Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Best value in a 10x42 binocular

I'm looking to buy a 10x42 binocular and am interested to hear thoughts on which brands and models represent the best value for the dollars spent. Nothing is off the table but if I don't need to spend $2,300+ to get good optics, I see no reason to do so.
Let's hear thoughts and experiences.
Thanks

meopta meostar HD 10x42

Swarovski 10x42 SLC HD

Wife bought me my FIRST pair ever a set of Leupold BX-2 Cascades
I really like the optics for the price!
AMRA

Pentax 10X42 waterproof

I found a Pentax DCF SP for a really good buy and have ordered it in. We'll see if it's as good as was written about. I'm still interested in looking further into this. I've heard lots of positives about the Meopta Meostar HD and have actually heard some good comments about the Minox (BL and HG models) but know little other about it.

I currently carry a Swaro 8x30 CL and like it very much but sometimes I feel the need for more power...

When someone uses the term "best value" with regards to binoculars, here is what that means to me:
1. great optics
2. exceptional build quality, toughness, parts working as they should, ergos, etc
3. lifetime transferable warranty
4. proven track record of company

I realize this criteria is subjective, but based on this I'll go with the Meopta/Cabelas Euro HD.

With all the good reviews I'm going to have to try Meopta again. The first try was less than exciting.

I have a pair of Cabelas Euro HD.
Very nice.
If they don't fit your face, return'em.

That's what I did the first time. May have to try the HD.

Leica to my eyes is the best by a long ways, but the warranty/CS pisses me off.

My wife surprised me with a pair of Nikon Monarch 7's, she did a little work online, but admittedly didn't know too much about binos, just wanted to buy them for me. Anyway, they"ve been great so far, very clear with no blackout. They're kinda light, but fit my face very well. They haven't been wet or taken a big tumble, so can't comment on durability. To my eyes, they're much clearer/brighter than my Talons. So, at this point I'm very happy with them

I have a pair of meopta 10x42 and very pleased with them. They are the b1 meostars. A lot for your money in the used market for sure

I had about 5 pairs of compacts and 8x40's, I sold them all and used the money to buy two pairs of leupold 10x50's, gave one set to my dad and they are worth every cent. A seller on Ebay had the best deals and gave me a little more off for buying two.

Camera land has the Leica Geovid 10x42 binos for sale $1850 versus the normal price of $2400.

As mentioned previously the Pentax DCF SP and the Meopta Meostar
binos offer a lot of bang for the buck that is tough to match.

That is a real good buy on Leica optics.

+1...for the average guy who doesn't judge sheep, goats etc. on a daily basis this binocular is the best buy for the money in optics.
It is a shame pentax doesn't market their sport optics more aggressively. I have Leica Hd and Zeiss FL now, but I'm looking for used pentax dcf sp for a knockabout pair....

Owned a 8x32 DCF WP - very good glass IMO, and would look at Pentax again if wanting a mid-priced bino 8-10x, which they would mfg a compact 6-7x on a 30-32 in a Roof.

Buddy had a Nikon Monarch IIRC, double vision, he was hard on gear, but I would avoid them.

Price aside, Leica and Swaro would be on my wish list...

In the lower price range Zen-Ray is hard to beat.

CS is HUGE with this type of purchase.

I like the glass in the Meopta HDs for 1/2 the cost of Alpha binos. To my eyes for less than $400 the Zeiss Terra would be my choice. I looked through those and sold my older Pentax dcfs that were very good for several years. There are much better inexpensive options today like the Vanguard Endeavor for less than $300.

None of these is as good as the top of the line glass but are good enough most of the time. I'm going to try carrying a compact Leupold spotter this year to identify legal or not legal in thick oak brush across 400 yard wide canyons - but with top quality glass I probably wouldn't need to do that.

"Huge" ? Well then I'd avoid the Swarovskis like the plague, particularly the EL's.
Leica has had some less than good attitudes about honoring their warranties in the past. But Doug at Cameraland, NY, has had great success in getting the very few that have had such issues resolved.
Which is another point. Very few Leicas ever need repairing, even when used hard. That's because Leica researches and tests their designs extensively before releasing them. Last I heard, Swarovski still hasn't fixed their fogging problems. E

Please proved an example of anything other then exceptional CS From SWARO, I don't want to hear internet hearsay either.

I have owned and used Leica BN and Ultravid, Zeiss Victory HD, and Swarovski EL Swarovision.

For my eyes I believe the Swarovski are the best. That may be different for other people's eyes.

As to value, it depends on how long you plan to keep them. If you buy an expensive pair of Binos and you keep them for 20 years they will be cheap, especially if you take good care of them.

I have never had any fogging problems with the Swarovski els

Pentax 10x42 Waterproof with the phase coating on the lenses. Side by side comparison with expensive high end binos had those guys asking each other why they spent 600 to 1000 dollars when the Pentax matched performance. This was in Colorado in 2001 on a combination elk and mule deer hunt. Since then I have convinced 3 or 4 hunting buddys to go with Pentax. I have been very happy.

I bought a 10x42 SLC in 2004 for $1000 new in 2004 and just sold it for $800 to upgrade to the 12x50 EL (which are amazing!) In 2012 I sent them back to Swaro because the SWAROVSKI badge was worn off. The re-armored the binos, updated the diopter adjustment, replaced the eyecups, attached strap loops, cleaned the unit and sent them back no charge within 3 weeks. This level of service is why I did not hesitate to buy the 12x50EL (which are amazing!)

I also have a pair of 10x42 DCP WP Pentax that are very nice.

azrugerdude,

Based on exit pupil they should be the same. Can you compare them side by side as the sunsets and tell us if one lasts longer?

E, your same old, Swaro bash seems to continue, I thought
that changed along with your new forum name, not sure what
is going on with that.

Leica has had trouble with waterproofing, and the Allbinos
binocular endurance test found they often leak. They performed
worst among any binoculars they tested. This included both the
Ultravid and Geovid, and the results were disappointing.
That test was from 4-30-13, so go take a look.

If you want to bash Swaro. your story has grown old.

Swaro. not having great customer service?

Step away from the crack pipe.

Yep Swaro has the best cs in the business bar none weather you bought them new or used best value binos might be the meopta or minox hg and a little lower but 1/2 price pentax sp or the new ed are great

In terms of value/$, the Zen Ray ED3 are a good option. If you have any issues at all, they will replace them. The bird watching forums speak highly of them.

A friend of mine raved on his ED2s and once I compared them to my Viper HDs, I had to agree. It was a little disappointing, so I sent the VHDs to Vortex and received a new pair that's still sitting in the box. I also bought a new pair of ED3s at the same time

This...

Dan

As you would say E, please show the research and testing results from Leica!!!!

Your continually full of BS and are clueless on anything you don't own. I'm sure glad I don't have to bash all other products that I don't own just to justify my purchases!!!

Kinda like you not being able to carry concealed for 40 years but come on here and explain how everybody should do it!!!!

Get a life and a clue!!!

P.S. I have my own personal first hand experience, still in limbo that Leica's CS is terrible!!!

I looked through some of the Leupold offerings, the Zeiss terra and the Conquest a couple of days ago. I used a set of Leupold Wind Rivers or something when they first came out and they where 200 bucks. Porro Prism 8x42 IIRC and they weren't bad for the price. I got good depth perception with them. The new Terra line I couldn't get to focus. They where terrible. The newer Leupolds weren't a ton better but the Conquest or Conquest HD or whatever they are calling them looked good. Maybe just a few bad pairs but I expected the quality to get better with time not worse. The Zeiss Conquest where 1K dollars. I wish I had my Step Fathers Swaros I used to use here to compare.

Bird forums are your friend for in depth evaluations.

Good call Bigwhoop. I haven't given that resource much thought.

I have a Wind River 8x42, bought when they first came out. At the time, I thought it was pretty good glass but I knew nothing of optics and bought them because it said Leupold on it.

OSU,
A long time ago a good friend of mine who hunts more than anyone I know told me to get the best optics I could afford. He recommended and used Leica products (and still does). I purchased a pair of 10x42 Ultravids and have had one warranty issue that was handled properly.
I have friends and fellow hunters who own Swarovski and Zeiss, Pentax and Nikon. All are good glass. I like the 10x42 Ultravids awfully well. They have never given me a minutes trouble and the optical clarity is as good as anything out there.
They are rugged and have been banged around climbing into tree stands, bumped around on the UTV, and bounced around in the pickup. The warranty issue was a fisheye crack in the ocular on one barrel that I must have put there on one of the many climbs into a stand.
Leica replaced it N/C.
If you buy a pair see if you can get a lifetime "Passport" warranty. They offered it when I purchased mine. You buy a pair and you will not regret it. Amortized over 25-30 years that you own them and they are not very expensive to own.

Dave

This is true to some point, but looking at tweety birds in a tree and looking at big game on the ground present different challenges for optics.

I own 10x42 and 10x56 Swarovski's and have for over 15 years. If I bought new I would not hesitate to buy another pair of Swarovski's. I will say I am very impressed with the Kahles line Only thing I have to compare them to is the Swarovski's and they stand up very well in all respects.

Other then binocular build quality what different challenges are there?

I have a pair of Pentax 10X42's waterproof that I no longer use due to loss of vision in my right eye. Willing to sell them as I now use a mono. If interested, make me an offer I can't refuse. Damn, getting old sucks.

+1 on the Meostar

If you're not in a terrible rush, the best value is buying a used from ebay, Swarovski or Zeiss with transferable warranty.

I regret not buying the Kahles from CDNN when they had them. Your right on the Leupolds. They where good for the price as a knock around pair. The Terras I looked through looked like the 5 dollar ones tourists buy. They must have been damaged because no way they could be that bad.

Kahles makes super scopes but their Binos IMHO are very good but not Alpha

for my money the meopta/ cabelas euro are my choice.

i have the older non HD and really like them.

keep an eye on cabelas and every so often the have huge sales on the cabelas branded stuff and snag a pair of binos.

There binos where dirt cheap though. They also had a Leupold Gold Ring Bino for 300 bucks when they where getting out of Binos entirely. Then they brought back binos recently. For the money even if the Kahles weren't Alpha they would still be a great knock around pair.

Avoid Swaro like the plague? Oh man, that's rich.

"I read an article once where swaros were used in alaska and they fogged up."

I wonder how many times we've read this exact same response before. Probably hundreds.

Along with Leupold using melted diamonds for their diamond coating ...Very Rich

If I can make time to get to it, I'll try to make that happen.