Binoculares

[ksberry209]

I am looking for a new pair of binos and wanted some advise. I don't have a huge budget either. Can someone recommend a pair under $200. I have a pair of cheap ones right now and they suck but are better than nothing. Any good "discount" website with deals that I should check out???

 

[Lurediver]

find one you like and get on ebay

 

[Metdawg44]

I second the Lurediver's recommendation. Go to as many optic dealers as possible and then when you find one you like, get it on e-Bay. Price the item at Cabela's (if they carry that model). That's your price benchmark. Then go on e-Bay and try to buy it cheaper. For $200 you're not going to get German but you can get a good pair of Japanese binos. Nikon is good. Three things you should buy the best you can afford: guns, optics and boots.

 

[jkvshooter]

I second ebay. You can also check classifieds on other hunting websites. I got a pair of bruntons for $225 and I likem more than I did my monarchs.

 

[el_vaquero]

WalMart carries a Leupold Mesa Green Ring 10X50 that's pretty nice for $199 I think. I have a pair and love them, but I want to get something a little smaller to put in my pack when I hit the trails. For the price though, I haven't found anything better.

 

[Kentuck]

try Doug at Camera Land. website www.cameralandny.com

 

[dw33]

Ebay can be a pain, especially when someone out bids you with 20 minutes left. Go to Binoculars.com and get a pair of 8x30 Steiners for $199. They are a really good pair of binoculars. Good luck.

 

[Jagermeister]

Ebay shucks. Buy from a reputable online catalog instead. I was in the same boat than you are, not wanting to drop a lot of money for optics and after much research I bought the Bushnell Legend 8x42 porro prism. I remember they were under $140 shipped. They are water proof, have a rubber coating and have the Bushnell Rainguard coating. They are not the quality of $800 binos but they are nice and bright. Note that you always get the better deal if you buy porro prisms instead of roof prisms. Roof prisms are more expensive to make at the same quality. The roof prism binos are the ones that are "straight" and may feel more compact. But a lot of people actually like the porro prisms as they are easy to hold in your hands.

This is where I learned a lot and I gave them my business in return. Great web site: http://www.optics4birding.com/

Here are the binos I am talking about at another retailer:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-8x42-legend.html

A final word on magnification. Stay with 8x as it will give you more ligth (the higher the mag the less light you will get) and you will have a bigger field of view as well. Also when glassing a lot, you will have less "shaking" - you can get a headache with 10x and over. Just my two cents ...

Good Luck,

George

 

[SDHNTR]

Keep saving buddy. You won't really need them for a few more months so pinch a few more pennies. IMO, actually servicable binos start at about $350-400. In that range look at the Leupold Wind River line. Anything less you will end up upgrading anyway.

 

[tradman]

Nikon Action Extreme in either 8x40 or 10x. They are under $200, very good quality, waterproof, and shock proof. I'm on my second pair now, as I lost my first pair about a year ago on hunting trip. I liked them enough to replace with the same. I think they're about the best value out there. I'm pretty hard on stuff and it's nice to know that you can bang these around pretty well and they still function perfectly. And if you lose them in the woods or drop them off a boat, you're not out a whole lot.

I've had great luck with opticsplanet.com

 

[arizona hunter]

For about $250.00 you can get Bushnell Legend 8 x 42's Roof prisms. They are Phase coated, rubber armoured, waterproof and have the great Rainguard-on cold mornings I can still view animals clearly when others are fogged up from ones breath.
Midsouth Shooters Supply and Midway USA both have them for that price. Had mine about 4 years now, and would buy them again.
For $150.00 at Cabelas, two of my buddies bought Cabelas brand of Roof prism (straight barrels), and they are waterproof and pretty good for the money.

 

[BDB]

I bought the Nikon Monarch ATB's as did Backcountry. We both are very happy with them for the price. I bought the 8x and he bought the 10x. I now wish I bought the 10x. Yeah they aren't swaro's but for the price, I haven't found any I like better (yet).

eBay or a reputable place, just find the best price from a reputable source. Chances are the manufacturer will handle the warranty directly from which ever source you buy from but check the individual manufacturer to be sure. Here's on link for $239 +12 shipping. Not bad. The guy has over 9700 feedback entries with 99.6% positive. These are the kind of places I buy from on eBay.

http://tinyurl.com/yoehez

 

[Jagermeister]

Good input on possibly bumping it up to the Elite series. Note that if you loose your binos, no warranties will cover it. I'd hate to own $800 binoculars - I'd always worry about loosing them. I don't agree that bigger is better if it comes to magnification. Again, the 10x has a smaller field of view, less light and will give you a headache if you glass all day (i.e. mule deer hunt in open country). To glass with a 10x for longer periods you will want a tripod or some support beyond what you can get sitting down ...

Cheers,

George

 

[BDB]

Yup, I know, but I still wish I had the 10's.

 

[Rancho Loco]

The Nikon Monarch 10x42's are hard to beat with any bino's below $400.

If you look around you can find them for $249.99

 

[el_vaquero]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jagermeister @ Mar 13 2007, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Good input on possibly bumping it up to the Elite series. Note that if you loose your binos, no warranties will cover it. I'd hate to own $800 binoculars - I'd always worry about loosing them. I don't agree that bigger is better if it comes to magnification. Again, the 10x has a smaller field of view, less light and will give you a headache if you glass all day (i.e. mule deer hunt in open country). To glass with a 10x for longer periods you will want a tripod or some support beyond what you can get sitting down ...

Cheers,

George[/b]

I totally agree!

 

[betelgeuse]

I also think the Nikon Monarchs are the best buy for around the $230 they cost.

I bought my pops a pair for a retirement present and was impressed with the optics.

I have a set of Kahles and they were not that much better optically.
They may be more durable.

Good Luck

 

[MNHNTR]

[attachment=40012:attachment]After using cheap binos for years, I saved my money and bought a pair of 10 x 42 swarovskis. Cost a bundle but the clarity is phenomonal and I actually started to see more animals. I figure Ill keep them for a lifetime and after figureing out that $1000 plus over ten to 20 years equals a very fine piece of glass for a mimimal price....... and dont worry about losing them.....you won't.......

 

[Rancho Loco]

He said budget was an issue.

Swarv's are great, everybody knows that, but he didn't ask about them.
He asked about a good choice at his price point.

 

[MNHNTR]

Hey Loco thanks for settin me straight, Jesus.... Nice to know the forum POlice are on the job....