I have a pair of 10x42 Leupold cascade binoculars that i am done with. I bought them for a mule deer hunt in 2006 and have been relatively happy with in the 5yrs that i owned them

By relatively i mean i sent them back and am on my 3rd pair of them! having been repaired once and replaced the second time.I dont carry them in bubble wrap! i use them! case thrown away!

for $300 bucks, they are nice. Well amongst all the Vortex Hype (or not?) i will be trying a pair of Vortex Viper 10x42 HD that are 2x the price at $599

anybody have a pair? I am looking for input and yes i know Swarovski makes them for 1500 bucks and are better!

but being in the $600.00 budget range are they the best bang for the buck? pro's and cons?

rem06,

After comparing several at any price point I purchased the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8X43 for about $250. I prefer them to any of the Leupolds. You might give them a try before you buy something more expensive.

Talk to Doug at Cameraland. He will not steer you wrong!

Cameralandny has the Minox HG's for a great price($450??) and they are very good.

Like he said he uses them? What makes the Legends more durable then the Leupolds? I think the Viper is built better than either one! I use Swaro's and he already said he isn't spending that kind of money. Used look for GR HD'S, Meopta something like that. More durable in my opinion.

I have no idea about durability. Never gave that a thought. I wanted the best view I could get without going to the only one that looked better; which was the Swarovski with a price of $2400.

The chance of a Leupold or Bushnell binocular being more durable than the other is slim to none. If it was a scope I am convinced the Bushnell would be more durable.

I had the standard Legend bino's quite a few years ago, and for the money I thought they were pretty darn good. Bought a pair after reading a mini review by Barsness.

The binocular market is changing so fast that making any hard statements about what's "best" is a somewhat dubious enterprise.

One of the recent binoculars I've tried is a Kruger 10x50 that noticeably beats a highly regarded 10x42 Euro-glass that retails for $900. The Kruger retails for around $250. Before trying it the cheapest binocular that beat the same European binocular cost around $400.

The cheaper binoculars are also getting tougher by the year as well. Haven't beat the snot out of the Kruger yet, but have used some other $350 roof-prisms hard, and they've held together quite well.

Don't know how tough the Viper will be but the warranty and customer service is great.

Tough binos I can recommend with better optics then your cascade.

Leica trinovid BA or BN-used in your budget.

Look for a used or new Meopta Meostar B1 or Cabelas Euro as there is now a HD model and people will be upgrading/ selling theirs.

Brunton Epoch used

Zeiss Classic 10x40 second hand

The discontinued Leupold golden ring or golden ring HD.

Minox Japan HG series if you can find one and to a lesser extent (optically) the Minox BD BR series roof prism models-both discontinued but show up from time to time.

Or go for the gusto (what I would do in your position) save a little more and buy a pair of the late Swarovski SLC NEU 10x42 for around $1000, lightly used-best choice optically. Its worth the $.

The Viper is a better binocular than the Cascade, but I bet it won't last any better than the Cascade did. Thing is a binocular, even a fairly inexpensive one, is s precision instrument and specialized tool. If they are going to do their work in a reliable manner over a long period of time they have to be treated something like what they are. There is a reason they come with cases and lens covers (even the $2k models). I haul my binoculars around all over the place and use them a lot. But there is a line between using them and abusing them. Not saying you abuse stuff, but some care needs to be taken with a binocular. It ain't a crescent wrench.

Cameraland is the place to look...they have super prices on quality products...The Vortex Razors are a tad above your budget...but they are a great bin with super optics...the new Bushnell Legends HD are also another to look at...Minox may have something in your budget...I am at the moment looking for a spare pair of bins..my Razor 10-42s are great..but if my wife is along in the field..she won't give them back...her first time looking through them...she said...wow...these are nice...that they are....

to be more specific on product.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/vortex.pl?page=vortexviperhd10x42

I got away with a $300 pair for awhile and definately feel the need to bump up a bit. I would spend more but i would rather spend the extra USING them this fall on hunts we have planned.

so some feel Minox is better or tougher than these?
$600 is top dollar period, I cant see how a 250 pair of bushnells will even be better than the cascades? I been walking in every store i see looking for a pair of Leupold gold rings but just get funny looks.
"people want cheap" and show me their "shrink wraped" bushnells for $30-40 bucks! their top of the line

or it is the other way around with Swarovski,Leica Zeiss NOTHING "in between"

Keep watching Cameraland.....or call Doug & tell hime your

budget & what you want.....I like the looks of the Minox 13x56

So you aren't really looking for a better image but a tougher binocular ?
All I can tell you is that I haven't had a bincoular issue in a very long time. Min ride either around my neck, up as close as i can use them or in my pack, wrapped in spare clothing to both protect them and keep them warm. The box/bag, etc. stays in camp, but I always keep the oculars covered.
I'm kinda tough on my gear. I've busted three scope reticles, and gouged my rifles with falls, etc. so bad I finally decided the serious ones get painted metal and synthetic stocks.
I've got two Leupolds, a Yosemite and a Katmai, a Minox IF, a couple of Lecias and one Pentax SP. All of them work quite well w/o problems so far. The Pentax goes every where and gets carried all year except during the hunting season. E

That might be your answer. I actually looked through them side by side and purposefully chose the Bushnell.

Of late I prefer switch or dual power binoculars. I like about 7X for scanning and 12X or so to see stuff far away.

Link to Switch Power binocs.

Savage_99,

I'm sorta of the same mind.

I have Vortex Raptor 6.5X32, Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8X42, Minox 15X58 and lets not forget the Columbia Timberline 8X42 for loaning. Then there's the beloved Nikon Action Express 7-15X35.

If I was limited to one I would sell these and keep the Nikon 7-15X35.

If your looking for a tough durable binocular in the $600 range, look at Minox HGs or Meopta Meostars. Youll probably need to look at used to fit in your price range, but they can be found. I'd stay away from the Chinese made stuff if your looking for durability

almost had a pair of 10x40 zeiss conquest for $425! day late!

so far i have heard NO positives on the Vortex that i will see monday?

I'd buy a $250 Bushnell Legend HD before I'd buy any switch/zoom bino......except for the duovid of course.

I'm lucky. I have both!

We just had 2 days of heavy rain, don't look like i will be in the fields hunting groundhogs today.

Vipers will be on old for awhile till i sort this out. Mt wife and I took my parents out to "watch the eagles" and we saw 5! I sure wish i had those vortex to try!
and i certainly will be looking for Bushnell HD's to try and have been taking notes and will be looking in the preowned catagory, especially after seeing Zeiss 10x40's for $425! and will be looking for Meopta and Minox.

"Pair" of bins means you have 2! Binocular is already plural.

I like the Lieca 8x30s for all types of hunting. Lightweight, compact, and as durable as a precision optic can be. Don't drop them on rocks and they will last forever. Weight means a lot when you carry them on your neck all days for days at at a time. My hunting seasons start in late August and continue through December. That's a long time to get to know the weight hanging from your neck.

I did try on some of the new Razors, first class for the money. You definitely have to try on optics. My Swaros in 8x30 are almost equal to the Leicas, but don't fit my eyes. The wife uses them.

like putting on a pair of underwear or taking along a pair?

i am looking at Zeiss 10x30 now, so no real need to go 40 or 42?

My preference in 30 mm objectives is to go no higher than 8 power. Just my preference. Stop in to a good retailer and ask to try them out side by side outside. Most reputable outfits will be happy to do so. If they can't get you outside, look for the resolution chart on the back wall of the shop. If they don't have that, find a sign or something with sharp dark lines in the darkest corner and look closely at the resolution differences.

The most important part for me however is eye compatibility. What I mean is how well the view fits to your eye with minimal futzing. After looking through several bins you will get what I mean. It will become very obvious as to which one fits your eyes best.

I agree.

thats all good advice to think about, I prefer 10x over 8x as is my cascades and the physical size has not been a problem. I think i have a perfect place in mind to check out a few. This is a bit tougher than picking the right scope!

I second the recommendation for the Leupold 7x/12x switch power. The 7x seems to be a stellar performer. Another option is the Zen-RAY PRIME HD, which has some deals going on right now

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/prime-hd/prime-hd-1042.html

I used the Nikon "Action" 7-15x35's out hunting today that I just got along with the Leu. 7-12x32's Switch Power binoculars that I have had this year.

The Nikons are clumsy and big as compared to the neat and easy to use Leu Switch Powers. The Leu's even have a better view at either 7x or 12x than the thick and heavy Nikons.

I was going to send the Nikons back but they are not expensive. I will leave them in a second car or whatever.

The main problem with these sweet Leu. Switch Powers is that they are so expensive! I got mine at 1/2 price (lol) and still paid about $500.

There may be some other switch power out there for under $500?

Just curious why you'd recommend something you've never seen (Prime's)?

You are not alone.

I have the Viper 8X32 HD's - Very nice. Excellent view, good flare control and built like a brick. Solid, excellent focus wheel and locking diopter, warrentee as good as it gets. Lots of features in a $500 bino. Good as Swaros - not quite but you need to have the Swaros in hand to compare, even then you really have to look for the differences (mainly flare control) but it's pretty easy to see the difference at the cash register.

I did that today, 10x42 Bushnell HD side by side with my Leupolds and no way were they better, equall to maybe but my Leupolds were more comfortalbe and easier to use the diopter and focus.



i got rained out and wasnt able to get my hands on the Viper HD!!! bummed out bad!

i DID play with Leica 10x42 HD, now thats an upgrade for @2k !

headed to another high end spot friday to check out more

RESULTS:

well, after 2hrs at lost creek shoe shop and an hour at Cabelas after that. They are on their way and will be here Tuesday.

Euro optics

I did not like the Zeiss Diopter adjust and did not see the new designed HD. The Meopta 10x42 for $999 were way too heavy. I was stuck on 10x42 but ALOT of people recomended 8x30's
and when I saw those 8X30's i was instantly sold on them!

thx to all

rem:

Finish the story, what binocular did you end up liking?
I can't tell from here.

Jerry

Jerry, if you click the link it takes you to a Swarovski CL Compnion 8x30.

Thanks, I missed that. That is a good binocular, I sure like mine.

love at first sight