Binoculars- tell me about them

[ronsatspokane]

They will be used for looking at equipment mounted on power poles and transmission lines. They will spend 99.9% of their lives in a case in a tool bin on a truck. Im just about settled on steiner military/marine. Since i need good but dont need fabulous the $500 price range is where im at especially since they may not be used but once a year

OK. Yeah, you have a wide range of choices for that kind of an application. Steiner will certainly do the job.

 

[troupe]

A lot of binos mentioned are good binos. I have had over the years some very good glass. I was given some Leitz from my papaw when he passed and also my Dad had Jena's. Both where very good glass. When I got older and was able to buy my own, I purchased Swarovski's. I had both models, the lower grade and also the EL's. I decided to try Tract. Very good price and with European Schott glass. I was amazed at the quality and the clarity. Way beyond what I expected for the price point. The Tract's where so good that I sold my Swarovski's and picked up a second pair. The trick with Tract optics is that there is no middleman. The savings is passed on to the customer. I would purchase them again and can recommend them for their super performance of binos comparable to binos costing three times the price. Tract is great to deal with and if you have not purchase any binos yet, give them a shot. Guaranteed satisfaction. You will not be disappointed for under $700, you won't find better.

Tract Optics

 

[skywag]

You might as well buy a Model "T" unless you buy something with image stabilization.

Canon makes excellent IS binoculars.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...313&_nkw=image+stabilized+binoculars&_sacat=0

 

[flatlander]

Dusty, I first looked at the 8x42 Leupold Gold Ring binos at SHOT back around 2005, not long before they discontinued them. I liked what I saw, and when one of the shooting wholesalers I had an account with offered them at close-out pricing of around $650, I ordered in a set of them for myself. That was about 15yrs ago, and I've been carrying them in my pickup trucks constantly ever since. I have Swaro SLC 8x30s, Vortex Viper HD 8x42s, and the Leupolds, in addition to a set of Leupold BX-5 15x56s, which stay in the house unless I decide to use them as spotters during a rifle match. Hands down, the 8x42 Gold Rings are my favorites, in spite of being pretty heavy to carry around. If I hadn't had the other brands & models mentioned, I'd have bought another set of Gold Rings that I saw at a gun show three years ago, or a set in B&H Photo's used selection.

 

[Shrek]

Meopta Meostar line. The B1.1 10x42 HD is what I’d buy if I didn’t already have Swarovski EL’s.

 

[Woofie]

They will be used for looking at equipment mounted on power poles and transmission lines. They will spend 99.9% of their lives in a case in a tool bin on a truck. Im just about settled on steiner military/marine. Since i need good but dont need fabulous the $500 price range is where im at especially since they may not be used but once a year

I left my Steiners (7X50 Military/Marine) on the roof of my old FJ40 Land Cruiser by mistake. They fell off crossing a dry river bed and I drove over them. I still have them today some 30+ years later and they are flawless. I think they will work for your purpose very well.

 

[longbow]

Swarovski 8x30's...first pair cost just at $300 about 30 years ago.Used hard for 13 years.Dropped em on my boot while washing in the sink with soap and water and knocked out the collimation.Sent off on a Monday Blue label,as instructed my Swaro. ON Friday...Red label a "refurbished" pair to replace old ones....My Wife looked at em,smelled em...damn .A brand new pair! This pair going on 18 years ,need to send back and let them clean them and replace rubber.
Bought used AT80 20-60 spotter couple years ago for $900.00.Sent them back,piece broke on clip to unscrew eyepiece. Came back totally rebuilt,new body,new eyepiece. Ya they are pricey,but damn well worth it!
My newest investment A mint pair 15x56 Binois. Spotted a does "EAR" 1/2 mile away in the sagebrush. Dont use Spotter as much,those 15X are fantastic! Pete in Montana

 

[Dub]

My go to pair of Binocs for many years now

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Has anyone tried a monocular? I noticed Vortex makes a 10x36 that looks good.

 

[MQ1]

I had a pair of very high end B&L 10x binoculars that I absolutely loved. They went everywhere with me, and were especially awesome when competing in archery. I must have dropped them hundreds of times, but the last time was a short drop that hit one corner of one objective…and that was all she wrote.

I sent them back to Bushnell only to have them decline to repair.

IMHO, I would pay special attention to warranty now. I use my gear, and sometimes the unfortunate happens. Many optics manufacturers offer great warranties…no fault replacemets…kinda like a Dillon press.

I replaced my B&L with a mid-range Vortex because for the price and the no bs warranty, I felt they were plenty good enough optics for my use.

FWIW

MQ1

 

[jkm]

nikon makes the best bang for the buck..

 

[ronsatspokane]

Has anyone tried a monocular? I noticed Vortex makes a 10x36 that looks good.

I picked up one of those combo monocular/microscope Pentax's a number of years back. It's a monocular with an device that you set it in to turn into a low power microscope that is good for examining slide or film detail. I carry it in my range bag as a backup. In general monoculars are not as comfortable to use as a set of Binos. As in they tire the eyes quickly in my experience.

 

[FNSafari]

And you loose stereo vision and some depth of field.

 

[quest450]

nikon makes the best bang for the buck..

That’s what the tree hugging birdwatchers recommended, got a pair recently
Nikon Monarch HG 10 x 42, nice binos

 

[Bocephus]

For the money, Steiner M/M are really hard to beat.
You can buy better glass, but you will dig a lot deeper into the retirement fund.

 

[Intell]

I have an older pair of Leica Geovids that are amazing for spotting animals. Something about them makes them pop out, I’m sure the regular binos are even better.
Last year I picked up a set of 15x Meopta. I’ve never had swaros to compare against, but I’m really likeing them so far, the best I’ve ever owned.
I also bought my girlfriend a cheaper line of Meopta for bird watching and they seem pretty good for the money also, less than $300 for demos. Probably the best sub $300 binos I’ve looked through, not Europe made though.
Lots of options out there and don’t over look demos, I’ve moved up a line before for the same money and every demo I’ve bought so far was like new.

 

[Knotwild]

Has anyone tried a monocular? I noticed Vortex makes a 10x36 that looks good.

I have 2 of them. One for each truck at work. Once you get the technique down they are great to take a quick look at something. Made in China so with pure Chinese quality - junk. Had the whole eye piece come off. Not capable of serious glossing work.

Their top quality is if someone steals them, I didn't lose anything.

 

[762willdo]

FUJINON

 

[Catfur]

They will be used for looking at equipment mounted on power poles and transmission lines. They will spend 99.9% of their lives in a case in a tool bin on a truck. Im just about settled on steiner military/marine. Since i need good but dont need fabulous the $500 price range is where im at especially since they may not be used but once a year

This is probably the right choice. At any given price point, the porro prism binoculars will offer superior ruggedness and optical quality over roof pentaprism binos, because the roof pentaprism is so much more expensive to make than the porro prisms. Roof pentaprisms offer a size and weight advantage, but this isn't relevant if it's going to spend it's life bouncing around in a tool box on a truck.