Backcountry sports
Well-Known Member
look at vortex there great plus great warranty
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Best Binoculars (8x42) for under $1000?
- Thread starter 375Shooter
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Brush4646
Well-Known Member
Look at Kahels Swaro's brother Company
Maybe you should be looking for Leica 7x42 if you use them a lot at dust and dawn. They will be lighter than most and gather more light. They come in clear glass from the past , also HD glass and now HD plus. Run old for $500 - $700. the new HD and HD plus will be more.
You'll never regret those. I have an ancient 7x35 Leitz Wetzlar which I had reconditioned last winter and I know it's impossible (because of better lens coatings) but almost as good as my Swarovski ELs.
JustMe2
Well-Known Member
I have both the 10x42 Swarovski and the 10x42 Leica Geovid HD-B and like the Leicas better. I can't tell any difference between them in low light conditions. I owned the Swaros a few years before the Leicas and on a Colorado Elk hunt the Swaros were vastly superior to my buddy's Nikons. He and I could easily see the Elk on a far ridge with my Swaros and not with his Nikons both 10x42s. Since I can't tell the difference on deer hunts between the Swaros and Leicas, I assume they will both be the same if I ever go on another Elk hunt.
I will not buy another Swarovski product though. Along with the binos, I also purchased the Swaro 8x30 Range Finder for $1000. From the 1st day, the activation button was stiff and sometimes difficult to activate to get a range reading. Thought it just needed to be broken in and it would loosen up later. I was wrong, so a year later I sent it back to Swaro to have it repaired with a letter explaining my experience with it. They wanted $350 to repair their defective range finder. Couldn't believe that they didn't stand behind their expensive product so I told them to forget it. They lost my business forever. Thought you'd like to know about them not standing behind their expensive products.
I will not buy another Swarovski product though. Along with the binos, I also purchased the Swaro 8x30 Range Finder for $1000. From the 1st day, the activation button was stiff and sometimes difficult to activate to get a range reading. Thought it just needed to be broken in and it would loosen up later. I was wrong, so a year later I sent it back to Swaro to have it repaired with a letter explaining my experience with it. They wanted $350 to repair their defective range finder. Couldn't believe that they didn't stand behind their expensive product so I told them to forget it. They lost my business forever. Thought you'd like to know about them not standing behind their expensive products.
Longrangers
Well-Known Member
I just went through this with my son last year. We went to Europtics and got a bunch out during low light to compare. We looked at Leupold, kowa, Zeiss, Swarovski, vortex, and Leica. The salesman kept pushing Swarovski. We started the process of elimination during low light hours a we came down to 8 power binoculars seemed to work a little better at low light. We continued the elimination process and we were down to Swarovski, zeiss, Leica and vortex. After 3 of us including the sales rep we all 3 agreed that the vortex razors were better. Even the rep said that he was surprised. But I believe that you can get a good piece of glass or bad piece of glass in them all. Best to look for what seems to fit your eyes and also go somewhere they have a big selection and compare looking outside in low light at the the objects. My son got the vortex razor 8x42 under 1000.00. But again everybody's eyes are different.
375Shooter
Member
I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone for their inputs. I really appreciate the benefit of your experience.
vancewalker007
Well-Known Member
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- Mar 30, 2013
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The original Vortex Razor is hard to beat with it's brightness, light weight, and great Vortex warranty.
Chuckhunter
Active Member
Just putting this out there for guys looking for new glass. Great website with honest reviews from compact binoc's to Large objective spotters. A Better View Desired.
I went through this same quest 2 years ago and I went one step future and ordered what I thought was some of the best for that $1000 range. I wanted 10x42 so I ordered Zeiss Conquest, Maven B2, Nikon Monarch HG, There was very little difference, I ended up buying the Zeiss because I saved $150 bucks on the deal plus I also got a bad land bio case that was worth $150 but with that said the best Glass for the money were the Maven! hands down they were crisper, clearer and just felt good. If price had no factor then I agree with dmj Swarovski are the best no question asked period. Just to throw another option for you last year I bought TRACT 12x56 These bio's for the money are hard to beat,TORIC 8X42 Binoculars SCHOTT HT $684. I also have a pair of Steiner 10x42 XC and all of the above bio's will blow them out of the water.
Hope this helps you. Just to muddy the water a little further Vortex HD in this price range are great as well, Their warrantee is second to no-one. You can leave them on the hood of your truck and they fall off at 60 mph and they will replace them.
Hope this helps you. Just to muddy the water a little further Vortex HD in this price range are great as well, Their warrantee is second to no-one. You can leave them on the hood of your truck and they fall off at 60 mph and they will replace them.
Irish Neil
Active Member
Most of my shooting friends have moved to 8x42 Swarovski. Any good binoculars will have a weight issue if worn long enough so get a full harness . This is one issue I have with Swarovski, you have to get their harness because of the patent harness lugs on the binoculars.
I recently got to try a set of Meopta which for the price were exceptionally clear and are more reasonable priced.
Likewise Vortex do a good set at around $500 but spending more than that on Vortex bins, as far as I can see , only give an improved chassis construction with no improvement in optics. No quibble fix or replace for the lifetime of the product is very attractive.
I recently got to try a set of Meopta which for the price were exceptionally clear and are more reasonable priced.
Likewise Vortex do a good set at around $500 but spending more than that on Vortex bins, as far as I can see , only give an improved chassis construction with no improvement in optics. No quibble fix or replace for the lifetime of the product is very attractive.
