Best Binos for under $1500?

[BigDMT]

I recently made a BAD mistake in an attempt to upgrade my optics. I traded my Leica Ultravid 10X42 BR bins to SWFA.com in exchange for a pair of Steiner peregrine XP 10X44 bins. The best binocular Steiner produces.

After conducting hours and hours of research reading reviews and opinions, I honestly thought I would be slightly upgrading my optics when going to the Steiners. Boy was I wrong! The Peregrines have the cheapest chinsy plastic eyecups I have ever seen, they don;t even work! Had trouble getting diopter set, then once set had trouble focusing at long ranges. Peregrine's weren't even playing the same SPORT as my Leicas when it came to looking for detail in shadows. Nice glass, but just an all around disappointment when compared to my Leicas

So I am returning the Steiners to SWFA and will have about a $1200 store credit. I am willing to spend a little more for good glass, but not the extra $1200 for the new Swaro EL-SV's. I wish I could get the Swaros, but I have to keep up my savings so I can take all the hunting trips I have planned this year and not have to worry about spending to have a good time. But I am willing to spend another $300 or so if it means I can get into some really nice glass that will outdo my old Leica Ultravids.

I am currently fairly set on getting the newly redesigned 2012 Vortex Razor HD 10x42 bins because they won't cost me anymore money and supposedly the new Razor HD's are pretty awesome glass for the money. As is with most Vortex products.

I'm not really a Zeiss guy when it comes to bins. I've looked through em all (conquest to victory) and just don't like the blue color bias and edge softness in the field of view.

Anybody use the Vortex Razor's or have any other suggestions for binoculars in the <$1500 price range?

Thanks.

 

[Scott Harris]

Hard to go wrong with the Leicas, I'd just get them back. I recently looked through a bunch of Vortex binos: was not that impressed. But, they do seem to be quite popular. I think your biggest mistake would be to buy sight unseen again...

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Nevermind, I'm an idiot.

 

[BigDMT]

Hard to go wrong with the Leicas, I'd just get them back. I recently looked through a bunch of Vortex binos: was not that impressed. But, they do seem to be quite popular. I think your biggest mistake would be to buy sight unseen again...

You are absolutely right. I will never purchase optics without looking through them again.

I have looked through the razor HD's when they were still a double hinged design and I was thoroughly impressed for the price. And now the newly designed 2012 Razor HD's are supposed to have better optics yet. That input is coming from a buddy of mine who always used the best binos (leica and swaro) and sells the new razor hd's in his store.

I was not impressed with anything cheaper than the razor hd's. the viper hd's are ok, but definitely cannot compete with the alphas. i thought the razors hd's were in the same ball park as the newer alphas though, but for over $1000 less.

I really didn't want to get rid of my Leicas, but I bough them used a year ago and they only come with a 10 year certified used limited lifetime non-transferable warranty. So I only have 9 years left on them and they aren't gaining value.

The Vortex optic VIP warranty is the best in the business. Lifetime no fault fully transferable warranty. Doesn't matter how they broke, who did it or any other reason you can think of, they replace them with no questions asked. Don't even need to keep the sales receipt or register them because the warranty is on the optic itself for as long as it is in existence with whomever has it in their possession. Only thing it doesn't cover is loss or theft. But nobody covers that.

 

[xpilot]

http://phoenix.backpage.com/SportsEquipForSale/1200-swarovski-10x50/19228786

Not mine but good stuff. I have used a pair my son has and liked them a lot.

 

[Carbide]

You might consider Canon 10x42 image stabilizers. I have been using the 12x36is and the 10x42is is waterproof and has a one touch image stabilizer button now instead of having to hold is button down constantly. You or your buddy can glass from moving vehicle with them like we do fox/coyote hunting. What you had is nice.

 

[hedditch]

The sad story is you have a store credit so you have to purchase from the store which means you cannot shop around even for used binoc's. Bite the bullet and get the swaros or else down the road you will be looking again to get the swaros. Been there, done that. I would have saved a lot of money if I would have just bit the bullet and purchased them right off. Just my two cents worth.
Dave

 

[Sully2]

Call a place in Wisconsin called Eagle Optics and tell them what you want. (800) 289-1132. They'll give ya the straight poop and they also have a deal where you can try them for..?? 30 days I THINK..?..and if you dont like them you send them back to them.

For high $$$ glass...I refuse to buy from any one else.

 

[BigDMT]

The sad story is you have a store credit so you have to purchase from the store which means you cannot shop around even for used binoc's. Bite the bullet and get the swaros or else down the road you will be looking again to get the swaros. Been there, done that. I would have saved a lot of money if I would have just bit the bullet and purchased them right off. Just my two cents worth.
Dave

I know I really should get the swaros. I personally thought my Leica Ultravids were nicer than the original swaro EL's, but then I looked through the "new" EL binos with Swarovision and they are in a class by their own way above any of the competition. Nothing even comes close to touching them. They really set the bar high with the SV's. Don't know if anyone will ever be able to best that glass. At least not for a long time to come. Unfortunately, I just can't spend the extra $1200 on top of the credit I already have to get them. My wife would probably shoot me with a bullet from every gun I own. I'd look like swiss cheese So I am going to have to settle for something less than the SV's for now. I think the Vortex Razor HD's will do fine and hold their value well until I can re-sell them and get the new swaros.

The nice thing about the high end glass is that they hold their value extremely well. I may lose $100-$200 when I sell the Razors a year or two from now. And that's IF I sell the Razors. Who knows, they may be nice enough that I won't want anything else.

 

[BulletBob3701]

Look at www.betterviewdesired.com. It is a birding site.

Bob

 

[BulletBob3701]

In my opioon and experience porro prizm binoculars are brighter and have a much larger field of view and depth of focus. The only high end porro prizm binoculars available at this time are the Nikon Superior E and Swarovski .

Bob

 

[dansig]

I would go with the Zeiss 10x42 t*FL even though it costs close to $1700..

here is a review http://www.optics4birding.com/zeiss-victory-binoculars-review.aspx

 

[BigDMT]

In my opioon and experience porro prizm binoculars are brighter and have a much larger field of view and depth of focus. The only high end porro prizm binoculars available at this time are the Nikon Superior E and Swarovski .

Bob

The 10X42 Razor HD's boast a 362 ft view at 1000 yards. that's about as good as it gets for a roof prism. Hard to beat the clarity and color reproduction of a roof prism too. Just can't match it with a porro prism. That's why all the high end glass is roof prism.
And with a weight of only 24.7 oz, they will be awesome for packing when I'm hunting in the high country where every ounce counts.

The new Swarovski 10X42 EL Swarovision binos (which are the best in the business by far) only have a 330 ft view at 1000 yards and weigh 27.5 oz (about 3 oz heavier than the Razors). The EL's are a roof prism bino as well.

 

[BigDMT]

I would go with the Zeiss 10x42 t*FL even though it costs close to $1700..

here is a review http://www.optics4birding.com/zeiss-victory-binoculars-review.aspx

I think Zeiss binos are very nice, but there edge clarity isn't perfect which limits their true field of view and I personally don't like the "blue" tint the glass transfers to my eyes. Many people love them, but I have looked through them many times and am not a fan. I actually thought the Conquest line of binoculars had glass more pleasing to me than the Victory glass. Just my personal opinion though.

Now their spotting scopes are a different story. I think their new Diascope line is the best there is. Even quite a bit better than Swarovski HD in my opinion. But I just don't like their binoculars.

 

[BigDMT]

Look at www.betterviewdesired.com. It is a birding site.

Bob

Thanks for the input but not interested in any of those. As you know, I don't like Zeiss binos. I've owned Leupold Golden Ring binos before and wasn't very impressed with their long range low light ability, heavy weight, and fussy eye relief. And the others aren't nice enough for what I need. Thanks again though.

 

[fx77]

Pay Up get the best you can and amortize the cost over the next 10 years..it sounds much cheaper that way..at least that is what I tell the spouse....buy once cry once...I think U have learned this already.

 

[BigDMT]

Pay Up get the best you can and amortize the cost over the next 10 years..it sounds much cheaper that way..at least that is what I tell the spouse....buy once cry once...I think U have learned this already.

Well put sir. Are you trying to get me in trouble with my wife? lol!