Binos and spotting scope.

U

UtahTightwad

Guest
As you may have gathered from my username, I don't have alot of $$$ to be spending on gear. I need a smaller set of bino's and a spotting scope. Both need to be under $100 each. Could anyone give me some ideas, I have no idea what is good and what is junk. I'm just trying to pull myself out of being just an "average" hunter and get a little more serious about things.
 
I would say that you need spend the entire $200 on a pair of binos and forget about the spotter. Look for a good pair of used binos to save some money over new. Or, save another season and get something good that you will want to keep. Those binos are my most used and valuable piece of hunting equipment, don't be a tight-wad on optics, IMO. I think I'd rather have Leicas and shoot a Savage, rather than shoot a Kimber Montana and look through Bushnells. Even at $200, I think that you will be wasting money and not getting enough quality. Been there and flushed the $$$ away on cheap junk.

Doug/RedRabbit
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-05 AT 05:46PM (MST)[p]Utah,
Its pretty tough to find quality optics in that range. With optics you really do "get what you pay for". Especially when you glass for hour after hour. Quality optics allow you to glass big country all day without getting the "excederin headache #1" right between your eyes. My advise is don't make the same mistake that I and many others on MM have made. Save up to buy qaulity optics first instead of upgrading every season. Foreman4X4 seems to have the most up-to-date info. on binos on this forum. He and others can give you suggestions that might be closer to your $$ limits.
I also have a decent spotting scope that I would sell in that range to a guy getting started in optics. I am saving to get some new 15x's.
Good Luck,
HH
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-05 AT 06:14PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-05 AT 06:13 PM (MST)

I completely agree with what has already been stated. If you've got $200.00 in your pocket and cannot wait and save some more money, I'd forget about a spotter and get a decent pair of porro prism binoculars. Something along the lines of the Leupold Wind River Mesa 10x42's, Swift Audobon 8.5x44's, etc. Porro prism binos are a little bulkier than roof prisms, but they don't need to be phase corrected, so they're cheaper to manufacture, plus the view rivals roof prisms costing several hundred dollars more. Porros are also a little tougher to waterproof, so if you decide to go that direction, make sure they're labeled as such.

If you can save your money and wait, I'd suggest doing so. I realize not everyone needs $1,000.00 binos, but in order to get a really good pair of roof prisms, it's gonna cost you at least $450.00 or so. The Pentax DCF SP's are great binos for the money and many claim they rival the view of top european and japanese makers.

There's also been some great deals on "refurbished" Nikon Venturer/LX's at www.ewins.com. Last time I checked, they were sold out, but did have them listed at $456.00 shipped. I guarantee you won't find better glass for the money.

Someone also mentioned used binoculars, which is a great way to save money, but still get a good quality product. Just be aware that some makers only warranty their product for the original owner. Leica and Swarovski come to mind. Zeiss' warranty is fully transferable. I recently purchased an as new pair of Lieca 10x42 BN's for $375.00. Yeah, I know it was a fluke deal, but if you keep your eyes open and keep a little money on hand to jump on the deals when they come up, you can find some real bargains.

A real sleeper in the bino market is the line offered by Smith and Wesson. They did a poor job of marketing a good product, so you don't see many of the, around. They're made by the same company that makes the Eagle Optics Platinum Ranger, Alpen Apex, and Cabelas Alaskan Guide Series. They're simply store branded and sold under the various labels. There's pair in the classifieds over at www.24hourcmpfire.com right now for $160.00 shipped, which is a good deal on a good pair of binos. They're backed by a lifetime warranty also.

Here's a couple sites with bino reviews to check out:

www.betterviewdesired.com
www.optics4birding.com

Good luck.
 
Tightwad,
I feel your pain buddy, but you will honestly be sorry if you blow 100.00 bucks on sh!t Binos.
Over the years I have collected some cheap binos, Christmas gifts etc. Problem is, they fog up, dont stay foccused, blurry after 100 yrds, and uncomfortable to look through for very long.
 
Best advice is to save up your money and get some good quality Bino's and then a Spotter. Buy cheap, that is what you are getting cheap optics and won't last you and is a waste of your money and time using.
Been there and done that, so have others, so please take our advice like stated above.

Brian
 
Tightwad go to e-bay put in number 7129076248 these are a pair of tasco titan 8x56 for a $158 these are very nice glasses I have a pair of the 9x63's and they are all most as good as some of the real expensive bino's. Also when you get in there they really have some good deals on spotting scopes. I have seen several mid-range spotters go for under $200. Don't waste your time with new stuff under 400. I have all the expensive stuff and still really like the tasco's.
 
bigmoosie, hmmm, I've never heard of those tasco's. Interesting. I will have to check them out. fatrooster.
 
I would have to agree with Foreman4x4, I have the Pentax, and I can look through them all day with no problems. They are also really nice if you wear glasses like myself. The Pentax have a really good eye relief as well. My eyes are really close together as well so I can only use ceartain brands of binos, the Pentax seem to squeeze down a lot closer than most other brands. I have seen many an animal through them. And they dont cost a fortune.

I'd rather be lucky than good (especially when it comes to looking for animals)
Knifeboy
 
Im fairly new to hunting and it seems a lot of the other guys on here have plenty of experience. I hunted with a cheap pair of $100 binos for three years. This last year I bought a pair of 10x30 Zeiss Diafun binos and there is a world of difference. They are refurbished with full warranty, and I paid $240 shipped from sierratradingpost.com, and the 8x30's were around $215 shipped. Keep an eye on it because they are only on the site once in awhile. They also have the DCF's and Leica optics once in awhile. I have compaired the Zeiss binos with Sarovski EL 10x42's and there is a difference at low light, but I feel that for me there is not a $1500 dollar difference. Ive learned that there is no substitute for good optics you get what you pay for and it really sucks that good spotting scopes are in the $1200 to $2000 dollar range. Oh well maybe we'll win the lotto and not have to worry about $$$. Good Luck

PS Im with the everyone else can the scope idea for now.
 
After you spend a day looking through a higher end pair of binos you will never ever be able to go back to a cheap pair. If you have money issues and you aparently do Tightwad, then save up for another season, otherwise you will want to upgrade again. One 1,000 pair of Leica's are better than five pairs of 200.00 binos plus you get a lifetime warranty.
 

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