binocular reviews

Rick L

Rick L

Well-known member
Does anyone have a link for trusted reviews of binoculars? when i do a search there are 100s of sites that look more like advertising than objective reviews

i am not always kind to gear- so looking to stay in the 200- 250 range give or take a little. I used the ghillie's swarovskis in Scotland - wow- but really - in a canoe in a marsh - umm -no

I know Nikon and Leupold have some in that range but it seems like there are several new names out there since i last looked, names like Vortex and Aplen seem to pop up and someone is making a new line for Cabelas.

certainly will to take advice from here - but reviews done with proper techniques such as resolution grids would be good
 
Specific review sites - can't help you much. Eagle optics used to have tons of information on selecting the proper optics for you. Here is their new site: https://www.eagleoptics.com/pages/technical-guide.

Since you are hard on gear the current manufacturers of Binoculars have you covered. Most have waterproof selections and lifetime guarantees for "anything" and anyone who ones them. The one I am most familiar with is Vortex - great products and no questions asked guarantee.

When I bought my 7x42 Swarovskis back in about '94-95 I went to a binocular store (happened to be a birder place) late in the day during a rainy, misty evening and tried out all they had. Nothing beats your own evaluation with your own eyes. As we get older our eyes can't take advantage of all that the new objective lenses have to offer but can still appreciate them.

My personal binoculars are that pair of Swarovskis and a pair of Vortex. I'll buy another pair of Vortex if I need to.
 
The Nov. 2016 issue of Field & Stream, has a Field Test for "affordable" full size binoculars. Priced from $839 to $180.
 
I have a pair of bushnell 10X42s that have been water proof and fog proof and taken a beating in the 4 years i have had them. They are like $140 and im very impressed with the quality to price comparrison. They aren't fantastic quality glass and but they are definitely good enough for duck ID and cheking things out in general.
 
Rick I all the ones I have had & used over the YRS. the last ones I bought were Swarworskies 10/40 considering they are the Mersadie of Field glases. in the Cabela's Bargain Cave a &1500.00 list & Bought them for $ 600.00 about 10 yrs, ago & have put them to rigorous use in my Hunting experiences & feel they are the best ones I have ever owned. Never had a problem & held up well. You might want to check it out there,
 
I'd second Vortex-I have a pair that are my main big game binos and I'm really happy with them. They also have a lifetime guarantee, can't beat that!
 
In the mid-priced range, I'll put in a plug for Nikon Monarch 10X42's. Waterproof, fog-proof, and have held up to years of knocking around in my truck, boats, and backpacks.
 
Over the years I've owned a lot of nice binoculars, my first good bino was a 7x35 Leitz Trinovid, since then I have owned, most I still have; 7x50 Fujinon MTRC, 8x42 Pentax DCF, 8x32 Nikon SE and 10x42 Nikon SE's, Leica 8x32 Trinovid BN, Leica 8x42 Ultravid HD, Leupold 6x30 Yosemite's and Swarovski 8.5x42 EL.
Of all those, three are my regular go-to binos; the 6x30 Yosemite's, 8x32 Nikon SE's and 8x42 Leica Ultravids. If you want to drive yourself crazy and learn a lot about alpha optics check out the birdforum.net site. Those guys are as crazy about optics as we are about duck boats. http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=112

I agree with the poster who said you need to try versus depending on someone else's review, all our eyes are different, even the shape of our face effects what we see. I have narrow, deep set eyes, I have good vision 20/12.5 and don't wear glasses. My hunting buddy also has good vision, no glasses, but shallow wide set eyes. For some people any amount of CA (color aberration) is a deal breaker, others don't even notice it. Same with the "rolling ball' effect of Swarovision field flatners.

To me the Leica view is an easy,sharp contrasty view with natural colors, others prefer Zeiss, Swaro or Nikon. Then there are the really good second tier binos from China Hawke and Zen Ray. Lots to choose from.
 
Last edited:
I'm with Phil, I have had the Steiner Military Marine bino's for 15 years, and for duck hunting and stuff on the boat, they work very well and can take some abuse. If I were big game hunting I would look at it differently, because you have the time and ability to glass long distances while bracing, so you can use the optical capabilities. I don't think you get that in a marine environment, and the auto focus serves you better.
 
Greg,

Are you saying the Steiners have auto focus in the marine binos? That alone would be great to have on a bouncing tender boat.
 
Yep. i used them years ago in the military. Loved them. Auto focus is great.
 
Cornell Lab of Ornithology has objective reviews. They have always been spot on in my evaluation.

Like other things, you get what you pay for. The more expensive binoculars will resist knock around use better and some have no-fault warranties to help ease your worries.
 
I'm partial to my Steiner Predators...I want to say 10 x 50 but I'd have to double check that. They have the auto focus as well, and have taken a real beating over the years. I'd buy them again.

Steve
 
I have a pair of 10x42 eagle optics they compare right next to nikon for price break i love mine ! Got them last christmas have not had a problem with them at all.
 
Last edited:
By auto-focus are you guys talking about an autofocus system like cameras use, an electro-mechanical devise that automatically twist the lens, or a medium-low powered binocular, with such a large depth of field that everything from 30 feet to infinity is already in focus?

I know Canon has an electro-mechanical image stabilization built into their 15 power binocs that gets rave reviews. For my boat I like my little 6x30 Leupold Yosemite's. They are water proof, already in focus 30 ' to infinity, pretty cheap at $100.00 and warranted for life. Duck boat conditions are too tough and dirty to take my $2,000 Leica's.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top