Author Topic: Bushnell Legend Binos (Read 823 times)

GregH · « **on:** August 08, 2005, 09:30:01 AM »

I know they are cheap but have some good features for the price. Anyone care to give me an opinion. They are supposed to be fully multicoated , phase corrected, Bak4 Prisms, etc. I understand they won't be top of the line just useable is all I need. I think they are the same ones as the Browning.
Thanks in advance
GregH

Dave in WV · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2005, 10:27:36 AM »

I bought my son the 8x42 roof prism Legend binos for Christmas. I'm impressed with them. The poro prism model runs about $109 if you don't mind the extra bulk. The 8x32 Legends have a good rating by different gun & outdoor writers.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2005, 12:29:23 PM »

Let's just say I had both them and a $1300 pair of Leica's at the same time. Took both out and tried them. I still have the Legend and someone else now own's the Leica. Yeah I really did think it that much better.

And if you think the Legend's are nice you should try the new Elite's. I'd put them up against any brand out there. Yes they are that good. Ask any of the Handi Rifle guys who looked thru them at the prairie dog shoot back in June.

pastorp · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2005, 06:51:07 PM »

Graybeard, Who has the best prices on the bushnell binoculars. You really think either one is superior to the Leicas. Or just for the money. Thanks, Byron

GregH · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2005, 02:27:32 AM »

Graybeard,
I have heard the good things about the Elites, but for my purposes and state of banking, I must accept less at least for now. THanks for the info about the Legends. Several places have them for about 259.00 and I think PlanetOpics pays the freight. Thanks again for the info
GregH

centershot · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2005, 04:03:24 AM »

The 8X32 Legends are very nice, especially for the money. They are good enough that you need to have a better bino side by side to see the difference - problem is, I have put them side by side with the better binos and I don't own the Legends, I own Nikon 8X32 LX's. (You can get the LX refurbs for $479 - I know thats over your budget, but in 2 years you will still be happy with them, not shopping for another pair of $200 binos)

centershot · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2005, 04:10:09 AM »

There is a great article on 24hourcampfire.com right now about budget binos. A very good read by John Baressness.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2005, 06:05:01 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

Let's just say I had both them and a $1300 pair of Leica's at the same time. Took both out and tried them. I still have the Legend and someone else now own's the Leica. Yeah I really did think it that much better.

And if you think the Legend's are nice you should try the new Elite's. I'd put them up against any brand out there. Yes they are that good. Ask any of the Handi Rifle guys who looked thru them at the prairie dog shoot back in June.

It may just be me, but I just don't see it that way. I don't think the new Elite's are better than everything else out there. :?

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2005, 11:03:13 AM »

I owned both binoculars and used them both side by side on my front porch. For my use the Legend was the better binocular. Perhaps optically the Leica was superior but if so I wasn't able to tell it. The adjustment was so very touchy it was near impossible to perfectly focus it where as the Legend was precise and easy.

The Elite is superior to both but the Legend is still easier to precisely focus for me than the Elite. But the Elite isn't a real problem to focus very precisely, just a little more picky or perhaps the correct thing to say is it's got a more narrow depth of focus. The Legend seems to keep a greater depth of focus than any central focusing binocular I've worked with so far. I like that personally.

I've not done an in depth study of prices but generally speaking Jon at The Optic Zone www.theopticzone.com has prices about as low as the best of them out there and is a sponsor of GBO. Check his prices.

pastorp · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2005, 12:51:39 PM »

Thanks Graybeard for the comeback. I understand what you mean now. Ease of use is important. Maybe thats why I haven't found a pair of binoculars I really like since my old bushnell custom compacts wore out. Thanks again, Byron

elmer · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2005, 08:24:35 AM »

I started out to buy a pair of the Bushnell Legends and ended up comparing them, Nikons (don't remember which ones), and the Leupold Wind River's. The Leupolds followed me home.

For me they were slightly clearer and brighter. The difference was very slight though. I had to really think about spending the extra dollars. The Nikons I was disappointed in. They cost almost the same as the Leupolds, but weren't as good as the Bushnells. IMHO

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2005, 09:31:20 AM »

The best way to also help to judge a good set of binoculars, is to take them out in the woods at dusk or dawn and see how well they will gather light. Just looking through a pair during the day time won't cut it. IMO.

I received my new pair of Zeiss Victory 8X42 FL yesterday. I have been comparing them to all my buddies bino's. They blow way my Zeiss Diafun 8X30's and my buddies Nikon Monarch's in 8 X42's. My other buddy has the Leupold Wind River's and there was no comparison. I also went to my local sporting shop and look at all the Bushnells he had and I liked the Zeiss clarity and brightness the best. Now if I did not have the money for the Zeiss my next choice would of been the Leupold Pinnacle or Nikon Monarch's.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2005, 11:49:19 AM »

Yup early and late is when you'll know what works. Being retired old farts me and the wife have nothing better to do early and late than to sit on front porch with the binos watching the critters go about their daily chores. This might start before daylight and is often until late in the evening long after full darkness.

Our view streches to nearly 1000 yards in places. This is the way I test them. If they work well for me here the hunting uses I have for them seem easy. But we do at times when we go to TX on night time hog hunts use them there also. That really tells you what works. It was on such a hunt I first came to realize the superiority of the Bushnell Legend over the Steiners my wife uses and I love those old Steiners.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2005, 04:52:48 PM »

Graybeard, I sometimes go to my hunting spots and just sit there watching the fields and see if I can pattern game. Being out there and using the bino's for hours will also be a great test. If you get headaches and eye strain, I don't think the quality of the optics is up there. A good set of bino's will not give you a headache or eye strain.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:11:09 PM »

Quote from: Redhawk1

Graybeard, I sometimes go to my hunting spots and just sit there watching the fields and see if I can pattern game. Being out there and using the bino's for hours will also be a great test. If you get headaches and eye strain, I don't think the quality of the optics is up there. A good set of bino's will not give you a headache or eye strain.

I respectfully add a good set of bino's used properly.

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:11:36 PM »

Headaches and eye strain are most commonly caused by improper collimation even in the elcheapo binoculars. But you're right really lousy optical quality can cause it to some extent. But just having them collimated will usually make the problems go away. UNTIL the next time the cheapo's go out of collimation. :eek:

centershot · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2005, 05:05:40 AM »

The comparisons with Nikons should include the LX's not the Monarchs, my point being that you can get $1000+ binos for less than $500 by buying the refurbs, and yes they have the 90day guarantee and the $10 no fault guarantee. The ones I bought are in perfect condition, there is no way you could tell them from new. Just a way to get the good stuff on a budget.