Bino recommendations please

[mtmiller]

You guys were so helpful to T-bone on his spotting scope question, maybe you can help me. I have pretty much trashed my Leupold Wind Rivers. They are still worthy of the pick-up binos, but I am thinking about a new set for hunting. I want to (have to) keep it under $500. Any recommendations?

I have read a little about Alpen Apex, but have not tried them yet. Here in hick-ville I don't have much to compare in the way of glass (or women, but that is another story) :eek:

Anyway, looking for free advise or free Leica's (preferably 10X50's). ;) :D

thanks....

[noharleyyet]

check out the leupold pinnacles..my hunting partner has some... roof prism,very good optics
i have the 10x50 olympics...like them fine
sorry,fresh out of free leicas

[OSOK]

My buddy has a set of Cabelas Alaskan Guides that are pretty descent. For the money I think they would be pretty tough to beat.

[Ridge Runner]

I have a pair of the Nikon Monarchs 10x42 ATB That for the money are excellent glass. Very clear and gather light very well in low light situations. Now if they had the Lieca Geovid BRF 10x42's when I bought my range finder and glass I think I would of went with the package deal as they sound like they are pretty nice. Plus having it all in the one unit is very nice specially if doing any bow hunting. JMO.

[Bambistew]

Miller, I got a pair of the 8x42 ATB's for my dad last year, and I would say that they are about on par with the windrivers I have, which I belive are the same as yours. I've heard great things about the Cabelas Alaskan Guide bino's too. You might play around on Ebay and find a used set of Swaro's, Kahles, or Lieca in your price range or maybe for about $100 more.

BTW, I only found on bow/rifle case for you, but they wanted $400 for it, and it weighed 37# empty...

[mtmiller]

Thanks guys.
Actually I had a pr. of Monarch 10x42, but some prick broke into my pick-up and took them (as well as a spotting scope, shot gun and Colombia coat). I had to replace the bino's and went with the Wind Rivers. Eventually they recovered my valuables and I had two pair of binos. Side by side, I preferred the Winds, but they were pretty close.

I would really like some European glass, but I need to save $$ for out-of-state (country) hunts. I will check out ebay, but am always apprehensive about used optics. I know, scared to buy used, but too cheap to buy new. :(

I have a set of Burris Signitures at work that are great, but I am curious about other glass as well at this point.

Thanks again.

BTW Bambi, I ordered a combo hard case last week from SKB. I think it will be the ticket.

[OSOK]

Out of state (country) hunts! That must be a chitty problem to have. ;) Sounds like I'm going to forgoe the "spring" north of the border trip for a next january south of the border fiesta! :D

I'd seriously check out the Cab's... I have the Kahles. They are pretty nice, and Kyles Alaskan Guides aren't too far behind, IMO. Then again, how far is the nearest Cabelas from "Hickville"? :eek:

[danr55]

Check our Seeadler.. SeeadlerOptik-USA.com I think you'll find what you're looking for..

:cool:

[elkay]

Check out the Bruntons. Thay are good for the money. elkay

[A-con]

Minox run about $600, very close to top end euros

[gundog]

It's hard to beat the Cabelas within their price range.

[Bambistew]

Does Cabalas still carry those Ziess Classics for $650 or what ever they were? That was a pretty good bargin. also you might check out Bearbasin.com THey have specials sometimes. I got the ATB's for my dad for $160!

[noharleyyet]

Bear Basin and Cabelas are pretty close in price range. Think they both carry the Zeiss Conquest series also. BBasin periodically has some pretty good specials posted on their site. Both have excellent tech staff to answer questions.

[Wally Dog]

Mtmiller,
I have a pair of Pentax 10x42 WP DCF.........they are terrific
And within your budget.
WD

[1_pointer]

miller- I have the same binos as Wally, but mine are only 8X. Did you ever peek through them? They are discontinued, but the improved version Pentax DCF SP are a very good bino for the money. Last I checked they made your price limit. May want to do a search on the Hunting Optics board at 24hour or check out Better View Desired (http://betterviewdesired.com/) for reviews of different binos. The Better View site is for birders (right up your ally ;)), but has some good info on lots of binos.

300 RUM, new binos...you act like you have a hunting trip or two coming up!! :D

[Washington Hunter]

I have the Pentax 8x42 DCF WP's, same as 1 pointer. Very nice binos for the price, but then I only paid $325, then got a $100 rebate from Pentax. I did a quick search on ebay and found the improved version 1 pointer mentioned, and it happens to be from the same dealer I bought mine from a couple of years ago. Check this out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=83886&item=3874983934&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[schmalts]

I second the Pentax, great glass for the money, and i own Nikon. I compared the two and the pentax won.

[Wally Dog]

Mtmiller,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31711&item=7135940478&rd=1
WD

[JB Florida]

:D Or you could use the ones you have for one more season, then sell them and pick up some used swaro 10 x 42's sl !
Then you would be done buying binos for life.

[IdahoBugler]

MT,

I have a buddy that has the Alpen bino's. They are very sweet for the money.

[Greenhorn]

I couldn't imaging using anthing but my Swaros... but I asked my sister for her opinion on the best hunting binos for under $600. She owns a store in College Station, Texas called Champion Firearms and they do a lot of business.

She recommended the Pentax 10X42 dcf hrII. She said you could spend double and not get much better, at $299.

Cabelas bought Ziess's inventory of the old style classics and were giving them away at a very good price, but I think it was over $600.

[kphunter]

When I was at SW, I looked at the Pentax, Nikons, and Leupold. Then I looked at the Alpens - in my mind, they were superior to all three, and cost less!

I bought the Alpen Shasta Ridge 8x42 for $199 - sweet glass!

[mtmiller]

Thanks for all the input guys. I lied and decided to bite the bullet. I just bought a pr. of Brunton Epochs 10.5 X 43 binoculars and will hopefully have them in a week or so. I guess I am going to have to start drinking wine with the screw off caps for awhile. :D

I obviously didn't have a chance to look through them, but all the reviews looked good.

I have my fingers crossed. :D

[Elkhunter]

I think you will like them mtmiller. :)

[gundog]

Those Bruntons are great. I'm envious. Keep us posted on how you like them. I'm looking to upgrade from my Wind Rivers.

[7x7]

I currently have Wind River binos and am upgrading to the Leica Geovid 10x42's with the range finder built in. Any input on Leica Geovid? They are being sent to me but with the agreement that I can send them back if I don't like them. They run around $1,750. High priced but cuts down on having to carry two dif. optics. The range finder goes out to 1400-1500 yards. pretty strong.

[noharleyyet]

Have heard nothing but good about them.

[gundog]

I've got a friend that has the Leica with the range finder--superb optics--I don't know how well the RF worked. He got his for under $1600 from a place called The Best Things (online).

[7x7]

Any difference between Swaro and the Leica. My Dad and Bro both have Swaro 10x42. Course the Geovid with the RF wasn't 0ut yet.