I have about $400.00 to spend.Some thing 6 or 7 power small and light.I have 8X32 Conquests now and they are too big.Thanks for your opinions,Huntz

I know they are way, way below your budget, but I continue to be impressed with the 6x30 Leupold Yosemites.

I have some 8X20 Alpen Wings I will sell for $100 plus shipping. If you don't like them return them and I will refund your money.

Me too! They are way better than the price would indicate. Clear as a bell and a wide field of view even if you wear glasses.

May I suggest a
Steiner Safari Ultrasharp 8x22 for $169.99
Next step up would be a Kowa BD25-8GR 8x25mm listed at $275.00

Please feel free to give us a call to discuss different options

This is a great deal. I have these glasses and wear them whenever I am moving in the outdoors, clear bright and light.


mike r

Give the Zeiss Terra 8x25 a try....Made in Japan....way better than you would expect....

True story: I was at bass pro trying to look at Swarovski glass, the clerk kept trying to feed me Zeiss terra stuff and talking about the price.

That is the only redeeming quality of those optics, glass is clear but goes to absolute [bleep] anywhere but dead ahead. They had me getting dizzy in 15 seconds it was rediculous. Your better off with $100-200 vortex specials or some small leupolds.

[quote=Mjduct]True story: I was at bass pro trying to look at Swarovski glass, the clerk kept trying to feed me Zeiss terra stuff and talking about the price.

That is the only redeeming quality of those optics, glass is clear but goes to absolute [bleep] anywhere but dead ahead. They had me getting dizzy in 15 seconds it was rediculous. Your better off with $100-200 vortex specials or some small leupolds.[/quote



the larger Terras are decent but not for everyone....but the 8x25 Terra is a little gem....

I agree. Very close to my Swaro 8x25, but a lot less money.

I will third this. Save the money and put it towards something else. The Yosemite’s are some of the best binos for the money. I have a pair of 6x and 8x. Have had them for years in downpours and blizzards and they have never failed me. Some really clear glass as well.

What they said...and that's coming from a guy that really likes alpha glass.

I have the 6x30 Yosemites and recommend them without hesitation.

Unfortunately there are very few good options. I picked up a set of Leupold Katmai's in an 8X32 years ago. Despite the 32mm objective they are pretty small. Later found they made a 6X32 version, but by that time Leupold had discontinued all the Katmai binoculars. I eventually found some 6X32's still in stock and bought them too. I REALLY like the 6X32's and if you can locate some would highly recommend them. I paid around $300 IIRC, but haven't seen any for sale in years so i have no idea what a used pair might sell for.

Some photos:

Can't get link to work. Google leupold katmai photos

And yet another vote for the Yosemites. For under $100 they are probably just as good optically as my Katmai's. I keep a pair in the truck and often take them hunting when I forget to bring something better They aren't quite as small, but aren't big at all.

Another vote for the Yosemite's, I'm very surprised how much clearer, brighter, and glare-resistant they are than several of my $500 scopes.

Be advised the propensity toward suckage rises very quickly below 32 mm objective. I had some 8 x 28 Diamondbacks that were utter turds. I've actually never used binos that were worth a toot smaller than 30mms. But, have never used pricey Euros in that class.

Are 6 x 30s really smaller than what you have?

Someone posted that these binos from Eagle are nearly identical to the Leupold Yosemite, and are being closed out for $57. No personal experience but I'm pretty fond of the Yosemite.

Eagle Kingbird

I'd look at the Yosemites, as suggested.

Every time I deer hunt in the woods I use my Vortex Viper 6x32’s i bought from Cameraland maybe 8 years ago. I still consider them one of the best investments I ever made. If you find a used set, grab them pronto!

If Doug could talk Vortex into doing a special Campfire run of them, I’d buy a few more pair....

I bought my Dad a pair of these for his truck. We liked them so we, I bought a pair. We both use them for deer hunting in PA. I believe Doug carries these as well.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GSLBSS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Leupold 6x30 Yosemites are worth a look. I bought one based on the recommendations here. I was blown away at what I got for the price.

They quit makin em but i have some 6.5x32 Meoptas that are excellent.

Another vote for the Yosemite. Just an amazing little bino.

[quote=Kimber7man]Every time I deer hunt in the woods I use my Vortex Viper 6x32’s i bought from Cameraland maybe 8 years ago. I still consider them one of the best investments I ever made. If you find a used set, grab them pronto!

If Doug could talk Vortex into doing a special Campfire run of them, I’d buy a few more pair....[/quote

I think Vipers are pretty good.

A Viper scope of same objective kicks the doggshidt out my Leupy VXIII.

I also have a pair of 6x Yosemite’s and they are great. They replaced an old pair of 5x Ranging bino's that I really loved in the woods. A bird watcher was looking for a pair of bino's one day in Gander Mountain, trying the $300 and up bino's so I asked him what he was looking for. I suggested he try the Yosemite’s as he had high power bino's and was looking for a pair with less power. I later saw him walking out with those $89 Yosemite’s after comparing them to the (Gander Mountain) high end. The only reservation I have on recommending them is that mine are about 10 years old and I don’t know if the current models have the same quality. Can anyone chime in?

I have a set thats about 3 years old, and they seem great.

I ordered a set of The 6X30 Yosemites due to the number of folks here that like them.I will let you know what I think when I get them.Thanks for all the responses.Huntz

my yosemite are a year old and just as good as my first pair ~10 years ago.

I have a pair of 8x32 Redfields and like them quite a lot. I also keep a pair of Minox 8x24 in my car. The Redfields are impressive for the money and small enough I would think. The Minox is pretty good glass for a small pair of binos but doesn't equal the Redfields for use in most situations.

Whats the feeling on the 8 x 30 Yosemites? As good as the 6 x 30's?

I have the 6x Yosemites, the 6x Katmai (both Leupold).
The Katmai's are smaller, more compact, and a tad optically nicer than the Yos, but more money. The Kats fit in my bowhunting coat, the Yos did not.
Don't even know if they make the Katmai anymore...
The Yos are the truck binos, the Katmai are in my hunting pack. "Bang for the buck" is hard to beat with the Yosemites.
I do not know how the current Yos stack up against older models, mine are almost 7 years old now.

I've played with the Vortex Viper HD 6x. VERY nice, better than either above, but in a different price class.

Good thread. After reading, I decided to try out the Yosemites. They arrived yeasterday and I spent a few hours with them today hiking the river. (8x version)

I couldn’t be any happier with them, as many others have attested. Great utility glasses. Super easy to carry.

Huntz, it looks like we are neighbors, but if where you hunt is like where I hunt, our deer don't give you much to look at before they get gone and I live in fear of having my binos in my hand instead of my rifle. The problem with those tiny ones is the narrow field of view and not a lot of light gathering in a 20 or 25 mm lens system. A 6x would give you more fov than my 10x25 Swarovski's, but why not just put that $400.00 toward a better variable rifle scope with a way larger objective lens and a cross hair so that you are ready to shoot? Not that I'm condoning scoping things like a telescope, but we all do it to some extent. I've got nice binos for bird watching and nature study, but I can do that all the rest of the year. When I'm deer hunting, I'm hunting for a deer and not looking at other stuff. I guess if you are bow hunting that near anything beats nothing, even like that 10x Simmons that I got as a door prize.

I have had the 6X30 Yosemites in the woods with my MZ.I like them.I don`t like using a scope for glassing an area.I do not point a gun at anything until I am ready to shoot.There is an area of marsh grass I can see from my stand,Bucks like to bed there.I keep looking for antlers just above the grass.We have found quite a few bucks glassing these areas.Just have to wait until they stand up.