Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Need to buy new bino's

During the 30 odd years I lived in Alaska we used 10X bino's all the time. But now since most of my hunting will be for whitetails in Tennessee I need a decent pair of 7x35's or 8x40 or 8x42's.
What are some decent binos to consider in the $300 to $400 price range?

For the past several years I have been using the Vortex optics both in Rifle scopes (3) binoculars (1) and a spotting scope. All under the $500 range. I would suggest you have a look at them. Best bang for the buck.

I think these are great glass for the money. Been using a pair of the ED2 for a while and really like them.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/zenray.pl?page=zenray-zened30843

Just noticed there was a Hunting optic section so I will cruise there and see whats up:)

I have been really impressed with these. I use the 6X model, hunting mostly in heavy cover.

Leupold Yosemite.

After doing some research I am 95% certain I will buy a pair of Nikon 8x42 Monarch 5's. Reviews are really high on just about any site I visit.

The Monarchs are very very clear.

Monarch 5's are nice

My wife has the 12X pair and loves them

meopta meopros r very good. as are zen ray

Bushnell elites are nice. Frankly, I have a pair of the Legend Ultra HD 8x42 and it's hard to say elites (or many others costing more) are that much better than the legends.

For the last several years I've been using Brunton Eterna's 8x42. Great glass and a great warranty.

For that price range, you should consider the Vortex Diamondbacks in 8x42. I purchased these for my son and I'm impressed. Vortex's warranty is much better than Nikons.

I love my monarchs, it's all I'll buy from now on. for binos anyway. if I win the lottery then I'll get Leicas

Stand and look before you scan.

Snow, You are right that the MONARCH 5's are very nice. I would make the suggestion that you check out the MONARCH 7's too. Yes, they are $150, more then the MONARCH 5's but from the independant reviews I have read and the folk's I have spoken to, they are worth it. The MONARCH 5's repeatedly are ranked with bino's costing 3 and 4 times as much. I demo'd a pair of 6 months and loved em, bought em and retired my Euro. bino's. I do some freelance PR work for Nikon and believe me, if what they had didn't do what it is supposed to do I wouldn't tell you it did.

Picked up a pair of the Monarch 5's last night at Cabelas as they are on sale for $249 from $299. Then checked Amazon and they were the same price.
For the last 22 years I been using Leica and Zeiss 10X glasses and I am extremely happy at the quality of the Nikons.
Check them out if you get the chance.

I used 8 x 42s as a walking glass for many years, and now use 8 x 30s. Will never go back. There is no return on investment in any light level to warrant the heavier glass for that purpose. But I have 15s for serious glassing. Minox is the best glass I've ever owned. In Vortex, one needs to go a couple levels above the Diamondback IMO. I do own a Diamondback glass, as well as a Viper glass. The steps from Diamondback to Viper and above are large steps.

No experience with Nikon glass other than a D40 DSLR, which is damned good.

The PROMO on the NikonMONARCH 5-7 Bino's will run for about another month.
I hope you get the opportunity to take advantage of it.

http://www.nikonpromo.com

Used the Monarchs during a recent trip to TN and although they are a great set of optics still not the field of view I was looking for in the timber.
Just bought a pair of the Leupold 6X Yosemite's for $85 and will give them a try. They seem to be pretty sharp, much better than their price suggests.

You get what you pay for.

I like Nikons and Bushnell Legends in that price range but it's definitely a personally subjective thing. It's like picking boots.

Snowwolfe,

A couple years ago I went through the same mental gymnastics. I ordered different brands and compared them on my eye charts at 127 yards and deer antlers in the woods at 131 yards for low light. Despite being the cheapest I ended up keeping the Nikon Action Extreme ATB 7X35 waterproof/fogproof (porroprism). But they were under $200.

I agree with Vortex's. My wife and kids bought me a Vortex 10X50. I had a Pentax that I really like, but I didn't tell them that. After comparing the 2 on a weekend deer hunt the Vortex came out on top hands down. Marty

I have used Nikon Monarchs for years (Japanese made) 10x42
and I have I think 14x50???
They work well
This year for my 50th the Lovely MS Peggy go me 10x30 Swarovskis
They are great I like the size and weight
but they are not worth 3 times (or more) the cost of the Nikons
I didn't do scientific tests but I did use them side by side

They are both very good

Hank

I'd call Doug at Cameraland and see what he suggests. I have 2 pair of Minox ASPH - one 10x, the other 8x. I bought the 10x on sale in his store for a decent price and the 8x was an open box special on clearance or something. I recall the 8x were $200 - a very good deal. I sold 4-5 pairs for him when friends looked through mine. I've been using the 8x for deer hunting for 4-5 years now and really like them but I really like Minox binoculars in general.

I don't know how good their recent models are, but I have some Pentax 8x42 roof prisms that are great. I've used them for 15 years and they're as good as ever.

Pound for pound the best value in bins I have ever seen!