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blacknblue
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/09/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: May/09/2011 at 21:21 |
Hello,
Rookie on this forum, but found it while doing research on an upcoming binocular purchase. Plenty of interesting info, but mostly added chatter to the ongoing debate in my head already.
Started off looking trying to whittle a list of 2-3 down to one, but now have 7-8 candidates.
So.....
Looking for suggestions. If you had a budget of 500$ to spend on Leupold or Nikon($200 gift card from dealer who only carries those) what would you choose?
Primary use - archery elk backpack hunt. Originally thought 10x42, but some members here mentioned that 10X in that price range might be more of gamble than 8X. Open to suggestions.
Thanks for any help.
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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If you can get your dealer to let you in on a Leupold Gold Ring HD 8X42 or 10X42 (even the 8X32 for backpack hunting archery) for $500, then you need not look any further.
If not, I would recommend trying to turn that $200 into cash (get something easy to sell from the dealer) and look into a Chinese ED like the Zen Ray ED2 or Vortex Talon HD. I really like Nikon's EDG binoculars (which are out of your price range), but I have never been particularly impressed with the Monarch series bins. |
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-Matt
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Welcome to OT, blacknblue!
I agree wholeheartedly with Matt on all counts.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Klamath
Optics Master Joined: May/20/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1308 |
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That's not a lot of choice IMO. I had a Nikon Monarch for a number of years, and it was OK, but didn't really stand the test of time. The new dielectric coatings are somewhat better, but Nikon still sit on their backside with that crappy fov. The Monarch X is WAY to heck and gone overpriced and pretty well sucks in fov, but the optics are pretty decent. Plus there is that ergonomic disaster "bleeping" rod between the barrels. I'd actually get the new dielectric Monarch ATB over the X. Glass like the ZEN ED 2, Kruger Caldera, Theron Wapiti APO-ED and Steiner Predator Xtreme will kick its butt every day of the week and twice on Sunday and save you a couple of C-notes in the bargain. If the Monarch X was priced closer to the ZEN ED it might be a better deal. But it lacks ED glass at that price. Leupold is better, especially for archery backpack hunting. The Actually for backpack hunting, I'd look at a good 32mm glass like the Vortex Viper in either 6x or 8x. The Kruger Caldera is pretty compact for a full size glass and that's where I'd suggest you go, if you want a full size number. Edited by Klamath - May/10/2011 at 10:23 |
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Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron |
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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tpcollins
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/12/2009 Status: Offline Points: 428 |
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And if the dealer has a previous model non-HD you ould save even more. I went thru an exercise last summer for a midsize pair, including a Vortex and a Zen RAy EDII 7x36 and returned them all and kept the 8x32 non-HD Gold Rings. I was using my Zeiss and Leia to compare them and the Leupold won the contest.
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Claus
Optics Professional Joined: August/05/2010 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 817 |
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Welcome to OT.
I have had a lot of different binos during the years, but so far i have been most happy with my Zeiss Conquest. Should be possible to find a used pair for 500$ maybe a new one depending on model. Good luck.
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