Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Upper end 8x30 binos?

I'm really liking the size of the Leupold Yosemites I got the kids, so much so that I often use them myself. My old standby 8x42 Monarchs seem so clunky now. What better glass have you guys found in the Yosemite size and weight range?

Leicas

I am very happy with my Swarovski 8x30 CL binocular. For size, weight, value and ergos they are pretty great IMO. They are not 8x32 EL by any means but for half the price I think you get well more than half the product.

If going for top tier alpha glass then I would be in for the Leica Ultravid HD+. That line is stunning to my eyes.

1. Swarovski 8x32EL... BY FAR.

2. Swarovski Habicht 8x30.. but that one is not sold in the US. Gotta order it from Europe.

3. Nikon 8x30 Eii - not as waterproof, but a Wonderfull binocular! I use it for birdwatching.

Leupold's discontinued Katmai series is a definite upgrade up from the Yosemite but I wouldn't call them "upper end." It's not hard to find the 8x32 on ebay.

Meopta Meostar

Leica Ultravid....HD if you must, but most will not notice the difference.

I once asked a Leupold Rep if their HD spotter was worth the extra. He said yes as long as you are taking pictures thru it. True or not, I don't know.

Leica, Swarovski, Kowa Genesis or Meopta MeoStar. Give me a call Monday and we can discuss what would be best for you.

Happy Mothers Day to all you Mothers out there

Agreed as a “bang for the buck” choice. I have both the HD and non-HD models. 9-mo out of the year, those are what’s closest for me to grab. Because I hunt in very open country, once hunting season rolls around, my primary binocs revert to 8x42 HD-B Geovids and 15x56 HD Swaro. I’ve gotten spoiled by the onboard LRF and have a hard time not having them when it’s tag-punching time.

If I were going to use 8x32’s as my primary “all-the-time” Hunting binocs, I’d have to compare Leica, Zeiss, and Swaro.

Having used, owned, tried them all, I prefer the Leica 8x32 Ultravid by a good margin.

Because of the Swaro EL's overly flat field, I find them impossible for my eyes. You couldn't give me the 8x32 EL. Other's don't have the same reaction. Something like 20% of people do.

Thanks for the replies. Time for some research. Anyone have any experience with the 8x30 Vortex razors? They're apparently discontinued but I spoke with a guy recently who thought highly of them. How do they compare?

pabucktail,
To my knowledge, Vortex never offered the Razor in a compact (8x30/32).

Viper, perhaps?

Maybe so. My info was from a casual conversation.

Feels like I enter a scope commercial when I visit this forum. Maybe a pm would be more appropriate, so the rest of us don’t have to be a part of the sales pitch?

Upper end starts at Zeiss.

meopta's 8x32 simply stunning glass. spend all day looking over a priairie dog town one day. it cut the mirage and conditions like a knife.

IMO, the Meopta MeoStar is right there in optical quality with a Swarovski SLC

Agree that the MeoStar is an SLC killer.

That said... The EL SVs are in their own league.

Doug is a site sponsor on here and has been great to deal with and has giving a lot of good advice even when I opted not to purchase an item

maybe cut him some slack ; )

Agreed, and he is definitely looking after forum members.