another vote for Nikon 8 x 42

just a solid compromise between price, quality, size, etc

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7...302&s=gateway&sr=8-3

research the F+Bs of the 5 line vs. 7 line and the change in cost

not the absolute best - but I also like that at the price i would not kick myself too hard if they were damaged

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Steiner is German for Tasco.

My Dad and I both have Vortex binoculars, from what they now call the Diamondback Classic line - his are 10x50, mine 8x42. Buth have performed very well for us, mostly in boating and bird watching capacities. We're not using them for hunting at 1000yds...

Bang for the buck: Nikon Monarch
I also have a pair of Vortex binos that are excellent for the $$$.

Vortex Viper Hd.
Lifetime warranty is a plus with Vortex glass. I am very pleased with these. 8X42 has worked very well for me. Mostly birdwatching and generally enjoying this beautiful world.

quote:

Google Cameraland New York and call and ask for Doug. He'll treat you right and give great advice.

This is good advice.

Look at Maven.
Very good optics--I have the bino's and a scope.
They have a demo program for hands on.
Quality-no middleman.
https://mavenbuilt.com/

Redfield for me. Extremely clear and bright. The prices are far more reasonable than most. $125 range. It’s a Leupold company.

I have two Steiners, the 10x50 and the 8x42's. Love them both, the smaller pair is a lot handier in some situations.

You used to be able to get very nice Carl Zeiss Jena 7x40 dirt cheap, they were surplused East German border guard issue. Just looked them up online and they're going for insane prices now. Love mine, though.

Another vote for Maven. Very happy with mine. Excellent in low light. I'm thinking of picking up one of their compacts for a second pair

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/5250073544

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/6230093424/p/1

This subject has been discussed many times over the years. Two threads are shown above. My recollection from reading them is

Vortex = good to great glass, excellent CS
Monarch = good to great value
Leupold = variable glass quality, depending on choice
Steiner = good to great glass, depending on model chosen, with some questioning the light transmission on the non-focusing always in focus models
Swarovski = all you can ever hope for, but lottery ticket pricing

I put myself through college selling cameras (back in the 70s when everyone had to have a single lens reflex camera) and binoculars. If I had a serious buyer I'd take them outside. There was a 4 story building a few blocks away. I'd have them look at the mortar line.

We'd start with the lower end binoculars. Then move to the mid line. Now they could see some crispness along the edge of the mortar line. As we moved the top of the line (we had Leica and Zeiss) they could see the flaws within the mortar.

I'm not advocating Leica or Zeiss - I have no idea what to buy these days. But get somewhere where you can look out more than 30 yards and find something where you can actually compare the sharpness of the lenses. I was at Cabellas one day and my buddy looked at binoculars. I had him look across the store and look at the hair on the stuffed animals on the wall. That allowed him to compare the sharpness of the binoculars. I told him to look for split ends on the hairs LOL.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Redfield for me. Extremely clear and bright. The prices are far more reasonable than most. $125 range. It’s a Leupold company.

The same can be said about Redfield scopes. All of the Redfield line also has the same lifetime warranty as Leupold. I have 2 of their scopes and they are great for the cost.

Jim

All but the top of the line leupold are made in China. I have a pair of BX-3 Mojave leupold 10x 42 made in Japan and have been very happy with them.

Most of my binos are rather old. The one thing I have learned is that when new and little used, most are great. Like camera lenses, modern technology produces a better product at lower costs. I have a pair of expensive Baush & Lomb binos with a "Life Time Warranty". They are in need of repair, but the company does not exist and the buyout corporation does not honor the warranty! I have several pairs of Nikons and they serve me very well. Consider ALL optical stuff as disposable, but "it's your money"!

I like leupold scopes for hunting but I’ve never been thrilled with their binoculars. I went all in with Swarovski stuff, spotting scope, binoculars and a few rifle scopes and don’t regret it. I hunt dall sheep and mountain goat so in my opinion good glass is a must.

After using the good stuff, other mid range stuff just isn’t interesting anymore. I have a pair of vortex viper HD 10x42s which are actually a pretty solid value for the $$$ but I wouldn’t probably spend the money on razor binos.

Consider a pair of Image Stabilization binos. Sometimes its better to get a pretty clear view of what you’re looking at than see something that’s clearer but hard to appreciate because it’s all over the place. I have some nice binoculars but for a lot of stuff the IS feature is handier than ultimate resoluton quality. My trusty old Canon 10x30 still work great and I got them when they first came out so they’re ancient. The battery compartment door is now duct taped closed but that just adds character.

And another vote for Maven. You may not know the name outside of this thread, but seriously, they're good.
I saw a review of them a couple of years back. I decided at that point that I would try a pair. I couldn't be happier. You won't either.

Maven has some interesting stuff. If I remember correctly, their cheaper set which was ~325.00 held its own with stuff costing 2x as much.

After reading this thread earlier, I went and looked through my vortex viper HDs and was actually pleasantly surprised. After using Swarovski stuff for so long I figured I wouldn’t like the vortex any longer but I think out of the vortex line, the viper HD 10x42 is sort of a gem.

I have the Fujinon 7x50 Polaris. They are pricey and a little heavy but they are awesome binoculars.
I have the rubber armored ones with the compass. They are indispensable for me when operating the boat.
I bought them in 1989 I believe and had them sent to me where I was in Nantucket. My employer at the time asked me what I got and I showed them to him. He asked if I didn't like the Steiners that were on the boat. I replied that I did but I liked the Fujinons better. I said I would show him that night. as he was on his way to bed I asked him to come out on deck.
I asked him to look out at the mooring field in the harbor through the Steiners and then the Fujinons. He had one in each hand and was alternating between the two. He was quickly spending more time with the Fujinons and finally set the Steiners down. He asked how much they were and when I told him he said to get two pair, one for the boat and one to give the Dockmaster at the boat basin,
These things are awesome at night. My wife at the time was using them to spot longliner bouy poles at 2 in the morning as we were going into Vineyard sound headed to Nantucket the next year.