new binos need some help

[Wacenturion]

I have a pair of Zen Rays that I love.  Great glass for the price.  Have had a couple of buddies look through mine and went out and bought a pair for themselves.  Had mine for 3 hunting seasons now and have yet to feel the need to upgrade.  That's just me.  I have looked through Swaros in the field and agree they are far superior, but can't justify the cost yet (and stay married... )...

Funny you mentioned that.  Had the same thing happen.  Showed mine to a buddy and he could not believe how nice they were.  He also owns some high end optics like Swaro.  Called and ordered some immediately after viewing mine.

[bare.hunter]

I need to do some research on these zen rays

[whacker1]

I had the first version of the 10 x 42 Zen Ray ED's, and was very happy with them.  After a couple times of me falling all over myself and down hills this year, the two lenses bumped out of alignment of each other.  Zen-ray was very quick to respond on the warrranty work, and offered either to repare them or allow me to upgrade to the PRIME HD.  I took the opportunity to upgrade glass, and can attest to Charles comment that there is a huge difference in the upgrade.  The low light time frame of dusk and dawn provides signficantly crisper images and a lot brighter images.

I am extremely happy that I upgraded. Now it just sucks that 2013 hunting season is a little over 8 months away.

[go4steelhd]

I suggest buying some used Swarovski's. I think you can find some used slc's in the $800 range. Or save up and get any grade they sell. They are worth it. There is a reason you hear people compare others to them. I have looked thru vortex and they are good also. But if you get the best you won't ever have to upgrade.

[jess]

leupold mojave! Great in low light and under 600 bucks plus the best warranty you can get for that price! I run the 12x50

[RadSav]

What magnification/power rating are you looking at getting?

I've been running the Bushnell Elite 10X for the past few years.  I think I paid less than $600.00 for them online.  The best I've used below the premium three (S, L & Z).  They fall a little short on durability, but the glass is pretty darn good.  I ran B&L Elite for a lot of years and loved those.  The new BushElite aren't nearly as good as the old B&L but for the price range your looking at they should be worth a look.  I have no experience with Zen-Ray so I could not tell you the comparison.

I had a buddy who got the Leupold Mojave.  One look through them and I talked him into donating them to the local Boy Scouts and gave him a pair of my B&L's.  Perhaps he got a bad pair   But they were down right awful in low light.  I'm a big Leupold scope fan, but I don't think they have made a quality bino in more than 25 years.

[bare.hunter]

Thanks guys you have given me alot of info.I looked through a pair of leupolds today and they where nice.Where can I look at the zen rays and has anyone had first hand experience with the cabelas euros.

[Wacenturion]

My son had a pair of the Cabelas Euros a couple years ago.  Took them back....he also loves his Zen Rays.

[thinkingman]

If you don't need waterproof, look into porros.
Nikon Premier SE can be had in your price range and they have image quality similar to the alphas.
For low light image, do not go above 8x and get 50mm objectives or larger.
More mag equals less image brightness.

[thinkingman]

Thanks guys you have given me alot of info.I looked through a pair of leupolds today and they where nice.Where can I look at the zen rays and has anyone had first hand experience with the cabelas euros.

Leupold rarely gets mentioned when discussing great glass.
There were Meoptas(Cabelas) in the classifieds not long ago....excellent glass and construction.

[Pathfinder101]

I have a pair of Zen Rays that I love.  Great glass for the price.  Have had a couple of buddies look through mine and went out and bought a pair for themselves.  Had mine for 3 hunting seasons now and have yet to feel the need to upgrade.  That's just me.  I have looked through Swaros in the field and agree they are far superior, but can't justify the cost yet (and stay married... )...

Pathfinder101, I am glad that the Zen-Ray binoculars are still working hard for you. 

I have looked through Swaros in the field and agree they are far superior

With PRIME HD binoculars, we need to revisit this statement. 

Thank you for your support and Happy New Year to you.

Charles

That may be true.  Mine are the EDs.  Love 'em

[Steve C]

These days the idea that you can't get good glass for $600 or less is just plain silly.  Mid price stuff has advanced so much in the last few years that there is really no reason to spend more than that.

I have the ZEN Prime HD and they will stand up to ANYTHING without fear of embarrassment.  Built like a tank too.  No reason to spend alpha money unless you want to.  Just keep your goals in mind.

The real no man's land is now the $1,000-1,200 binoculars.  Come SHOT show we'll start to see some new models that will seriously crimp the big stuff.  One example is, and this one's already out, just look at the new Zeiss Conquest HD at $969.  Then ask yourself if you really need to get the top end Zeiss.

[Mongo Hunter]

Wholy crap you guys like your bino's! Cant imagine spending $600 on a set of bino's, where the hell did the idea that you cant get good binos for less than $600 come from? I wouldent and havent spent more than $200 on a set. They only look at stuff far away they dont have to take the recoil of a .50 BMG 

[NumaJohn]

I have been quite satisfied with my Brunton binoculars, and I've had them for 20+ years.  For more information, go to http://store.bruntonhunting.com/optics/binoculars/eterna/

However, if funds allowed, I would definitely upgrade, and I'd be looking at Zen-Ray and others, without a doubt.

John

[d_wilson]

Vortex vipers 10x42 I'm very happy with mine.

Bought a pair last week and love them.