High priced vs low/mid ranged optics

[Dadofive]

The vortex customer service post got me thinking about my recent experience during this hunt season. I have a pair of diamondback 10x42 binos and had an opportunity to use a $1500 set of vortex on this hunt. There was so little variation between the two. They were both used at all hours and all light conditions and I am just not convinced about buying high dollar binos. If you are spotting all day, maybe but who spots all day with 10x? I hear the arguments of "buy once, cry once" but these same people have 10 sets they have bought once. I'm convinced they just have more money than the rest and say that if you are serious then you need to spend the money. I'm the same on scopes. I have a $200 scope on a $600 rifle that can shoot accurately out to anything I feel ethical about shooting for (600 yards is not very ethical imo. I bow hunt too and can't bring myself to shoot something out that far. That's not really hunting but just shooting). I'm not counting points with my rifle scope (only aim at what I'm going to shoot) so as long as it holds zero (most of us never adjust our scope off the range anyway), why the thousands in glass? I just don't get it. I've got a family of 7 to feed and I can think of lots of ways to spend my $$$ rather than on good marketing skills.

[Skyvalhunter]

Because there is a quality difference. I have a pair of Swarovski !0 X 42 and pair of 15 power Vortex. The Swarovski's out do them Vortex hands down. If you are glassing for long periods your eyes don't get tired with good glass. But with that being said there is  just as many guys that are going to speak up and dispute this. I think of it the same as with cameras, you can buy cheap and be satisfied or upgrade and be happy you did and the quality will show out.

[Bushcraft]

There is an exponential diminishing return on investment when it comes to glass.  The value comes into play depending upon how you're going to use it and how often.

That said, and I'll probably catch some flak for this...and please don't take offense to this, but you were comparing a Vortex to a Vortex.  The very best way to discern the difference in the quality of optical resolution is to set them up side-by-side on rock solid mounts and use them at all hours of the day in different lighting conditions.  The other aspects are ergonomics and how well the guts will hold up over time.  That's where they are going to fail.  Still another comes down to how good your eyes are compared to someone with absolutely perfect vision.

And yes, some people live behind their bino's all day. 

[Dadofive]

I understand I was comparing vortex to vortex but that was what was in the field at that time. I've looked at Swarovski in the store but fluorescent lighting is not the best comparison. I also understand that people live behind glass and understand that people can spend their money how they like. For me, I'm just not sold on high end high dollar optics. Sure they might be better but $1000 better? I haven't seen it 😊

[Moe the Sleaze]

I agree with Dad. Plenty of perfectly fine low and mid-price optics out there. If I had to pick a number, I'd say that spending more than $400 is overkill.

[Tinmaniac]

Buy high end used glass.The cheap stuff will be worth nothing down the road.My Swaros are selling used almost what I paid new and they are 20 years old.After 20 years I am still impressed every time I use them.

[pianoman9701]

I understand I was comparing vortex to vortex but that was what was in the field at that time. I've looked at Swarovski in the store but fluorescent lighting is not the best comparison. I also understand that people live behind glass and understand that people can spend their money how they like. For me, I'm just not sold on high end high dollar optics. Sure they might be better but $1000 better? I haven't seen it 😊

If you're not glassing a lot, you probably needn't spend a month's pay on glass. My Talon HDs do perform well in low-light conditions and, I think, they allow you to see critters better than non-HD glass in low light. Also, if you're hunting the thick stuff on the wet side, glassing isn't always a thing. But if you are spending more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time looking through bino's or a spotting scope, the better glass will make a marked difference.

[huntnphool]

If you are spotting all day, maybe but who spots all day with 10x?

 

[rainshadow1]

Family of 9 here... I feel ya!

I've downgraded my purchases as I've upgraded the family... switched from a Leupold loyal, to the best buy for quality I could find.

I seem to have gravitated towards and have been very happy with Nikon. (But I do tend to go Monarch with my stuff and ProStaff with my kids' stuff!)

Honestly, ProStaff is solid quality stuff. Brighter than buckmaster or lots of other $150 scopes and $200 binos. Monarch is more vivid, and a tiny bit brighter, but the difference is negligible. (At least that's what I tell my kids!)

I still have lots of Leupys, a few Vortex, Burris, etc... and I'll buy a bargain on top quality any day. But I think the competition in optics has been wonderful for us <$400 guys!

Expensive glass is amazing.... but is it "worth" it? We have lots to spend money on. For me, now... no. 

[Bob33]

One of the benefits of using alpha glass in binoculars is never again wondering “What did I miss?” or asking yourself “If I had a pair of alpha glass binoculars would I have seen more animals or been able to better tell if it that deer was legal”? The doubts can lead to buying slightly more expensive binoculars, time and time again and again until you finally buy a pair that you live with for good along with a drawer full of ones you’ll never use again. I’ve got the T-shirts to prove that happens.

The differences between $200-$500 binoculars and $2000 binoculars are usually quite small and subtle, and without a doubt a $500 binocular is far better than no binocular. If you can’t afford or justify spending a couple thousand dollars on binoculars that’s a perfectly acceptable decision.

I also believe your eyes are usually the best decision maker for what is best for you. I have a hunting partner who hunts with $200 binos, sees about as many animals as I do, and swears he likes them better that Swarovskis.

[Magnum_Willys]

Shopping is a 365 day hobby and getting great gear is part of the sport for some.  But will you shoot more game ? With practice, yes but if you don't enjoy the gear part spend dollars on gas or more time to hunt and you will be well served. 

[kselkhunter]

I love Swarovski and Zeiss optics, and have them on my rifles.   But I bought those back when I was working for the man making good money.  Now that I have my own business, and every expense saved is profit in the bank to retire earlier....yeah I probably wouldn't buy Swarovski now.   I have a pair of Nikon Monarch binoculars that are actually quite decent for the price.  Much better than my Vortex binoculars.  Are they better than Swarovski?  No of course not.  But good enough for the job that I use them for.


That said:  if I ever draw that elusive bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag....I'll be inviting friends along that have a Swarovski spotting scope....as my aging eyes would much rather spend all day looking through one of those with that tag on the line.   :-)

[Hoythunter]

I’m my opinion, the best way to summarize glass is simply you get what you pay for.  I can’t come up with a better description having owned 6-7 pairs of mid-range  glass over the years until I finally stepped up.  The Swaro’s I own now are an essential part of my setup as I rely on the internal range-finder to dial in my rifle turret, sight pin, etc.

[BeerBugler]

Good gear is good gear. Can you get by without it? Yes. Can you kill big critters without it? Yes. Is hunting much more enjoyable with good gear? Yes. Buy what you can afford. On a side note, using a good tripod and a great pan head will make a bigger difference in glassing than $600 vs $1600 binos.

[lewy]

Someone with the opinion that low/middle end glass is comparable to high end glass is someone who’s opinion is not worth considering. That being said, we all have different budgets and glassing abilities so get what works for you. I’ve said before and will say again, put whatever you run on a tripod and that will improve your glassing success immensely