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Bushnell legends? What power?

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DAVE44 View Drop Down
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    Posted: November/16/2004 at 20:03
     There are so many Binoculars with many of them way to expensive for no more than what I would use them for. I just need a pair of good binoculars for hunting from a treestand and occasionally a field edge. I like the idea of the legends because of the raingaurd coating. I always get frustrated when Im scanning and the lenses fog up in cold weather. I was wondering if I should get the roof prisms or the porro prism model. The porros are half the price, slightly lighter and have a larger field of view. Also, should I go with 8 or 10 power. I was going to go with ten power but it always seems a little shaky when viewing. Would the 8 power be enough to count points on a Buck deer at say 250 yards?
     Are there any better binoculars for the average hunter in the $300.00 range.
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ranburr View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/17/2004 at 00:06

10X42 roof. 

 

ranburr

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mwyates Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/17/2004 at 11:08
8 X 42 Nikon Monarchs are a great buy at $290.  10X is too much for most people to hold steady.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grubbs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/17/2004 at 16:12
In my personal experience the Monarchs aren't nearly the binos that the Monarch scopes are, optically speaking.  For open country hunting the 10x can't be beat IMO.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/17/2004 at 18:29

I like Monarch scopes.  I do not like Monarch binos.  I have read about many people who cannot hold a 10X steady.  I can and everyone that I have had try out a 10X has been able to.  A guess on my part is that a lot of this inability to handle a 10X stems from people from using cheap 10Xs or small 10Xs.  As long as you use a relatively good quality bino in around a 10x42, I don't think the average person will have a problem.  If you are using Walmart specials in 10X25, I think everyone has problems.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/17/2004 at 20:03

I can't hold a 10x binocular steadily enough.  I end up seeing better out of an 8x for the same weight of a binocular.  Some heavier 10x porros I can hold steadily enough, but no the lightweight roofs that are all the rage these days.

 

I've had a number of various wrist injuries though.  THat is probably a part of it.

 

Ilya

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/18/2004 at 09:06
It sounds like for your intended purposes, I would go with the 8x42 Bushnell Legends. I have looked through both of these glasses long enough to say that in my opinion the Legends would be a better choice. The contour of the Bushnell's fell very comfortable to me and optically it's a flip of the coin. It seems to be the general opinion of folks in the know, that 10x is generally the highest power that most people can hold steady. Ranburr isn't wrong and neither is koshkin. It's what you feel more comfortable with. I prefer the 8x over the 10x. Also, if you are talking about a 8x42 or a 10x42 the 8x will be slightly brighter and have a larger field of view. Finally, the Rainguard coatings seal the deal for me withe the two glasses that are being compared.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote apdb90 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/19/2004 at 15:32

Dave,

 

I posted a thread a while ago that may or may not help.  After looking at everything available in that general price range (including the Khales 8X32's because there were some on the Sample List in that range--very nice glasses, but for me, I liked others better) and it came down to the Bushnell Legends (roof) and the Leupold Pinnacle.  I liked the "feel" and eye cups of the Leupolds better.  The armor of the Bushnell's felt kind of rough and cheap compared to the Leupolds.  But going through SWFA with the 10X42's, the Bushnell's are something like $140 cheaper.  Optically, they were pretty much equal in my eyes.  Equal meaning both were absolutely EXCEPTIONAL, and you would have to move up into the 4 digit range before you'd find anything significantly better (again to my eyes).  Add the Rainguard on the Bushnells, the price, and the amazing (especially for the price) optical quality, and you have a winner.  As far as the roof/porro debate, porro's work better for my eyes than roofs for hunting, as long as size/weight isn't a factor.  To me, porro's offer a more 3D image that I have found an asset for hunting.  Roof prisims seem to offer a "flater" image.  I sometimes have problems locating a deer in cover when I go from a roof prisim binocular to the naked eye or scope.  I like the greater depth perception that porro's offer because it makes it much easier for me to make the transition and still be able to pick up the target.  The other benefit to that additional depth of field is that they're less sensitive to focus adjustments.  There is some outstanding glass out there in porro's in your price range or less.  Steiner, IOR, Bushnell, Leupold, Pentax and Nikon all have fantastic offerings.  After spending quite a bit of time comparing all except the IOR-I have looked through them and they're outstanding but a little heavy- side by side, I made the decision, hands down, to go with the Nikon Action Extreme.  To my eyes, they were by far the brightest and sharpest plus for hunting, they're waterproof.  Top it all off with the fact that they're running right around $150 (+/-) and they're a clear winner for "bang for the buck" in porro prisims.  I personally would go with the 10X.  I have never had any problem holding them steady (and I have a neck that has the doctors telling me they can't believe I work-I should be on a morphine pump).  I've also always found the additional 2X to be an asset.

 

Obviously, this is all my opinion, to my eyes.  If you have any way to compare various offerings side by side, you should.  What works best for me may not work best for you.  Hope my long winded rambling at least provides a little food for thought.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2004 at 21:50
I'm a big fan of the Legends owning both the 8x26 inverse porros and the 8x40 regular porros.  They're two fine quality binoculars for the money.  If I'm hunting small game, I'm usually packing the 8x26's because I'm moving around quite a bit.  I use the 8x40's when I'm going to be stationary and am expecting inclement weather--the rainguard really works for me. 

Of note, the rainguard also comes in handy in bone-chilling cold weather.  On those super cold days, my exhalations can fog up the lenses on an uncoated binocular and it seems like it takes forever for the lens to clear--but the Legends seem to be affected the least and what little impact my breath has on them clears much faster.

The wide field of view on the 8x40 porros comes in handy on one of those sloooooooow days--they make a dandy bird watching binocular when game just refuses to cross my path due to the wide field of view and pretty good short focus numbers.

I have to say, though, if I'm hunting stationary and not expecting bad weather, I'm always carrying my Kahles 8x42 roofs.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Acenturian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/08/2004 at 01:36
I use 8x42 and don't really see a need to go up to 10x.  Best binoculars for under $300 in my opinion is the Carson XM series.  They are very clear and sharp gather a lot of light in the evening.  When compared side by side with my fathers Nikon Monarchs not even close.  The Carsons were MUCH brighter and clearer.  I comparied them to the Bushnells and Pentax DCF II and still think the Carsons are better.   I belong to an archery forum and the bino's came highly recommended so I bought a pair sight unseen.  Best purchase I've made all year, I think the XM series is the best kept secret out there for people that want quality at a fair price.

Edited by Acenturian
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DAVE44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/08/2004 at 06:44
     I have never heard of Carson binoculars. Where did you buy them from and how much did you pay?
Are they porro or roof prism? I dont want anything heavier than the Bushnell legends or larger. I want them to be at least internally fogproof and even waterproof it I can get it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Acenturian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/08/2004 at 10:47

I leared about them form www.archerytalk.com   a lot of bow hunters were saying how great they are.  You can go to that web page and do a "search" for Carson and read up on what people have said and compared them to.(Web page was down today do to maintenance)  My personal comparisons have been to the Nikon Monarchs, Pentax, Steiner, Brunton Lite-Tech and to a buddies pair of Zeiss Classics.  The Carsons were better atleast to my eyes and to my friends in all except the Zeiss.  It was very close between the two, in fact I really couldn't tell a difference, but I'll give the edge to the Zeiss since they are $700  Most places are selling them for $299.99 (internet google search prices) I found the Cabelas has them for $199.99 for the 8x42 a little more for the 10x42.  Below should take you to the Cabelas sight.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display. jhtml?id=cat20752&navAction=jump&navCount=1&pare ntId=cat20712&parentType=category&cmCat=MainCatcat20 712

 

With binoculars all comes down to personal preference and cost.  I'd encourage you to look through different ones and see what you like best.  I took a chance on buying the Carsons sight unseen but I could not be happier.  Once the archery forum goes back up I'd suggest you read up on them.  Its nice to hear what "real" outdoorsmen say and not rely on magazines and hype, overall I think they are a great deal for the money.

 

Good luck



Edited by Acenturian
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