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Help me find a great set of binos

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Cidah View Drop Down
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    Posted: June/16/2009 at 18:36
Ok guys. After reading the forum for a while I figure it's time to post one up.  I'm getting into hunting and need both binos and scope.  I'm hunting in West/Central Alabama.  Longest distance is probably 500 yards max, and more than likely much much less.   I'm not sure there is a perfect all-in-one bino for what I want so I am open to suggestions of multiple units.    I bow hunt early season and rifle for the rest.    I want something with good low-light performance.  Something rugged, and dependable.    

Last year I borrowed binos on the occasions I hunted.  The 3 sets I used last year were all Steiner Nighthunters;8x30,8x56 and 10x56(i think).  Anyways, these binos were enjoyable, and my uncle that let me use them swears they can't be beat.   I don't have his budget though and so I'm thinking of spending about $1000 on binos and a riflescope(together).  I may be flexable up to about $1200 if it's REALLY worth the extra money.  

I'm not sure what info to really give, so please ask the necassary questions and I will fill in the info.

Thanks for all of your time.

P.S.  as a side question, is there really anything to the Steiner Predator claim of making game more visible, there's some on the samplelist for $149 that may make a great bowhunting bino.  Just curious. 

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Cidah View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cidah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/16/2009 at 20:07
Ok, it occurs to me I didn't give enough info.  The binos and scope will be used for Deer and hog hunting.  Don't need ultra long distance, but clarity and low light performance is important.  The binos will also be used for turkey hunting as well.    The rifle I'm looking at buying is a Tikka T3 hunter 7mm mag.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/16/2009 at 20:16
Meopta Meostar Bino http://swfa.com/New-Meopta-8x42-Meostar-Binocular-P7971.aspx  and a Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x scope.http://swfa.com/Bushnell-3-9x40-Elite-4200-Rifle-Scope-P6910.aspx  Both very fine optics.

Or for a little cheaper the Vortex Razor is very good as well.  http://swfa.com/Vortex-8x42-Razor-Binocular-P10832.aspx



Edited by supertool73 - June/16/2009 at 20:23
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cidah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2009 at 15:28
Thank you for the reply.  Both of those look pretty good.  And you did a great job of staying in my budget.   I've read a couple of posts about these Zen Ray ED 8x42 binos saying that can't be beat for the price and even double the price.   How would these compare to either the Meopta or the Vortex binos?  If they're that great I could either go with an even better scope or just save some money all together, that wouldn't hurt my feelings these days.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2009 at 15:57
I happen to think the image in all three is at the very least directly comparable.  I think my ZEN ED has a better image than the Razors I have compared it too.  I don't particularly care for the yellow bias of the Meopta.  But that is me.  When you get to the optics level, most differences are more perceived than real.  What really matters is how you like the image you are looking at.  So the only answer to the "how do these compare?" question is really the answer you come up with.  This is a big reason why you see so many try before you buy suggestions.  Personally, I have NO reason to desire a better image than provided by the ZEN ED (or the Hawke, or the Promaster ED either).  So my advice is to save the money.  Unless you are extremely optics savvy the differences you will see in a practical field use are pretty much not there.  How the hard use issue finishes out is at this point an unanswered question.  So no, there really is no great image improvement even at 5x the price.
Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2009 at 18:08
Not sure that these are "technically" albinos.......
 
 
 
Ok, here you go......
 
 
Your search for "binos" is now over....


Edited by Ick - June/17/2009 at 18:09
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muleycrazy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2009 at 18:31
lck that is pretty funny Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tooie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2009 at 19:56
For the use you describe, I am not sure you could beat a Steiner product. They make military binoculars for a number countries. Therefore, they know how to build them tough. I suggest you take a hard look at some Steiner models, new or used, within your budget.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cidah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2009 at 08:19
Ok, bit the bullet and ordered the ZEN ED 8x43 last night.  After reading all of the reviews I could find and everyone of them being positive.  It's hard not to take the chance.  It gives me the chance to own optics of a quality I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.   


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2009 at 10:23
From what I read that's probably a pretty good choice.  I'll second the elite 4200 idea, and give a huge thumbs up to the Tikka.  Great choices.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote skywalker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2009 at 13:00
Cidah,
You should be happy with those.  I chose the ProMaster Elites ED and have nothing but praise for them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cidah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2009 at 18:38
I can't wait to get them in.  They're back-ordered so I'm not sure when they will come but it's nice to have the first pair of bins on the way.   I've told my uncle and I'm gonna compare them to the nighthunters when they come in.  Hopefully they stack up.  For the price I don't care if they're "better" but it would be awesome to achieve similar low-light performance.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tranan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/22/2009 at 17:56

If you look for low-light effective binoculars, there is one pair that will beat everything on the marked. They are extremely difficult to find but I did see them several time on ebay, going for sums lower than what you are prepaired to pay.

It is the marine Zeiss Hensoldt 7x50. These binos are like from another planet with an optics that beats the most expensive. They totally rock Head BangFor hunting in low-light conditions, YOU WIL NOT FIND ANYTHING BETTER! I kid you not.
 
 
If you buy them used you will get them much cheaper than this.
CHARLIE DON'T SURF!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pokemon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/22/2009 at 19:14
Nikon Monarch Binoculars continues to be best selling hunting binos.Prisms feature phase-correction coatings and high reflection mirror coatings for superior sharpness and resolution,
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cajunhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/23/2009 at 07:20
That is your first post pokemon, when someone has asked for help on a great set of Binos.  Come on.  Read some of the threads.  This is not a hunting forum.  This forum is full of optics experts.  I would not even consider the Nikon Monarch with other binos at that price like the Zen Ray, Hawke and a few others. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/23/2009 at 09:58
Originally posted by cajunhunter cajunhunter wrote:

That is your first post pokemon, when someone has asked for help on a great set of Binos.  Come on.  Read some of the threads.  This is not a hunting forum.  This forum is full of optics experts.  I would not even consider the Nikon Monarch with other binos at that price like the Zen Ray, Hawke and a few others. 
 
 
You got that right.........the monarch binos do a great disservice to the Nikon name. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tranan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/24/2009 at 09:00
I am not really fond of Monarch either but if I were to defend Pokemon I would say that their 8.5x56 model is definitely one to consider. 8x42 and 10x42 are trash but these other one are actually pretty good.
What is however worrying about the Monarchs is the fact that the marked is full of refurbs, which must actually mean that they have a high rate of failed models.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rfc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2009 at 12:09
Marksoutdoors, Leica 8x42 BA $695. Samplelist, 8x30 zeiss classic $499. Firststopguns, Zeiss classic 10x40 $550, you want find better glass at these prices.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tranan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2009 at 19:03
True indeed, however our friend was refering to low-light binoculars. These ones, though very good, are not the prototype of what I'd call low-light bino. I would rather look at 7x50, 8x56 something like that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spf2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/26/2009 at 11:13
Originally posted by JGRaider JGRaider wrote:

Originally posted by cajunhunter cajunhunter wrote:

That is your first post pokemon, when someone has asked for help on a great set of Binos.  Come on.  Read some of the threads.  This is not a hunting forum.  This forum is full of optics experts.  I would not even consider the Nikon Monarch with other binos at that price like the Zen Ray, Hawke and a few others. 
 
 
You got that right.........the monarch binos do a great disservice to the Nikon name. 
 
I have found Bushnell Excursion a better binos than the Monarch
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