Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics mid $$$ 8x30 questions

I'm looking for a set of 8x30's for hunting.

I'm looking at;

Nikon 8x32 LXL ($629 @ cameraland refurb)
Zeiss Classic 8x30 ($579 @ binoculars.com)
Swarovski 8x30 SLC ($687 @ midsouth) I think these are the older version (model 58025)
Kahles 8x32 ($560)
any others I've missed ?

I'm more concerned about robustness than perfection in color/resolution. Ease of use for long-periods is important also.

Thanks for any comments and suggestions,

You can't miss with the Nikon. I have never heard of one going bad, not that it can't happen. My 8x30/32 pick is the Leica but can't do it for the coin you have unless you go used and then no warranty. I really liked the Nikon (had at least one set) but the focus is faster than I like other than that they are an awesome glass.
Dave

I'll vote Nikon as well, good glass for the price you are after. I also use Leica in 8x32 and like the previous guy and I think they are built like a tank plus the glass is stunning. But for your price buy the Nikons and feel good about it because they are great and are arguably about 95% as good as some of the very top binos.

I have the NIkon LX 8x32 Venture's and am very pleased with them. There is only 1 oz difference between the LX and LXL's in the 8x32 models. I bought mine from doug for 479.00, I don't know if he can get the LX's any more but it may save you a couple hundred $$ if you can.

thanks for the replies guys.

what are the raincaps and strap setup like for hunting and hiking conditions ?

Steiner Military Marine, Safari, and Predator 8x30.

Light, inexpensive, rugged, various coatings for the intended use and background, and once you focus them for your eyes they are set for every distance so you can just pick them up and use them.

Steiner's suck compared to the other offerings in this thread.

Sorry for delay in responding, but I just returned from fishing in Alaska <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

My choice in a mid priced unit would be....
Nikon LX-L
Minox BR ASPH
Pentax DCF SP

Please feel free to call me to discuss it.

AHHH...............
Catch and eat,my kinda fishin'

The Steiners cost about half as much as the others listed on this thread, weigh less, and the optical quality of all of them can be measured objectively. We know the Steiners meet MIL Spec for NATO. I don't say they are better, but I have actually used them, and are easily available for shoppers to try.

Everything else is just the subjective opinion of people with varying quality of vision.

Most of what is written about optics is pure opinion or conjecture, often by people who have not used the products in the field, much less tested them. The audience needs to keep that in mind and separate the fact from the opinion and brand loyalty.

Subjective opinion? Milspec? Come on...

Milspec largely implies: "what the gov't is willing to pay for".

I have no brand loyalty since I am completely new to using bin's as a first line hunting tool. I spent a great deal of time talking with folks around me who DO have bin's before buying mine. Too many of them claim to have gotten suckered into Steiners and had HUGE fogging issues. I even think I read somewhere around here, similar reports.

I would think a guy with a fogged up set of Bin's isn't "pure opinion".

I'll bet Free Miner could get a sweetheart of a deal on a refurbed set of LXL's from Doug and he would have more glass than he started off looking for.

I have stared through several steiners at length. They aren't terrible glass; but there are WAY better options.

Actually, MIL spec is a set of objective specifications.
I know it outrages some people that Tasco has scopes being used by out Navy SEALs, or that our Army patrols use Steiner 8x30s and 7x50s. The 7x50s are way better than the 8x30s, at 3x the cost.

Like I said, most talk about optics is just opinion. Even the "experts" rarely test the light transmission and resolution.

Address the fogging reports.

I could care less what the military uses; I'm more inclined to hope it serves it's purpose.

Miner listed a sub $700 pair of Swaro slc's; implying that he "could" go that high. For well under 7 bones, there is WAY better glass out there to be had.

$700 is not mid-range of the market.
Neither is Swaro.

Excuse me for suggesting something other than status name brands, even when I know they work well.

Optics should be justified on how you will use them. Presumably, you will use 8x30s all day while walking.
If you are glassing 800 yards away and can afford some Leicas, great.

Just buying "the best" or "best you can afford" is not always the smart thing to do, if they are the wrong glass for your intended purpose or the way you will use them. All optics have trade offs in their features.

A couple of things about 8X30/32's.
They are the "tough to get right size". I remember when the Pentax DCF WP's were the rage. They were actually a touch better than the Swaro SLC's of that time and far cheaper. But that is in the 42mm size. I stacked and compared an 8X32 DCF WP to my ancient 1958 made B&L 9X35 Zephurs. Not even close.
Binoculars only do one job. They try to show you something better. The sharper they are, the better. Strange as it sounds, magnification will not make up for lack of quality. In fact, you can acually see just a hair more with an 8X than with a 10X with the same objective size all else being equal.
After many years of using all kinds of glass, I've lost count of the number of times I'd have given anything for just a touch more clarity in my binocular. That's why I pay for for such top quality glass as the Nikon LX-L or the Leicas.
Not everyone can afford such binoculars. If that's the case, I suggest you consider a 40/43 mm size instead. At the level of the best in binoculars, it makes very little difference from what I've seen. With the cheaper models, I would certainly make sure the smaller 32mm size is up to the standards of the same bino in a 40/43 mm size. Often, there is quite a difference in the cheaper models and makes.
As far as being rugged, I'd go for the ones that have been around for a while vs. the newest and best from th up and coming companies. Both the Nikon LX-L and the Pentax DCF SP's have done quite well. E

When was the last time you spent some time with a late model Swaro 8x30? I recently owned an Utravid 8x32 and a Swaro 8x30 SLCneu. I compared them every which way, off and on for weeks in every condition. It was hard to accept what my eyes were telling me, but the Swaro was actually a little better than the Leica. Bigger sweet spot, and even seemed a tad brighter in fading light.

The Leica is usually considered the pinnacle in 8x32's, but my particular Swarovski is one kick a$$ binocular. I couldn't justify keeping both and sold the Leica. Swarovski must have made some significant improvements lately, but I don't know how recently that was. I'm pretty sure last years model, which is the one mentioned, has the good stuff........

Just my experience,

Dan C

Doug, Cool. Figured most NYC'ers couldn't spell salmon let alone catch one. You're stock is rising amongst the outdoor set.
Dave

[quote]When was the last time you spent some time with a late model Swaro 8x30?[quote] \

I think you misinterpreted my post. I wan't saying anything ill about Swarovskis. I was saying that for under $700, there are way better options than the Steiners that is being touted.

Lee, still waiting for any comments regarding the fogging issue that has been often reported. Oh yeah, they usually fog when you take them OUTside.

I never heard of a fogging issue with the Steiners, so why don't you tell us about the rumor.

I have a friend who keeps his 8x30 Steiner Marine binos on his sailboat, year round, and that is about as good a fogging test as I know of. Maybe people who hunt from a heated vehicle and jump out into the cold have had a fogging problem.

I agree with the post above about moving up in size, unless you are going for the light weight of something like a ...gasp...Steiner.
Look at the Minox 8x30 and 8x32

Review of 8x
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/midsizedbins2005_reviews.html

Since you like to read:

Here's what's been said right here on this site:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads...;page=0#1002041

Another absence of flattery:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads...true#Post773631

Another thread:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads...true#Post440903

To add:

I have a brother in law who owns a pair of Military Marines. Internal fogging was an issue from day one. He put up with it until there was a problem with the focus adjustment. Sent them back to Steiner for repair. Took 3 months to get them back, and the focus broke on his next hunt. Milspec, eh?

I work with 2 guys who got on the Binocular bandwagon this very year. One bought a pair of Predators, the other bought a Leupold Pinnacle. The pinnacle had better optics than the Steiner by the opinion (stacking these) of everyone in our shop (And I thought the pinnacles were pretty lackluster in the first place). Regardless, the guy with the Predators left them outside (on picnic table, under porch roof) one night. Internal fog the next morning.

Not exactly the mass of responses I would want to collect if I were hanging onto my wallet. Mr. Miners shortlist in his original post offer far more hope, I think.