Author Topic: need new binoc recommendations  (Read 459 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Dand

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (35)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2974
need new binoc recommendations
« on: September 20, 2006, 11:53:42 PM »
I'm looking for some good hunting no fog  binocs at a moderate price - say $250 - $300max.
 
I had a pair of 8x20 Minolta compacts that were great for many years but suffered one too many bumps and bangs.
 
I have tried a pair of Nikon Travelite V  8-24 x 25 zoom that are  a nice size and weight but the damned things fog on me and the zoom is a distraction and not very helpful. 
 
I live and hunt in Bristol Bay Alaska and on my recent moose hunt it rained close to 4 inches one day, at least 1.5 - 2 inches for each of the other 4 days.  I also trap and hunt in winter to -15 or so.  I'm real hard on stuff in thick brush, getting in and out of boats and riding snowmobiles.  The Nikons fogged in the rain and have fogged in cold weather.
 
 
I like the 8x range. 
Don't like the zoom feature of the Nikons.
Light weight is nice but durability is equally important - prefer less than 20 oz wt.
NO FOG essential
I like the idea of a 25mm to 35mm objective.
I wear bifocal - well transitions- glasses.
 
Can you make a recommendation? 
 
thanks
NRA Life

liberal Justice Hugo Black said, and I quote: "There are 'absolutes' in our Bill of Rights, and they were put there on purpose by men who knew what words meant and meant their prohibitions to be 'absolutes.'" End quote. From a recent article by Wayne LaPierre NRA

Offline TheOpticZone

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 656
    • http://www.theopticzone.com
Re: need new binoc recommendations
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2006, 02:26:27 AM »
Sounds like the Bushnell Legend 8x32's will be the ticket for you.  In the power range you are looking for.  Not to big of an objective.  They have the rainguard feature to eliminate any fogging during rainy or inclement weather even from your breath.  Within your budget and the roof prisms make them a compact binocular. 
Jon Jackoviak
The Optic Zone
www.theopticzone.com

The Place for all your Optic Needs!

Offline Val

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 846
Re: need new binoc recommendations
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2006, 04:15:21 AM »
The Leupold Wind River Cascades are an excellent choice in that price range. They have a long eye relief so I can use them all day wearing my glasses.
Hunting and fishing are not matters of life or death. They are much more important than that.

Offline Dand

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (35)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2974
Re: need new binoc recommendations
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2006, 09:41:42 PM »
hmmm, both suggestions are ones I was taking a hard look at.  Sure wish Optic Zone could include more data like size and weight on their website, like they do for the Nikon binocs.

The Rainguard feature on the Bushnells sure intrigues me.  If if works as good as they say, then that is the thing for me.  I see it gets fair to good reviews here on their rifle scopes.

I also see that there are 2 Bushnell Legends 8x42, one priced about $109 and the other about $239. I wonder what the difference is or is that a mistake?  The product descriptions seem about the same.

Any more suggestions?  Am I shorting myself by staying in this price range? 

Just don't feel like I can justify the high priced stuff.  Though I have looked through a friend's Zeiss binocs and they were wonderful.

NRA Life

liberal Justice Hugo Black said, and I quote: "There are 'absolutes' in our Bill of Rights, and they were put there on purpose by men who knew what words meant and meant their prohibitions to be 'absolutes.'" End quote. From a recent article by Wayne LaPierre NRA

Offline TheOpticZone

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 656
    • http://www.theopticzone.com
Re: need new binoc recommendations
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2006, 02:44:32 AM »
The price on the 2 Legend binoculars are correct, but the pictures are incorrect.  I need to fix that, but keep forgetting to do so.  The $109 is the porro prism binoculars where the $239 pair is the roof prism style.
Jon Jackoviak
The Optic Zone
www.theopticzone.com

The Place for all your Optic Needs!

Offline EsoxLucius

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 601
  • Gender: Male
Re: need new binoc recommendations
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2006, 11:03:36 AM »
I would also check out the Eagle Optics Ranger SRT 8x32mm and the phase-corrected Celestron Noble 8x32mm (both with a lifetime no-fault fix or replace warranty).  For $50 more the EO Ranger SRT is a substantial improvement over the Bushnell Legend which is on par with the Celestron Noble.  Of course right now if you buy the Legends you can get a free Bushnell backpack, $129 value.   Well, OK it will cost you $10 and postage.
We learn something new everyday whether we want to or not.