looking for new bino's

[cubby]

Ok I want to see what others here are using and like. I'm almost set on the 10x42 swarovski's but I'm leaving my opitions open. I'm not going cheap on this set cause they will most likely be the last set I ever buy. Now I really don't care if some of you say that it's not worth it cause you'll lose them or they get stolen or other things like that, because that's just not the case with my belongings. I have spent thousands on bows and guns and scopes and only use them during each season but my bino's are something that I use every day I'm in the field so I think I owe it to me and my eyes to get a really nice pair. I'm also looking in to a new harness for my new glasses and have been looking at the S4 lockdown system and I think that is a very nice set up. What are others using and how do you like them?

 

[Boostfreak]

From what i have looked through the swaros are the best. My next pic would be the Zeiss hd. For the money they are awesome! Thats what i plan to get. Can find them for under 1000 and are very close to swaro in my opinion.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[cubby]

Zeiss and Leica are a very close second choice. I really thought about the built in range finders but don't like the idea of using both my hands during archery season to get a distance.

 

[Bowfisher]

I've been using a pair of Vortex's Razor HD's for over a year now and I'm very pleased with them. My hunting buddies have Swaro's and Cabelas euro HD's and I think mine are better than the Cabelas and I can't tell a difference between mine and the Swaro's, We've glassed through dark and I honestly can say that I see as much definition through mine as the Swaro's. I've been using a Badlands bino case and have no complaints about that, I haven't looked at the case you have listed in person but looks nice.

 

[aebsledder]

I think it all depends on the individuals eyes. I have had the opportunity to look through a set of Zeiss, Swaros, and Leicas in the same low light conditions sequentially. My eyes seemed to prefer the Zeiss. I don't think you could possibly go wrong with any of them. I have heard good things about the Vortex, and I do know the Cabelas Euros are great for the money. One thing I will tell you, the Zeiss warranty is stellar. I sent my 10 year old binos in to get fixed and they sent them back basically brand new...for a minimal charge. I like that a lot. I put them through a ton of abuse and they have always performed.

 

[JSCC]

I like my Swarovski's. I spend alot of time behind them in the fall with no eye fatigue. Low light visibility is phenomenal. Buy them right the first time and you will never have to worry about it again. I would have bought Zeiss or Leica but got a great deal on the pair I own.
Just for note, I have the 8x32's. Their low light visibility is better then most 10x42 bino's I have looked through, and I like how light they are.

 

[cubby]

Makes me think more and more now.... Not sure which direction to go. I would really like to have all 3 and try them out side by side like abesledder had a chance to do. I do wear glasses and I thought I should mention that. I have also heard that the swaro's have a great warranty/service for slim to no charge also. Well I think I better go to the big town of Billings in these coming weeks and hit up a couple sporting good stores. That's the crap thing about living in a small town great people but no choices on things. We have one sporting goods store now after ACE hardware quit selling guns and such. It's a great place but they kinda sell you on what they have.

 

[SLEDIOT]

I used 10x42 swarovskis for 10 years, lovedd them!!!! Then I got a smokin deal on a set of leicas with range finder in them. I still have both, I do like the Leica more. Seems to be more clarity. But still nothing wrong with the Swarovskis. You cant go wrong

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I ve used all 3 zeiss, swarvos. and leica's..liked the Leicas best..as for the s-4..I love mine....comfy on their own or with a pack over them..dont bite in and easy to use...I have a buddy who has a set of the top vortex's..they are every bit as good as the others and quite a bit cheaper..and they have steller warranty/customer service.....

 

[Bowfisher]

I ve used all 3 zeiss, swarvos. and leica's..liked the Leicas best..as for the s-4..I love mine....comfy on their own or with a pack over them..dont bite in and easy to use...I have a buddy who has a set of the top vortex's..they are every bit as good as the others and quite a bit cheaper..and they have steller warranty/customer service.....

I haven't had any experience with Vortex's customer service but I hear it is the best in the business. This is straight from Vortex's web site.

Our warranty is about you, not us. It's about taking care of you after the sale.
The VIP stands for a Very Important Promise to you, our customers. We will repair or replace your Vortex product in the event it becomes damaged or defective—at no charge to you. It doesn't matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it. You can count on the VIP Warranty for all riflescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes and monoculars.
Unlimited Lifetime Warranty
Fully transferable
No warranty card to fill out
No receipt needed to hang on to
If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause, we promise to take care of you.

The VIP warranty does not cover loss, theft or deliberate damage to the product.
Red dot scopes and Rangefinders are covered by our Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Tripods are covered by our 3-Year Limited Warranty.

 

[CANNONMAN]

It's funny how glass works. I have had the Swar's 8 x 30's Ithink they are for 15 years and they are perfect for me. I also have their little compact 10 x 25's that are perfect for archery season. When I needed a new scope for one of my rifle I just naturally went with a Swar figuring it would be just like the Binocs. Didn't like the scope at all and exchanged it for a Leica which is fantstic but my eyes don't like their glass in their Binocs. Go figure! I believe great glass is one of the best hunting products I have ever bought.

 

[Idaho Slim]

I went thru what you are now about 30 years ago, chose the relatively new back then, Leupold Gold ring 9x25 compacts. Still got em . Have served me outstandingly thru all kinds of intense weather, 6 rough bighorn sheep hunts, and 30 years of hunting. Personally, I have looked thru all the top spendy models, even tried a year in the field with the Vortex compacts for the wife, we sold them and will stay with my Gold Rings.

 

[Scott]

Good post Slim.

I bought Brunton Eterna 7x42 back in 1993. $250.
NOT the skinny compact kind, but they are more of a mid-framed size bino.

I still have them. Still use them. I don't get "double vision" like people tend to see when optics get older.

The ONLY thing about them...the rubber eye relief pieces have worn and cracked. I duct taped them....still going strong. LOL

I only spent $250 on them back in 1993.


If I was getting new optics now, I'd shop these high end models with built in range finders. I hate carrying two separate units.

 

[Blu Du]

steiners are great too

 

[TIM]

be done with it, get the swaros. I could see a buck thru my swaros, but couldn't see him thru my leupold scope. That was this season. Granted it was close to dark, and i got the buck later, but that day sold me on swarvorski or how ever you spell it. You will not regret having premium glass.

 

[BigFish BC]

zeiss or swaro cant go wrong i sheep hunt allot & would not use anything else.i was impressed with my buddies cabelas euros though for the price.

 

[WestMont]

Give the Vortex Razor's a good look even if you chose to buy a different brand. I looked at them all before buying and after having a pair for a few years I still think they're a great choice.

 

[cubby]

Thanks guys for all the advise and I will take my time and give all of these glasses a chance as soon as I can. I won't be ready to buy untill the end of Jan anyways.

 

[slyrydr]

ok here goes my opinion based on over 50 years of hunting and using binocs of every price range...as i made more money over the years, i got to use better and better glass..i currently have nikons, leupolds, 2 zeiss and 3 swarovskis....leicas are very good, but every comparison i ran with them head to head with the swaros, the swaros won...two separate occassions i went into the two best stores in my area, talked to the store manager, and made the following deal...i bought the 3 best binocs of the type i was looking for, i would take them out for one day or two, and bring back the two i didn't want...he would inspect them for being "as new" and return my money for those not wanted...i would take the binocs out of the city lights, drive up to a ridgeline where i knew that elk would come out to feed...i'd be there an hour or so before sundown, get used to each binoc, and as the sun went down and it got darker, i would watch the elk until i could see them with only one of the binocs....the swaros always won...another thing i like about the swaros, is the ability to focus...being able to count points on an elk at range and being able to resolve detail because the focus wheel on the swaros allows finer movement than the others...one thing i don't like about binos that have range finders in them is that they have to put a thin film across the barrel of the glass to have the ranging information light up the information...i could tell that slight decrease in low light vision with the leicas, other than that i liked the leicas...i have a swaro 10x42 and they are a fine glass...i also have a 10x50 that is noticably better in low light, but slightly heavier...but when i need the finest low light, best resolving glass i've ever been able to get my hands on...it's the swaro 15x56, i've gotten used to the slightly more weight, but when i need to pick out that best bull at 500 yds, and the light is just barely more than full dark, that glass is 15 minutes ahead of the next best...my idaho elk hunts are in more open country, and the shots for my spot go 350-500 yds...having a rifle scope of the best glass is just as important, but having picked the best bull with the binocs, it's much easier to get the cross hairs on him if i already know which i'm going to shoot...if you're hunting in a tighter situation, the smaller binocs are the way to go...but i would definetly pull the swaros off the shelf first..

 

[cubby]

Well after a lot of thought and and care for my choices I wound up choosing the Vortex Razor HD's which let me tell you, they are so close to the swarofski that you would really have to know what your looking for to find the difference in the 2. I took my time and wound up coming down to these 2 choices, but after I took them outside in low light conditions and tried them side by side the choice was easy and it saved me $1300 big ones. Plus like the guy at the display was telling me swaro's will charge you to replace a damaged lens while Vortex has no questions asked free of charge for the life of the glasses. Just thought I would let you guys know the fallow up to the story.