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Field & Stream Best buy binoculars '08?

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ba_50 View Drop Down
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    Posted: June/15/2008 at 15:20
I read about them but can't rember the name. They came in 8x and 10x. It was in the last issue I believe. Thanks.
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ba_50 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ba_50 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/20/2008 at 20:16

The best buy binoculars were Alpen Pro waterproofs if anyone is interested. They were in the Outdoor Life not F&S. $170 retail. Sorry.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/21/2008 at 16:41
Be advised that those "best of" are severely influenced by advertising dollars.  I read the review last year and not a single Leica product was mentioned on any list - which is severely unusual, especially in the binocular and spotting scope categories.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ba_50 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/21/2008 at 17:32

Rancid,

 

Know what you mean. I would look through them before deciding to buy. It is possible they couldn't get Leica to send them anything or they didn't have time to do more. I've heard of gun writers requesting certain firearms for testing and they don't always get them.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/22/2008 at 19:11
I picked up that issue of OL you're referring to, ba_50, and I thought the information presented was of very little value.  The OL staff stated they did this unprecedented level of extensive testing, yet for all their supposed efforts, for most of the products, they described very little of the strengths and weaknesses that lead to the ratings.  They used only star rankings and about 3 sentences to describe most of the guns and optics reviewed.  The statements given were very general, and didn't give the reader much to base buying decisions on. 
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Roy Finn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/22/2008 at 20:11
I think this test should have been called the OL annual product review. When I see the word test I look for the winner and which products they were compared to. Without a baseline for comparison in each category, what is the reader hoping to gain from such a "test". Of the bino's "tested" in the 10X category, the following received a 4 star rating:
 
Leica Ultavid HD 10x42-$2000
Bushnell Elite E2 10x42-$500
Brunton Eterna 10x51-$380
Carson ED High Definition-$380
Nikon EDG 10x42-$2000
Alpen Pro 10x42-$170
Vortex Fury 10x42-$360
 
I don't know about the rest of you gentlemen here, but, I have a hard time believing that these all received the same "image quality" rating.
 
Roy


Edited by Roy Finn - June/22/2008 at 20:28
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/23/2008 at 20:21
I can vouch for the Leicas; however, with my having bought a pair of Leicas, I'd hate to think I could'a done just as well with $170 on a pair of Alpen.


The test is pure crap and field and stream know how to sell ad space more so than rate products for value.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/23/2008 at 20:43
That's the problem with their equipment reviews.  They lump all products tested with a retail price from $100 to $2000 into the same category and rating system, then explain their ranking of the products with 3 or 4 sentences worth of commentary.  This gives the reader the impression that if a $170 binocular has the same image quality ranking as a $2000 binocular that they must be equal optically.  They very well have meant the rankings to be relative to other products in the same price range rather than an absolute score based on the same criteria, but the reviews are so lacking in any specific details that the rankings given have little value.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/23/2008 at 21:25
Just another possible flaw. I took the time to check out their website and played a video link of the test. One gentlemen, who at one time was probably one of the most respected writers out there for optic reviews, looks to be in his late 70's or more. I mean this in no disrespect whatsoever, but I think a younger pair of eyes would tell more. In the future, they should batch them, say under $500, $500-$1000, over $1000. Just a thought.
 
Roy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mwyates Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2008 at 06:15
Another benefit to getting old!  $170 binocs work just as well as a $2000 pair!  Life gets better every year Wink  I'll bet in 10 more years I'll only need about $100 worth of optics altogether.
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