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best bino for the money

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lesun View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lesun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: best bino for the money
    Posted: November/17/2006 at 17:07
what would you recomend me to get for basic deer hunting. should i get the leaupold cascade 10x40 or i can get nikon monarch 10x42 from the sample list for the same price basically. or is there a better way to go. i really don't want to spend over $300
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Bird Watcher View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/17/2006 at 17:20
Generally, most hunters do not favor a 10x as a "first" binocular, for a number of reasons.
1) For the average person 10x will cause a certain amount of magnification shakes.
2) It is generally accepted that a 7x or 8x will give you better low light capability for dawn or dusk situations.
3) Flaws in the optics are more noticable at higher power.
4) Lower magnification binoculars are usually smaller in size & weight, making them easier to carry around all day long.
5) At 10x you will have a much smaller FOV(field of view), 267' or 272' vs. 336' or 341' for the 8x porros or roof prism binoculars.
6) Also, you will have more exit pupil with the 8x than the 10x, which will come in handy at dawn or dusk.
7) You will get 2mm's more of eye relief with the 8x, which can be important to those who wear eyeglasses.

I am using the Leupold Cascades 8x42 & 10x42 for comparison purposes to arrive at the above information.

A porro prism will generally give you MORE binocular for your dollar than a roof prism of the same price.

Leupold Cascades come in a 8x42 (or 10x42) Internal Focus Porro Prism for just under $300. However, the Cascades 8x42 roof prism binocular is a great little binocular as well. I like the fact that they are made in Japan.

I have looked thru both the Cascades & the Monarchs, and I did not care for the "softness" around the outer edges of the Nikon Monarch. Just for your information, the Monarchs are made in China.
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jtucker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jtucker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/18/2006 at 07:27

I might as well throw in my recent experience.  I looked very closely at both the Cascades and Monarchs, as well as the Olympics, Pinnacles, And Pentax DCF HRII, WPII annd SPs.  I initially ranked them:

1. Pentax SP

2. Pinnacle

3. Cascade

4. WP II

5. Olympic

6. Monarch

7. HR II

I thought the top 3 were all vey close. I initially bought the Cascades at $249 at SWFA, as I thought they were a better value than the SP and Pinnacles.  A couple days later my circumstances changed and as I had more to spend I went back with the intention of upgrading to the SPs ($499, so 2x the price).  The SP is mechanically a much nicer binocular, but I actually preferred the view thru the Cascades, so I kept them.  As far as the Monarchs are concerned, they were not even close in performance in my opinion, but I have to state that the pair I spent some time with was a store demo pair.  Very soft at the edges, quite a bit of lateral color fringing and not as crisp and bright as the Cascades and a little pricier to boot.  The new Cascades are phase coated and made in Japan.  I found the eye releif to be just right.  The case, strap and caps are pretty marginal though.  One other thing I have learned is your personal taste may vary from mine or others, so try before you buy if possible. 

 

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jonbravado View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonbravado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/21/2006 at 13:52

check the 'auction' sites for fujinon 7x50's - you can't go wrong. very bright and stable.

 

good luck. my 2 cents.

 

J

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lucznik View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/21/2006 at 15:21

Originally posted by Bird Watcher Bird Watcher wrote:

Just for your information, the Monarchs are made in China.

 

Are you sure about this?  I thought they were made in Japan. 

 

 (I could, of course, be wrong so; I just wanted to verify.)

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Bird Watcher View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/21/2006 at 16:15
The glass/optics supposedly come from Japan, but, the binoculars are assembled in China. The little sticker says "made in China".     
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jtucker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jtucker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/21/2006 at 21:07
The Monarchs are definitely made in China, if you can believe the packaging.  I just sold my Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX.  These had the best optics of anything that I have looked thru recently.  3.3 lbs. though and quite large physically as well.  They were too big for me.  If you can deal w/ the size/weight you would find them tough to beat.  FYI, I sold the Fujinons for $350 shipped lightly used w/ box, papers, etc.
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