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Binocular suggestions please!

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  • Onlyincali
    Senior Member
    • Jun 2010
    • 678

    Binocular suggestions please!

    We are looking for a nice set of binoculars for camping and bird viewing. We have a small OLD pair of Zeiss that we love but now we want something for longer distances.
    Camp is always in the same place and we want glasses that can view animals from roughly 1000-1400 yards.

    Suggestions? Not afraid to pay for good quality but not much a fan of gimmicks and marketing. Can you suggest some quality glass?

    Thanks!!
  • #2
    k1dude
    I need a LIFE!!
    • May 2009
    • 15057

    I would suggest a spotting scope and tripod for those distances. What is your budget? You could range from a $200 Konus or Celestron to a $5,000 Swarovski.
    "Show me a young conservative and I'll show you a man without a heart. Show me an old liberal and I'll show you a man without a brain." - Sir Winston Churchill

    "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" - Senator Barry Goldwater

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    • #3
      Onlyincali
      Senior Member
      • Jun 2010
      • 678

      Comment

      • #4
        sonofeugene
        Veteran Member
        • Oct 2013
        • 4477

        For that distance a spotting scope is the best choice. Even if you end up with super powerful binocs, you'll need a tripod to hold them.

        When checking out spotting scopes, check out Pentax. They're glass is superb, they use astronomy sized eyepieces, and they're reasonably priced. Many have compared them favorably to Zeiss, Swarovski, etc.

        For binocs, check out Leupold. And if you are considering Vortex, make sure the focus adjustment isn't loose and sloppy. Many are.
        Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them. - Rabindranath Tagore

        A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it. - Rabindranath Tagore

        Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. - Arthur Schopenhaur

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        • #5
          AreWeFree
          Veteran Member
          • Jan 2013
          • 4558

          Get image stabilized, it's incredible and makes a huge difference. Canon 15x50 would be awesome, 12x36 are much lighter and should be great too.


          I have the Canon IS 8x, planning to get the 10x42 waterproof soon.

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          • #6
            Onlyincali
            Senior Member
            • Jun 2010
            • 678

            Comment

            • #7
              lewdogg21
              Cattle Thieves Pro Staff
              • May 2009
              • 10369

              I use zeiss conquest's in 8x42 for the past 4-5 seasons and before that a pair of Leica's for nearly 20 years. I would have bought 10x but the eye relief is too small so that I would have to take off my glasses each time I view through them. If I was buying binos for under 1k I would look at zeiss and vortex razors.
              Originally posted by jmonte35
              Disagree. Been trying to teach lewdogg21 how to hunt. It's like trying to teach Steve Wonder how to see. Not sure we're ever going to get there.
              .

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              • #8
                Thanatos2203
                Senior Member
                • Jan 2012
                • 1200

                Look closely at the Meopta Meopro and Meostar lines. Eurooptic carries them and they are supposed to perform well above their price. My next binocular purchase will be from them.
                sigpic

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                • #9
                  k1dude
                  I need a LIFE!!
                  • May 2009
                  • 15057

                  Originally posted by Onlyincali
                  He won’t go for anything electronic/stabilized.

                  If we lower expectations a little, would a good pair of binocs see well at 800-1000 yards or is that still asking too much without a tripod?

                  Thanks again
                  It's virtually impossible for an old man to hold any binoculars steady enough to view at 1000 yards. It's also unlikely he'll be able to make out much with the low magnification offered by most binoculars. If he tries to hold up large objective high magnification binoculars, I'll guarantee he'll drop it in a few seconds due to weight.

                  That's why people are recommending a tripod.
                  Last edited by k1dude; 10-01-2018, 8:22 PM.
                  "Show me a young conservative and I'll show you a man without a heart. Show me an old liberal and I'll show you a man without a brain." - Sir Winston Churchill

                  "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" - Senator Barry Goldwater

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    hntnnut
                    Senior Member
                    • Jan 2008
                    • 1066

                    Give maven a look you won't be disappointed.


                    Richard
                    "This country with it's institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing goverment, they can excercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismemember or overthrow it."
                    Abe Lincoln

                    ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

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                    • #11
                      GW
                      I need a LIFE!!
                      • May 2004
                      • 16078

                      Originally posted by k1dude
                      It's virtually impossible for an old man to hold any binoculars steady enough to view at 1000 yards. It's also unlikely he'll be able to make out much with the low magnification offered by most binoculars. If he tries to hold up large objective high magnification binoculars, I'll guarantee he'll drop it in a few seconds due to weight.

                      That's why people are recommending a tripod.
                      I agree. 1000 yards is a way off and seeing dogs would be tough enough but birds? He will need large binoculars with serious magnification. The greater the magnification, the greater any wobble will appear. The bigger the binocular, the heavier they will be and the more likely they will be to wobble.
                      Get a tripod and your friend will enjoy the viewing from a comfy chair and have a ball.
                      sigpicNRA Benefactor Member

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                      • #12
                        tsmithson
                        Senior Member
                        • Jan 2016
                        • 1580

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Hunt
                          Veteran Member
                          • Sep 2009
                          • 4833

                          find a set of 15x binos, the good ones will be $1,500.00 range, next shelf down about $1,000.00. I hear the Cabelas labeled are excellent and slightly discounted.
                          Protect public lands access http://www.backcountryhunters.org/

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                          • #14
                            Hunt
                            Veteran Member
                            • Sep 2009
                            • 4833

                            I have been running the Conquests for binos and scopes for a while, The scope has been superb even in near dark, The binos have been superb but as mentioned when you need that tiny little bit of info a ways out there the second shelf product doesn't deliver. My next bino purchase will be the compact zeiss victory for my wife, can't wait to look through those.
                            Protect public lands access http://www.backcountryhunters.org/

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                            • #15
                              rcslotcar
                              Senior Member
                              • Jul 2014
                              • 1100

                              Leica's for the win. Check pawn shops or other sources for used one.

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