Hi Team,
Please know I am not trying to make anyone feel bad or berate anyone's property. I respect and appreciate everyone's opnions and posts. This is just my very subjective observation but just wanted to share.
After receiving the $2,000.00 answer to my question above, I decided to just shop for a good pair of bino's and then get a companion range finder thereafter. Here is my summary after taking a trip to Sportsman Warehouse (a very nice complete store with decent pricing).
For starters as I mentioned I purchased a pair of Bushnell 10 x 42mm Sportsman Binoculars at Walmart for $32.00 just to test the power and hand holding stability. I was not expecting much at all. I know they are "CHEAP...", and in the past I have experienced for the most part, you get what you pay for...... but once in a great while when you want something in the Champagne category but are on a very very cheap beer budget, you run into a pretty good deal.
I was already impressed with the Wally World cheapos to the point of wondering just how good the expensive ones are going to be. Will I be in euphoria?? I brought my cheapos into the store with me to just compare for fun. I compared the following:
1. Bushnell 10x42 Legend Ultra HD Binoculars Rain Guard, ED Glass, UWB Black
2. Bushnell Legend 10x42 Roof Prism
3. Vortex Diamondback 10x42mm Binoculars
4. Vortex Fury 10x42mm Binoculars
There were other pairs of brands I glassed through but finally singled these out for my subjective testing.
I had the store expert place all of these out on the counter (along with mine) and we both compared all indoors at a specific sign at 46 yards. The Bushnell Ultra HD and the $70.00 less Vortex Diamondback (yup better than the more expensive Fury) were the two top binos indoors. They were both significantly "brighter" (almost a tie where perhaps the Vortex might have been a lil brighter). I should point out at this distance indoors, all including my cheapos were very accurate in detail and picture.
Indoors, Field of View from what I could tell was again the The Bushnell Ultra HD and the $70.00 less Vortex Diamondback but all were so very close for that distance with my cheapos coming in last. I believe I was seeing just a tad less "left and right" than the others with the cheapos.
We took the binos outside along with a range finder to test on specific distances. It was a partly sunny with very light overcast at time of testing). This is where I was pretty confused. Please understand this is just my eyes so results may vary. :)
At 216 yards, focussing at moving highway traffic and still objects. I could not see a real difference. I am serious.
At 318 yards, focussing on two guys working on a car. I could not see a real difference.
At 503 yards, focussing on some trees. I know I know but... I could not see a real difference.
Of course this is just my opinion but store clerk had problems disagreeing as he also tested.
I left the store starting to wonder with my perception about my cheapos being so dog gone good how to justify the $200.00+ for a more expensive pair. I do understand that they are not waterproof, not sure how good about fog proof and no fancy lock on focus or other knobs and I am willing to accept the cheapos are inferior for low light situations (dawn-dusk) but only $32.00 ???.
So I decided to go to sons and test against his more expensive Bushnells out of his house. We glassed at 300yds+ and found no difference. We glassed at trees and still no difference. We finally glassed at Interstate 25 highway traffic and also a Hotel at least 3/4 of a mile away. The cheapos were just incredibly accurate and clear. Evening seeing the people in the moving cars (they were a little hard to see but..) Son stated his were a little better but I think that was an "ownership" thing. :)
I am calling Bushnell tomorrow and will asking for any additional details on the cheapos but for $32.00 and a bottle of fog-proof, my champagne desires are going to be happy with my beer budget binos.
Thank you for your time and thoughts
Steve
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