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Binoculars with Builtin RangeFinder

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Stevesdl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevesdl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Binoculars with Builtin RangeFinder
    Posted: February/06/2010 at 10:14
HI All,
   After going thru the forum chats on what bino power to use when distance hunting as in Colorado (50-500) I saw that some mentioned that hand holding 10x was a little shakey.  I decided to purchase an inexpensive pair of Bushnell 10x X 42mm at Walmart just to see what 10X functioned like. Boy for $32.00 dollars I was impressed with the clarity and crips view with these Bushnell's at over 600-900 yards. Anyway, I did not see much shaking or need to control of such so unless someone will state that when I purchase a nice pair, will a higher quality pair make the shaking appear??
 
Anyway, I would really want to have a pair that has a decent built-in rangefinder but I cannot afford the high ends or maybe not even the middle ends.  Are there any such combinations that are at a poor man's price of $300.00 or even in the $250.00 or less range that would at least work reasonably.
 
Thank you
Steve 
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Klamath View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/06/2010 at 10:26
Magnification preference is a pretty personal choice.  10x works for some, not for others.  However it will be many, many times multiples of your $32.00 to get a decent bino/rangefinder.  You need to get one that looks like a binocular, not two rangefinders cobbled together.  That leaves Leica Geovids and Zeiss RF.  Both over $2,000.  Remember it is a BINOCULAR first, not a rangefinder first. 
 
Too new to be on the market yet is the Bushnell Fusion 10x42 at about $900.
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron

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Stevesdl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevesdl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/06/2010 at 13:42
Ouch!  Yes that price range is out of my wallet since I just got laid off and at 54 it might take me a few weeks\months to get established again in this economy.
 
Maybe it might just be better to get a pair of bino and a good range finder for $200.00.
 
Thank you for your time and reply.  :):)
 
Steve 
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Stevesdl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevesdl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/07/2010 at 09:57

Hi Team,

Please know I am not trying to make anyone feel bad or berate anyone's property.  I respect and appreciate everyone's opnions and posts. This is just my very subjective observation but just wanted to share.
 
After receiving the $2,000.00 answer to my question above, I decided to just shop for a good pair of bino's and then get a companion range finder thereafter.  Here is my summary after taking a trip to Sportsman Warehouse (a very nice complete store with decent pricing).
 
For starters as I mentioned I purchased a pair of Bushnell 10 x 42mm Sportsman Binoculars at Walmart for $32.00 just to test the power and hand holding stability. I was not expecting much at all. I know they are "CHEAP...", and in the past I have experienced for the most part, you get what you pay for...... but once in a great while when you want something in the Champagne category but are on a very very cheap beer budget, you run into a pretty good deal.
 
I was already impressed with the Wally World cheapos to the point of wondering just how good the expensive ones are going to be. Will I be in euphoria?? I brought my cheapos into the store with me to just compare for fun. I compared the following:
 
1. Bushnell 10x42 Legend Ultra HD Binoculars Rain Guard, ED Glass, UWB Black
2. Bushnell Legend 10x42 Roof Prism
3. Vortex Diamondback 10x42mm Binoculars
4. Vortex Fury 10x42mm Binoculars
There were other pairs of brands I glassed through but finally singled these out for my subjective testing.
 
I had the store expert place all of these out on the counter (along with mine) and we both compared all indoors at a specific sign at 46 yards. The Bushnell Ultra HD and the $70.00 less Vortex Diamondback (yup better than the more expensive Fury) were the two top binos indoors. They were both significantly "brighter" (almost a tie where perhaps the Vortex might have been a lil brighter). I should point out at this distance indoors, all including my cheapos were very accurate in detail and picture.
 
Indoors, Field of View from what I could tell was again the The Bushnell Ultra HD and the $70.00 less Vortex Diamondback but all were so very close for that distance with my cheapos coming in last. I believe I was seeing just a tad less "left and right" than the others with the cheapos. 
 
We took the binos outside along with a range finder to test on specific distances. It was a partly sunny with very light overcast at time of testing). This is where I was pretty confused. Please understand this is just my eyes so results may vary. :)
 
At 216 yards, focussing at moving highway traffic and still objects. I could not see a real difference. I am serious.
At 318 yards, focussing on two guys working on a car. I could not see a real difference.
At 503 yards, focussing on some trees. I know I know but... I could not see a real difference.
Of course this is just my opinion but store clerk had problems disagreeing as he also tested. 
 
I left the store starting to wonder with my perception about my cheapos being so dog gone good how to justify the $200.00+ for a more expensive pair.  I do understand that they are not waterproof, not sure how good about fog proof and no fancy lock on focus or other knobs and I am willing to accept the cheapos are inferior for low light situations (dawn-dusk) but only $32.00 ???. 
 
So I decided to go to sons and test against his more expensive Bushnells out of his house. We glassed at 300yds+ and found no difference. We glassed at trees and still no difference.  We finally glassed at Interstate 25 highway traffic and also a Hotel at least 3/4 of a mile away. The cheapos were just incredibly accurate and clear. Evening seeing the people in the moving cars (they were a little hard to see but..) Son stated his were a little better but I think that was an "ownership" thing.  :) 
 
I am calling Bushnell tomorrow and will asking for any additional details on the cheapos but for $32.00 and a bottle of fog-proof, my champagne desires are going to be happy with my beer budget binos.
 
Thank you for your time and thoughts
Steve
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Klamath View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/07/2010 at 19:53
If the Diamondback fits your budget and you like it, buy it use it, and don't worry about it.  Personally I like the Legend Ultra HD better, and think my Fury is better than my Diamondback.  But my eyes are not your eyes and the Diamondback does a pretty decent job.  Outside in dim light your observations may be different.  Or your observations with bright sunlight at various angles may be different.  Everything has faults.  If you obsess on finding them, pretty soon you will be back in line for a different and more expensive binocular.  You might anyway even if you like the Diamondback, but they are a good learner to start and a good loaner or backup later.
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron

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Stevesdl View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevesdl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/07/2010 at 22:29
Thanks Klamath
I got this funny feeling you might very well be right.  Some of my evaluation is probably very much my eyesight..  
...and also I am at the point of bi-focals as well.  At 54 it is amazing how you can't see TV without glasses and can't read a book in hand with the glasses you have to watch the TV. 
 
That Ultra HD was significant for more brightness as well as the Vortex inside. That would probably count alot when outside at dawn and dusk.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2010 at 00:02
Originally posted by Stevesdl Stevesdl wrote:

Thanks Klamath
I got this funny feeling you might very well be right.  Some of my evaluation is probably very much my eyesight..  
...and also I am at the point of bi-focals as well.  At 54 it is amazing how you can't see TV without glasses and can't read a book in hand with the glasses you have to watch the TV. 
 
That Ultra HD was significant for more brightness as well as the Vortex inside. That would probably count alot when outside at dawn and dusk.
 
Well, I'm 61 and need glasses to read, but can't see the TV with them on.
 
You are right about the extra brightness of the Legend likely carrying into the real world observations.
 
Be sure whichever one you buy works best with whatever glasses you wear when using the binocular.
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron

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