Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Binoculars recommendation needed

I’ve hunted the past 10yrs or so with a $50 pair of Bass Pro 10x40’s. I never wanted to spend any money on bino’s preferring to put $$ in scopes instead. My binoculars suck at low light performance, and dusk/dawn is prime deer movement times. I’ve been looking for a nicer pair but in reality, looking through them at a store isn’t the same as using them at dusk in the woods. What are my options? I’d like to stay in the $300-500 range, go more compact (8x32-10x32), and have better low light performance.
Thanks gentlemen, I respect the recommendations from other hunters more than spec sheets and most of the local sales people.
peak98

I have good luck with these Meopta Meopros.8x42. I can pick up deer in the afternoons in the woods when I can't see them with my eyes. They should be in your price range.

I’d give Doug at Cameraland a call. I’ll bet he has 10 great options for you in that price range.

Ask Doug at Camerland about the Burris Signature HD 8x42 binoculars, they have pretty good optical performance for the price range $400 and they only weigh 23 ounces, pretty light for full size binoculars.

I just got a pair of the hawke ED X 8x42. They are short and lighter than most 8/10x42. I got them for truck use as I have Swaro 10x42's for hunting. These Hawkes are amazingly bright they are extremely sharp from center to about 80% out to the edge. I found them on a great deal for $350.

Roof prism binos (the ones with the straight through barrels) have been all the rage for a lot of years, but you can buy better glass with better contrast and more light efficient for less money if you go with the porro prism binos.

Get on Tracts mailing list and pick up 8x42 demos. They are in the $500 range. IMO, they are a best buy. In the absence buying tier one glass, you are better off with the 42s if you care to see in low light.

Of course I do

Doug did get me taken care of, and below my budget.
A set of Athlon Cronus 8x42’s are headed to da bayou state as we speak.
Thanks Mr. Doug, and thank y’all for the recommendations.
peak98

Excellent choice.

This
Just saw 8x42 for 475

A pair of Athlon Cronus 8x42’s are in route now. Everyone recommended the 42’s for better low light capabilities including Mr. Doug. While I would’ve liked to went with 8x30’s, low light performance is more important than size. Thank you for the recommendation though, I appreciate your help.
peak98

Doug is a great guy. I go no where else for my optics.

Lane Easter

I have a pair of Meopta 8x and a pair of 10x Howa from Cameraland. Both are good. Cameraland went out of their way to help me.

He has a lot of top of the line Meopta binos right now, pic up the ph and call him, it will be worth your time.

I bought a pair of Leupold BX3 Mojave 8x32 on here for under $250. I like the compact size and they were a big upgrade optically from the el-cheapos I used in the past.

The Athlon Cronus 8x42’s I ordered arrived yesterday after dark. Today, I got to try them out. I could not only see but clearly identify deer around my feeder well after legal shooting time. They are a huge improvement over the cheap-o binoculars I’ve used for so long. I wanted to thank everyone for the recommendations and thank Mr. Doug and his team at Camera Land of NY. I told them what I was looking for and my budget, trusted their recommendation (price was way below my budget due to sale pricing) and I’m very happy.
peak98

Perfect! Doug is definitely the go to guy for all of your optic needs.

Im looking for an pair of 8 or 10x42 binos and a spotter as well. Theres more choices than before which is a good thing. I just picked up a pair of Leupold Santium 15x56 binos for long glassing but am looking for smaller intermediate binos and i saw an Athlon spotter that i like on Cameraland.

Doug and the crew at Cameraland are a real treasure to us on the fire and their efforts to work with members here is incredible.

Thank you Doug.