Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics binos under $300

Best bang for the buck for under $250. I had a set of Bruntons that worked great for the last 3 years but crapped out on me this past weekend. I only have about 250-300 to spend on binos. Any ideas?

Take advantage of the Pentax rebate. I think you can find the 8x32's and 8x42's for your price after rebate. Seems like the best deal out there right now.
<br>The other option is the Porro Prism's. Looks like a whole bunch is coming from the same factory. Fujinon, Swift Audubon, Leupold Wind River, Eagle Optics, Bushnell Discoverer Porro Prisms.
<br>All are multi-coated, nitrogen filled and waterproof. I think the Bushnell's have Rainguard even.
<br>Good luck. Optics are addictive, once you use the best, nothing else will satisfy.
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For that price range, the Pentax 8X42 are hard to beat. I have put a lot of hard use into mine over the last 6 years and they have held up well. Not quite as good as the premium brands, but you get what you pay for.

Howdy Joel. Long time no hear buddy? (grin)
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<br>Also consider checking out swfa's samplelist of used demo bino's.
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<br>They have the compact zeiss and swarovski for around that price.
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<br>Tex

As an owner of a fine pair of Zeiss Compacts, I must say no. They aren't worth zip for hunting. Too hard on the eyes. For looking, causally at something, fine.
<br> I recommend something with a minimum of a 4 mm exit pupil. That the objective size divided by the magnification.
<br> Pentax DCF WP's, the new P1(?) Leupolds, and the few others. See Mule Deer's comments on the latest binos under the post about "Optics for the Hunter". E

But the samplelist is still a great place to look around.
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<br>How about
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<br>Steiner 8x30 Hunting
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<br>Factory Refurbished, we have several in stock and their condition varies, $10. hand select fee will get you the best one (usually like new)
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<br>List $838.00
<br>Sale$299.95
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<br>Steiners can be very very nice. JJ has carried some. And the fun thing for me is that SWFA is local. I can be there in 30 minutes and jack with chris myself. (grin) And trust me.... he is as nice in person as on the net.
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<br>Cheers
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<br>Tex

Joel, another good buy is the Olympus Magellan phase coated roof prism's on Costco.com for 209 plus shipping. Consumer Reports had them at the head of the class. But as CR can do, they didn't have comparable competition. Good brand and warranty.
<br>I'm another one who is not a fan of the mini's. Both of my hunting partners had good mini's. They hardly use them. (Swaro 10x and Nikon 9x). I carried my huge 7x50 Fuji's and use them all the time. I'm looking to see something I missed and to get a better look at something. I think most people are looking to get a better look at something they've already seen. Leaving some of the benefit of good optics behind IMO.
<br>Good luck!

Thanks guys for suggestions. I'm gonna check out a few places around town this weekend and next week while I'm in seattle.

Joel
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<br>Take a look at the binoc reviews on www.betterviewdesired.com, for bird watchers (cannot bring myself to call them birders, to me a birder sounds more like a guy with a shotgun), very detailed and much better than anything in the gun magazines.
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<br>miki

Once again thanks for the help, I picked up a set of Pentax 8X42's.

Good link miki, thanks.

Joel S: I found my best price on the 8x42 Pentax DCF WP at www.Adorama Camera.com. They have them at 329.00 before the 100.00 rebate. For 229.00 how can you go wrong. Swede96.