Help Picking Binos

[Pete112288]

So I have been limping myself along for the last couple years on a pair of binoculars that have become less than stellar.
At the time I got them I thought they were the most amazing thing ever. A pair of Bushnell Buckmark 12x50. 10 years ago, and were priced at $140 or so. Which I thought was astronomical for binoculars. I have learned a lot since then. One thing the hard way, take better care of the glass. The coatings are pretty much gone, and they are not crisp out very far anymore and suck at low light.
I got a good pair of more compact 8x binos a couple years ago and love them for the blacktails and thick brush. Picking apart such things close. But I had really enjoyed the 12x50s for several things. When I sometimes hunt the palouse area on the east side, and for when I have to count points in elk hunting situations on the west side. A couple times due to low light or bad backdrop, my binos were the only thing that confirmed a bull was 3pt legal, even closer in range. I had been adamant on getting another pair of 12x binos, but money is an issue. There are SOOO many good deals that come along for the 10x options.
Does anyone think I would really notice a ton of difference going from the 12x to the 10x. Esp with going to a better quality glass than I am used to?
I am looking mostly at Leupold and Vortex, I am most partial to Leupold.
I do have a good spotter, so in the event of hunting open country, I am not completely relying on the binos.
I probably would milk it along longer but I drew a quality deer tag this year and expect to be in some open country so I figured it was time.

[ghosthunter]

I am no expert on Binos. But I went from vortex vultures to these Leupold bino. And really like them.

https://www.scheels.com/p/leupold-bx-1-mckenzie-hd-binoculars/03031702950.html?cq_cmp=21023519212&cq_con=161891070474&cq_med=pla&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&cq_src=google_ads&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_d6x1LyHhwMV1xStBh0FQgQwEAQYHCABEgL5dPD_BwE&src=hardlines

[Pete112288]

That's the Leupold model I am looking at. Found them for around $170

[Tracker0721]

Check used on eBay, if they end up broken or scratched up both warranty’s will swap em out. Saw a guy walk his vortex into a scheels looking like they fell off a mountain and they gave him a new pair straight trade. In my opinion at that price they’re all gonna be similar. Really don’t notice the low light and edge to edge clarity coming in until that $500ish range. Before that it’s just don’t go so cheap they break and sticking to reliable brands helps that. Call up the glassing guru at GoHunt, he’ll really help you figure out what it is that each tier of glass gets you and where you’re gonna be happiest at for your price point as well as which glass options you should look at.

[The scout]

I have a pair of leupold BX 5 12x50 I would sell. I thought I would use them as truck or boat binos. But never seem to use them. I’d probably take $700 for them. And they will come with a kuiu bino harness and rangefinder pouch.

[pickardjw]

What’s your budget?

I think the Zeiss Conquest line is some of the best glass for the price out there, though they don’t make 12’s. You could probably find some used Razors out there for a good price too. Meopta’s get solid reviews too. I really like 12’s and would have a pair if I weren’t rocking a 10’s & 15’s setup.

My suggestion would be to join Rokslide, read some of the bino reviews by Matt Cashell, build 10 posts to access the classified and browse there. Probably the best used optics market out there.

[Pete112288]

Thanks for the advice so far.
Unfortunately, I dont have quite the budget this go around for the glass I would love. Most of my money being saved at the moment is going towards lodging and fuel for my quality tag this fall.
So my budget is topping out around $200 maybe $250

[pickardjw]

Diamondbacks aren't terrible. And when the coatings on them wear off in a few years you can get a fresh pair from Vortex,

[royalbull]

For years I was similar to you, buying cheap binos that I could afford keeping them for a few years then realizing they were no longer worth half what I paid for them, always going up in price a hundred or so for the next ones that I would end up keeping for 3-4  more years, then I came to the conclusion that all the money I had been spending on the cheap ones was closing in on the price of quality ones,I figured it was time to invest in Swarovski, that was 25 years ago they were just SLC's but they are just as good today as they were then. Monday I'll be passing through Missoula and purchasing a new pair of NL Pures, Swarovski has them $500 off and no tax so that'll be about an $800 savings,  do yourself a favor a quit wasting your money like I did for years and just save up until you can buy quality you'll be glad you did

[Magnum_Willys]

Buy the $170 Leupys and be done with it.
If you win the lottery then it reslly gets complicated - range finding or not? Stabilization?  The sig stabilizing binos at $1100 are amazing - I have the 16x and work great - and light!!!

[Remnar]

 Nikon monarchs are another option in your price range. I have had a pair close to 20 years . Great for the $ IMHOP

[Tacbeav]

I really like my Leupold Alpines. Mine are a free replacement from Leupold in exchange for some at least 10 years old ones with a broken eyepiece. They retail for around $249 and I find myself using them more than my Vortex that were twice as much.

[addicted1]

Whatever you get, just make sure they have a warranty. That way you can send them in and get them replaced when something breaks. Leupold has been good to me.

[phildobaggins]

Dude I've had Vortex Diamondback HD 12x50's for maybe 5 or 6 years and can not say I've ever wished I had spent more on a pair of binos. As long as you don't go too cheap, you enter the realm of diminishing returns. Unless you're made of money, just get some middle of the road ones you like. I have a few pals who've spent thousands on a single binocular, so, I've had a chance to check out many different sets of glass from $200-$2000 and honestly, marginally better except for maybe color and light acquisition. I'm just trying to see if I need to put a spotter on something or not!

[Taco280AI]

For years I was similar to you, buying cheap binos that I could afford keeping them for a few years then realizing they were no longer worth half what I paid for them, always going up in price a hundred or so for the next ones that I would end up keeping for 3-4  more years, then I came to the conclusion that all the money I had been spending on the cheap ones was closing in on the price of quality ones...

 ...do yourself a favor a quit wasting your money like I did for years and just save up until you can buy quality you'll be glad you did

Did that in my younger years as well. If you can't afford good glass now, that's okay, just get this next set and then save up for one you'll keep.

Good glass IS worth it! A couple years ago I went with a buddy who was after elk. His dad died and he wanted to use his dad's gear on that hunt. We were on a ridge glassing and he spotted a deer and told me where. I don't see it. He keeps describing the spot, I don't see it. Why can't I find this deer, I'm using Swaro ELs!? After a minute he takes mine and looks at the "deer".... oh... it's a bush.