how to use bino in the dusk and dawn

[seth30]

is there a device or a way to use your binos in the dusk and dawn?  I hate it when I try look at something and all i get is pure grey. any help would be great!!

[Jellymon]

pure gray? are they fogging up? only reason I can think of that would do that. If so, not too much you can do about it.

[MtnMuley]

One word, Swarovski.

[Jellymon]

besides that.

[longrange7mm]

One word, Swarovski.

our Kowa, Kahles, Leica, and Ziess quality is everything in optics

[seth30]

they are a cheap k mart brand   thanks for the info.

[Buckmark]

I usually put them up to my eyes, focus accordingly if needed and observe.
*
Cheap nocs will be grainy and gray....

[JackOfAllTrades]

Seth30...  As stated, the price will often dictate the quality, reliablity, clarity, definition and light gathering ability of binoculars. The brands mentioned are sweet, but most of us would need to take out a home equity loan to buy them. Some of those cost more than my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd car, COMBINED!

There are some relative good optics per price point. Let's here how much you have to spend so we can get an idea of what price range you're in and make some suggestions. Just saying 'the cheapest best ones' won't fly. If you're serious about trying to see the edges of those shady areas, or down right into those pockets of brush, then there are many people on here that have used different brands, and models within brands that should be able to give you some advice.

Great glass will cost you thousands.
Damn good stuff will cost less than $1,000.
Pretty damn good stuff can be had for one to a few hundred dollars.
Commonly refered to junk is less than a couple hundred dollars.

There are overlaps in each of these groups. And a few standouts in each group that are quite cost effective for what you get in the box.

-Steve

[JackOfAllTrades]

-And don't be surprised if a mod moves this thread to the Optics forum.

[seth30]

I used to have a very good pair of bushnells, hopefully someday I pay off the truck and can afford them again.    Thanks for your input guys!!

[addicted]

One word, Swarovski.

our Kowa, Kahles, Leica, and Ziess quality is everything in optics

meopta, minox, optolyth

[addicted]

I used to have a very good pair of bushnells, hopefully someday I pay off the truck and can afford them again.    Thanks for your input guys!!

when my bushnells crapped out on me(happens pretty often) i saved up for about 9 months and bought a sweet pair of minox for a steal of a deal. in the low light it is like having night vision.

[dawei]

Not to take away from  all of the fine recommendations you have received, here is a pair of quality binoculars at a very reasonable price................

CLICK IT

[Widgeondeke]

I recently picked a pair of the 10x50 Redfield's @ Cabela's for $140. They worked great during my antelope hunt in all light phases.

[robodad]

Another thing to look at is the exit pupil in the choice of binos you decide on, it will make a HUGE difference in how much light makes it through those with a large exit pupil, you calculate it by dividing the objective lens MM by the power (i.e. 10x50 would be 5mm, 8x43 would be 5.3mm etc...) so as the light fades your eye dialates and if you have a large exit pupil binos that will let you see much better in low light conditions !! If your exit pupil is say 4.2mm like from a 10x42 binoculars then there will be much less light let through the objective lens to your eye !!

Quality glass is also a great help but there are some inexpensive binos that allow for low light viewing, like a 7x50 for instance with a 7.1mm EP you can see very well in low light and some of the cheaper brands are good for that, but then you worry about fogging and water resistance and clarity and durability etc... so save some money and get a nice pair with a large EP and you'll be happy !!!

[washelkhntr]

Seth, I will let you look through my Swaro's on Sunday. Then you will see the light!

[wapiti hunter2]

Also, Keep an eye on Camofire.com  They have great deals on high quality optics at over 50% off.

[addicted]

Another thing to look at is the exit pupil in the choice of binos you decide on, it will make a HUGE difference in how much light makes it through those with a large exit pupil, you calculate it by dividing the objective lens MM by the power (i.e. 10x50 would be 5mm, 8x43 would be 5.3mm etc...) so as the light fades your eye dialates and if you have a large exit pupil binos that will let you see much better in low light conditions !! If your exit pupil is say 4.2mm like from a 10x42 binoculars then there will be much less light let through the objective lens to your eye !!

Quality glass is also a great help but there are some inexpensive binos that allow for low light viewing, like a 7x50 for instance with a 7.1mm EP you can see very well in low light and some of the cheaper brands are good for that, but then you worry about fogging and water resistance and clarity and durability etc... so save some money and get a nice pair with a large EP and you'll be happy !!!

and the average human eye only gets to about 7mm max pupil dialation naturally(hence the big night hunting sizes are 7x50 and 8x56) generally someones pupil dialation will decrease with age.  also your night vision through binos will appear better if you have a wider feild of view because you have more objects to compare the target to giving it higher apparent contrast. even with all the size options clarity of glass and color rendition through such glass is paramount.

[Bean Counter]

I bought a $20 pair of 10x25 Bushnell's my first deer season. I remember the day I lost them in Umptanum Canyon.  I walked around in a circle for an hour looking for them. I said "wow, that sucks."  turns out loosing them was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I found a decent deal on Nikon Monarch ATB's in camo for $250.  When I got them, I was so glad I had lost my last pair. I've been happy with these for five years now. If I lose these Nikon's, I'll probably go up to the $500 range, repeat....

[elk311]

Sorry I couldn't resist putting in my... 

Seth I know where you're coming from and you DONT have to spend thousands !!! I've gone through the full gamut of binoculars everything from $10 Big 5 stuff to mortgage payment Swarovski and while it IS true that the more you spend the better you get. You can still get very good stuff for less than $200. Someone posted that only junk lies below $200 and I MUST disagree. In fact one of my favorite backup bino's is the Steiner Military Marine 8x30 and it list (full price new) $199 and you can certainly find them one sale. That's less than the tax on my Swarovski HD80 spotter!

While not "cheap" at even $199 these are fantastic bino's for the money. Check out ebay or craigslist... pretty much any Steiner glass will get you spotting animals dawn to dusk!

[addicted]

Sorry I couldn't resist putting in my... 

Seth I know where you're coming from and you DONT have to spend thousands !!! I've gone through the full gamut of binoculars everything from $10 Big 5 stuff to mortgage payment Swarovski and while it IS true that the more you spend the better you get. You can still get very good stuff for less than $200. Someone posted that only junk lies below $200 and I MUST disagree. In fact one of my favorite backup bino's is the Steiner Military Marine 8x30 and it list (full price new) $199 and you can certainly find them one sale. That's less than the tax on my Swarovski HD80 spotter!

While not "cheap" at even $199 these are fantastic bino's for the money. Check out ebay or craigslist... pretty much any Steiner glass will get you spotting animals dawn to dusk!

steiners are really good bang for the buck. angelface's grandfather picked up a pair of Steiner ranger 8x56's when they came to visit us so he could take some european glass home.  You can get that fancy automatic sport focus on steiners which is great for low light situations because its hard to tell if you are clearly focused in the dark.

[whacker1]

I have some Steiner Big Horn's I bought about 8 years ago or so that I paid $299 for that are quite good at 9 x 40 and since upgraded  to the ZenRay ED 10 x 43. 

There are good binoculars out there for under $500 and a few select choices for under $300 as others have mentioned.

Best of luck in your quest.  I have two other pairs that I gave away and the person I gave them to won't even use them unless he absolutely has nothing else with him.

[seth30]

WOW!  Once again I am amazed at how much help and advice can be given by my fellow hunters.  I am going to run the request chit through the wife, and hopefully I can get my self a better pair of bino's!  Once agian thanks for the intel, and links of a good pair of bino's that a blue collar man can afford! 

[JackOfAllTrades]

When you do get the request chit approved by the Leutenant, buy yourself a nice binocular harness like this one so you don't leave your new optic somewhere out in the woods. In fact... Buy an expensive pair of bino's so you'll keep that in mind and not leave them on a stump.

http://crookedhorn.com/cms_ver_03/shop/optics-a-accessories.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.v5.tpl&product_id=31&category_id=12

I need someone to leave a pair of Swaro's on a stump for me to find. 

-Steve

[washelkhntr]

Well, I took Seth out yesterday and went up in them hills. I think he had more time on my Swaro's then I did.  He didn't try to leave them on a stump, but he was definately thinking about shoving them in his pocket when he got out of the truck at the end of the day. 

[addicted]

When you do get the request chit approved by the Leutenant, buy yourself a nice binocular harness like this one so you don't leave your new optic somewhere out in the woods. In fact... Buy an expensive pair of bino's so you'll keep that in mind and not leave them on a stump.

http://crookedhorn.com/cms_ver_03/shop/optics-a-accessories.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.v5.tpl&product_id=31&category_id=12

I need someone to leave a pair of Swaro's on a stump for me to find. 

-Steve

my first purchase after i got my MINOX

[seth30]

Well, I took Seth out yesterday and went up in them hills. I think he had more time on my Swaro's then I did.  He didn't try to leave them on a stump, but he was definately thinking about shoving them in his pocket when he got out of the truck at the end of the day. 

cant blame a guy for trying 

[CountryslickR]

One word, Swarovski.

   


     I couldn't agree more!!!!

[DRDANTDC]

Sorry I couldn't resist putting in my... 

Seth I know where you're coming from and you DONT have to spend thousands !!! I've gone through the full gamut of binoculars everything from $10 Big 5 stuff to mortgage payment Swarovski and while it IS true that the more you spend the better you get. You can still get very good stuff for less than $200. Someone posted that only junk lies below $200 and I MUST disagree. In fact one of my favorite backup bino's is the Steiner Military Marine 8x30 and it list (full price new) $199 and you can certainly find them one sale. That's less than the tax on my Swarovski HD80 spotter!

While not "cheap" at even $199 these are fantastic bino's for the money. Check out ebay or craigslist... pretty much any Steiner glass will get you spotting animals dawn to dusk!

+1... the 8x30 military marines are a great bino for $200.

[Tony 270]

If cost isn't a factor go Swaro. If it is take a look at Zen Ray

[addicted]

i havent looked through any zenray's but you guys keep plugging for em.

no one over here sells them so i guess I'll have to wait....... unless someone wants to send me a pair to test along side germany's finest 

[Steve C]

You will really need a working binocular in the first place.  It sounds like your binocular is your problem.  If you want some useable advice tell us what your budget is and what kind of terrain you hunt in and whether low light is a single high priority or if it is a function of needing a general use glass for all conditions.  Recommendations for low light and general use may well be very different.

And, no these days you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a decent glass.  Not that it is not money well spent, but it makes no sense to unload a grand or two for a binocular that might get used only several days of the year.  On the other hand it is not wise to unload just a few bucks on a cheapie just because you only use it a little during hunting season either.