I am currently using a 10x42 Nikon Monarch. They have had a few years of alot of hard use and are starting to show it. From deerhunting, shedhunting to scouting... I use them all year long. I need the best binoc I can get for $500. What is it ??? Tim
They are $100 more, but I was simply blown away when I looked through a set of Vortex Viper HD 10x42! I honestly could not tell a difference between these and Swaros, they are amazing. I can't justify that much for binos with the rate I use them. I use a set of the 8x50 Vortex Vultures which are amazing, especially for the money...but they don't hold a candle to the Vipers when it comes to clarity.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Monar...003?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519f4a427b I bought this exact pair and I love them. When there is a full moon outside, you see pretty well because they gather a lot of light. I looked around and got them new for that price, Amazon is at $419.
I've been using Alpen's for years... They have really taken a beating and still work/look fantastic... They have a great warranty too... "No Fault, No Problem Lifetme Warranty - No questions asked, no problem - no store receipt required". These are a little bit better than mine (but still only $350 at Amazon). The ones I got still looked better than glass that cost over twice as much - IMO... http://www.amazon.com/Alpen-Wings-Glass-Prism-Binocular/dp/B00233U74Q/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_5
The problem with these threads, is that no one is subjective and thinks that whatever they bought is the best. I can't justify expensive glass for my uses, but to suggest any of the <$300 binos in the same breath as the higher end models indicates one of two things: You are biased (rightfully so spending your hard earned money) or you have never looked through more expensive glass. The difference is amazing, and if I ever used binos enough I may make the splurge. For now my Vultures will do just fine, but I'm certainly not naive enough to think they are the best out there.
Spot on. A $200 pair of bino's can't even begin to hold a candle to a $500 pair... If you are set on a budget ($500) spend that, and some more. That being said... Vortex Talon HD's or the Viper HD's. Hands down the absolute BEST warranty in the industry and some incredible glass.
I have a pair of zen-ray ed2 8x43 as the distances are not so wide open here. If I were to get a pair of 10x43's I would get these: http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened3.html
Tembry makes a good point here. "The Best" doesnt always mean "the ones you own". I think the best test of optics, is low light situations. Just about any bino will do the trick on a sunny day, but how do they perform at dusk? I suggested the Acadia's which I do not personally own but have used extensively because my hunting buddy has a pair,they out perform my way more expensive nikon's in low light. THey are almost like having night vision.
This may be true in general but there are exceptions to every rule. I know back when I was traveling shooting tournaments that I had two guys I traveled with. One was sponsored by Nikon and the other was sponsored by Optilogic. My friends $350 pair of Optilogics were BY FAR better than the $1000 Nikons at bringing out the lines on 3-d targets in all lighting conditions. This has been a few years and that is not comparing what they would do at a 1000 yards spotting game. But you can't just make a blanket statement that just because mine cost more they have to be better. Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
I agree, I was more talking within a brand. As you climb the price ladder there is a discernible difference between models for sure. I'm just not a Nikon fan to begin with so your story brings me joy and no surprise! Lmao
I like the cheap nikons. Atleast for the price point. I have a pair of $100 nikons that are great to beat around but no where as nice as the top end stuff out there. Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
Good glass is expensive. There is absolutely no way around it. I have a pair of Leupold Gold Ring Glasses that I absolutely love and work well for me. They were "expensive", at least to me in the 450 range. Now, I have an uncle who has a pair of the high end Swarovski's and those things blow my Leupold's away. The difference? The quality of the glass and coatings on them mostly. Regardless of brand, buy the best you can afford. I used to use cheap glasses years ago and decided on year I was going to buy a higher end pair, in my price range. I was astonished how much clearer they were, especially in low light and how much easier they were on my eyes after using them all day. I also found that I used them more while in the field.
I have used Vortex Optics for several years. For the money they cant be beat in my opinion. I have the Diamondback 10x42s and the Viper 10x42s and I love them both! If you dont mind the weight but want the upgraded glass, the Talon HD's are a tough pair of binos! Vortex Stands behind their products and I stand behind them.
