Okay.....now......How about NIkon Binoculars???

[Tuffbucker]

I know I just asked about the Pentax.......and I was all set to buy the DCF WP's in the 8x42, but then I looked at the Nikon Monarchs in the 10x42 and now I'm not sure which I want. THe Nikon's have an awesome "no fault warranty". Basically if I break them, even if its my fault, they replace them for $10.00.

Does anyone have the Nikons and how do you like them??

Thanks again

TUFF

PS

The Pentax's I found in the 8x42 for the same price as the Nikon's in the 10x42.

 

[Foreman4x4]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-01-04 AT 00:40AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-01-04 AT 00:28 AM (MST)

The Nikon Monarch's and the Pentax WP's are basically a step below the likes of the Pentax SP's. I consider the SP's to provide somewhere in the neighborhood of 93%-97% of the performance of the top brands. (Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski, Nikon Venturer/LX's) The SP's features aspherical lenses, using "ED" glass, and are lighter in weight than the WP's, with far better objective lens covers.

The Monarch's and WP's are both good glass for the money, and both are right in the same spot as far as performance level goes, so I'd suggest if that's the route you decide to go, that you test drive both at a local store and see which one looks and feels the best to you.

The mid-price optics market has made some major strides over the past couple of years. I still think Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski and the Nikon Venturer/LX's are the best glass available, but by buying them over the likes of the Pentax SP's, a person is paying anywhere from $500.00 to $1000.00 more in order to gain that last little bit of optical quality (maybe 3%-7%), which to some is a small price to pay, but for the average guy, it soon becomes a point of diminishing returns.

One other thing, if you're at all interested in the top four (Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski, Nikon Venturer/LX), don't overlook the used market. If your patient and have money on hand at the time deals come up, there's some great buys out there. In my opinion, this is the absolute best way for a person to get into the top level of binoculars. I recently purchased an 8x42 Leica BA off this board for $550.00, bought a buddy of mine a Nikon Venturer/LX 10x42 for $450.00, and I have a pair of 8x43 Pentax DCF SP's coming next week that I'm afraid to post what I paid in fear of jinxing the deal.

Sorry for rambling. Good luck in your decision.

 

[txhunter58]

Above post has lots of good info. If I was in your situation, I think I would buy the Pentax SP's. They are cheaper and weigh less than the Nikons. Should be able to get them for about $400. The SP's should be a step above my WP's and they are more compact/weigh less.

I think there is a huge difference between the $250 binoculars and the Pentaxes WP/SP's.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[manny15]

sorry to barge in but I found the leupold pinicles at $289.00 NIB..(retail $400.00) so why bother with nikon or pentax seen 'em both had a pair of the pentax sp didn't like 'em much...so I bought a leupold can't go wrong with 'em

 

[Foreman4x4]

Where at?

 

[Clyde Hollinger]

Stay as far away from Pentax as you can! I've had two pair and had nothing but trouble. Contacted Pentax about it, the answer I got was pretty much "tuff luck". They didn't want to work with me at all! The one pair was only two month old! I bought a pair of the smaller Wind Rivers 10x25's when they first came out to give them a try. They were excellent, until I dropped them! I sent them back they sent me a new pair within a week, no questions asked. Then my boy got a hold of the second pair a decided to play football with them. Sent those back, this time I decided to up grade to the 10x50's. Spoke with Leupold via e-mail. They sent me a new pair of 10x50's no qusetions asked! Awesome severvice with the Luepold's! I'm sold on em'!
Elkster