Which Bino to Buy?

[Pathfinder101]

You should check out Zen Ray ZRS HD. http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zrshd.html
Same class of bino or better on sale.

For $200 ??

Yes 235 on sale

That's a smokin' deal.  I would jump on that.  Hell, if I didn't need to buy a GPS I'd upgrade right now...

[uplandhunter870]

of the four on your list, I own a pair of nikon monarch atb 10x42 and absolutely love them. i tend to baby my glass but these like all my other gear have taken spills and the nikons hold up well and work excellent for me as an eyeglass wearer.  a buddy has the luepy green ring cascades in 10x42 ive looked through them and they are solid, cant speak to the durability though but with a luepy warranty i dont have too really

ive heard good things about the vortex line but have no experience with them

at the end of the day ill take the nikons over the rest of the list, although as a nikon fan im a bit partial

[whacker1]

Nikon Monarch 8.5 x 42 were on camofire earlier today for $349 if I remember correctly.  I would keep an eye on camofire as they have a tendency to have a lot of repetition from week to week, and you could probably pick these up or something similar

[acnewman55]

Well if I end up going with Nikon, here are the two models I'd be deciding between.

7295 Monarch ATB 10x42  for $280

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7295-Monarch-10x42-Binocular/dp/B0033PRQBA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1366265650&sr=8-6&keywords=monarch+5+10x42

MONARCH 5 12x42 7544 for $330

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-MONARCH-12x42-7544-Binocular/dp/B006XGG3HE/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1366265650&sr=8-11&keywords=monarch+5+10x42

I didn't want to spend more than $250 to start, but I've been convinced to raise the bar just a bit.

No matter where I look, Amazon has the best pricing on the Nikons that I've found.

[hillbillyhunting]

The only bushnel binos i have tried were cheapos so cant speak to that.  The vortex (not sure what model, tried them a couple years ago) i tried out in cabelas just didnt feel comfortable.  I like the monarchs when I used them for and entire summer ( I mean every week, I was spending 3-7 days a week in the backcountry), but I like my leupolds better.  The extendable eyecuff did break on me one time when I verry lightly tossed them into a rock (was setting them into a heather patch with the strap).  Leupold sent me a new pair.  Same eyecuff broke on my buddies pair and they sent him a new and upgraded pair. 

If you cant afford swarovski, my personal preference is leupold in the 200-300 range.  Go out and try them as much as you can before deciding.  You have a while before scouting even gets good.

[whacker1]

I know that you are gravitating toward the Nikon per your last comment, but the Minox 8 x 42 BL will be on Camofire later this afternoon at 43% off.  I know I posted about it recently in one of the other binocular threads.

Not exactly what you are looking for, but I would put this in the same playing field that you are looking now and probably a little above, but it is only an 8 x magnification vs. the 10 you were looking for.   I would be willing to bet that the 8 x german magnification is greater than the leupold 8 as it always seems to be that way with the zeiss, and other european brands I have used.

Not change to change your mind, but wanted you to be aware of what other options are out there.

[pianoman9701]

Add Zen Ray to the poll

[whacker1]

I know that you are gravitating toward the Nikon per your last comment, but the Minox 8 x 42 BL will be on Camofire later this afternoon at 43% off.  I know I posted about it recently in one of the other binocular threads.

Not exactly what you are looking for, but I would put this in the same playing field that you are looking now and probably a little above, but it is only an 8 x magnification vs. the 10 you were looking for.   I would be willing to bet that the 8 x german magnification is greater than the leupold 8 as it always seems to be that way with the zeiss, and other european brands I have used.

Not change to change your mind, but wanted you to be aware of what other options are out there.

Minox up for the next 4 hours $278.....www.camofire.com

[Pathfinder101]

Add Zen Ray to the poll

If you do, I'll vote...

[acnewman55]

Add Zen Ray to the poll

If you do, I'll vote...

I'm not considering Zen Ray because I can't find a good sampling of reviews on them.  Cabelas doesn't seem to carry them online, Amazon.com hardly carries them.  I also haven't found them anywhere in Seattle so I can look through them.  All I have to go on is a few recommendations on hunt-wa.com and that's just not enough to go on.

[pianoman9701]

Too bad. They're guarantee is complete. If you're not satisfied, send them back, no questions asked. They're nice and that sale price is about half what you'll pay for a comparable bino. Good luck with whatever you get.

[doubletall]

I don't how my Nikon ATB's compare to the others on the list but I'm impressed with them and their warranty is what sold me before I bought them.  On the way home from an evening deer hunt my hunting partner realized his bino's very missing. We drove back to where we were parked to find a Dodge 1 ton parked on top of them. The guy was out scouting but his wife was in the truck and moved it for us. The crushed bino's were send to Nikon and replaced for a $5 shipping fee.