Binocular Question/Recommendation

[Crow Terminator]

You guys sold me on the Minox rifle scopes. I now own two of the things. So I have got to ask...are their binoculars just as clear and good as the rifle scopes?

I made the mistake of getting a pair of Nikon Monarch ATBs in 10x42 power. I for some reason was expecting a lot out of them since I had read several articles on binoculars in which they made the top 3 list.

What binoculars are you guys using and are you happy with them? I'm looking for either a 8x40 or 10x40 size but I'm looking for pretty clear glass and for around $250 to $400. Don't get me wrong, the Nikon's are okay but they remind me of the clarity of the Monarch scope I had....decent but not the best out there. Minox makes binoculars and I was eyeballing the BV II series in 10x40. If they are as clear as the 3-9x40 rifle scopes I have by them, then I will buy them in a heart beat.

The other one on my list is the Vortex Diamondbacks in 10x42. I hear great things about them but I've never looked through a Vortex product.

 

[Mr.Bro]

I too was looking for binos in that range last year while at the Shot Show.I had reduced my search to mid range Minox,Vortex and Bruntons.
The Bruntons,i forgot which model,were heavy and honestly didnt align together.Very disapointed.
It was a toss up between Minox and Vortex.The Minox BVs looked a little fuzzy on the edges.Didnt expect that but remember these are on the lower end.
The Vortex Diamond back was the winner in my opion.Not to heavy, clear,with easy adjustments and the best warranty in the business.
Look closer at the Viper and Fury series from Vortex..Have not personnally looked at these but hear great reviews of them.
Unless you have a local dealer to deal with try Cameraland in New York.Ask for Doug.Also ask about Vortexs "birding series"
which are top quality.The bird series Talon model i bought are awsome binos with lifetime no questions asked warranty.

Good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I love the Minox scopes, but the low end Minox Binos leave a little to be desired. I bought a used set of Zeiss binos and have been tickled with them. I hear the Vortex upper end are very good, but I have never looked through them.

 

[stik]

what don't you like about the nikons? i liked mine so much i bought the same to replace mine that was stolen.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I had some Nikon ATBs, and they are not trash by any means; but hunt a few days with the Zeiss and they are worlds apart, to me anyway.

 

[JimFromTN]

Vortex makes a great scope. The deals on the viper are incredible right now. I have never looked thru their binos before. Check out the Zen Ray ED2 also if you are willing to go as high as $400.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I have a pair of the ATB Nikons that I gave $300 for. The first couple of years they were fine, but the clarity has gone down hill. I have never had anything Nikon that I have been happy withy. I guess Leupold products have ruined me.

 

[B&C chaser]

I use Steiner Predator 10 x 50 binos and love them. I had Nikons prior to the Steiners and they were pretty good for the money but are no comparison to the Steiners. The Steiners are out of the price range you listed but are well worth the money.

 

[JimFromTN]

I guess Leupold products have ruined me.

I have been wanting a pair of Luepold Yosemite 6x30 binos. I have heard alot of great things about them. They seem like the perfect binos for hunting thick forest.

 

[Andy S.]

I own Nikon Monarch ATBs as well. They are mediocre in my eyes and I know there are better binos are out there for the price. I too may be purchasing some Zen Ray ED2 or some Hawke Frontier EDs in the near future. They are basically the same bino with a different case/name. If you research any birding websites these two get a great deal of praise for the price. Many "binocular enthusiasts" suggest they are comparable optically speaking to the alpha binos that typically cost $1K+.

http://www.zen-ray.com/store/index.php? ... cts_id=252

http://www.hawkeoptics.com/us/binocular ... /index.php

 

[Model70Man]

I have a pair of Promaster Infinity Elite ELX 8x42's that rival the Big 3 (Zeiss, Swarovski, and Leica). They have the ED glass and are super bright and clear. Read some of the reviews online and you will find that this binocular is optically superior to just about any binocular in its price range. I actually never use mine and if you are interested in them let me know and I will cut you a good deal on them.

Here is a link. These guys deal with all types of bino's and compare and contrast them all the time. http://www.opticstalk.com/topic12612.html

The higher dollar Minox bin's are better optically if you go with Minox. The lower dollar bin's don't really compare well to others in their price range.

If you go with Vortex, look at the Razor or the Viper series. They have the better glass.

 

[Crow Terminator]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! That is what I was looking for. Great stuff.

Stik -- The Monarchs are okay but to my eye, they just aren't super clear. When I'm deer hunting fields I will have the binoculars to my eyeballs probably 70% of the time, glassing continually. And I know that if they don't look clear to me just looking at birds from the porch at 30 yards...then they aren't gonna be any better for looking at a deer at 300 yards.

 

[stik]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! That is what I was looking for. Great stuff.

Stik -- The Monarchs are okay but to my eye, they just aren't super clear. When I'm deer hunting fields I will have the binoculars to my eyeballs probably 70% of the time, glassing continually. And I know that if they don't look clear to me just looking at birds from the porch at 30 yards...then they aren't gonna be any better for looking at a deer at 300 yards.

i guess everybody's eyes are different. they are the clearest binocs i have ever owned and the only ones i have looked through that were better were some $2000+ swarovskis. i can glass for hours with the nikons with no eye fatigue.

 

[Crow Terminator]

Stik -- You may be right about them. I've never had a good pair of binoculars before, but I had never had a super clear rifle scope either until I got the Minox so now I know what good glass looks like. I had a Nikon Monarch scope on my .308 and it was decent...very similar glass clarity as the ATB binoculars are. But once I saw the difference after looking through the Minox/Zeiss, there was no comparison. I'm after that same clarity for binoculars.