Best Binoculars ?

[Frankr]

What are the very best Binoculars for hunting ? I can spend most of the day on them,That's how I spot and shoot all them deer.

What do you use ? How do they compare to other's ?

I have Vortex viper HD and they are decent.10x42
I have a old pair of steiner 8x30 cant remember the model I paid like $225 for them 25 years ago. they are fair to decent.

I have been thinking about updating to something better some time this year but don't want to spend 3K on them.

 

[SS427]

I'm shopping for some new binoculars in the 8x30 or 8x32 size and did an extensive evaluation at Cabela's over the weekend. There were two stand out binoculars that I looked through at two different price points.

One was an inexpensive Zeiss Terra model on sale for $250, regular price of $370. These actually looked better than the Zeiss Conquest for twice the price, and compared very well against the Swarovski CL model believe it or not. The build quality was not quite as good as the Conquest or the CL, but with the Schott glass, there were fantastic optically for the low price.

The binoculars that blew me away were the Cabela's Instinct made by Meopta for $800. The Swarovski CL were not even close. These are the ones I will be buying. Do yourself a favor and at least look through them if you can. I swear they compare with binos costing $2K and more.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Cabelas Euro Instinct HD binos (made by Meopta) will go toe to toe with Swarovski EL and Leica HD in any light or situation. But they do it for half the price and a no questions asked lifetime warranty backed by Cabelas.

I own the Cabelas Euro Instinct HD 20-70 spotting scope ($2300, also made by Meopta). It is honestly every bit as good as Swarovski HD spotters (nearly $3000). I think its even a little better to my eyes. The Meopta made HD binos exhibit the same excellent optical quality.

A little secret i found while comparing the Meopta's Cabelas Euro HD binos to Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, Vortex Razor, etc...is that if you are wanting a 10X binocular, take a hard look at the Euro HD 10x32 model. The handling, weight, view, and pretty much everything about them is nicer than the larger Euro Instinct HD 10x42 model in my opinion...and they are a few hundred dollars cheaper yet.

Cabelas Euro Instinct HD, or the same optics with the original Meopta HD nameplate are by far the best value to be had in the industry. They will stretch your hard earned dollars a lot farther by giving you top shelf optical quality at a much lower price point.

If you have a Cabelas close by, do yourself a favor and go compare the Euro Instinct HD binos to all the other high end binos before you spend over $2K on other brands.

 

[Frankr]

Thanks otter. I kind of did the same thing and felt the Vortex viper HD's were better than even the 1K Zeiss I looked threw. I stayed away from anything over 1K But I may bite the bullet and go for the Swarovski EL 10x42 I have been able to find them just under 2K. I am not ready to buy anything right now maybe in a few months. It is on my mind though My buddy has a pair of 8x30 Zeiss that they don't make anymore they were like 950ish he got them on close out for 700 I have looked threw them a good bit. They are nice but I need 10x.

 

[Frankr]

Thanks Ledd slinger

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I will also add that my current Vortex Razor HD 10x50 binos compare well with Swarovski EL binos. I think the Razors are worth what you pay, especially with the warranty. But the Swarovski EL does have a slightly better image, especially in low light. But I am happy with my Razors for the price. I had no reason to spend the extra $1200 on Swarovski EL. Just wasnt enough difference.

However, the Cabelas Euro Instinct 10x32 binos made me dislike my Vortex Razors. I never should have compared the two. Before next hunting season, I WILL have the Cabelas Euro Instinct HD 10x32s. And I dont even care if I sell my Vortex Razors. They impressed me that much.

 

[wedgy]

Bid is currently at $375 for the Cabelas Euro 10x42mm

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cabelas-Euro-Meopta-Meostar-B1-10x42-Binoculars-/252209633626?hash=item3ab8dd995a:g:HXoAAOSwbdpWa5gb

 

[swd]

Another vote for the Cabela's Euro 10x42. Excellent glass!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Bid is currently at $375 for the Cabelas Euro 10x42mm

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cabelas-Euro-Meopta-Meostar-B1-10x42-Binoculars-/252209633626?hash=item3ab8dd995a:g:HXoAAOSwbdpWa5gb

The Euros are NOT the same quality as the Euro Instinct HD. All are made by Meopta, but the Instinct HD glass is far superior. Top of the line

 

[Ledd Slinger]

FYI,

Just look at the customer ratings on EVERY Euro Instinct HD spotting scope and binocular offered by Cabelas from Meopta. Tons of reviews to read and every model holds a FULL five star rating. Heres a link if you want to read them at cabelas web site.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.cmd?recordsPerPage=18&No=0&N=0&nl=true&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=Euro+instinct+hd&search=Search

 

[Sniper338]

I got a pair of 10x steiners. Forget what its called, but no focus... look from 1 ft to infinity and never loose focus.. they are awesome.. with i had 12x or 14x tho..


Best ive ever looked through were some old zeiss fixed 25X with like 56mm objective... they were awesome! Dont know if they even make anything like that anymore... id buy a pair if they did...

 

[msinc]

I own a pair of Kahles 10X42's and love them. I have had them for almost 15 years now. I have to say that the latest best model that Nikon makes is very comparable if you don't like true German/Austrian glass prices.

 

[slm9s]

take your bino budget AND your rangefinder budget and find a used non-HD pair of Leica Geovid BRF

 

[Frankr]

take your bino budget AND your rangefinder budget and find a used non-HD pair of Leica Geovid BRF

My question would be why buy anything that is not HD? Every thing I could look threw that was HD was better quality and that is what i'm looking for better quality..I have the Vortex Viper 10x42 HD and they are good quality optics but I would like better quality optics . I wish I could look threw the Leica Trinovid non HD 10x42 and see how they compare to my viper HD's because you can get the Trinovid's on sale for under 1K.

I don't need any range finders, I have and have many seasons with the Leica rangemaster 1200 I would not part with it at this time. I also Have a new G7 range finder I like the data it gives me.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I agree. HD glass is the way to go. Unfortunately, some companies make "HD" models that aren't much better than their non-HD models. So you end up payimg a lot more for little gain. Some companies say they make HD optics when in fact ONLY the coatings have changed, not the glass. But companies like Swarovski and Meopta use true HD glass that is second to none and well worth the added cost. Nice thing is that Meopta gives you that option at a much lower price point than other top european optics manufacturers.

LRF binos are convenient at times. However, that luxury is not only paid for in a lot of extra expense, but a lot of additional weight in the optic. I dont know about everyone else, but i do a lot of hiking during hunting season and the less weight i can have strapped to my chest or straining on my arms when glassing for long periods makes a difference. Thats partially why i plan on purchasing the Instinct HD 10x32 binos instead of the 10x42 model.

 

[Frankr]

Leica is making a new pair of Trinovid HD Binoculars looks like the price what I could find out is 999.00 they are replacing the Trinovid that was 1650.00 that maybe the reason for the Trinovid's price drop to 999.00 most places that have them in sock, I would like to take a look at themHD's when they become available. I asked how the Ultravid HD plus stacks up to the Swarovski EL's I was told on a par to better just need to look for myself. I will. just wondering and asking for opinions on glass before I go looking. I will go to cabelas and look but it's nice to get other peoples opinions and what they have and use.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Swarovski EL beats Leica HD in most every aspect. At least they do to my eyes. The only advantage Leica has IMO, is they really know how to get awesome color saturation from their optics. The blacks are blacker, the reds are redder, etc. But resolution, field of view, and low light performance is not quite on par with Swarovski EL. If you read comparison reviews of the two, folks will echo my own personal opinion.

That being said, keep in mind that the Trinovids have lesser quality glass and perhaps even lesser quality coatings.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Sort of depends on how big a mountain you have to lug them up. If you are sitting in a blind waiting for the sun to come up, I can't imagine anything better than a pair of 10x50 Navy "submarine" binoculars with prisms that weigh about a pound apiece. If you're caring all your gear up a mountainside, I'd go for a nice compact pair of Ziess or Swarovski light-weight compacts probably 8x20.

Most people don't know how to buy binoculars. It's one product I'll almost always buy off the shelf in the store. And take home the exact one I tested. There is enough variation in the quality between individual samples that I would not like to take my chances buying mail-order. Start out by looking through the oculars at arms length. The lights should be perfectly round and surrounded by jet black. Looking in the objectives, everything that isn't glass should be dull black. You should have no trouble focusing or converging the images and the images should be perfectly clear all over, not out of focus at the edges.

 

[SS427]

The Cabelas Instinct binos are all currently on sale. The 8x32 model regular price is $799 is on sale for $560 and the 10x32 model is $595.

I had to order the 8x32 model because my local Cabelas is sold out. I too like to pick them out in the store, but took the gamble ordering them. I don't think I will be disappointed.

 

[Hntndad]

Best, or best for the $?? Best I've owned-Swarovski EL. Have not had the opportunity to try Leica binos but I do own their rangefinder and found it to be top notch. I did own the Swarovski rangefinding bino and was not satisfied with the slow reading. Don't know if you can truely beat the swarovskis. Your average person doesn't spend that kind of $ on glass...I was put on a waiting list when I originally ordered mine.