Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Hunting Binoc for Gift, budget 150 (200 max)

By your own admissions, your eyes suck.

Calls into question a lot of what works for you, as it relates to other folks.

The 8x version pops up a lot, however I am leary becuase it is a bit larger than I was looking for (the binocs he doesnt carry dont do him any good... )

Also, dont they have Internal Focus, which would make it a bit more clumsy for several different viewers to use the same binocs. (or am I completely misunderstanding what the IF is?)

You missed on IF completely. IF is individual focus; you focus each eye piece individually; making it more difficult for multiple uses.

The Minox BPs have center focus. I just bought a BD 10X44 BP Great glass.

another vote for ZRS HD

Actually in the case of the Minox porro it really IS Internal Focus. Most porro binoculars focus by moving the eye piece up and down. The Minox and the Leupold Cascade porros have the focus appratrus internally in the binocular. Makes them easy to waterproof. The Pentax WP porros are internal focus too.

I picked up a a pair of Vortex Fury 8x32 for my wife and used them on an antelope hunt alongside my Swaro 8x30's. From looking through the two together it really is hard to tell the difference between the two, obviusly the Swaro's were better but not $800 better, I'd say that the Fury's were 97% of the Swaro's, definately worth the money.

Minox BD 8x32's from Doug.

Calling Doug is always a great idea. He has such a range of choices for you and he can help you narrow it down.

That said. I like the Yosemites for under $80.

The Zen's are really nice for $200. Hard to beat the dielectric coatings.

I picked up some Carson XM XD's for about $55 on ebay and they are better than my Eagle Optics Rangers. Better coatings, contrast, colors and depth of field. I see them going NIB for $150 right now on ebay.

Finally, Vortex has the unconditional warranty which ratchets them up the list in value. The Fury line from Doug falls under $200 and that's what I'd recommend from Vortex.

Must be good to be your friend!!

Must be great to be your friend.

The Minox and the Cascade Porro are internal focus binoculars and work very well.

I have the 6X Yosemites and 8X leupold Cascade Porro binoculars.

Both are/were great values - but the Leupold has been discontined for quite some time.

I own or have owned Leica 10X42 Trinovids and Swarovski 8X SLC's - and for my eyes the Minox BP's give up nothing - or very little to those "Alpha" binoculars.

Can't argue size physical preference. If the binocular is left in the truck it makes no difference what it is.

And I have not had any hard use problems.

UPDATE:

I picked up 2 used binocs for what seems to be great prices:
7x36 chuck adams bushnell and a 6.5x32 vortex fury.

I'll test drive both for a bit, and see if one will work out for him.

Thanks for all of the insight and suggesitons- much appreciated.



As an aside, I think it would be useful to have
"best buy binoc" thread for various categories/uses and price points. Surprised it doesnt exist for scopes , binocs, etc.