vortex vs nikon vs leupold etc

[joejo]

i am wanting to buy a 10x42ish pair of binos and want to keep it on the cheap. these will just be used for muzzleloader hunting and night time spotting of deer, and the occasional looking around. i know there are way better optics like the swaro and leica and so forth but i am trying to keep them under 250 bucks. has anyone had any experience with vortex? all my scopes are either nightforce or leupold but i don't really like leupold binos and i don't even think nf makes them nor would i want to pay for them.
i see sightron make some pretty cheap.
if you have any ideas let me know. thanks guys.
i know this isn't benchrest related but i am sure some of you guys have had the same ?'s and answers.

 

[wmdron]

Joe, I have never looked through a pair of Vortex bino's, but I recently bought a pair of Cabelas XT 12x50 bino's they were $279 on sale and shipped. I too would like a pair of Swaro's or Leica's but I have a hard time justifying that much money when all I would use them for is Deer and under 300 yd. varmint hunting (and $2k buys a lot of rifle instead). I looked and looked for an inexpensive pair of bino's that weren't Chinese made and came up with these. They were made in Japan and while I cannot verify this I suspect that at least the lenses were made by LOW the Japanese company that makes lens for a lot of rifle scopes. All in all I am pleased with my purchase they do everything I need them to do. They don't seem to me to be overly big and heavy and they appear to be built well. I have no idea how well they would do at night. I would buy them again. I hope this is of some help to you, Ron...

 

[NateHaler]

I recommend 8x. You'll see less image wobble, and have a bigger exit pupil, which is especially important when viewing in low light conditions.

If you wear eyeglasses, then you'll need to consider eye relief -- how far your eye can be to see the whole image.

Check reviews on Cabelas, Amazon, Better View Desired, etc.

Roof prism will be more compact and easier to waterproof than porro prism. All other things being equal, the porro prism will give you the better image (supposedly).

 

[Larryh128]

I've used a bunch of different binos including some very top end stuff. I have 2 pair that I use, both Pentax, one is a large discontinued 8x56 DCF and the smaller are 8x42 DCF. I haven't looked thru a set of Vortex BUT these are better than what you have mentioned. Great optics & the 8x42's won't break your bank.

 

[fredhorace77]

heres my recommendation...id personally look for an older pair of bushnells or B&L ...something back far enough that you can find them made in japan...i have a pair of swavor. in 10x42 and like above post mentioned i really wish i had went with the 8x...swavor. are good but only gave me about an additional 45 seconds of light over my way older bausch and lomb vintage military binos that cost me $75 off of ebay.

 

[dooley]

if you ever get to look through 8 power leica binoculars you will be amazed at the difference in clarity you will see compared to the others, in fact I wished I had not looked through them because now I don't want anything else so I guess I'll have to wait a while until I can afford them. dooley

 

[DanConzo]

I have a pair of Bushnell 7x26 Custom Compacts I bought many years ago that are perfect for in the Pa woods, and I understand the new ones are very good called the Elite Compacts. They are high quality and good price and fit in your pocket. But if you want 10x that's a different story.

 

[DanConzo]

Joejo--Optics Planet and others have them I've seen them from $200 to $275. They are called Elite Custom Compacts. I'm an old R&P Coal guy. I might even hunt the same areas you do. The very first Leupolds were real good (8x, and 10x40s) but was rumored Leica made them, I don't know that for sure. But if you check these 7x26s out you'll say "who turned the lights on". At least that's mho.

 

[Ringostar]

You can also check Eagle Optics. They sell binos and spotters. They also decided to start their own brand, which is Vortex.

 

[joejo]

thanks for all the suggestions and replies guys.
i already have a nice swaro laser guide that is 8x. i know leica and swaor are top notch but i just was looking for some of the other cheaper suggestions for the pa woods hunting. i don't want to drop those 1k dollar swaros in a creek while crawling thru brush.

Joejo--Optics Planet and others have them I've seen them from $200 to $275. They are called Elite Custom Compacts. I'm an old R&P Coal guy. I might even hunt the same areas you do.

dan, i actually am surrounded by old rp coal ground. its owned by amerikohl and consol now. if you know where kent or jacksonville is thats where you will find me.

 

[DanConzo]

joejo--I know where they are at. My buddy Ernie lives down that way off of 286 (22 b/r shooter bottlecaps). I'm only 30 miles from that area. You look thru those 7x26 Bushnell Elite Compacts and you'll love them. Mine are still collimated perfect after about 35+ years. Gun Show coming up at East Pike in couple of weeks.