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10x42 under $300 |
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elkhorn98
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/12/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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Posted: April/15/2005 at 13:32 |
I have research things and am leaning towards the Audubon Equinox HP or the Nikon Monarch ATBs. Any comments? I also don't have an unlimited budget and want to spend about $250. I am looking for decent roof prisms, waterproof, phase corrected, lightweight, etc. I will use them for hiking, lake fishing, general use, some birding, etc. Here are some reviews of theses
http://www.optics4birding.com/RevAudubonEquinoxHP.aspx http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?dept=1&type=13& pid=4197 http://www.optics4birding.com/RevNikon10x42MonarchATB.aspx Edited by elkhorn98 |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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In that price range, consider Bushnell Legend Roofs (it is better than both Equinox and Monarch). An even beter choice would be a porro binocular like Nikon Action Extreme.
You can also try to find a Sightron S3 on Ebay. I bought one there for under $300. S3 is significantly better than any roof prism binocular I've tried at less than $450.
Ilya |
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elkhorn98
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/12/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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The Sightrons look interesting. Lightweight but the FOV is a little narrow. Not many places carry them online. Couldn't find any on e bay either. i will have to research these too. Thanks for the tip.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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They pop up on Ebay occasionally. Also SWFA is going to start carrying them, apparently.
Field of view is indeed somewhat narrow, but optical qualit is quite good. Almost on par with Pentax DCF SP.
Ilya |
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elkhorn98
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/12/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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Now I am also considering the Swift 828 HHS 8.5x44. They have a good review at BVD. http://www.betterviewdesired.com/march02/index.html
Any comments on these? |
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elkhorn98
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/12/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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koshkin I saw on another post you said to stay away from monarchs. How come? And were the phase coated ones? Some older ones were not phase coated but I am not sure when they switched. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Monarchs were a major dissapointment to me. I saw several
different ones (mostly pretty current production) and they were
uniformly subpar optically. They get some mileage out of Nikon
name, but there is a lot of better glass for the money. Besides I
generally recommend porros for people who can't afford Sightron S3 or
Pentax DCF SP. If you must have roofs, Bushnell Legend
roofs are better than Monarchs.
Ilya |
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elkhorn98
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/12/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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Koshkin,
Were the monarchs you looked at black or dark green? Looks like the new ones are black. Well here is the list of roof binocs I am considering.
Audubon Equinox HP out 5/1 Nikon Monarchs ATB Sightron SIII Swift Ultralite new Swift HHS
I might have to take a full day trip to try them all out at different places in northern CA. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I've seen both versions of the Monarch binoculars. If memory
serves me right some were phase coated and some earlier versions were
not.
Allround I thiink Sightron SIII binos are hard to beat. Swifts are known for good optics, especially in their porro designs. I have no experience with new Ultralites, but 828HHS are very good. Are they better than Sightron? Hard to say since they are 8.5x44 vs Sightron 8x42 and 10x42. Since Magnification is a bit different it is not an easy comparison. To me Sightrons seemed a bit lighter and hadled better, but that's subjective. Swift seems to have a problem with weatherproofing, so if foul weather use is expected I'd go with Sightron. For low light Swift would probably have an edge, but it's close. I think Swift has larger field of view, which does make a difference. Color rendition might be better with Swift but Sightron is no slouch there either. If your use is primarily birding, that's what Swifts are for. Sightron's are tougher and have superb warranty. For hunting, Sightron are probably better. For my money I'd take the Sightron, due to tougher construction and waterproofing. Ilya |
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elkhorn98
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/12/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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koshkin,
Thanks for the reply. I am leaning toward the swifts and I have heard the issue about weatherproofing but from what I had found that was in the porro models which are harder to weatherproof than roofs. I do want to check on the sightrons though. I found them online for $330 and the swifts for $279. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Let me know what you decide. Both are good binos, but with different strengths and weaknesses.
Ilya |
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Tom Koenig
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/07/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Give Meade Montana's a try. Meade and Bresser are part of the same organization. I have a pair of Bresser Montana's 10x42's that are a spectacular piece of glass. The retail on the Bressers is $749 but Meade recently came out with their own Montana model(s) at 7x42 and 10x42 that appear to be the exact same binocular with a different name. On one birding website the Meade Montana's received the highest ratings available a perfect 4.0. Lately on eBay if you do a search under "Meade Montana" you will find the 7x42 for $199 and the 10x42 at $259. I was stunned that such a quality glass was being offered so inexpensively. Check them out, you won't be dissapointed. |
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Chris Farris
TEAM SWFA - Admin swfa.com Joined: October/01/2003 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 8024 |
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A little more but worth consideration. Bushnell 10x42 Discoverer.....$369.95
IF you just gotta stay under 3. Bushnell 10x42 Legend.....$289.95
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