What Optics to Buy?

Any optics going on sale black friday that people are watching? I need a spoting scope and some binocs. What should I get that isn't overly $$$$?

My uses?
1) Set them up in the kitchen and look at stuff in the back field. Judging Deer etc.
2) Have them in the truck while looking for coyotes.
3) Take them on a dream hunt of some kind that probably wont ever actually happen.

Tips? Suggestions? Deals coming up? Thanks.

Not sure of any deals coming up OB, but I love my Vortex Binoc's and scopes. Great products and a great warranty, hope ya find a good deal. Oh and, if ya get Vortex binoc's don't go through a briar patch without having them in a case. You will loose the bottom lens covers, I would never do something so stupid I heard that from a friend.

Yep..It will always end up at what you can afford..hope this helps

lol.

I was looking at Vortex stuff. Thats what they guy on Meateater uses on all those episodes and there seems to be quit a bit of it on Amazon. Not sure whats good and bad though thats why I was asking. If your works thats another vote in that directions though.

Like Leupold binocs are on sale at cableas. Are they junk?

https://www.cabelas.com/product/bar...eupold-american-mar/2948612.uts?slotId=0

Yep..I glass off tripods..One thing I personally require is a clear crisp image all the way across my field of view. In other words edge to edge..The other is that I get no headaches from long periods of viewing..Maybe Vortex has those models of refined glass I don't know..I do use their rangefinder..And it works fine for what I do..

So what kind do you have then Chamacat? Let the cat out of the bag already. lol.

Yep..Just had a thought..there is a place called "CamerlandNY"..they go out to the shot shows in Las Vegas,Nevada..many times they will sell what optics they can get from the show for a greatly reduced price from retail..It's a demo price.That will also include a warranty..

They are sorted by brand... thats kinda my question.

I've been pretty impressed by Vortex stuff...even some of their cheaper stuff. My only suggestion is buy the best you can afford.

Yep..I think "Meopta" makes optics for Cabelas..They have a good review..Steiner optics are from Germany I believe..Those brands are not low end or high end..I haven't ever viewed through them..They are certainly less than the top three..Lecia-Swaro-Zeiss..(Not In That Order)....Oh one other model a personal friend uses is the "Kales"..I think they are in the middle..I did like those but didn't have them on a tripod..

I get to buy the best I can afford. The most expensive stuff isn't necessarily the best though. There are $600 and $200 Vortex stuff. Thats why I'm asking...

I don't have a set amount of money set aside. I'm looking to buy myself a Xmas gift to give the wife to give to me...

I don't need the NASA model for $5,000 and I don't need to buy the $50 Walmart set either. I'm looking for advice from the average people on here what they have and what works for them so I know where to start at.

Can I buy a set and get a tripod for less than a $1,000? Is the next step up in quality only $200 more? Or is there a $500 set out there? Or am I being silly and need to spend $1,000 each on them? I'd find that hard to believe. I know they are out there but I'm talking about real trapperman people out there walking through briar patches with them like my buddy Catch22 up there.

Thats all. Any input?

Yeah Cameraland has great deals, I bought a Zeiss scope after shot show, it was a display, it was mint, full warranty and I bought a brand new pair of Swaro's from him also.

Zeis huh?

So the 8x42's for $400 is top of the line?

https://www.amazon.com/Zeiss-Terra-...s%2Bbino%2Caps%2C322&sr=8-3&th=1

Yep..With all that said...I would look hard at "Craigslist"...that would be after I decided what I wanted...I would think you could get the deal your looking for there..People buy optics and they just sit non used so to speak..If Vortex is your choice.What's nice is their warranty stays with their optics no matter how many owners they have...

Yep..The "Terra" model is their entry line model..All brands have entry level and up to fit everyone's buget..

The Cabela stores here let you take them outside to try. They also have an optometrists eye chart mounted up hi somewhere across the inside the store from the binocs counter to focus in on. I bought a couple years ago using the in store chart and trying nearly everything in the case. I felt the dim light in the store would show me more in the optic performance than outside, I feel I was right.
Being able to buy any they had, I was happiest with what I saw thru the Nikons. Not the most expensive. I still am happy with the choice.
Point is go look for yourself.

Osky

I have looked at a pair of vortex 8x42, and 10x42. Just the base models, I believe they were 140 to 180 dollars. They are very clear and crisp and comparable to set of Minox that I have that I paid 400 for. I have had my Minox for about 10 years now and they have been a very nice set of binos. I have wanted to get a new pair for the last few months and would not hesitate to get some Vortex.

American made rifle scopes such as Leopold.

If you have the money European spotting scopes.

And for binos if you can afford it, European, or if you want something a little more affordable try something like Nikons.

ill give my vote to Vortex. wife has 10x42 and i have 10x50, we both love em.
havent used their warranty yet but from a few ive talked to its hard to beat.

Highpoint Scientific has a sale that might end today. They had Vortex Viper HD 10x42 for around $315 with the discount code BINOCULAR30 .

Thanks Waggler. I hoping to hear from one of you guys. I just ordered some Vortex to try first. If they don't cut the mustard I'll send them back and try that route.

I got a deal on some scratch and dent vortex. Im going to check these out.

I can send them back if I don't like them easy enough.

Talk to Doug at Cameraland. Great company and you can get some good deals there. I bought a set of Liecas from him this spring. As a guide I see a lot of binoculars, and personally I would stay away from Vortex. At least the cheaper models. I can tell you from experience that just because you see some TV host using them on TV, that doesn't mean he likes them or even uses them when the cameras not rolling. All it means is that they sponsor his show.

I had a hunter this fall with a set of Tract 10x42 binos. I had never heard of them before but was impressed by their clarity. He said they are very reasonably priced.They certainly were not in the class of the big three like Lieca, swavorski, or ziess, but I think they would be worth a look.

Thanks yukon I'll check them out next.

I’ve used leupold, Nikon and Vortex. Have had no major complaints with any of them. Had a vortex scope that dogged on me. They replaced it quickly. Nikon binoculars had a broken eye piece. They replaced it but it took a good while. But they did upgrade it fairly heavily so...

As rifle scopes go, I prefer leupold but Vortex is a very close second. For binoculars and spotting scopes, I lean on Vortex. I find them to be clearer than the others I’ve used and the best bang for my buck so-to-speak.

one word.

ZEISS !!!

w

I have a pair of Steiner predator pro 10x42 binoculars that I really like and I take them everywhere, they get beat up because they are always in my truck, lunch box, hunting pack or they are around my neck. I bought the steiners because with a good rest I can count tines on a buck across a section. I know that there are better out there but you can make binos better by just using a tripod or window mount panhead to stabilize them. I am also getting into spotting scopes and bought a Vortex Diamonback 20-60x80. so far it does what I want it to do, what I have learned is a good tripod and panhead will be much more expensive then the spotting scope. I am still trying to figure out what direction I am giong with that. I will add that when you buy an optic make sure the company will fix them when you have a problem, both steiner and vortex do just that. I have also seen some good binos on the trap shed too.

There are some really big differences in the various lines even among the name brands. Just buying a "European" brand doesn't mean you're getting Euro optics, just a Euro nameplate. A great example is Zeiss "low end" stuff: German company using Japanese glass and building in USA. That is not to say they are bad products, just the name doesn't tell the whole story of manufacture as in many other things. I don't know if it is still the case, but some of Zeiss optics were built by Meopta as of a couple years ago. SOME of Cabelas stuff has been rebranded Meopta products, but they are easy to spot. Cabelas does not try to hide or disguise their Meopta-made stuff. Nikon sources some of their stuff from all over Asia, it is not necessarily Nikon-Japan.
Also remember that your eyes play a part regardless of other people's opinions of the particular optic.
As someone already mentioned, eye fatigue is a real concern if you are going to use them for long periods rather than a glance from time to time. I look through Zeiss lenses sometimes for hours at a time with my work. Meopta and Steiner also look really good to my eyes, but I also have/had other brands.
Another thing to consider is warranty/service. Some of the lesser known companies in particular have real difficulties in this area. While the failure rate is low, it won't make you feel any better if you're the unlucky owner and the company is between importers
Just my thoughts.

Check out Maven binoculars, I just bought one a couple weeks ago.

https://mavenbuilt.com/