Hunting Binos

onstep · 08-20-2003, 04:09 PM

I have been shopping for set of new hunting binos for the up coming season. What are you guys using and recommending? I have looked are at the Kahles 10 X 42 real hard and have been impressed considering the price. Does anybody have any expierance with Kahles? Thanks in advance..

niceshot · 08-20-2003, 04:43 PM

This is what i know.
What kind of hunting, steep terrain= unstable hands and 10X is hard to hold still. 42 is the least you want to go with.
I looked at the Khales, Swarovski, and Leica and decided to go with Pentax 8X43. Very good glass and 600 bucks t my door including a binostrap. I got them at Bearbasin outfitters and those guys will shoot you straight. They told me to go with the Pentax instead of the Kahles. THey said they are better for what i want and just better all around. Their not out to make lots of money since they saved me 150 bucks. Look them up on the web and their prices are hard to beat. Minox is anouther good brand for the $$$, same glass in the Lecia's.
Good luck,
Mike

TheRogue · 08-20-2003, 05:11 PM

Which Pentax did you get??

These are on clearance at Cabelas...

BTW, I have 8x42 Fujinons. Premium glass, fully phase coated, waterproof, etc., around $600 bucks, got mine on blowout clearance for $210 at Camera World last year.

TR

[ 08-20-2003, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: TheRogue ]

08-20-2003, 05:20 PM

I have the nikon monarch atb and lepold wind rivers. Have never had a fog problem with them. Both have great low light clarity

Timber · 08-20-2003, 07:51 PM

For the price range your in I would go the extra $400 and look at the Ziess victory's your choice 8x40 or 10x40's I've got the latter and could not live without them at 28 ounces you don't notice them at the end of the day.And if you figure the price out by the day for the rest of your life it's only pennies a day. good luck

glowball · 08-20-2003, 08:16 PM

I have a pair of 8x40 fujinons and love them. I wouldn't go with any more power than that. I've been thinking about getting some elites with the rainguard. Nothing more useless than fogged up glasses.

Flatfish · 08-20-2003, 09:53 PM

Kahles is nice glass. Make real sure the are waterproof.Not everything from Europe is( scope caps removed from a 899 dollar German and it fogged up it 10 minutes).

If you are gonna carry them long and hard, swarvoski 8x30s are real nice. the Bausch and Lomb elites in 8x42s are a bit heavier, but wonderful glass too.

Mark and the dog.

Bait O' Eggs · 08-21-2003, 06:37 AM

I pack my Swarovski's 10x50 SLC's everywhere, even bow hunting. They are heavy but I want to see what I am looking at, and to me nothing is as clear as Swarovskis. I wish I had about 12 power, 10 is minimum and 15 is too much on cold days to hold steady. 8 power is not enough in my opinion. My ideal glass (not made) would be 12x 60 with Swarovski glass, and weigh about 2 lbs or less.

For budget concious Leupold 10x42's are pretty good. 10x50's are better. Some people shake all the time, if your hands are not steady I guess lower power would be better.

Quality of glass to buy depends on how you hunt. If you are going to sit in a tree stand and you can only see 100 yards just about anything will do. If you spot for miles, then stalk, quality glass really makes a difference in how much time you spend stalking. :grin: (Cant hunt them, if you dont find them

)

If it isnt waterproof, why spend any money?

[ 08-21-2003, 07:42 AM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

niceshot · 08-21-2003, 07:17 AM

The Pentax i went with are the 8x43 DCF SP. These are not in cabelas. One thing on the Zeiss, I was told that their field of view is not all that good. By this i mean if you pull up the binos you have to really focus them to get that great picture they offer while most binos when pulled up you can see ehat you want and then focus to get it real clear. I do not think that makes since but give the guys a bear basin outfitters a call, this is what they told me. They told me that zeiss are great binos if your bird watching or something like that. If you have the $$$$$$ go Lecia or Sworovski.

onstep · 08-21-2003, 08:18 AM

The Pentax's have been the real crux in trying to decide on glass. Who locally carries them besides the Gun Room? I want a normal shopping expierance not some rant or canned opinion. Every review I have read has been very impressed with the Pentax and quality of optic. They are water proof and come in the 10X configuration I like. Is the Kahles stuff waterproof?

outdoor.spec.ops · 08-21-2003, 01:09 PM

I have a pair of Swift Binos that I pick up in a trade show about 4 years ago. They are very tough, and waterproof. They even withstood a trip off of a moving truck onto the roadway, unscathed. I think the dealer said Pentax is the parent company of Swift. Either way, they have been very good to me. I also have some Redfields, which were made prior to the company going overseas, very good glasses. Finally, the Leopolds I have are always dependable, both on not fogging, but waranty.