Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Best 8x30 - 8x32 for under $1k

Just wondering what opinions run as to the best 8x30 or 8x32 binocular for under $1000.

Thanks

My first pick would be Doug's demo ultravids, or find used leica trinovids and next swaro slcs.

Ditto. Love my 8x32 Ultravids from Doug.

The Meopta 8x32's....which are actually less than $1,000 per your original request.

After looking at almost every bin in the aforementioned configuration, that was where I landed and COULDN'T be happier with them. They are hard to get your hands on, but worth the effort. I'd put them up against SLCs, ELs, or even the Ultravids....at about half the price. Do a search on the bins and I think you'll come away very impressed with the reviews. I'm certainly not the only one to compare them to the "Alpha" bins.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

I like the Swaro 8x30 slc or meopta 8x32s

The Meopta Meostar 8x32 and the Vortex Viper 8x32. If you are not stuck on 8x look at the Swift Eaglet 7x36 too.

Used Ultravids.

New Trinovids.

8x30 SLC would be my third choice.

I've had all three...

The best one I've used is the Nikon LX, 8X32. I suspect they'd be hard to find.
If I had to start over, w/o an LX, I'd try out a Meopta, a Leupold Gold Ring and the Pentax ED.
When I say "try them out," that means buy them with the understanding that you can return them for a full refund if you decide that they aren't quite what you want. I know Doug at Cameraland will do this and so will Cabela's.
Different binoculars fit and get along differently. At that level of performance, fit, feel, user friendliness, etc. all play a more important role in binocular selection than tiny differences in performance. E

Brad,

On another thread someone mentioned the best in this area is/was the 8X Nikon SE. Have you compared them to the ones you mentioned here?

My feelings exactly.

This is My favorite size of hunting glass (7 or 8 power or even a 6x and a 30 -36 mm size objective).

as far as your ? of a 8 x 30 or 32 mm and under a $1000:

I would say the 8x30 Swaro. SLC-tried and true

Or a used 8x32 Swarovski EL-fantastic piece of glass

Or.. the used Ultravids or or Trinovids or the Nikon premiers/Lx or LXL or the SE's or the Leupold GR
(I have not looked at the Meopta's or the pentax in that size)

So many choices ;^)

(By the way I am going to be listing soon a like new Swarovski 8x32 EL that will be listed at not much over your price point)

Have fun with the search

You should take a look at the:

Swarovski 8x30 SLC's for $899.00 while the Swarovski Anniversary sale is still going on. After January 1st the prices will no longer be under a thousand dollars, so this is a great dael @ $899.00

Another great buy is the existing Minox 8x33 HG Series @ $399.99 as we purchased all the remaining inventory of these (made in Japan with German Shott glass) before the manufacturing moves to Germany and the new version German 8x33 HG gets repriced @ $1295.00. The main change is location of factory, so don't miss this chance to save $900.00. This is a great binocular and at $399.99 it is one of the finest buys around.

I would buy a used pair of Leica 8x32s..Like a salemans pair or a pair of demos out of a store..They can't be beat for big game hunting.

I just purchased a pair of the HG 8x33s from Doug. For the money they are a outstanding binocular. Very close to the SLCs IMHO

zen-ray

ZR doesn't make one that size, and even if they did, they are newbies and are not in this class. I had one and had to return it. Take the advice from above. The Swaro. 8x30 SLC would be a great choice.

I've purchased from Cameraland, also, they are a fine retailer to deal with.

The improved NEU SLC for $899 new-its a no brainer as far as I am concearned.

Now if it was the older SLC I would take a Leica Trinovid or Ultravid over those.

If you can get one for deal I would take a Zeiss Victory FL over anything else on the market.

Does anybody know what the Leica Trinovid 8x32's weigh?

I think my trinovids weigh 22oz, a solid, handy little package.

I recently bought a pair of Zeiss 8x32 FL's and didn't like them. Resolution was not as fine as my Ultravids, had a noticeably smaller (and annoying) sweet spot and the fast focus on the FL's isn't anything I want on a general purpose bin. I bought them thinking I might want to replace my Ultravids with them. No chance.