Needing new binoculars

[thefish]

Looking for a new set of 8x42 in the $200-$250 range.

I ordered a pair of bushnell legend ultra hd, but I don't like them. Looking for something similar, but with the soft rubber eye cups.

Anyone have any favorites with the softer eyecups? The bushnell are pretty nice, and got great reviews, but I don't understand why they used such a hard plastic for the part that touches your face.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rembrandt]

Hope you don't spend a lot of time glassing with them.....looking thru for long periods of time, cheap optics will give you headaches and eyestrain. But if that's all you can afford it's probably better than nothing.

 

[336A]

I bought these in 8x30 a few years back not from Midway though and love em'.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...30mm-porro-prism-armored?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

[oldandslow]

tf,

I bought a pair of Nikon 8X36 ATB binocs about five years ago for $220. Within one year the "Armor coating" came off in chunks leaving bare metal underneath. I shipped them back to Nikon for their "warranty" service and they said their warranty only covers the optics so I would need to pay for the repair and return shipping. I paid for the repairs and they shipped me back a new set of binocs which were blurry with some sort of foreign substance on the inside of the right objective lens. Unfortunately the rubber coating again cracked and fell off the metal body within a year. After the last "warranty" disaster I just use them now with the bare metal body and no rubber coating. This happened after mild use while stored inside my house.

So the moral of the story- look at brands other than Nikon.

best wishes- oldandslow

 

[jmr40]

The Leupold Yosemite binoculars selling at around $100 would be my pick as well. You're not going to find anything in the $200-$250 range that I think is a great binocular. Even for the money. In my experience the Yosemite's are as good as anything in the $250 range. I'd buy them for now and wait till I could afford a really good pair of bino's later. You may find they are all you really need.

The 8X30's are a decent bino, but it is the 6X30's are where the Yosemite's really shine. I'd strongly suggest them over the 8X30's. At that price you could afford 2 pairs.

 

[DM~]

Some time ago, I was looking for a decent pair of bino's, at a reasonable price to gift to my better half... Several folks were bragging on their Nikon Action EX models, so I bought a pair, and they ARE impressive!

They are much better than I expected them to be, at their price point... WELL worth checking out!

DM

 

[sage5907]

I'm probably a little old to give young people advice on buying binoculars but I hate to see people waste their money. If you're willing to spend $250 on a pair of cheap binoculars why not spend $400 on a pair of good used high end binoculars that will give you years of good service. The attached is a picture of two pairs of Ziess 8 X 30B armored binoculars. The pair on the left is a pair of $900 binoculars that I have been using for many years. The pair on the right is a pair of used binoculars that I purchased on eBay for $400. Don't buy a cheap pair of low quality binoculars without looking at the used binoculars on eBay.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I bought these in 8x30 a few years back not from Midway though and love em'.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/136...ProductFinding

I have the same thing, but in 6X30.

About a million years ago, I graduated from Artillery Officer Candidate School. An Artillery Lieutenant's basic weapon is his binoculars -- his job is to find targets and adjust artillery fire on them. We spend a LOT of time studying and learning to use binoculars.

One thing I learned is that fairly large objective lenses and low power make sense -- that combination gives better resolution and better low-light level performance.

I recommend those Leupolds.

 

[X-Rap]

When you get your choices narrowed down and get ready to spill the cash take an assortment and read license plates at a distance or billboards.
Side by side comparisons are the best way to go.
Don't be afraid to throw in a pair that cost a couple hundred more than what's in your budget you might want to look at the used market.

 

[shootniron]

Another vote for the Leupold Yosemite's...unbeatable by any bino in your price range...and you can get them for $100.

I have the 6x30...they get used and the high priced binos stay home.

 

[Redstate]

I use the 8x42 denali from eagle optics.... I'm an avid birder and spend hours with them...they won't hurt your eyes and can be used with or without glasses



About $200

The Denali's solid chassis is built to keep pace with the avid outdoor explorer. Weighing only 21.9 ounces, with a generous 18 mm eye relief, the Denali 8x42 is easy to carry and comfortable to use when scanning for long periods. Don't worry about the rain or temperature—the Denali is protected with waterproofing and fogproofing. Covered by the Eagle Optics Platinum Protection unlimited, unconditional lifetime warranty, the Denali will keep you company on all of your adventures.
Optical Features
Fully Multi-coated Lenses Increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces.
Phase Correction Enhances resolution and contrast through roof prisms.
BaK-4 Prisms Optimize light transmission.
Construction Features
Roof Prisms Appreciated for a streamlined shape and durability.
Rubber Armoring Provides a secure, non-slip grip.
Adjustable Eyecups Twist up and down for comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses.
Center Focus Wheel Adjusts both binocular barrels at the same time.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

When you get your choices narrowed down and get ready to spill the cash take an assortment and read license plates at a distance or billboards.
Side by side comparisons are the best way to go.

Good advice.

And in the process, you'll find that some high-powered binoculars don't do so well in such a test. The numbers will be bigger, but not readable.

The culprit is the bent rays of light -- the lenses bend the incoming light to focus it, and the more it bends the more blurry the image. There is a "sweet spot" near the center of the lens, where the incoming light is bent very little. The bigger the objective lens, the larger the "sweet spot." And the lower the power, the less the lenses are curved. So large objective lenses and low power will give you the best resolution.

 

[CraigC]

I upgraded to a Leupold Mojave last year and have been very pleased with them. Vastly superior to the compact Burris it replaced.

 

[krimmie]

You may wish to check out rankings here...good site for binos.

http://www.allbinos.com/rankings.html

 

[MCgunner]

We moved. My wife had this Canon image stabilization binoc, 16x50 or some such, and they went missing. They were her Ex's and he paid something like 2 grand for 'em. She had gotten him into bird watching because he got fired, was out of work and bored. She said he'd never settle for less than the best, I suppose even if he didn't have the money for the best. That's why she left him, well, that and other reasons. He wasn't a nice guy.

Anyway, couldn't find 'em after moving in and setting up a box blind for season one on the place here. Finally bought a pair of Simmons at Walmart for 40 bucks, 10x50s. They're quite bright and clear. I kinda like the cheap POSs. LOL! Glad I didn't buy better because we finally found those Canons, though I haven't used 'em, yet. No real need for 16 power in the woods and those things weigh a ton. They are some fine glass, though, should be for $2000.

 

[Coyote3855]

I bought a pair of Vortex Diamondback 8x28 compacts for a trip to Alaska. Not hunting, just glassing critters and countryside. Pretty good glasses. I also have a pair of 10x50 Nikon Monarchs that I use to keep track of things around the ranch house. Also decent binocs IMHO. As others have suggested or implied, you might check with the birdwatchers in person or on line. They have strong opinions on binoculars.

 

[thefish]

Hi guys, thanks for the info. I found a pair of Nikon monarch 5 10x42 for a pretty good price and ordered those to try out. I'll give those a shot.