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Best Binos

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amdigreg

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2024
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Location
pennsylvania
Let me preface by saying I searched the forums and read what was available but it looks like the last similar info is at least a few years old and I'm not sure how offerings may have changed, which brings me to my question.

Looking to invest in my first decent set of binoculars, but would prefer to keep it under $800 if possible. Uses would be for range (starting to get into longer distance shooting although limited by the ranges available near me) as well as hunting (whitetail, turkeys, and some small game). I live in southeast PA so hunting tends to be more close quarters.

Any suggestions on brands and ideal power would be appreciated. I'm thinking anything more than 10x would probably be overpowered for hunting in this area, but defer to the wisdom of those more experienced than me. Thanks!
 
Stay cheap.... less than 2-300. Go to store and test a few.... even of the sale model and find the ones that fit your eye right.

Then save for a few years and get a pair of swarovski EL.

Vortex diamondback usually has some pretty good sales this time of year into black Friday. Can be had cheap and do the job.

Sightron blue sky or sii. 8x32 are consistently highly rated by bird watches who are glass snobs. On sale can be had for well under $200.
Here's a pic through a set i have for the kids. Free hand pic with phone and binos.

1000056454.jpg
 
Do you use a rangefinder? If you do buying new binoculars would be a good chance to incorporate the two. Euro Optics has several rangefinding binoculars for under $800. If you can afford it and add another $500, you can buy an older generation of Leica Geovids. These are awesome RF binos, but won't talk with any ballistics apps or have one built in.
 
Even at close range, which Pa. tends to be, the highest resolution bino's will allow you to see far more detail than lower resolution bino's and allow you to see into the Pa woods. I have a pair of 10x Lupold Cascades and on their own look pretty good. I also have a pair of 20/25 year old 7x Swaroski bino's and can see far more detail even at long range in the western high desert (1/2 miles) with the 7x Swaro's than I can with the 10x Leupolds. I'm originally fron Pa. Buy 7x or 8x. 10x is too much for your Pa woods hunting. You won't get good resolution bino's with $800. Save your money & buy Swarovski. Even bottom end Swaro's will be better than top end Leupolds.
 
Crockett12 said:
Even at close range, which Pa. tends to be, the highest resolution bino's will allow you to see far more detail than lower resolution bino's and allow you to see into the Pa woods. I have a pair of 10x Lupold Cascades and on their own look pretty good. I also have a pair of 20/25 year old 7x Swaroski bino's and can see far more detail even at long range in the western high desert (1/2 miles) with the 7x Swaro's than I can with the 10x Leupolds. I'm originally fron Pa. Buy 7x or 8x. 10x is too much for your Pa woods hunting. You won't get good resolution bino's with $800. Save your money & buy Swarovski. Even bottom end Swaro's will be better than top end Leupolds.
Click to expand...
Totally agree! Buy a better high end glass in an 8x and you will do better spotting more game as you'll most likely spend more time looking through them (cheap glass will probably give you a headache if you spend too much time looking through them). Swaro, Zeiss, Leica - watch the classifieds on here.

Either save up some more and buy better binos or if you are in need of some soon I would recommend a pair of Zeiss Conquest HD which would be within your budget (they just came out with an updated version HDX - so you should be able to find some at a great price).

I had the Zeiss for 3 or 4 years and then upgraded to the Swaro NL 8x42 - they are quite amazing!
 
How much do you actually USE binos daily on a hunt?
Out west, we use binos up to 8-10 hours a day. And glass from 50 yards to 4+ miles. So my recommendation would be very different for the occasional 10 minutes of use out to 200 yards for when you see movement through the trees vs. glassing for 8 hours a day trying to pick an antler tip out of a sea of bushes/grass/cactus/trees.
 
Do a little research on past Swaro SLC variants so you know what you're buying, then buy a used pair of 8x30s (would be my preference) or 8x42s.

If you ever look to upgrade in the future, they will hold their value and you can resell for what you paid for them

If you are trying to keep it super cheap, Vortex Diamondback HDs will be on black Friday sale all over the place and have decent enough glass...you WILL break the eyecups because they're garbage but at least you can send them back to get fixed when needed. Or just glue/tape them in place.
 
The Maven C series are great glass for the money. And if you look around right now the Zeiss Conquest HDs (German made) are on sale for 599-699 because they brought out the new HDX. I live in WV but hunt out west every year. My go tos are 10x42
 
I have a set of Swarovski 10x42 EL, and I have a set of Sig, can't remember the model number, but they have blue tooth capabilty and are range finders. Download their app and it will figure dope out to 800 yards for three rifles, I love em. The Swarovski pretty much stay in the safe unless I'm headed to the mountains elk hunting. The Sigs were on sale at Basspro when I bought them for like $900 a few years back. I know they upgraded, and the newer ones were like 2K, but you might find a pair of the older ones in your price range. Highly recommend them.
 
Look at the Vortex Razor HD. They are in the price range you requested and are very good glass for the money. 10x is probably the sweet spot for what you described. If you have a Cabelas or Bass Pro around, that is a good spot to look through a few. Try to find print or other smaller details across the room and see what looks good for you. You will find them for less cost elsewhere however.
 

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