Binoculars

[Tiger955i]

Hi all

 

I have decided to treat myself to a new set of binoculars. I have £300.00 - £350.00 to spend and will probably wait for the sales to come around.

 

They will be used for shooting and hill walking etc so I will be looking for a waterproof pair.

 

Would you recommend 8x42 or 10x42?

 

What manufacturers have you used? I know someone who uses a pair of Bushnell Legend and swears by them but I know the likes of Hawke do some nice waterproof ones as well.

 

Any thought and opinions most welcome.

 

ATB.

 

Jamie

[seeker]

have a look at some of the Birdwatcher sites ... They seem the most fussy about reviews .. though not always the lowest prices.

 

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/explore/optics/8x42-mid-priced-binoculars-roundup.php

I carry 8x32s ... more easily pocketable, but wouldn't be unhappy with 8 or 10s in 32 or 42 .... see what suits

[Dunkield]

Have a look through as many as you can, and don't rule out second hand good against new not so good.

I paid about that for a second hand pair of Zeiss BGAT's I have looked to replace them on a number of occasions and realised I would need to spend over £1000 to improve on what I have, so have stuck with them.

 

Worth keeping an eye (boom boom) on:

 

http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Secondhand-Search/?Order=Price&View=Grid&SHMake=&SHModel=&SHType=Binoculars&Location=&Results=100

[Tiger955i]

Hi Guys.

 

Many thanks for the information and likns. Very interesting as I had not thought of second hand high end brands.

 

 

Top site P.W. :-)

 

ATB

 

Jamie

[Gimlet]

I'm saving up for a pair of S/H Swarovski. I'm not a Swaro officianado but the 8X42 / 7.5X42 models that were superceded by the swarovision are going from £750. Buy a mint pair and with the Swarovski lifetime guarantee you've effectively got a new pair of top end bins for half price.

I bought a pair of Steiner Ranger 8 X 42 for £400. Excellent glass for the money but the eye caps have broken. They have a 3 year warranty but Swarovski are for life and that's worth paying for, so that's the end of mid range stuff for me. Its cut my losses time and buy the best.

 

For target aquisition and light gathering I'd go 8 X 42 for shooting. If they were purely wildlife glasses to be used in daylight I'd have the 10 X 42.

[moor man]

8 x 42 for low light, 10 x 42 for mainly daytime use, if weight is more important go 8 or 10 x 32, £220-£250 for new Hawke frontier ED, very good reviews, I can vouch for these;

 

http://www.fishingme...frontier-ed.jpg

 

http://www.deben.com..._8x36_Green.jpg

 

Alternatively second hand leica, zeiss or swarovski, £400 ono should get you a pair.

Go to a Alpha bino stockist and try some top of the range glass then at least you will have a benchmark, cheers MM.

[Loki]

Hiya

 

Minox would be worth including in the 'better glass' binos - lifetime warranty and likely to be around that price for their top end (HG?) range.

 

L

[Rupert]

Steiners

[bullet boy]

I have the Leupold Cascades 8X42 and for around £250 they are superb IMO and good quality clear glass!

[camokid]

i have a set of burris Montana 10x42 there a smart bit of kit and there around £220