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Offline Countryboy

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what binos do I get
« on: December 22, 2011, 02:59:32 PM »
I want to get myself a good pair for christmas but I cant choose. There are too many brands let alone models. Im looking for a full size 8x for hunting a combo of deep woods and open fields. Id like to be in the $200-$300 range but if I cant get anything good for that Ill wait till I save more. Im tired of getting a headache form looking through cheapies. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
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Offline sgtt

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2011, 01:51:17 AM »
I have a pair of Steiner's. I believe they are Predators.  They are the permenantly focused type. A bit heavy but, I love them.
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Offline NH Yankee

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2011, 02:13:40 AM »
I have Olympus 8 X 36.  This is a bird watchers special, cheaper than Monarch by Nixon, better glass, etc.  Why we as hunters do not look beyond what is offered in hunting magazines is beyond me.  Side by side the birders optics are usually cheaper and as good or better than what we are used to.
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2011, 02:41:20 AM »
in that price range youll find nothing rated higher then nikon monarch atbs. Ive got a set and there as good as my 500 dollar binoculars.
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Offline drdougrx

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2011, 02:47:17 AM »
Also look at a pair of Zen-Rays ED2 or ED3.  They are getting rave reviews.  I tested them against my swarovski, leica zeiss, refield and nikon.  They were right up there with the better glass.
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Offline tobster

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2011, 05:36:37 AM »
I was in the same predicament and narrowed it down to the Nikon Monarch ATBs and the Leupold Cascades. After examining them both for quite a while I picked the Leupolds because to me they just felt better. I'm sure there are a host of others that are as good or better. Once you move up from the cheapies you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2011, 06:00:29 AM »
one other thing i like about leupold and especially nikon is there warantee. My first pair of monarchs were bought about 12 years ago. I took them out last year and was having problems focusing out past 600 yards. I dont know if i dropped them or how it happened. I sent them to nikon and in about a week got back a brand new pair of there updated monarchs that have a bit better glass then my old ones for free. Hard to beat a company that stands behind there products like that!
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Offline Ladobe

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2011, 06:41:26 AM »
Agree with NH Yankee, check out the birders models.   S X S most of them exceed models designed for other uses.   Don't know about cheaper though, my Nikon LX 10X42's had a $1400 asking price, but they are simply WOW in use.   Brightest, clearest, distortion free bino's I've ever seen personally.
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Offline charles p

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2011, 06:49:43 AM »
Ask Camerland about a demo model.  I have Minox 10X42 and really love them.  I bought a old used pair of Sworovski 10X25 for my wife on eBay, dirt cheap.  They folded and would not stay tight.  Sent them to the company and they came back good as new, all free.
 
I'd consider anything used that has a lifetime warranty.
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2011, 07:12:41 AM »
Checkout the Burris Landmarks, they run in the mid 100's , are super sharp and bright. Plus if you find one of the deals where you buy the scope and get the binoculars free, then for 200$ you've whacked two birds with one stone. ;D
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Offline victorcharlie

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2011, 07:28:09 AM »
Count me as another happy Nikon Monarch owner.
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Offline Countryboy

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2011, 11:37:21 AM »
wow lots of advise. I was looking at nikons but I read a lot of bad reviews about the eye cups breaking. I did see cameraland has zen-ray ed2 for only $280. I dont like that most of the Leupolds dont have fully coated glass but most others in that price range do.
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Offline 52bagman

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2011, 12:45:37 PM »
I have a pair of Luepold Cascades 8x42 and for the money are very good. The only gripe was they didn't have lens covers for the objective lenses. they did come with a nice one piece eye covers that I ended up putting a lanyard on to avoid loosing. Had an old set of Bruntons  and took the covers from them for the O-lens. The Luepolds have hard a hard life and are in my kitchen to be handy, used every day.
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Online Graybeard

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2011, 05:34:02 PM »
I've owned quite a few binoculars and for about two years my job was to rebuild them for the Army. I restored an average of two plus per day during that time. I got a real education on binoculars doing that.

I've owned two of the over $1000 binoculars one of them was $1300 I believe. I let both of them go and have kept a pair of Bushnell Legends that I like better than any other I've owned. I have to admit the Zen-Ray I have is close but they are 10X and I just can't hold 10X steady anymore. Heck I'm not sure I ever could really.
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Offline Gun Runner

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2011, 11:23:48 PM »
I got an old pair of 7x50 manon(made in japan) coated optics I bought in 1960 at the exchange on Midway Island while stationed their. They came in a hard leather case, have good light gathering optics. I payed $14.00 for them, They have been drug around the world several times and up and down countless montains. Case has started to give up the ghost, but glasses still work fine. Have looked at some new ones but I cant really tell the diffrence. Maybe its just cause Iam in my 70s and cant see any way.  :o Saw a pair on e bay a year or so ago and somebody wanted $150.00 for them with out the case or the sun filters.

Gun Runner
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Offline Countryboy

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Re: what binos do I get
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2012, 05:39:13 AM »
Ended up getting a pair of Bushnell 8x42 Lengnd Ultra HD. As far as I can tell they look good but I dont have much to compare to. I did notice the two complaints I read about them. They are a little fuzzy at the extreme edges but the field of view is so wide I dont notice it. Also the front lens covers are loose when hanging by the holders. I read a trick to put a large o-ring on to hold them in place. I picked them over others because they have a buy back garantee if you decide you dont like them. So far as I can tell I think they have a new home. Thanks for all responses.
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