Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics best $300 8x40' binoculars

My 11 year old son is looking to get himself a decent set of binoculars. Rather than go cheap, he is going to spend a bit more (a ton for him), to get quality. He only has 300 max. We spent the day looking at Vortex Diamondbacks, Nikon Monarch 3's and 5's, Zeiss Terra's, and Leupold...can't remembers. It's hard to tell in Cabelas, but it seemed the Nikon Monarch 5's were the sharpest and brightest of this bunch.

Any other recommendations we should also consider? Obviously, sharpness is important, but low light is also really important.

And if anyone has experience with all of these (Muledeer, Doug!), please feel free to share!

Thanks!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141034607320

These are quality made Japanese optics that would last him for many years

I haven't tried them yet, but I hear good things about the Vanguard Endeavors. They'd be near the top of my list of binos to try in that price range. Tons of good reviews around, and well under $300.

Jason

I too am interested in this topic

I have a pair of Leupold Mojave BX3 8x42 that I have only looked through them in the yard and would take $300 shipped. Cant beat Leupold's warranty

I have the Vanguard Endeavor EDs and the Zen Ray ZRS and would recommend both.
Used them side by side with Swaros and Leicas and they compared much better than I figured they would.

I think my Nikon Monarchs are excellent for the price and beat the Pentax I was using by miles. I've side-by-side compared the Nikons with Zeiss and Swaros and found they compare favorably in sharpness and brightness, as well as contrast. I've not compared them to Zeiss in dim light, but have with Swaros, and the Nikons did well.

Just buy these!!! I couldn't find a deal on them anywhere so I settled for the Grand Slam version, they are VERY nice, the Super Slam is NOTICEABLY better.

I have the diamondback 10x42's. I've used them for hunting for several seasons now. Have spotted caribou from 1600+ yards with them. For the $200 they cost I find them hard to beat. To be fair I've not had the chance to play with a lot in that price range. So take it with a grain of salt.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Those Weavers look heavily discounted, from what I can see. I'll have to read up on them.

I saw some nice Meopro's on CLNY, they also had some Minox, but there are so many models there, I don't know much about them.

Anyone have any idea on Meopro's vs Monarch 5's?

Take with a heaping of salt, but here's a bino comparo...

Bino Link

I had an opportunity most don't get in a field situation.. We were on a bear hunt on a boat in PWS in Alaska and had a number of different optics all in the 8x24 range some 10s and 9s from cabelas (mine)to monarchs to ziess to swaro and even had two pair of Leicas!!! we had "low light" conditions for an extended period of time and sat all the glass out and kept comparing... I didn't see a HUGE difference in most any of them except the Leicas.... they were amazing, but the monarchs were just as clear as swaro as far as I was concerned.... now after a LONG day of glassing would say swaro, ziess and Leicas were by far better!!! for the money your talking I would worry about warranty type issues before anything... Leupy would be a SAFE bet!!!!

This is my experience also. Several years ago comparing my Zeiss Classics 10x42 to my friend's Monarchs. The Monarchs compared very favorably and I can only imagine they have gotten better.
Good for your son for spending a lot of money (for him) on good glass. They will last him a lifetime. I still have my UltraVision Bushnells my dad bought for my 12th birthday (almost 50 years ago).

I have the Vortex Talon HD 8x42 and continue to be impressed with the view. They are sharp and have good image contrast. I like them a lot more than the Vortex Diamondback. I think Doug at Cameraland has some demo or open box specials that are worth looking into.

Good luck and happy viewing.

I love my Monarchs. I also bought a pair of Bushy Legends and although the pair I bought were close to the Monarch 3's I like the Monarchs better and they are lighter than the Endevors. The Monarch 5's are impressive for the money.

My friends have had the expensive green ones stolen out of the truck two different times. Once while sitting in the restraunt, once at a rest stop. Expensive loss + windows!

Another quality Japanese made bino

http://www.cdnnsports.com/8-5x45-northfork-black.html#.U1wxYqKsrlc

When I looked at Cabelas, they had an eye chart on a far wall. Pretty good idea, it was as far off as you could be in the store. What I noticed is that with all of the ones I looked at, I don't think I could read any farther with any one over the other, not really. Sometimes one would look better than the other, then on second glance, it would switch.

What was different was the apparent brightness. The white paper 'popped' better with some over others, and the room seemed a little' brighter. So I assume, in lieu of actual low light testing, the brightest one is the one to choose. Under those conditions, three or four of us all thought the Monarch 5's were the brightest of the ones we tested in that price range.

I wish they had some Minox and Meopro's there, or those Super Slams. That would have been nice to try for comparison's sake.

Which Monarchs were these?

Vanguard Endeavor ED would be my pick.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...odsysAfQ&is=USA&Q=&A=details

Skane,

Thanks for the response, are there any stores that you know of that carry this brand? I would like to have a look through for comparison.