use them quite a bit.  I find just as much game as the other guides using Swarovski.  I don't like the tripod mount from Vortex, I opted for a different mechanism that cost more but is more user friendly in the field.  I have Brunton, Leupold, Bushnell and Vortex in my safe.  I will probably buy the new Kaibab bino's in 15x later this year and use the pair I have now as a backup.

Vortex has a good name in the bird watching community, now they are pushing to get into the hunting market.  They are worth your time to go check out, not near as hard on the pocket book.

 

Man,.. I don't know,... $1,200. 00  for a set of binoculars kinda' makes me go WHEEW !!  

 

(and that's a "On Sale"  price!)

 

I can think of a REALLY NICE  hunting rifle for that kinda' dough!

 

It is your $$ so you go ahead and get what you feel like gettin,...

 

Now I can fully understand a great set of optics to set on a rifle for that kind of money and feel fully justified in doing it as IT'S the primairy optical set doing the business end of things.

 

 

But just to look through to do some glassin' around,... NOT me!

 

 

 

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Don't know about you but I spend much more time behind my bino's than I do my scope, when you spend hours and hours behind them for days on end it is worth it.  The more animals I can find the better the chances of putting a hunter on a goodie, which helps come time for tips.  It is nice to pick something up a mile away, pull out the spotter to decide if you want to take off after it or find something better.  When I was younger I had the same attitude and used my feet, now I am smarter and use good glass, I see a lot more game from the top of a hill than I ever did humping my tail off.  Also, pretty much all companies have some type of deal for Hunter Ed Instructors or guides and I check them out.  I have not paid MSRP for any of my glass. 

See you are from Michigan, lots different hunting there than out here in the desert.

Bret Lawson

My Uncle had A pair of Zise B-Nox when I went to Wyoming and visited him, they were Verry nice wouldnt mind having A pair but probly wont, he paid over A grand for them on sale. I have A pair of Nikon  Action  10x40 My parent bought them for me as A present after my cheap-o's BIG 5 $20.00 specials broke. they will work for what I will use them for.

I'm with moose and 7 mag, i only own a $40 dollar pair of bushnells, and they seem to do the trick. As long as i can see what i'm going after, then they've done their job.

I also had the same kind of Binoculars until 1 of my firends let me use his Alpen (Shasta Ridge)
10X42, these are the best I have ever used, clear and they draw so much light I can see at low light before sunrise and after sunset longer with these that looking through my rifle scope

Last night I saw a nice buck that was slipping across the clear cut after dark I have never saw before,
he was not a shooter since we have a 18" mininum and he was only about 14-16 wide but to see him this late with these binoculars, these should cost much more than they do, 10X42 only $148 and that comes with free shipping, the 10X50 are $167 worth every penny.

Dan

I'm using Leupold Boone & Crockett Series 10x-42x on a Leupold Bino System and absolutely love them! I've let others use them, and they too, comment about the clarity and quality. They took a beating this summer on several hunts and cleaned up superbly with no problems. My "guide" was surprised that I was laying prone in the mud [during one shot] with the bino's completely submerged and claimed they would be "destroyed" and "file-13" bound. Still performing beautifully with no problems. Price-wise, they run in the mid 600's but are way worth there weight in gold when you spend 12-16-hrs a day glassing! No more tired or strained eyes. Highly recommended!

Looking for Steiner Merlin 10 x 50 bino eye cups with instructions on how to install the eye cups!! e-mail neuvillem1@hotmail.com

Thank you.