Hi folks.

A friend convinced me to buy good quality binoculars instead of sinking money into a spotting scope.

The binoculars need to be:
1) Rugged
2) 8 power or less
3) Objective lense 50mm or less
5) Of good optical quality
6) Not too spendy (rather vague I realize, but I don't want to box anyone's thinking too much)

They will be used for hunting in the mountains (thick stands of oak, juniper, and pine) and high desert.

What do you recommend?

Thanks,

Mark

Blackhawkfan

The discussion of binoculars is sure to bring out a million opnions. I too have been looking for a pair to use rather than a spotting scope for elk hunting out west next year. From what I've seen there are a few "categories" when it comes to price - under $100, $100 - $300, and $700 and up....strangely alot of binoculars that are popular don't seem to fall in a 300 - 500 range.

With that said, if you want the features that most will look for - fully multicoated lenses, larger exit pupil, phase coated roof prisms and all that jazz you'll start at the high end of the $100 - $300 range. Here you'll hear a lot of positive talk about Nikon Monarch series, Browning has a new line getting good press, Leupold Wind River line, and a few others. I'm ready to pull the trigger on a pair of the Monarchs but want to look through a pair of the Brownings first and my local Bass Pro isn't carrying them yet.

Beyond $700 - too rich for my blood right now but really nice glass I like the Khales line. To me they look and feel every bit as quality as the Swarovski's (which owns Khales), Zeiss, and Leitca (spelling?) But the Khalesa are 700 and the others go for $1000+. A super cool feature of one of the Zeiss lines, I think called Victory, is that they make a 3x magnifier that fits into the back of one the eye pieces on the bicocular and turns it into a spotting scope, very cool.

Check out the Wind River Line, The Nikon Monarch line, and the new Brownings if your local store has them. Might want to check out the Cabela's outfitter serties also, they have all the bells and whistles.

I think 8x is a good way to go also. If I need 10x I'll throw my scope up and take a look through it.

I bought a set of Steiner Merlin's 10X42 last spring to watch the Wood Ducks on the lake here in Minnesota. Cost right at $498. I had the intentions of getting a set of Kahles for hunting later this year but Rather than sinking about $700 into a set of Kahles, these will do just fine. Nice set of glasses!
I grew up hunting in Montana and I would recommend that you keep a spotter handy. Nothing like glassing a nice big bull at 800 yds with at least 20-25X.

SPAD

Elkloco has given you a good rundown on some things to look for.
I would point out that with an 8X or less power, you don't need a 50mm objective- 40mm will be plenty. Staying with 40mm will save some significant weight.

Mark,

Elkloco has pinned the issue very nicely. I went through the same sorting and evaluation process a couple of years ago in selecting a piece of glass.

I ended up with a pair of Nikon Monarch ATB's 8x42's. Couldn't justify the jump to the $800+ at this point in time and the Nikon glass seemed to be the best option available. Pentax were 2nd choice.

Now that I've had and used them pretty extensively for two years would I choose the Nikon binos again? YOU BET! In a heartbeat. They've performed flawlessly for me and in truth, for the type of close cover hunting we do in the Idaho Panhandle they're an outstanding choice for the money.

Would I spring for the Swarovski's in the future? Can't say for sure, I guess it would depend on what other demands were on the budget, but for now, until the Nikon Monarch glass I currently use fails me, I see no reason to invest that much cash into a set of glass for my purposes.

God bless,

Marshall makes another good point in what helped me decide to stay in the $300 range - the law of diminishing returns. Pick up a pair of $100 binoculars and a pair 0f $300 - compare the clarity to your eyes, the weight, the feel, the options, and ask yourself "Are these $300 pair 3 times better than the $100" and I'm willing to bet you'll say "without a doubt". Now take the same $300 and do the comparison with a $1300 pair of Swarovski's from Cabela's and ask yourself if they are more than 4 times "better" and your anser will most likely be "These Swaroski's are really cool and I'd love to have them but they're just not that much better". The high priced glass has a place and believe me I wish I had a pair. If I was an outdoor proffesional or spent hours and hours looking through them I would buy them right away. But for me, a "regular" guy who hunts and takes them to an occasional sporting event then the middle of the road is great.

Here's another vote for the Nikon Monarchs. I bought a pair of 10x42's over the summer, and I love 'em. They are very bright and much clearer than others in the same price range. The warranty isn't bad, either. In my opinion, the image quality was better than the Wind Rivers, which were a bit more pricey.

amndouglas

Have a pair of Swaronski 8 x 30. Love 'em, and would buy them again. When compared to a pair of Zeiss' that belonged to one of my hunters, we both agreed that the Swaros are clearer. That being said, one of my guides that works for me has a pair of Nikons that I thought were exceptionally clear for close to 1/2 the price of what I paid for the used Swaros. As an aside, I love my Nikon scopes - much clearer than my Leupolds. Good luck.

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your considered responses.

There's an overwhelming vote for the Nikon Monarch. Also, Elkloco brings up a good point about diminishing returns.

I'll be in Dallas Tuesday evening, so I'll probably swing by the Bass Pro Shop and check the Monarch against some of the Wind River stuff.

Good hunting,

Mark

Have a look at www.betterviewdesired.com for some excellent advice and reviews/recommendations on a variety of binoculars at different price points. The site is focussed on birdwatching but the information is equally applicable to hunting.

I purchased a pair of Pentax DCF SP 10x50 recently and whilst they have had minimal use, so far I have been impressed. I also have a pair of Leica BCA 8x20 compacts which are excellent. Something in the 8x40mm range is sound advice, I would definitely have taken that option with the Pentax if I didn't already have the compacts.

Bass Pro might be an OK place to look at binoculars but the prices are pretty high - shop around and you should be able to do a lot better with your $$.

i have a pr of pentax binos f/s 10x42 dcf
>5.0 >87.3m/1000m
> 17mm eye relief
multi coated lens
leather case,,they in vgc and only 200.00
great hunting or range optics for the price

About a year and a half ago I researched binoculars heavily as I had saved for a while and was ready to splurge on myself. I ended up going with the Swarovski 10 X 42 SLC's Amazing glass and I got a great price on them. But IMO, for the price range, the Nikon Monarch is one of the best binos you can get.

HI, hope this gets through as its my first post. Find a friendly gun shop and pull out the jerrys catalog. Wal-mart also orders from there. Look in Stiener section. The 6x42 or the 7x50 military and marine arent outragous at the wholesale end, 200 bucks for the 6x42, 400 for the 7x50 and they are awesome glasses for every king of hunting. Also very nice at night. Its not hard to find a friendly dealer but since im here in az if you cant get anywhere email me direct and Ill help. I have some great connections here. Hope it helps Mike

Also consider:

Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 8x42mm (http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?dept=1&type=19&purch=1&pid=2991)
You can look at them at the nearest Wild Birds Unlimited (http://wbu.know-where.com/wbu/)

Celestron Regal LS 8x42mm (http://www.celestron.com/prod_pgs/bino/regal.htm)
Review of the Celestron Regal LS binoculars (http://betterviewdesired.com/Celestron/regal.html)

Wind River Pinnacles 8x42mm (http://www.leupold.com/products/birding_observation/WR_Pinnacles.htm)
Review of the Wind River Pinnacles (http://www.betterviewdesired.com/leupold/pinnacles.html)

Alpen Apex 493 8x42mm (http://www.alpenoutdoor.com/products/alpen_apex.shtml)

These are the best roof prism binoculars for under $400 and are a definite step up from the Nikon Monarch ATB and Wind River Olympic.

I'm North of Dallas this evening. Tomorrow evening I will return home, spend a few hours in the office, and then pack and sleep. Friday, I'm off to the mountains of SE Arizona.

I went directly to Bass Pro Shop after picking up the rental car Tuesday evening. My goal was to acquire a new range finder as well as a new pair of binoculars.

I checked out the Bushnell offering that integrates a range finder with 8 power binoculars. I found the binoculars to be dim.

I then asked the salesman to line up the Nikon Monarch (8X42), Steiner's Predator (8X30), and the Wind River (8X42). (I don't remember which Wind River it was, but it was ~$300.)

The Nikons exhibited serious chromatic abberation along the edges of the field of view. The Wind River model was okay. The Steiners were bright and clear. I admit I was a bit surprised at my interpretation....

I had a pair of Steiner 8X30 Military that I kept in the back of my truck. They showed the abuse of years of use (hey, that rhymed!), but still functioned perfectly up to the day they were stolen. I'd developed a real fondness for them, and especially appreciated the auto focus feature. Perhaps I returned to the familiar instead of being entirely objective in my selection. Doesn't matter. I like my Steiners.

I also picked up the Bushnell Yardage Pro 500, as the Yardage Pro 1000 was out of stock.

Thank you for your considered responses. It's wonderful that strangers can join together in brotherhood through a common love of the outdoors.

Mark

Mark, whitetails or mule deer. I live down here, ask away because I hunted the first hunt in 30b, saw more than one nice whitetail.

azhdryder,

Whitetail. Usually Coues in the southern portion of the Chiricahuas, but this trip I just might go up high around Barfoot or Rustler. I'm usually out and set up the day before. Unfortunately, business got in the way this year and I'll be setting up camp while I listen for rifle shots.

Great choice, I've always liked the Steiners since I used them in the army.

I am interested in the Steiner 9x40 Big Horn binoculars that Cableas sells for $250. On the Steiner web site there are specifications for the 9x40 Safari, Ranger and Nighthunter XP but none for the Big Horn. Street prices are Safari $250, Ranger $350 and Nighthunter XP $470.

Has the 9x40 Big Horn been discontinued or is it aka Safari or Ranger?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

I'm probably the only one that has a set of Waldlaufer's?? 8x30, bought them when i was stationed in Germany in '89. Good as any that i've looked thru before or since.

The Steiner 9x40 Big Horn has been discontinued and is in closeout. Adorama has them for $239 and they are $224 at Impactguns. I looked at a pair at Cabelas in Owatonna last weekend and thought they looked like old and bypassed technology, way over priced at $679 list and $429 retail. Closeout brings them closer to their actual value. Nikon Action Extreme, Wind River Mesa and Pentax PCF WP are as good or better for less money, although the Big Horns may be more durable. The Big Horns are not specified as waterproof and have only a 10 or 30 year warranty depending on the source.

Jackfish,

The Nikon Action Extreme was my second choice. It is now first. Thanks for the info.