Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics best binoculars under 500

i'm looking for a set of elk hunting binoculars in 300 to 500 dollar range. They should be around 8x magnification. What you guys recommend. Hey doug and other others!

I'd certainly take a look at the Meopta Meopro HD in that price Range. Doug's got 'em.

Zen Ray.......awesome.

Zen Ray is out of business

LOL!

Zen Ray Warranty

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/optics/85535-zen-ray-optics.html

I've been really happy with the upper end Nikon Monarch's...either 5 or 7 depending on your budget. They work well if you wear glasses too because of the eye relief.

I bought some 7X36 when I was going to upgrade. They were not as good on my optics chart as the Nikon 7X35.
You don't get what you pay for. You get what you shop for.

ask Doug

I bought Minox, several pairs actually, from Doug 6-8 years ago and have been really happy with them. They are right around $500 back then. Might be a tad more now.

Under $500.00 my top pick is a Meopta Meopro.
There's quality offerings from Hawke, Leupold, Athlon and Steiner but my go to in that price range is the Meopta.
Please feel free to give me a call to discuss what would be best for you.

I have no experience with Meopta, but for under $500 I'd look real hard at Nikon Monarch 7s.

Do I want 8 or 10 power?

8 power.

Up the budget and get the Meopta Meostar instead.

There are those here that know a lot more about elk hunting than I do, I have been on 3 elk hunts with 2 being successful, but like many here lack of experience does not stop us from our opinion.

I have used both 10X and 8.5X binoculars while elk hunting and in my opinion if you are using your binoculars for only finding elk and then making a stalk then the 8X will see as many elk as the 10X and maybe more in thicker cover. I think in most cases 8x will tell you if there is a bull in the herd as will as a 10X will, and the 10X will not be enough to tell you if the bull is a good bull or not over the 8X. Without a spotting scope you will need to get closer once you find the elk to evaluate a bull with either binocular so 10X is not much help. Also you will find it easier to glass for long periods of time with an 8X vs 10X, especially if you do not have a lot of experience with binoculars. Others here I am sure use their binoculars enough to be able hold the 10X steady for long periods of time but I am not one of those.

If you also carry a spotting scope the the 8X would be preferred because you will find the elk with the binocular and evaluate with the spotting scope anyway.

Just my opinion and others will disagree, and that is fine.

I agree with the above.

I have the 8X42 Meopros I bought from Doug. They are very good especially for the price.

I've got a set of Pentax 8X43 DCF SP's new in the box you can have for $350 shipped.

Very good glass for not very much money.....

PM me for pictures...

Depends where you are hunting. If it's in very open country the 10x might be an advantage. In much of elk country there is a mix of timber and open areas and in that environment an 8x is probably just as good, maybe even a bit better in heavy timber. I prefer 10x for hunting mule deer in the open, but for elk in the timber I like 8x just fine.

This is a really good price on a great binocular. I've had mine for years and they are really good. If I wasn't such a bino whore already these would be coming my way.