Best Binoculars ?

[Ledd Slinger]

Here is a picture of the weather where I conducted the comparison between the Meopta 10x32 and Razor 10x50. Just did it again to make sure the results were the same and indeed they are. The mountainside is about 1100 yards away. When looking into the shadows of the trees, you can see a LOT more detail with the Meopta. Probably because they seem to have more magnification. But also because the resolution is phenomenal. Its starting to get dark here. They both appear to have really good brightness at this light level. But the view is much more crisp with the Meopta. Waiting for it to get darker to fully compare the two in low light.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Ok, ok...The little 32mm didn't quite keep up with the big 50mm after it reached the point where shooting light would be over. The Meopta still had a nice crisp usable image and hung in there til the end of legal shooting light, but it was definitely a little darker than the Razor 50mm after that point.

During daylight, the Meopta wins hands down and actually appears brighter, but the 32mm just can't quite keep up with 50mm objectives in the dark. Still very impressive for such a small binocular. So I gained better daylight viewing, less weight and size, but sacrificed a small window of low light viewing. Thats ok by me because after selling the Razors, that paid for the Meopta's with plenty of money to spare. If I really want to glass during times prior or after shooting light, I always use my Meopta S2 HD 20-70x82mm spotting scope anyhow. No binocular can touch that spotter in low light.

I would have got the Meopta 42mm for better low light performance, but I am really trying to reduce weight wherever possible on all my gear. Every ounce counts when hunting in the high country on foot.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Here are pictures of the binoculars side by side. Quite a big difference in size. Still very amazed at the low light performance the Meopta exhibited for such a small glass.

 

[ballistic64]

I stopped by cabelas on the way home from the range today and checked out the instinct hd 12x50s. I went outside with the salesman right at dusk to try them out. I was pretty impressed with them (which wouldn't take much, using an old set of burris signatures for the past few years). The salesman told me that they were on sale until the 18th, so hopefully I can wiggle them in.

 

[SS427]

I got my 8x32mm Cabela's Meopta Instinct binos the other day and I'm just as impressed as Ledd Slinger. The view is very bright and the details are crisp and clear. They remind me of the first time I looked through a Swaro EL model.

When I was shopping I compared them to all the top brands in the $800-$1200 range. I tested both inside the store and outdoors on a very dark cloudy day and I favored the Meopta brand hands down even at the $799 price. When they went on sale for $560 it was a no brainer.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Glad you fellas like them (ballistic64 and Otter). The Meopta Meostar HD binos really are the absolute best glass for the money out there. You honestly have to spend well over $2K on Swarovski EL SV or Leica Ultravid HD before you have something to compare to the Meopta glass. Even then, some people will find the Meopta glass more pleasing to their eyes.

But at sale prices well under $1K for the various models of Cabelas branded Meopta binos, it's like Otter said...the decision is a no brainer.

 

[Rem06]

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.

i settled on: 8x30 CL

http://www.eurooptic.com/swarovski-cl-companion-8x30-black-binocular-58130.aspx

very , very satisfied with them!

 

[SS427]

Happened to be visiting the Cabela's website and see the Instinct binos are no longer on sale, and they also jacked up the prices by $50. Their pricing model never makes any sense to me...sell them cheap for several weeks, then do a hefty price increase.

I will never pay regular price for any Cabela's products knowing full well they could discount those prices by 25-40% at any time.

 

[tjtjwdad]

Leupold use to make two different switch power GOLD-RING models. They came in 7-12x32 and 10-17x42. I have the 7-12x32 model and I really like them. I've never compared them to other models but I do own Swarovski and Leupold VX3 rifle scopes and I know what they look like when I compare them.

IMO, these are pretty good glass wise and has the added flexibility to increase or decrease the power level if needed.

HTH,

 

[Jammer Six]

I started using Steiner sailing. Their 7x50 is a classic marine setup. I've never considered anything else, but it occurs to me that this, like everything else, depends on the purpose. The Steiner Navigator or the Steiner Commander is definitely not a rig you'd want to carry up and down mountains, and even in a cockpit, you look for somewhere to set it down. I can see how hunting, you'd want something lighter, and that's where the compromises start. The Commander is optimized for one purpose: being used on a boat.

I went through a bunch of cheap glass on the way to Steiner, and I'll never do that again. I'll go straight to the best glass, and the highest level of optimization for whatever the purpose is.

As my wife tells me, buy the last one first!

I can't tell you how right she is.