Re: Binoc preference
[Re: bearcat2]
#8005787
11/28/23 08:24 AM
11/28/23 08:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,395 Northern MN
Osky
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,395
Northern MN
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I've got a pair of Steiner Nighthunters that I love when I'm guiding. Not so much when I am hunting myself. They are awesome binoculars and gather a tremendous amount of light, they are just very bulky and heavy. Also they haven't been made for quite a long time. The wife has a pair of Zeiss, she had eye surgery when she was a kid, and while her vision is 20/20 she has issues using a lot of optics. The Zeiss she picked out as being the best for her eyes in the store. Very clear glass, but I was quite disappointed with their performance in low light, they just don't gather light. If I was buying new, and had the money to spend I would buy Vortex Razors, they are super clear and gather just almost as much light as my Steiners, and are much more compact and half the weight.
Out of your choices, well I've always been a huge Leupold fan in scopes, but some of their binoculars don't look that good when I look through them. The Vortex Diamondbacks are good for the money, clearer and gather more light than most any other binos in their price range I have tried. Both Leupold and Vortex have an excellent warranty and no hassle customer service. I know a lot of guys with the Diamondbacks, and I will note that most of the guides I know with them have used the warranty and had them replaced at some point. They get used a lot and beat around, treated rough when guiding and eventually they go bad, but Vortex has always replaced them with no hassle. I've not known anyone to have any issues with their high end Razor line, but I would steer clear of their Viper line, IMHO there just isn't enough quality difference between it and the Diamondbacks to justify the price difference, and I have known guys to have to send some of the Viper products back (scopes and spotting scopes) if I was going to spend the extra money I would recommend going ahead and stepping on up to the Razors.
Swarvorski are also very clear, but very spendy. I've only used and looked through Swarvorskis that clients had, so I can't comment on their durability or customer service. They are good, I'm just not sure they are as good as their price tag.
Look through as many as you can in your price range and choose the ones that look best to your eyes. Unfortunately you can't really test light gathering capabilities in the store. Interesting your observation on the Zeiss. I bought a couple of their scopes of late and the first real test was on .243 the young lady was using for the western mule deer hunt I posted. During low light early morning and dusk periods I was not impressed at all with the Zeiss. In better light the scopes are terrific. The objective end is 44mm, I expected more. My Nikons are better in low light. Osky
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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Re: Binoc preference
[Re: charles]
#8005855
11/28/23 09:48 AM
11/28/23 09:48 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,913 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,913
Green County Wisconsin
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I almost feel like the recommendation needs to come with a typical use
just because I think east vs west use their binos very differently
just in distance east is likely under a mile more likely distinguishing something at 1/8th to 3/4 mile seeing to the fence row
America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
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Re: Binoc preference
[Re: gman]
#8005909
11/28/23 11:01 AM
11/28/23 11:01 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,086 SE Kansas
K52
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,086
SE Kansas
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Image Stabilizing is the only way to go. I have Fujicon. Once you try them you will never have the standard binocs. One year at the Nationals at Camp Perry I was friends with a shooter on the Marine shooting team. He leant me the Bino's he used coaching the Marines rattle battle team. I used them coaching our rattle battle team and I had never seen anything like those Image Stabilizing binos. They were absolutely incredible, can't imagine what they cost, but moving up and down the line I had rock solid image at 600 yards.
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Re: Binoc preference
[Re: charles]
#8005975
11/28/23 01:03 PM
11/28/23 01:03 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150 Tennessee
Scuba1
"color blind Kraut"
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"color blind Kraut"
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
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At work I use seiners but on land I prefer my Vortex DB as they are a lot lighter and way more compact
Let's go Brandon
"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
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Re: Binoc preference
[Re: gman]
#8006059
11/28/23 03:34 PM
11/28/23 03:34 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,722 pa
hippie
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,722
pa
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Image Stabilizing is the only way to go. I have Fujicon. Once you try them you will never have the standard binocs. My next pair will have this or I'm not buying another pair!
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Re: Binoc preference
[Re: GREENCOUNTYPETE]
#8006161
11/28/23 06:05 PM
11/28/23 06:05 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 11,204 SW Georgia
Wanna Be
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 11,204
SW Georgia
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I almost feel like the recommendation needs to come with a typical use
just because I think east vs west use their binos very differently
just in distance east is likely under a mile more likely distinguishing something at 1/8th to 3/4 mile seeing to the fence row
Good point. Actually an excellent point. I don’t use mine for anything long distance, just trying to see if a buck coming in is worth grabbing the bow. And I use them for identifying gobblers or jakes. Out West y’all are looking farther than I can see.
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