Binos

[bighit1985]

Hi all.

Just starting out stalking. Been out with a friend of mine a quite a few times now. Been using his rifle and he does the spotting with his Binos and I just follow and take the shot when told to. But now I'm getting my own rifle hopefully for deer and want to be able to go to my own high seat and so need a pair of Binos myself. My friend is using Swarovski 10x50. They are really good. But are they the best??? What features should I be looking for in a pair?? What is the differences between the different models of Swarovski's el scl etc

[felly100]

Quite simply,they are stunning.

Are they the best?

They must be close.

[scolopax]

The classic 8.5 x 42 EL is hard to beat.

 

Any of the big three including zeiss and leica are going to be excellent, it then comes down to personal preference or who has the best deal at the time. But do not discount the mid price brands, Minox etc etc etc, they will do the job in 99% of cases just as good as the premium makes.

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

For many years I used to use a pair of Swaro 10 x 42 EL, and performance wise they are possibly the best available as an all round tool.

 

I then had a trapped sciatic nerve, and found that I needed to reduce the weight that I was carrying, so bought a pair of Swaro 8 x 32 EL's. Testing the two pairs side by side I discovered that there was virtually no difference in the light gathering performance at dusk. I have a stalking buddy who had lusted after the 10 x 42's for years. and so he bought them off me.

 

So, all I can say is that probably there is naff all difference in light gathering capabilities between the 8 x 32, 8.5 x 50 and 10 x 42 Swaros. It all depends on what magnification you are after. Clarity is outstanding, and they are probably the best available. Possibly....

 

In the past I have had Swaro, Zeiss and Schmidt scopes, and again I would say that at this end of the price spectrum there is probably little difference in performance.

 

However, I would add that there is a certain amount of pride in saying that I have the best available, and they are Swaro's......

 

It all depends on your budget.

[bighit1985]

What's the difference between the el and scl anyone know??

In 10 years I haven't used a binocular to beat the EL's.

 

I no longer own a set though and now use Leica HD-B for serious stuff and a set of Minox for everyday carry, fantastic at approx £200 RRP

How do the Leica compare to the ELs??? Edited April 4, 2016 by bighit1985

[Dunkield]

I have Zeiss 8x42's for stalking but I am now looking for something smaller to have in my pocket when just out walking.

Are the Minox compacts worth looking at?

I have only heard good things about them so far so I have assumed they are

[sako751sg]

I have Zeiss 8x42's for stalking but I am now looking for something smaller to have in my pocket when just out walking.

Are the Minox compacts worth looking at?

I have only heard good things about them so far so I have assumed they are

 

Mac uses the Minox and decent enough for money but again the downside with the cheaper optics are in low light and comparing to the Swarovski ELs is chalk and cheese as it should be considering the price difference.

Every day use the Minox should be ok though.

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

I have a pair of Swaro 8 x 25 compacts, and their performance (as compacts) is stunning compared to others that I have had. They fold, and will fit in your pocket.

 

Unfortunately you do get what you pay for....

[Dunkield]

Thanks folks. I am not looking for absolute top notch optics and their use will be normal light only, not dusk/dawn like the big ones.

I don't carry a bag when walking so something that will fit in trouser pockets would be perfect.

I have some very compact ones, but they were 30 quid from memory so you can imagine what they are like...

Something around the 1-200 pound mark new would be fine.

[fruitloop]

i have some meopta binos

[Bewsher500]

lot of balls discussed when it comes to optics

its a BMW, Mercedes Audi comparison

 

more brand allegiance than function over form when you are up around the top marques

everyone has their favourite and they rarely change

 

I wouldn't suggest anyone spends £2k on their first pair of binos until they have learned to use, dropped and lost a cheaper pair

I started off with a pair of massive charity shop Zeiss 10x50s ina big brown leather case

since then I got a pair of 1980s Leicas, a pair of 1990 Zeiss both on german eBay for under £200

had some Minox, some Meopta

 

just literally chopped in my Leica CRF and Trinovids for a pair of the new Geovid HD-Bs

[JohnfromUK]

There are some important things here:

The 10 X 50 figures mean 10 times magnification with a 50mm objective (front) lens. This combination gives an exit pupil size of 50 divided by 10, equals 5mm. This is important because it is the measure that determines the low light performance (and has a major bearing on cost and weight).

 

5 or 6 mm exit pupil size is good for low light - but as one gets older, the ability of your pupil to open right up decreases and you wont benefit from a bigger exit pupil.

 

8 x 56 are extreme low light binos (7 mm exit pupil), but not not everyone will benefit from them - and they are heavy and expensive.

8 x 50 and 10 x 50 are also low light, and are heavy and expensive.

8 x 42, 8 x 40, 10 x 42 etc are good all rounders, and pretty good in low light

8 x 32, 10 x 32 etc are also good all rounders, lighter (on the hand and pocket) but good in most lights, but not at their best in low light

8 x 20 and 10 x 20 are great in good light, but can be a little harder to use as the field of view is getting a little small. They aren't good in low light.

 

If you are a glasses wearer, you need a long (say 15mm minimum) eye relief, or you may have to remove your glasses to see the full field of view.

 

Personally I prefer 8 x to 10 x - but its a matter of personal preference.

 

On makes, Leica, Swarovski & Zeiss sit at the top - in quality and price. I don't believe there is much other than personal preference between them. Lesser names (Minox, Swift, Nikon etc) are mostly pretty good. Make sure they are robust and water resistant.

 

I started with a pair of second hand Leica 10 x 40s - second hand can be very good value.

 

My choice now would be 8 x 32 for a good light all rounder, or 8 x 42 only if I needed some lower light capability.

Edited April 4, 2016 by JohnfromUK

[ChrisPCarter]

Take a look at the Hawke Frontier ED or Sapphire ED range, they are superb and get compared to a lot of top end stuff.

http://www.hawkeoptics.co.uk/binoculars.html

 

I bought a pair of 8x43 for £250 with a bit of shopping around.

http://www.hawkeoptics.co.uk/frontier-8x43-binocular-green.html

Mainly for bird watching but they come with me shooting too.

[Lord Geordie]

I bought a belting pair of binos in a charity shop last year! Optisan Napolean they are! 8x40 field 6.5

 

Before these I had a pair of pocket binos again 8x mag and they were brilliant! Or they were until the optisan blew me away. The clarity and the light they can pull in is awesome! Cost me a tenner A friend of mine had Swaro's and too a look through mine! Even he was amazed for the money. The pocket ones are in a field bag for pigeon days, and the optisans are in the gunroom. I never believed in the whole pay more malarkey, but these changed my opinion!

[ChrisAsh]

I always keep a Opticron DBA Oaise monocular in the car at all times along with the 2 x magnifier as a simple attachment great light levels and the magnifier is very occasionally handy for more detail 20 x 42 instead of 10x42, main unit clips to belt of fits in pocket and both come with handy strong cases

 

Monocular's are not for everyone but do give good results and take up little space

[Dunkield]

That's another good suggestion.

 

I carried my rangefinder around for a while, but as it is a decent one I soon stopped that.

Ultimately I will need to see anything before buying so I may have to bite the bullet and go to a game fair.

 

I need also need to stop looking at these

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zeiss-522073-0000-000-Conquest-Compact-8x20/dp/B001H318LE

[Pheasant Feeder]

I have a pair of Zeiss Conquest 10x42 HD and they are superb. I think there is very little between Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica so my advice would be to look through as many pairs as you can, don't just look onto the distant hillside, look at the details in the shadows at closer range typical to woodland stalking.

The Zeiss Victory all singing all dancing top of the range will be excellent just like the Swaros and Leica but as a recreational stalker I can't justify paying circa £2k for a pair of binoculars but the mid range Conquest are a very good compromise.

 

Edited April 5, 2016 by Pheasant Feeder

[Harnser]

Look at the minox range . Had a pair for years fabulous bins .

 

Harnser

[bighit1985]

Yes go to a gunshop, look through a few and then BUY THEM from the gunshop, not amazon! Otherwise eventually you will all be complaining when you have a 200 mile round trip to buy ammo from the only gunshops left sadly.

Anyone know of a local Gunshop in north Kent that has a selection of Binos to look at?? The ones i normally go to either don't seem to do them or don't have a wide range of them to look at.

Edited April 6, 2016 by bighit1985

[Alycidon]

Ziess B Gat 7x42, rubber armoured, far from a current scope so no longer cutting edge but very very good. I looked through a pair of ELs when they first came out and compared them to my Ziess, in bright daylight the ELs had a slightly more colourful image. Did not get the chance to test in low light. These can now be picked up used for circa £400 - £600.

 

A

[Dunkield]

Those were may last bins, absolutely superb. I sold them on here to fund a pair of second hand Victory FLs in 8x42 also stunning.

If you are careful this stuff can be picked up 'cheaply' (don't for get the resale value if you look after them)

They get used several times a week and the clarity still amazes me each time I look through them.

They came out top of this review back in the day

http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2012highendbins/review.html

[wymberley]

Thanks folks. I am not looking for absolute top notch optics and their use will be normal light only, not dusk/dawn like the big ones.

I don't carry a bag when walking so something that will fit in trouser pockets would be perfect.

I have some very compact ones, but they were 30 quid from memory so you can imagine what they are like...

Something around the 1-200 pound mark new would be fine.

I have the 8 x 42 version but you'd need a biggish pocket but they do a range of sizes so the Bushnell Legend ultra HD are worth a look.