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yzchamp Rookie Member
Joined: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 20
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:49 pm Post subject: best binoculars |
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what u guys use ? what u like ?what not to get?
i'm buying a new set thinking of nikon monarch bushnell discovery or elite or steiner .... i dont wanna spend 1500 on leica or swarowski but i would like some thing good quality
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gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6398 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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I use a 7 x 40 Meade. Works ok. Love the fog proof feature.
Cost me about AUD $ 140 at the time of purchase (about 4 years ago)
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george20042007 Super Member
Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 568 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:20 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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I've gone thru 4 sets of inexpensive ones now, one set was self adjusting. None was up to snuff. I finally bought a good set...Leupolds Windriver Cascades 10x42's. Got them at Walmart for near $300.00. Finally got something that works for me. I avoided pricy binocs in the past, take it from me, If it's under $200.00 you won't be happy. Sugest you relly do some research here...
Keep it coming...
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:45 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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two points to remember when buying binoculars. get as big an objective lens as you can - that determines how they are in low light conditions and the next thing is the magnification should never be more than 1/5 of the objective lens. That makes an acceptable light level in poor light conditions. The more you magnify with a given lens the darker things appear. My 8 x 50 minolta's are pretty nice in those early morning hours just as the hills begin to light up. They stay clear and bright right up through sunset. Sometimes I wish I had a bit more power but I don't think I could hold 10 x 80's steady enough to see anything more than I can with the ones I have.
_________________ Paul
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Beck's Classic. German optics. Had them a long time. Can't remember what I paid for them. Small, light and compact, but effective.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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Daveyboy Member
Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 143
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:13 am Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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What PaulS is talking about is the exit pupil. The largest amount of light - the biggest angle - is rated at 7. Your eyes cannot handle any figure larger than 7. It's a ratio, by the way...
7 is better than 6 but 8 is of no benefit over 7 whatsoever. To get this figure, divide the size of the objective lens by the rate of magnification. 8 x 56 bino's have an exit pupil of 7. So do 6 x 42. And you thought that they just made up these sizes, didn't ya?
But... as a rule of thumb, as an indicator, exensive bino's perform better than cheap ones so a set of swarovski 10x40 will be perform better then a cheap and nasty pair of 8 x 56, even though the exit pupil would be 4.
The other indicator that you should look at - and it sort of points to quality - is the depth of field. The better the glass, the deeper the field. It means that you are not constantly refocusing as you look over terrain - they are more forgiving.
Me? I use a set of Canon 10x30 Image Stabalising bino's. I found them in a camera shop and thought "Well, I wouldn't turn a canon camera away..." and picked them up. Great stuff. I know that they are not as clear as your superb 8x56 but when I hit the button, the clarity is unbelieveable. Your shakes and wobbles get magnified too but mine don't.
They live in my game bag which goes out when I do. In there lives my knife, gloves, range finder, range card, map etc.
D
_________________ Why, in films, don't they just kill it? |
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 7:39 am Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Its doubtful I'll ever own a pair, but Swarovski is about the best you can get period. They run $1900 USD though for a pair... once you look through a pair however, you can absolutely see why they cost so much.
www.opticsplanet.net/s...42-el.html
The Nikon Monarch's seem pretty good for the money. In fact its the binocular I'm currently saving up for and will buy this fall as we get closer to hunting season.
Me personally (I am embarassed to admit this), I carry a pair of $9 bushnell 8x20's and my 15-45x60mm spotting scope when I hunt. I spend most of my time using the spotter. Its quite a bit heavier than binos but I glass farther than bino's can go. Heres a typical view from one of my hunting spots (note the spotter in the lower right corner)
www.huntingnut.com/mod...deer02.jpg
-DallanC
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Dimitri Super Member
Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 8:05 am Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Dallan,
Nothing wrong with cheap Bushnell binoculars. Thats what I carry. Not to sure of the specific model though havnt seen them since last hunting season.
Reason you might ask ?? Simple unlike alot of the other brands they are small, lightweight and I couldnt care less if I drop them or bang them around.
After all accidents happen, so why buy a 500$ or more binocular just to have them broken ??
Dimitri
_________________ A thousand hills, but no birds in flight, ten thousand paths, with no people's tracks. A lonely boat, a straw-hatted old man, fishing alone in the cold river snow. |
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longwalker Member
Joined: Apr 12, 2005 Posts: 201 Location: Bethel, AK
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 9:33 am Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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I can't say they are the "best", but when I am hunting or when shooting prairie dogs I can look though my NIKON binoculars all day without getting a headach.
longwalker
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 10:07 am Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Oops. Sorry...Rule 2 instead of rule 3.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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Deleted_User_2665 Super Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 380
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Strictly 10 X 42 for me.....
Think I mentioned that.....<grin>
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Yup...You did, but it doesn't hurt to refresh ones memory. I think that , just like scopes, the power of a pair of binoculars is the choice of the purchaser. My Beck's 12X25's "<grin>" work for me quite well in fact.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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Deleted_User_2665 Super Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 380
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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I usually get throwed out of a conversation for touting a 10X......seems lots like lower power, can't figure why....TIC
I'd use a 12X if the package suited me....I like a straight line....
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roklok Super Member
Joined: Aug 11, 2005 Posts: 608 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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Kahles 10-42,made in Austria in same plant as Swarovski for about 2/3 the price.I cant tell any difference between them.
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moose2 Super Member
Joined: Mar 19, 2005 Posts: 707 Location: North Idaho
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Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: best binoculars |
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I guess how much you spend for Binos depends on how much money you have to spend on them and what their application is going to be. My 10x42 Nikons pretty much stay in the truck. To heavy to pack around.
Usually carry 8x23 Nikon Travelites. They seem to serve my needs fine. Lately though, I have been just using the optics in my Bushnell rangefinder which are seven power and very clear. This seems to work very well also for my applications. I would imagine this could be another endless debate, but fun anyways.--tr
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