OT- Binoculars TEST RESULTS ADDED ON PAGE 2

[86er]

I am looking into purchasing new binos. In my experience nothing beats Leica for scopes, binos, rangefinders or cameras. With that said, right now it would be irresponsible of me to spend well over $1000 on binos.

If you look at the bino clarity ratings that go from double digits to 1, the smaller number being the best, the Cabelas Euros have an incredible # of 3! That is the lowest of any rating I've seen. This would be an easy decision if they made the size I want - 8X32. I would settle for 7x -9X and as small as 28mm up to 32 mm, but no larger.

Last year the binocular with the highest rating overall - even beat the big guys in a head-to-head comparison was the Pentax 7X28 HD. It is incredible that these sell for a retail of less than $300! Well since last year I have yet to find any in-stock at a store where I can actually SEE them. Nobody I know has them but a lot of folks are looking for them.

Sometimes real life experiences and use proves more than the various rating systems!

Soooooooo - what do you have, what do you recommend - and why - under $1000 and the less the better, and within the size parameters I'm looking for?

[madman4570]

Joe, Dont laugh! The ones I have found for me that work the best are the Nikon 12x50 Action Extreme ATB Binoculars.I still have 20/15 vision and dont even need them much until it gets out a ways.I have found that the 50mm diameter for myself makes up the difference of the higher power in poor lighting conditions.I have had/have more expensive binoculars(but I like these best)When I want to view somthing like a deer for example,I want to see how many hairs are on its nose! Its quick enough for finding my game and they are made for extreme conditions.The price for their quality to me, is a give away deal almost!

[mescalero1]

I assume you are talking about the small and light catagory.
For that I have Pentax 12x24, they suit me and adjust to my eyes, something not always obtainable.

[Marc]

Maybe something here that interests you. These are on special but Doug is a good guy to deal with if there is nothing in this batch.
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve ... 2461065511

I use Pentax 8x40's that are a few years old now. Not the top of the line but good glass for the money.

[madman4570]

Zeiss Conquest 10x25 B T Binocular (the wife uses these for sporting events) Somtimes I take these for Turkey Hunting! around $450
They are ok!-----Nothing like the Nikons though! Also got the Tasco World Class 8x25 used for hunting back years ago,But honestly, I hate the little ones! Big ones for me!

[AJMD429]

My favorite ones of all time are a "Sears" branded (don't know who really made them) pair in 7x50 made in the early 1970's; 'light-gathering' and clarity are AWESOME compared to even high-end brands I've looked through since.

I only wish they were waterproof.

From what I understand, technology has improved enough you should be able to get the same 'light gathering' and clarity in a smaller-objective model nowdays, perhaps even in a straight-line vs. prisim type.

[86er]

Maybe I am looking ahead when what I need is right in front of me. I just got off the phone with several "experts" in optics and they all highly recommend the 9X28 Pentax DCF LV. I have spent an hour searching the internet and I cannot find a single bad review. Here is a link to the dual award winning review: http://www.binoculars.com/images/pdf/PENT101.pdf

I found some available for as low as $175!

I'll wait for some more replies to see what the concensus says, but these are obviously a strong contender.

[slimster]

Joe, for many years I have used and been a fan of the Steiner 8x30 Military binos. Nothing fancy, just a rugged, waterproof, compact, lightweight, super clear binocular that that the German military has been using since WW2. Once the focus is set, it is good from nearby to way out without having to steadily keep adjusting. Shop around and they are available new for under 300 bucks, and ck the surplus outlets and you may find a pair for well under 200.http://www.steiner-binoculars.com/binoc ... y/280.html

[mescalero1]

86er,
Those are even more compact than the 12x24 I have.

[dr walker]

Joe,
I have Burris Landmark PF 8x42, they are ok. I thought they were great compared to my old Simmons binocs.

Last deer season I used my buddies little Pentax they are 9x28, I dont know if they are the dcf's or what, but they were brighter and crisper than my larger binoculars and I beleive they cost the same.

Tell us what you end up with and how you like them.

[madman4570]

The specs/reviews on that Pentax 9x28 does look pretty impressive for the money! Good Luck!

[alnitak]

The Pentax DCF are very good. And for under $100, I second the Nikon action series (I have 10x50's in that).

[madman4570]

ya, those Nikons have the BaK4 high index prisms which are very good.Yours will be as clear as mine,I just went with the "extreme"
model for $50 more because they needed to be waterproof/fogproof. Other wise, normal stuff those normal Action Series are as good.Great value.

[HEAD0001]

It sounds to me like you are trying to find a quality set of compact binoculars that you do not want to put an arm and a leg into because they are going to take a beating?? Does that sound about right??

I have a pair of 8X56 Swaro's. They are the berries. If I had to sell everything in my safe these binoculars and my 30-06 would be the very last thing to go. There is just no comparison with other binoculars. However I would be just as content with the better Leica's.

I also decided that I wanted a set of compact's, that would fit the paramaetrs above-which I blieve are the parameters you are considering.


So I started shopping. I looked at all the ones you have listed so far, plus a ton more. I ended up buying a pair of Zeiss Conquest's in the 8X40 configuration. Take a look at them. The weight, size, and glass is great. I ended up buying them on E-Bay from a Zeiss dealer for a great price.

I almost went with the 8X32's, however the weight of the two was very comparable.

Take a look at the Zeiss Conquest's, they are really nice. Tom.

[Hobie]

Joe, for many years I have used and been a fan of the Steiner 8x30 Military binos. Nothing fancy, just a rugged, waterproof, compact, lightweight, super clear binocular that that the German military has been using since WW2. Once the focus is set, it is good from nearby to way out without having to steadily keep adjusting. Shop around and they are available new for under 300 bucks, and ck the surplus outlets and you may find a pair for well under 200.http://www.steiner-binoculars.com/binoc ... y/280.html

After using them in service I bought Steiners.

[BigSky56]

Steiners I had a couple different ones 8x30 insta focus and the 8.5x 26 wildlife 30 year warranty 4"X4" fit in your coat pocket, theres nothing like german glass and you can aways trade them in or up to steiner and for about half price get another which I have done. Ive used them for finding elk at distance and looking in the shadows up close they work. danny

[Buck Elliott]

I still use a couple pair of older (early 1980s) Bausch & Lomb 10X50 binos. For me, they work every bit as well as most much- more expensive glasses. Had a problem with one pair, early on, as a result of a pretty-good horse wreck (guides have those things, you know) and sent them back for warranty work. Needed glass, so I purchased second pair the day I sent off the first. Now, more than 25 years later, I have both pair, and they are still my 'go-to' glasses.

More important than super-duper glass quality, I think, is learning to see what you find in the field-of-view of your glass. Many times, there isn't much to 'look' at; maybe just an ear or an antler tip, or the way the light falls on an animal's back, or a flick of a tail, or... I've had dudes/hunters who brought along the newest/latest/greatest/expensivest in optics, who had never learned to see what was literally in front of their noses. Some of 'em got a little POd, when I could find things in my 'garden variety' B&L glasses that they could not see with their S&B or Steiner, or Leitz, or Swarovski, or...

[Charles]

I always wanted a good pair of binoculars, but could never afford one's of good quality, so I made do with several pair of lesser quality over the years. In 1985 I lucked in some money that was not already designated for some other use. A friend was a Zeiss dealer and say he would sell me anything Zeiss made for $10.00 over his cost. So, for $320.00, I bought a pair of Zeiss 8X30 IF armored glasses.

Today, they are still crystal clear and have been much used for many things for 24 years are are good as new.

I don't know what a good pair of glasses cost these days, as I am not in the market, being 100% satisfied with the one's I have. I was told many, many years ago that money spent on high quality binoculars is money well spent for a lifetime of use. To that I can only say Amen!

[El Chivo]

I second the Steiners, I bought a pair late last year for $278 through Optics Planet (they're not all $600+ anymore) because they were the lightest I could find. Boy they are sharp, and bright, and you don't have to focus them. Wide field of view. They are the first I can look through for long periods. Mine are 8x30 or thereabouts. I might try a 6x one of these days.

Steiner is one of the few to stick with Porro Prisms, you get better quality for the money that way. Everyone else is trying to make roof prisms, the binos are a little slimmer but longer, and just as heavy, so what is the advantage? Lousy optics and high cost.

Anyway, my priority is weight and they were a pound lighter than what I had, you can't beat them in my opinion.

[BwanaDave]

I am away from home right now so I can't give too good of specifics but some of this may help. Up until about ten years ago I was using some Nikons that were pretty good. As I recall the et me back $250.00 way back. About ten years ago I was in Montreal and the dollor was strong and barons was having a sale. I purchsed some Zeiss diafuns or something like that and the difference was amazing looking into the bush in low light. As I recall the set me back about $250 US. Then a few years ago a buddy who is a nut about optics owed me some cash for a tag. He is a real wheeler dealer and he gave me some Swaros that at the time were selling new for over a grand for the $500 he owed me. They were like new with the box, papers and everything. They are much etter than the lower end Zeiss diafuns so I have been using them since. That said, the diafuns are much better than any of the Jap stuff I have ever seen. My buddy has often told me about deals he has gotten on high end scopes, binocs and spotting scopes from a broker who deals in high end optics. I will try to get the name of the company and post it here when I get home in a couple of days.

Dave

[Blaine]

Back in the really broke days, I wanted to replace my old 7x35s that I had since I was a kid (I broke them) and I got a set of Leupold WindRiver 10x50 thinking I could get a really good pair someday when I had more money. Well, I don't need to, these are crisp, bright and very sturdy/waterproof. Prolly bigger than you want, but if the other Windriver glass is this nice, it would behoove you to consider them...

[Saz]

I stumbled upon a pair of factory re-furbished Nikon Monarch 8X42's a couple of years ago for $125. I know you are looking for 32mm or smaller, but check them out. I live in Alaska, and the terrain and weather is not always very forgiving and they have performed better than I could have ever imagined. I wear them on a Crooked Horn chest harness and hardly even notice they are there. They have been on 2 moose hunts, a sheep hunt, goat hunt, brown bear hunt and they live in the door pocket in my truck. Trust me, these things are tough. As far as the clarity goes, I know I got these cheap, but after owning them for a while I would have absolutely no hesitation paying the full $300 or so for another pair. I have had Steiners and Bushnell's, but these are bu far the best pair of binos for the money I have ever tried

[madman4570]

Saz, Those Nikons are unreal! My extremes put my wifes Zeiss Conquest 10x25 B T to shame.(she even admits it) but they are big.
I use a cheat harness myself(no problem)

[foxtrapper]

Nikon 10 x40 Monarchs been using them for over 10 years clear and bombproof. $300.00 Such a deal!

[86er]

I found some Pentax dcf lv 9X28's to try. Unfortunately I couldn't keep them! I took them over to the optics lab to have them tested and compared to a couple of others. This is not intended to bash any manufacturers so I won't be specific, but we had a pair of Leupold (no Gold Ring), two different Nikons, a Minox, a Steiner Safari, a Bushnell, a Cabelas Alaskan Guide and a Cabelas XT. We compared a Leica Geovid and a Swarasvki pair but didn't even try to get the others to measure up. Surprisingly, some did, almost evenly. The clarity + light transmission is rated from 1 being perfect on up. The best binos out there score a 2.8 - 3.2. The Pentax actually had the best rating with 3.85. The next best out of the above was 3.96 and that was the only one in the 3's with the rest 4.35 or HIGHER! All of the models we tested were 10X or less, most were 8X (the actual Pentax is marked 9X). Most of the binos actual magnication was exaggerated. They averaged 1.25 X less than stated with the most being 2.50 off and two being right on. The Pentax measured 8.50X. Close enough. We submerged them in 10" of water and stuck them in the freezer for 5 minutes to check for fogging and waterproofing (except the ones that weren't waterproof or we didn't know). The claims for waterproof were universally perfect but fogging was something else. The non waterproof ones were still put in the freezer. We took them out and left them for 2 minutes before evaluating. 1/2 of them fogged inside and out. Two fogged on the outside only. 3 were not fogged at all and that included the Pentax. I didn't ask the owners permission but I did a "drop test" anyway. I let the binos fall from on top of my head (5'10") and hit the carpeted floor. Then I checked to see if the focus remained set and if any damage had occured. Only the Bushenll went out of focus, but on that model the dial was very loose so that is probably what did it when the halves moved together. Lastly, we hooked the binos to a machine and shined light through them at various intensities. I looked for hazing, glare, white wash and spots in the lenses. This was very telling since some of the binos that were doing pretty good took a hard fall on this test. The Pentax was in the top 3 on this test. Lastly, I compared the warranties. Mostly similar. Pentax offers a lifetime replacement or repair for $19.95 per occurance whether it is the user fault or not, and includes lens scratches that cannot be removed at the service center resulting in a new lens installation or a replacement unit. Overall, I felt the Pentax DCF LV 9X28 was better or as good as all the binos I tested, priced less than or comparable to all of them and as good as the Outdoor Life review and Consumers Reports review had claimed. I bought the Pentax on-line for $189.20 with free next day shipping. I will recommend that if you are looking for compact binos in 28 or 30mm you look hard at the Cabelas Alaskan Guide. They held up as good as all the rest including the Pentax. I liked the focus ring on the Pentax better or I could have got the Cabelas 10X28 or 12X30 AG priced at $199 and $219 respectively for FREE with my Outfitter Account. I paid the money for the Pentax because I just liked them a little better for no specific reason. I hope this helps someone else out there looking for binos!

[mescalero1]

Like I said, mine work for me.

[2ndovc]

I still use a couple pair of older (early 1980s) Bausch & Lomb 10X50 binos. For me, they work every bit as well as most much- more expensive glasses. Had a problem with one pair, early on, as a result of a pretty-good horse wreck (guides have those things, you know) and sent them back for warranty work. Needed glass, so I purchased second pair the day I sent off the first. Now, more than 25 years later, I have both pair, and they are still my 'go-to' glasses.

More important than super-duper glass quality, I think, is learning to see what you find in the field-of-view of your glass. Many times, there isn't much to 'look' at; maybe just an ear or an antler tip, or the way the light falls on an animal's back, or a flick of a tail, or... I've had dudes/hunters who brought along the newest/latest/greatest/expensivest in optics, who had never learned to see what was literally in front of their noses. Some of 'em got a little POd, when I could find things in my 'garden variety' B&L glasses that they could not see with their S&B or Steiner, or Leitz, or Swarovski, or...

I know you've done all your fancy testing!

But another vote for the B&L's

I bought a pair in the early '90s when I was still racing sailboats on the Great Lakes.
Well I'm gonna tell you that there isn't much that's going to take a bigger beating
than a pair of binos in a one design fleet on Lake Erie. I'd still have them if they weren't
stolen off my speedboat last year.
The optics were still bright and clear and adjustments were perfect.

my $.02

jb

[piller]

No information, but thanks for the information. I know what I will have by the time I can get to hunt Africa.

[crs]

I have been very pleased with my rubber armored Leupold Gold Ring 10x28 roof prism binocs with individual right and left eye adjustments. I bought them primarily for walking and stalking type hunting and retired an old HUGE 7x50 set for use in the car or a stand. The light gathering of the 50mm lens is nice, but the weight is just too much for all day walk hunting. I gave a set of pocket sized Tasco glasses to Troupe for bird watching because they were not stable when held by one hand.
These cost $600 several years back and may cost more now. These were the top of the line back then.
There may be better values available today, but these will do until I lose or break them.

Lyle has a pair of compact Bushnell Trophy glasses that seem quite good for stalking too. They cost about 1/3 the price of my Leupold and they were purchased several years later.

[madman4570]

Joe, Thanks for all that extensive testing! Probably the next pair I get based on those results, I will be leaning towards the Pentax.That price is very good and I will have to go check them out!It would be nice to have another small compact pair so I dont have to always steal my wifes. Good Job----Joe!

[cessnapilot]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned Alpen, I have a full size pair, they're terrific. Almost unbelievable quality for the price. ( around 100.0)

[BwanaDave]

The otherday I mentioned a source for used optics. It is samplelist.com. My buddy the optics junkie swears by them.

Dave