Best value binoculars

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paulj

paulj

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year OG
Joined
Dec 18, 2002
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40
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328
Location
Dallas, TX
I need a new pair of binoculars. My dog got a hold of mine and chewed the rubber armor on 'em. I really liked them. They were compact Nikon 10X, I think. I've been looking around in camera stores, and in hunting catalogues and such, and it's kind of bewildering. I've seen different makes of binoculars as inexpensive as $30 and as high as $1,000. I don't really want to get a cheap pair with plastic lenses, but I don't want to spend a fortune either. I'm just kind of a casual user. Put 'em in my pocket and look at ships when I'm at the seashore, or at mountains, wildlife, planes, etc. Anybody have a brand/model they'd recommend? I'd like to spend between $100 and $200. What's the price point at which you go from plastic junk to decent optics?
 
paulj said:
I need a new pair of binoculars. My dog got a hold of mine and chewed the rubber armor on 'em. I really liked them. They were compact Nikon 10X, I think. I've been looking around in camera stores, and in hunting catalogues and such, and it's kind of bewildering. I've seen different makes of binoculars as inexpensive as $30 and as high as $1,000. I don't really want to get a cheap pair with plastic lenses, but I don't want to spend a fortune either. I'm just kind of a casual user. Put 'em in my pocket and look at ships when I'm at the seashore, or at mountains, wildlife, planes, etc. Anybody have a brand/model they'd recommend? I'd like to spend between $100 and $200. What's the price point at which you go from plastic junk to decent optics?
Click to expand...

Check out Leupold - made in USA and a great reputation among hunters for quality, and the products are mid range priced. Swarovsky is also very good, but a little higher in price. I have had two pairs of Zeiss 10 X 40's and love 'em, but they are pricy and not really intended for the casual user. Bird watchers and hunters like them alot for their clarity and light gathering qualities. Leica Trinovids are in the same class and are also very good.

An alternative is to buy used. There are a number of dealers and individuals who sell used binoculars, and they can be great bargains.

Mike S
 
Steiner, got 2 pairs, one is a 8x30 Safari(these are always with me), picked up new on sale for $130(retail for about $200), killer smallish set. ALso have a 10x50 Military/Marine............these kickass, abuot $400-500. Oh I got a my folks a compact Stiener for traveling, forget the specs but they are small and work great, about $150 .

Sierra Trading Post has some killer deals on Stiener sometimes.

basicly German is the best, Japanese next best.

I think these are the ones I got for the folks'
http://www.binocularsource.com/cgi/...=googlesteinerbinoculars&cart_id=1903530.3330

these are the 8x30's I have
http://www.binocularsource.com/cgi/...=googlesteinerbinoculars&cart_id=1903530.3330

and the Mil/Marine, I forget if they are 7x50 or 10x50, prolly 7 as that works better on boats
http://www.binocularsource.com/cgi/...=googlesteinerbinoculars&cart_id=1903530.3330
 
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Steiner is the way to go. I have had the same set since 1988 when I liberated them from the US Army. They are 8x30 mil issue much like the ones John linked to but with an armoured coating. I would not fool with the low end stuff when you can get the smaller Steiners for a good price.
 
Those in the link in the last post definitely seem pretty neat. I need a compact pair though. Something I can just carry in my pocket. I read in the paper this morning that there's a big boat show in town all week. I may head over there and see if there are any vendors for Steiner, Leica, Swarovski, etc.
Question: How much magnification is too much? I've read that too high powered binocs aren't good to have unless you're using a tripod as the slightest movement while holding them gets magnified, too. Generally speaking, can you go higher in magnification with a heavier pair? How high can you go with compacts? An what do you actually get for your money with the higher priced ones? I understand that there's got to be a huge difference between plastic lenses and glass ones, and that cheap stuff will probably have plastic or nylon parts inside instead of metal. I'ver read (but not saved) some articles in hunting magazines that talk about light gathering capabilities and roof prisms, etc. But after that, then what? I guess I need a bit of a primer in binoculars.
 
if your using them on a boat 7 power is about all you want, 10x will bounce around too much. 7-8 power is prolly your most versital.

I really think you would like the Stieners I got my folks, they are small but not too small

the Leica, Swarovski's ect are very nice I have used them but $$$ for $$$ Stiener seems like the best bang for the $, for $130-400 you can get a GREAT set. My folks have a pair of Nikons(7x40) and I use to think they were very nice..........pick up a pair of Stieners and they knock the socks off of the Nikons

the 7x50's mil/marine I have let you see better at night then with the naked eye..........trully amazing.

paulj said:
Those in the link in the last post definitely seem pretty neat. I need a compact pair though. Something I can just carry in my pocket. I read in the paper this morning that there's a big boat show in town all week. I may head over there and see if there are any vendors for Steiner, Leica, Swarovski, etc.
Question: How much magnification is too much? I've read that too high powered binocs aren't good to have unless you're using a tripod as the slightest movement while holding them gets magnified, too. Generally speaking, can you go higher in magnification with a heavier pair? How high can you go with compacts? An what do you actually get for your money with the higher priced ones? I understand that there's got to be a huge difference between plastic lenses and glass ones, and that cheap stuff will probably have plastic or nylon parts inside instead of metal. I'ver read (but not saved) some articles in hunting magazines that talk about light gathering capabilities and roof prisms, etc. But after that, then what? I guess I need a bit of a primer in binoculars.
Click to expand...
 
Pull up your chair,get a cup of coffee and check out www.swfa.com
and doo all the comparison shopping you can stand.Or just get it over with and buy the Steiner's.Best bang for the buck.
Bill
 
OK, I got a pair of Stiener Predator 12 X 30 compacts. Went to the boat show and just about all they had was boats, not a lot of vendors selling accessories. I did manage to pick up a $10 off coupon for Bass Pro Shop so I went up there. I figured they'd have the best prices around except for online and the best selection. I wasn't wrong. Got 'em for $399 plus tax. Not exactly cheap, but I checked out the Swaravski's they had there. $$$ Salesmen said that professional guides and big game hunters use them. That's nice, but really overkill for me. When I got home I compared them to the 10 X 20 Nikons I have that the dog chewed. You can still kind of look through one side of them. The Steiners definitely are an improvement.
 
For Marine:

All of the Alaska Fishermen I know swear by the Fujinons... They have a less expensive polycarb body version that is reasonable. I have a pair of Offshores which I like for the compass and rangefinder. I have second pair of Offshores sitting on the window sill at the house to check out the eagles and ospreys that fish in front of my house.

For any othe application the brandnames mentioned: Steiner, Swarovski, Nikon

Jim
 
Just bought a pair of West Marine - water proof nitrogan filled 7x50... $100.
I live on a lake. Very good pair for $100. I can't see spending $1200. on anything like this...
 
Consider this, a major tradeoff you need to make is small size versus the ability to see well in low light, such as at dusk and after dark.

If you want good low light capability than go with the 50 mm objectives (i.e. 7x50). The large diameter of the objectives makes a huge difference in how much light gets to your eyes.

If you want something small to fit in your pocket then your talking about much smaller objectives and much less low light capability.

When I go out on the 4x4 trails I pack two, a small compact Nikon and a large 7x50 Fujinons. The Fujinons are large, waterproof, rubber armored marine binoculars. Pretty much bullet proof. The compact Nikons are a toy comapred to the Fujinons, but they are also a fraction of the size.
 
I have nikon 10x42 monarchs and I take them hunting and camping all the time and Iam in oregon so there always getting wet and dirty and I kinda abuse them...dropped lots of times. but there super clear I would say there nearly as good as my uncles leicas for 1/4 of the price and they gather light well. I got mine from sportsmens warehouse and they came with a no fault warrany from nikon...I break them no matter what ( yes I have the warranty card and I have read it fifty times at least) I simply pay 25$ and they fix them or replace them..no ?'s asked. and nikon is famous for have exceptional glass for cameras so I fiqure there bino's are good too, I think I paid like 300$ so its something to think about


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