good binocs for cheap?

[jackelope]

The bottom line on this for me is to buy the best you can afford. If you can afford a $200 pair of bino's, then go with that. You may not get the Swaro quality, but you did the best you could. If you can wait another month or 2 and put away another $200 towards glass, then you're at the next quality level, and so on. Don't buy cheap ones and say you're going to buy good ones later, you're better off and money ahead just waiting and buy the good ones later.
 

[pianoman9701]

People who have hunted or scouted with high end binos will never ever use cheap again. The difference is a ton!! The ability to see in low light in long ranges is sometimes a make or break hunt.

+1

i have a spotting scope but i dont like it, its makes me strain i prefer binocs

Case in point, I can look through my Swaro spotter all day, same with my EL 10x42's, and not have any eye fatigue or strain at all.

Those that think high end quality optics are not worth the money have never used them and/or are simply justifying their opinion on the fact they can't afford them.

Not referring to your financial situation specifically KC, just a comment in general.

One other point: Cheaper binos don't last, so you end up buying more of them and spending as much over just a few years. They don't have the lifetime guarantee of better glass or the service from the better glass company. I bought many pairs of cheap class and when they developed leaks and fogged, I threw them away and bought more. Had I gotten good glass from the beginning, I'd have saved a pantload of money and eye strain over the years.

[huntnphool]

The bottom line on this for me is to buy the best you can afford. If you can afford a $200 pair of bino's, then go with that. You may not get the Swaro quality, but you did the best you could. If you can wait another month or 2 and put away another $200 towards glass, then you're at the next quality level, and so on. Don't buy cheap ones and say you're going to buy good ones later, you're better off and money ahead just waiting and buy the good ones later.
 

People who have hunted or scouted with high end binos will never ever use cheap again. The difference is a ton!! The ability to see in low light in long ranges is sometimes a make or break hunt.

+1

i have a spotting scope but i dont like it, its makes me strain i prefer binocs

Case in point, I can look through my Swaro spotter all day, same with my EL 10x42's, and not have any eye fatigue or strain at all.

Those that think high end quality optics are not worth the money have never used them and/or are simply justifying their opinion on the fact they can't afford them.

Not referring to your financial situation specifically KC, just a comment in general.

One other point: Cheaper binos don't last, so you end up buying more of them and spending as much over just a few years. They don't have the lifetime guarantee of better glass or the service from the better glass company. I bought many pairs of cheap class and when they developed leaks and fogged, I threw them away and bought more. Had I gotten good glass from the beginning, I'd have saved a pantload of money and eye strain over the years.

[CoryTDF]

Check these bad boys out!

http://www.amazon.com/Summit-2408404-Backyard-Safari-Binoculars/dp/B003AQBBV8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374786402&sr=8-2&keywords=children+binoculars

[Mudman]

My bushnells are 3+ years old and going strong still!  I know there is much better but they are really pretty decent.  Thinking back I think I paid 120$ for em at Sportsmans.  I wanted waterproof, fogproof and compact size.  They are and decent low level light visibility.  They have been thru Heck and back too!

[jackelope]

I have the Nikon Monarch 10x42's and I've compared them to the Swarovski EL 10x42's and found them to be not too far apart under great conditions. It's when you're in the dark timber or the sun is going down or when conditions are other than great that the top end glass really shines and shows why it costs so much more than the low-mid range stuff.
 

[Bigshooter]

People who haven't hunted or scouted with high end binos will never ever use cheap again. The difference is a ton!! The ability to see in low light in long ranges is sometimes a make or break hunt.

I went for 8x42 gold rings to 10x50 slc's and I didn't think there was that much difference.  Then after looking the swarovski's for a couple months I looked through the gold rings and my first thought was that the gold rings were junk.  The same thing happened when I went from the 10x50slc's to my 10x42 el's.  Once you spend a lot of time looking through good glass bad glass seems even worse than it did before.

[ZRS-8x42]

I really appreciate the recommendation of our ZRS HD binoculars.  I would recommend this model as well. What really sets this apart from other sub $300 binoculars is that ZRS HD has Magnesium alloy chassis, which is 10x stronger than plastic body, yet light weight.  It also has dielectric prism coating, which allows only 1% light loss through prism, vs silver or aluminum prism coating on other binoculars that caused 10-15% light loss.

To appreciate the support of Hunting-WA member, I will offer 10% discount to all Hunt-WA members between now through August 10th.  This can be combined with existing discount available on our website: http://www.zen-ray.com.  To claim the discount, you need to PM me your order number. I will send you discount in the form of refund within 24 hrs of receiving your PM.  Please note, this offer is only applicable to orders placed on www.zen-ray.com.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Charles

[huntnnw]

Whats funny is I have had friends and family grab my binos to look at something and cant beleive the binos they own  and dont even wanna hunt with them anymore

[winshooter88]

High quality optics are definitely worth the money, I don't think anybody is really arguing that they aren't. The thing is, some people either don't have or can't justify spending $1000 to $4000 on binos or spotting scopes. This doesn't mean that they are stupid or lack intelligence, it simply means that they have other responsibilities or priorities, that are more important to them. In a perfect world we would all have the best of everything.

[X-Force]

High quality optics are definitely worth the money, I don't think anybody is really arguing that they aren't. The thing is, some people either don't have or can't justify spending $1000 to $4000 on binos or spotting scopes. This doesn't mean that they are stupid or lack intelligence, it simply means that they have other responsibilities or priorities, that are more important to them. In a perfect world we would all have the best of everything.

I'm with you there.
But I think if someone is serious about glassing and using binos for more than just counting points that person should feel pain with the purchase. Meaning if you have to scrape together everything you have to get a pair of mid range vortex or zen rays or you sell some crap to get a paid of razor HD or minox hg br's. It should be a significant enough purchase that you notice it. Every price up is a step in the experience and you'll be happier for the added expense once you are in the field.

Some people have the swaros or kowas and don't even use them while others have a pair of green ring leupolds and use them until there head feels like its going to explode.

I can say that personally I saved and sold stuff to spend $600 on a used pair of $1000 binos last year and I spent close to 100 hrs behind them without any eye strain and no headache. I was glad to stop bird hunting (stuff i sold) just for that experience.

[winshooter88]

Like I said priorities, you use yours in a manner and for the length of time to make sacrificing to get them important to you. And that's great. Maybe some one else does just use them to check for points, if so then maybe he doesn't want to quit duck hunting so he can get quality glass. Sound reasonable?

[X-Force]

Absolutely. Like I said if your coulding points there's lots of lower priced options. The main thing is don't buy a geo and expect a Cadillac.

[huntnphool]

I'd much prefer a guy looking at me with his cheap binos rather than looking at me through his $1000 scope!

[X-Force]

I'd much prefer a guy looking at me with his cheap binos rather than looking at me through his $1000 scope!

That's something we can all agree on.

Side note do you ever sleep.