Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: BenTernan on October 14, 2011, 11:32:00 AM

Title: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: BenTernan on October 14, 2011, 11:32:00 AM: I've been doing some searching and I've narrowed it down to 3 pairs of glasses that are around my price range. Let me know your guy's input! So it's between These 3.

Vortex 12x50mm Diamondback Binoculars

Steiner 10x42mm Predator Xtreme Binoculars

Bushnell 10x42mm Legend Ultra HD Binoculars
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: Skillet on October 14, 2011, 11:36:53 AM: What's the price range? Is weight an issue?
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: losdaddy7 on October 14, 2011, 11:42:22 AM: I have had the Steiner predators for five or six years now and absolutely love them. They are a solid, rugged binoc. One of the concerns I had about the others was durability due to my bushwacking style of hiking. The Steiner is very durable with the hard rubber shell they have. I also use a full harness so they hang right at my chest level at all times. While they are a bit larger than most, the optics are truly awesome and game does seem to stand out a bit better with that setup.....
:tup: :twocents:
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: BenTernan on October 14, 2011, 11:46:01 AM: Weight isn't an issue at all, and the most expensive pair here is in te $400 range. I've used a pair of leica's before and loved them but they are much too far out of my price range. And I was leaning towards the Steiners. But they are the more expensive pair.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: Skillet on October 14, 2011, 11:50:33 AM: I just realized you had it narrowed down - I don't have any experience with those three. I was going to ask if you had excluded the Nikon Monarchs for any reason. I have a pair of 12x56's that are my combination "glassing/spotting scope" units. Heavy, but great glass for the $350 I spent on them.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: BenTernan on October 14, 2011, 12:12:33 PM: Well obviously I haven't seen every pair of binocs out there and definitely am not just sold on those 3. So I'll check those out!
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: jackmaster on October 14, 2011, 12:15:12 PM: i have the steiners and so does my buddy and they are perfect for me i also use the bino buddys with them and they are the perfect weight and comfortable :twocents:
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: MtnMuley on October 14, 2011, 12:18:18 PM: Steiners, of the choices you listed. ;)
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: Bigshooter on October 14, 2011, 12:22:34 PM: I would see if you can find some some non-hd vortex vipers. Give them a call at cameralandny.com. There real good to work with.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: deerslyr on October 14, 2011, 03:20:43 PM: ZR ED3s
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on October 14, 2011, 08:41:17 PM: Quote from: BenTernan on October 14, 2011, 11:32:00 AM
I've been doing some searching and I've narrowed it down to 3 pairs of glasses that are around my price range. Let me know your guy's input! So it's between These 3.

Vortex 12x50mm Diamondback Binoculars

Steiner 10x42mm Predator Xtreme Binoculars

Bushnell 10x42mm Legend Ultra HD Binoculars

BenTernan, I would suggest that you consider 10x42 ZRS HD if you are looking for performance like Steiner Predator or Legend HD; or VISTA 10x42 if you are comparing to DB binoculars. As deerslyr mentioned, the ZEN ED3 is a major step up from both ZRS HD and VISTA. If your primary concern is not extreme low light performance and/or minimum color fringing, ZRS HD will perform sufficiently well for most of the situation.

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zrshd/zrshd10x42.html (http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zrshd/zrshd10x42.html)

Please feel free to PM me if there is anything I can help you with.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: marty on October 14, 2011, 08:49:38 PM: I would say Steiner love mine best bino I've used! :twocents:
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: Hyde on October 14, 2011, 08:59:15 PM: Have you tried all of the ones you listed? I have owned all the brands, cheap to mega expensive. I settled last time on Pentax. The guy at Bear Basin Outfitters talked me into them, told me if I didn't like them, he'd take them back. I love them, and about half the price of Swaros. I did a side by side comparison in bear camp one year with a fellow hunter's Zeiss binos. Everyone agreed the Pentax 10x50's were superior. I can stare through them for extended periods with no issue. Some of the cheaper ones will give you a mega headache when you try that. I'd say pick the one that feels the best to you.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: RB on October 14, 2011, 09:21:34 PM: Steiner I have had mone for about 10 years and love them :twocents:
:)
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: addicted on October 15, 2011, 03:35:37 AM: Those vortex are going to be a bit bigger than the other 2.

Unfortunately Steiner was bought out a little more than a year ago i think so all those good experiences with steiner are nearly invalid until we see some of the new products get tested out.

I've got a pair of busted bushnells you can have. Treated them good and they still broke.

The minox have great glass and now come with a warranty close to leupolds. The Bino's and SPotters have been kickin arss.
Minox BF 10x42 BR $139
http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=62173 (http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=62173)
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: bullcanyon on October 15, 2011, 06:34:08 AM: Hard to beat the nikon monarch atb binos in the sub $300 price range. Best thing to do is hit up sportsmans and try a bunch out. Pay attention to how easy some will focus to your eyes compared to others.
I'd also shy away from anything over 10 power. Personally I like 8x for washington hunting.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: runamuk on October 15, 2011, 08:17:08 AM: Quote from: bullcanyon on October 15, 2011, 06:34:08 AM
Hard to beat the nikon monarch atb binos in the sub $300 price range. Best thing to do is hit up sportsmans and try a bunch out. Pay attention to how easy some will focus to your eyes compared to others.
I'd also shy away from anything over 10 power. Personally I like 8x for washington hunting.

I have some leupolds in the 6x which are great in the thick dark stuff on the wet side, over here on the dry side I get a headache and can never see far enough I was thinking 10x or 12x because I cannot afford a spotting scope too :dunno: problem for me is until I buy and use them for an extended period of time I have no idea how I will react to a full day of using them I am following this.....
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: hucklebeary on October 15, 2011, 11:46:24 AM: hey Ben sounds like you have a lot of options. If your going to do most of your hunting with your old man over here on the westside you really dont need anything more than 10 power, I own a pair of 10x42 nikon Monarchs and they are great for the price. If you do plan on hunting big open terrian you might want a little more power. What ever you buy just remember they are probably the most used piece of equipment you will use so make sure the binos work with your eyes.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: BenTernan on October 16, 2011, 11:56:41 PM: I appreciate all the input. I've hunted the west side in lewis county my whole life, and always used some cheap bushnell binos. I just got me a new Ruger .270 short mag, and now looking for a solid pair of glasses for over here on the east side now. Just making good investments as I go along and just wanna make sure i make a good choice on these binos. I'm really leaning towards the steiners because everyone who has a pair has been pretty happy with them.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: thinkingman on October 18, 2011, 02:28:14 PM: Quote from: BenTernan on October 14, 2011, 11:46:01 AM
Weight isn't an issue at all, and the most expensive pair here is in te $400 range. I've used a pair of leica's before and loved them but they are much too far out of my price range. And I was leaning towards the Steiners. But they are the more expensive pair.
I have not been impressed with Steiners, optically.
Take a look here...http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:under-500&catid=2:the-rating-scale&Itemid=5 (http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:under-500&catid=2:the-rating-scale&Itemid=5)
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 18, 2011, 02:31:54 PM: I just got a pair of Vortex Talons, spent about $450 on 'em. I love the binos but the lens protection sucks. The lens covers fell off my first day of a 10 day hunting trip - lots of cleaning. The factory sent me replacements that fit tighter and I'm good to go now. The light collection is great. The clarity is great. They're a little big, but with my harness, they're fine. 10x42
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: bryg_12 on October 18, 2011, 03:24:31 PM: Vortex makes amazing product for the price and warrenty

I just got the vortex vipers 10x50 and love them
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 18, 2011, 03:29:24 PM: Quote from: bryg_12 on October 18, 2011, 03:24:31 PM
Vortex makes amazing product for the price and warrenty

I just got the vortex vipers 10x50 and love them

Yeah, the warranty is unconditional. You can literally drive over them on purpose and they'll replace them.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: ArrowH on October 18, 2011, 03:44:04 PM: Just spend the most you can afford, you won't go wrong that way in your opion. When you get into the upper end of glass they are all about the same.
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: landcbeitner on October 19, 2011, 05:23:18 PM: Quote from: addicted on October 15, 2011, 03:35:37 AM
The minox have great glass and now come with a warranty close to leupolds. The Bino's and SPotters have been kickin arss.
Minox BF 10x42 BR $139
http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=62173 (http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=62173)

That's what I was going to say :yeah:
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: LG on October 19, 2011, 05:51:38 PM: i had the stieners for 6 years. i had them rebuilt after 4 years because they went blurry. i thought they were great untill i got my nikon monarch 10x, now i would never buy anything but the monarchs. they are far and away better than the stieners, and the cabelas alaskan guides my dad has, and for 1/4 of the price of my uncles swarovskis i will take them any day
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: addicted on October 19, 2011, 11:24:59 PM: last summer my wife's grandfather came over to germany thinking he might pick up a sweet deal on some sworovskies. The deals were there but still not good enough for him.

He did find a pair of steiner rangers which i guess he couldnt find in any washington stores with a sport focus which he really liked. He ended up picking up some 8x56's that we were able to put up next to my BL8x56BR Minox and my minox were so much sharper than he thought that mine were a higher magnification.

Not to say that the steiners arent bad. Many guys hunt with them over here because the sport focus is fantastic for night hunting and since they have plastic bodies and they are the cheaper glass arrangement they keep the price down. My friend ran over his with his jeep and they are still kickin.
Title: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: sleepingin on October 20, 2011, 12:16:23 AM: Www.opticsthoughts.com. After reading his reviews I chose a lower power set of binocs and am happy with the choice
Title: Re: Need new binocs what's your input?
Post by: Band on October 27, 2011, 10:13:37 AM: Quote from: Hyde on October 14, 2011, 08:59:15 PM
Have you tried all of the ones you listed? I have owned all the brands, cheap to mega expensive. I settled last time on Pentax. The guy at Bear Basin Outfitters talked me into them, told me if I didn't like them, he'd take them back. I love them, and about half the price of Swaros. I did a side by side comparison in bear camp one year with a fellow hunter's Zeiss binos. Everyone agreed the Pentax 10x50's were superior. I can stare through them for extended periods with no issue. Some of the cheaper ones will give you a mega headache when you try that. I'd say pick the one that feels the best to you.
So glad I found this topic! I also bought the Pentax 10X50 this year and love them. Great reviews, great price, comfortable to look through, and just about the right size for my needs. I also bought one of those chest harnesses so they are handy and all times.

The only problem I have with them is that the dust covers are not conducive to hunting at all. The top one falls off easily and the bottom ones will be very easy to lose when they get knocked loose as well. So my primary concern will be lenses getting scratched or rained on. How do people handle those issues when their dust covers are no good?