Binoculars

[JD338]

I am currently using a Leupold Wind River 8x30 Roof Prism and would like to upgrade to the next level of performance. I would like to get the Swarovski SLC 10x42 but they are out of my price range.
I want to use for long range viewing but also up close for bow hunting. Also need to be good for low light situations.

What kind of Binoculars are you guys using?

JD338

 

[Guest]

I'm using a pair of Bushnell Legends in 10x42. I like them, but in reality, they are a bit heavy (at about 30-31oz), although the new model Legend has all the same features but in a 25oz package because of a redesigned lightweight chassis. They are great glass, and I can see well from them in low light. My brother has a pair of Nikons that he really likes, and I know Nikon makes some 8x roof prisms that go about 20oz, so they are super light. Do yourself a favor and get a harness for whatever you get. It really made mine a lot easier to carry, even at a fairly high weight.

 

[Powerstroke]

JD,
Didn't know you were a stick chucker too??
IMO you have the next level, save the $ and buy the Swaro's !! I'd leave my bow behind before I'd leave my SLC 10X42 ! I use them from archery elk, high desert mulies, to chasing yote's.
I had "HOURS" of glassing in 05 in AK for bou with no eye strain what so ever. Kinda like Porche, there is no substitute.
Mine came from D&R Sports, much better pricing.
Second thought.....?? The Caleba's Euro's ?? Anyone looked through them yet?

 

[Desert Fox]

I have an old Redfield 10X50 roof prism binocular that I use for varmint hunting. For big game however, I use my old Bushnell 7X50 Marine binocular. This porro prism binocular is bulky but for long glassing session, which is almost the norm hunting mulie's here in California, the Bushnell has no equal. But there has to be a Swarovski EL in the horizon in not to distant future for me.

 

[JD338]

Powerstroke,

I'm a stick n string too! Nothing like a crisp early Nov morning in the pre rut for WT Deer.

I really like the Swaro's but want to also check out the Cabelas Euros. They have a video clip which is quite interesting. The price is quite a bit less too.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

JD338

 

[Eagle Eye]

My choice would be a mid to high priced 8x42mm. I find 10x too difficult to hold steady. The 8x is a perfect size for me and a 42mm objective provides lots of light at dawn and dusk. On the high end side, the Swaro, Leica or Zeiss are it. In the mid priced range, the Bushnell Discoverer is excellent for the cost, the Legend to a lessor degree. Also take a close look at the Pentax SCF SP 8x43mm....awesome for the money. Make sure whatever you buy that it is 100% waterproof....some aren't.

For lots of good advice, checkout the 24hourcampfire.com web site. If you go to the gun writers section, Jon Barsness is there under the name MULE DEER. Barsness is considered one of the biggest names in optics and people take notice when he gives an opinion. You can also checkout chuckhawks.com

Hope this helps you.

EE

 

[JD338]

Eagle Eye,

Thanks for your input. I have been over to the camfire and there is some good G2 on optics.
I am leaning towards the Swaros, but the price.....

I know, you get what you pay for and I am looking at it as an investment.
The last pair I will ever have to buy.

JD338

 

[Eagle Eye]

Yeah, I know what you mean...it always comes down to dollars. I bought a pair of Bauch & Lomb Discoverer 7x42mm 10 years ago and they have been superb. They are still made under the Bushnell name in 8x42mm and 10x42mm and are better in many ways now...they have rainguard, better coating, etc. Up here they are about $450 these days so in the USA, you'd probably get them for just over $300 or so....they are great buy and while they aren't Swaro's, they sure are a great value for the buck.

Anyway, good luck with it and good hunting

 

[skeeter]

I am very pleased with my Pentax DCF SP's, for the price they are superb. One thing I have been hard on is binos, they just seem to get abused without meaning too. My SP's have been sumbersed on more then one occasion, subjected to the canadian climate and never a hick up. I had 10x42's but recently replaced with 8x43's. I find them more useful and have spotter as well as 12x bins so no real need for more zoom around my neck. 8x worked just dandy today picking out a 5 point whitetail shed in a hay field at over 300 yards away with just the G2 and 3 tips visable. The wife just shook her head as I trudged out in mid thigh deep snow in jeans to claim my prize. :grin:

Won't dare say they compare to swaro's but at the price one wouldn't expect them too. Might be worth a boo if your not wanting to shell out the 1k and up price tag.

Best of Luck

 

[Powerstroke]

JD,
That is impressive. I was just @ Cabelas too, and meant to look through a pair. One of our new hunting budies is looking for a pair of binos now.
I can tell you when I got back from AK, my eye brows HURT!! something terrible......the nice little tripod position.......knees up, elbows on knees, binos pressed back into your eye sockets and my eyes felt just fine...no strain after a week solid through them. Most of our elk hunting starts about nine thousand feet, and goes up to 11 thousand......we always get a pretty "crisp" picture.

 

[JD338]

Powerstroke,

The Cabelas Euro binoculars are made by Meopta. They are a 74 year old company but have only been in the US market since 2004. Their warrenty is lifetime and transferable. They private lable for several companies as well as offering their own line of optics, which use their best quality glass.
Meopta offers the Meostar 10x42 #467780 with their best glass. The Meopta optically outperformes the Swarovski SLC 10x42 from the side by side comparison I made, having better resolution and true color.
MSRP is $979.00.
http://www.meopta.com/

JD338

 

[Powerstroke]

JD,

Awesome piece of research ! A few hundred less with all the bells and whistles. Easy choice at that point, still some huge bucks though !

 

[JD338]

powerstroke,

I bought the Meopta Meostar B1 10x42s. These babies are bright!

JD338

 

[kiddekop]

In July of 2005 I took AZ Guide Duwane Adams' Glassing class learning my Leupold 10x40 IF weren't up to the job with my old eyes looking for Coues Whitetails at 1 to 1 1/2 miles.Duwane let me use his Swaros 15 pwr and Zeiss 15 pwr then with help I was able to locate them.I'd recommend at least 12 power but I choose Pentax 20x60 binocs and a tripod to glass with.Duwane can be contacted via email coon@theriver.com ,PH # 520-385-4995 http://www.arizonabiggamehunting.com his glassing class is well worth it along with his DVD How To Glass For Trophy Animals.

 

[Powerstroke]

JD,

Awesome & Congrats !! Hunting season can't come soon enough. Are you going to attempt to come back CO direction this year? Not a whole lot of time left to get the aps done.

 

[JD338]

Not this year, but I do want to go back and chase some elk.

JD338

 

[HunterJim]

I used to hunt with the 10X40 Swarovski SLCs, but I shifted to the 8.5X42 EL. They are a lot more expensive than when I bought mine. I would consider two other binos that have great performance for less $. One is the Minox HG and the second is the Pentax ED. You can get either in the 8X40 format that I find more useful for hunting than the 10X40.

jim