My Zeiss 8x32 were stolen...

[Camo]

last year the night after Thanksgiving when I was leaving for a week long Whitetail hunt the following morning. Anyway, I need to replace them. Been a bit of a Zeiss fan I guess since most of the rest of my optics are the same manufacturer. It seems that the quality between good-better-best is starting to overlap a bit. Additionally, my 43 YO eyes required glasses last year to center a 6" bull at 200 yards with my muzzy. My question is, has anyone gone backwards in the price category in regards to optics? Did you feel like you made the right choice? Seems like there is some real quality in the $500-$1000 price range. With my eyes not getting any younger, I'm not sure that I will be able to tell the difference that a grand makes. Any thoughts?

[washelkhunter]

8x32s! I wouldnt have touched em unlesss they were at least 8x40s. 

[Bean Counter]

I've never gone backwards in price on optics 

If youre looking to pinch pennies (I always do) then buy a cheaper gun and shot cheap ammo. 

Losing my $20 pair of binoculars my second hunting  season was the best.thing that ever happened to me as I replaced them with binos in the $200 range. I kept my eyes out for deals and couldnt pass up a great.deal on a pair of $2,000 binos. No way could I.go.back to non.HD glass now.

[thinkingman]

I do believe there is quality glass available at the $500 range now that you had to pay more to get 10yrs ago.
I don't believe that spending less today is a penalty.
I would still buy Swarovski if I had the budget to do it, but high-end Nikon, Zen-Ray, Vortex, Minox, Pentax, Meopta....they're all going to be great.
Technology advances, prices really don't inflate in some categories.
Buy what you like.

[washelkhunter]

You have to remember that when you buy any product produced in Europe you are mostly paying TAXES. Zeiss and swaro glass would be priced in the upper Nikon ranges if it wasnt for the huge tax rates. Your actually supporting euro trash socialist/commie programs and agendas.

[Bean Counter]

Good point 

The VAT--or value added tax, applies to different levels of operations and supply chain production. It is a socialists utopia, and coming soon with the brilliant leadership of the Dear Leader....