Binoculars- Which Pair?

[Ala Dan]

Greetings All-

I seeking advice from the professional world on what pair of binoculars
(10x42) are good for general use? I have looked at the Leupold Cascades
and the Bushnell Legends. Primary use will be for peeping at my handgun
targets; saving a little leg work uhoh:)~! I'm currently leaning towards
the Leupold 10x42 Cascades; mainly cuz they feel more comfortable. I
can't afford the German makes (Swarovski, Stenier,or Zeiss); so I will
have to go with a Japenese import brand~! I sell all brands that
I have mentioned, and I know how costly some (like Swarovski's $1600
line) can be; but $300 is more in line with my price range. Many thanks
for your time, as well as your responses~!

 

[greg531mi]

i was very impressed with the Leupold's....Go to a store and look at a sign, on the other side of the store, and see if you can read the small print, if it is hazy on the outer lenses, how bright they are.....how sharp the print is....
Compare them, side by side....

 

[Hutch]

I bought the Bushnell Legend, and have be very pleased. It seems that, later in life, I'm becoming an optical snob, of sorts, at least compared to my earlier years. The Bushnell binos were just worlds ahead of any I had previous experience with. Also, they have a very quick, convenient eyecup adjustment and mucho eye relief for viewing while wearing glasses.

HTH

 

[Charles S]

Honestly for your purposes either will serve you quite well. I would go with the more comfortable pair, you may find with a good comfortable pair of optics you will actually use them more.

Leupold has excellent customer service.

I will say that when I last looked through the Bushnell Legends I was impressed with their clarity for the price.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

For general use my own choice is Leupold Porro prism.

For general daylight use my own choice is Leupold Porro prism. The differences are real but matter less to me than the money - for use in decent lighting on sharply defined objects.

On the other hand I do find a spotting scope is the better choice to function as a spotting scope.

 

[QuickRick]

Although you did not mention them as a brand you sell, I would suggest you consider the "Action Extreme" series by Nikon. They are very rugged, waterproof, and have extremely bright, clear optics. I purchased a pair of 8x40s via mail order and was truly stunned at their clarity when I first tried them. The source where I ordered mine (Optics Planet) does not offer 10x42s on their website. Their closest match would be 8x40s for $124 (UPS shipping included) or the 10x50s for $145, also with free shipping. I never checked the Nikon website to see if they offer a 10x42 in the AE series.
Good luck and God Bless / Rick

 

[Regolith]

I'll second the Nikon Action Extremes. I got a pair of 10x50's and I'm extremely pleased with them. I also opted for the "eco glass" model, which is supposedly lighter than the regular line.

 

[Bottom Gun]

I would take a look at the PENTAX DCF series and the Nikon ATB glasses.
I own a pair of each and I am very pleased with them.

The Pentax is slightly better than the Nikon.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

I'll repeat myself - Leupold Porro for the use mentioned -

Porro is much more fragile and much bulkier than the competition but that doesn't matter nearly so much for light duty.

Porro is a much simpler optical path than roof prism and so much cheaper optical quality for optical quality - phase correction is not required for Porro and so Porro avoids the floor that makes really cheap but decent roof prism binoculars impossible. Roof prisms should be coated and phase corrected and almost all of them are.

The best source I know of for general information on binoculars in the outdoors is Ask John Barsness Questions About "Best Buys In Binoculars." on another forum. He not only wrote a book on the subject but has done a monthly column on optics for one of the few remaining consistently decent gun rags. The articles are well worth looking and some but not all can be read free in the Wolfe preview on the web. I suspect Ron Spomer will be doing optics for that magazine in the future though. For true general use I might well suggest a midrange Nikon roof prism -8X40 or thereabouts but for spotting I'd suggest a 10X50 Leupold porro design as a very good value for the money given that size and ruggedness are less important and power and resolution are more important.

 

[langenc]

Watch ebay and get a pair of Sport Kings-they are 7x35. I have some and anyone that looks thru them is amazed. They are not the wimpy little things sold today-and are quite heavy-28 oz or so.

 

[Clark]

For the money, I like Minox and Nikon Monarchs.

 

[another okie]

For shooting at a range with tables I like to use a cheap spotting scope. You can get them for almost nothing. Mine is a Bushnell. You can set it up on a tripod, sight it in, and then you don't have to reach for the binoculars. All you have to do is bend down to the lens.

Now the scopes like that are not what you want hunting elk in the Rockies, but they are fine for range time.

 

[Full Clip]

I recently got a pair of Steiner Predators -- 12x50 -- off the Amazon Warehouse. They were about 1/2 price. Incredible optics. I was just lucky, but they are great.

 

[22-rimfire]

My current favorites are the Nikon Monarch's. I have the 8x42 ones which typically sell for around $300. I don't regret the purchase. I've used cheap binoculars all my life and I moved up the quality ladder a bit and I've very satisfied. Work great if you wear perscription glasses.

 

[black bear]

Check my opinion on the Nikon and Pentax, here

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=288553

Cheers
Black Bear