Budget Hunting Binoculars

Hi all, first post in this forum. I have recently decided to get back into hunting after quite a long hiatus (having kids) so I have dusted off the old Howa .308 and get back into the hills.

I am after some recommendations on budget binoculars. I am aware that ideally, one should spend lots on binos and they are a very important bit of kit but unfortunately with 3 kids, a mortgage and a single income it is really not an option for me to be spending more than about $500. I am sure budget binos will miss some animals but they have to be better than just walking around the tops squinting. Maybe in a few years if I actually end up getting out much I will save up and get some decent ones but just after something to keep me going. I am not too sure on magnification but I think Ill go for 10x42 given that the most enjoyable hunting around Canterbury (in my opinion) seems to be mostly on the open tops. I do have a light tripod I might take up to assist in long glassing sessions

I see that there are quite a few similar threads to this around and I have read through most of them but there don't seem to be any recent ones and with bino models changing constantly I thought I would ask again.

I have had my eye on both the vortex diamondback HD 10x42 and the Delta Optical Forest II 10x42, both are around $400. I have seen pretty good reviews about the Vortex Diamondbacks but not much on the Delta Optical apart from the odd good mention on this site. Does anyone have experience on comparing these two models? I understand the vortex Diamondbacks have had significant improvements in recent years. Any other contenders in this general price range?

Cheers for reading.

I picked up a pair of as new Leupold BX2 10x50 off this site for well less than $500 and certainly rate them. I would look at any of the BX2 range if they came up

picked up a 2nd hand pair of Ziess Terra 8x32 a couple of years back off this site for around $350. Bloody good value for money and optics plenty good enough.

Buy a pair of multi/fully coated porro binoculars. Slightly heavier but better value for money than straight/roof prism binos. If the weight difference is that crucial then you are too fat.

my bushnel 10x binos are great to sit glassing with and have found quite a few animals for me now...... took me years to come around to carrying binos instead of using scope...these JUST fit inside tit pocket of my butchers coat . works well.

I have a pair of Minox 10x42s cost $400 work well 10yrs old now.

Keep an eye out for something that’s 2nd hand but tidy, you’ll often pay half the RRP
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...8?bof=iw2PgNke

I have some Zen Ray Ed2 optically and mechanically perfect for $400, come with bino harness

I have a pair of diamond back 10x50 hd, I quite like them. Was at a hut a couple of years back had them side by side with bx-1 10x42. in bright light the bx-1 had less flaring ( dont know if it's a correct term) on the bright edges of objects. As it got darker the diamond back had a few more minutes of usability. The other thing with the 10x50 is the eyepieces dont close up all that far. If I did it again I think I would hang out for 10x42 bx-2 on special, maybe. The case thing the diamond backs come with is pretty good too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nor-west

I have some Zen Ray Ed2 optically and mechanically perfect for $400, come with bino harness

---

These will be bloody hard to beat in your price range. Was actually thinking the other day about putting up a wtb post for some zenrays as a pair to leave on the boat . I had a pair back in the day and they were great!

I got a spotting scope from these guys and found them good to deal with. And I got a set of Sightrons from Deadeye dicks a few years back. Dont know how these compare to what you are after , but Jacobs seems to have a few options in your budget.

https://www.jacobsdigital.co.nz/coll...ing-binoculars

A good mate had zen ray primes, we both swapped back and forth with a pair of the older vortex diamond back 10x42's that were well under half the money, we both agreed we thought the vortexs were slightly better, thats all i still use and i see plenty of deer at long ranges.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trooper90

I have a pair of Minox 10x42s cost $400 work well 10yrs old now.

---

Looking through my mates Minox last week I was impressed.
He has also been impressed with them for the price.
I think his are 8x30 or somewhere around that

I use Meade 10x42 rainforest pro, were around $400. Really pleased with the glass performance not quite European levels but very good.

I’ve had two pairs of Zen-Rays. The first pair, the ocular lens actually came off as I took the binos out of my day bag to look at a deer. Zen-Ray replaced them for me. The replacement pair both rubber eyecups came off on the same trip. Whilst they went back on they had to be taped in place. They were pretty hopeless to use after that. So I grabbed a set of Steiners off a member here, at a similar price, and they have been awesome. I would recommend them.
I don’t think I’m rough on gear but that was my experiences with Zen Rays - good binos for the price, good back up service but two failures was enough for me.

Had a look through my mates vortex binos the other day, dont know what model they were but very nice to look through, and probably not too highly priced either.
If you are going cheaper, you might be better off with 8x binos, I have 10x Leicas and a pair secondhand of 8x Leupolds. I bought the Leupolds to keep at work because I didn't want the Leicas getting beaten up. The Leupolds are a nice set of glass to look through and can just as easily pick up deer at >1000m as the 10x bushnells that some of my colleagues have.

Your best bet for some good value glass though is to jump over to the buy/sell/swap section and put up a wanted to buy. Your $500 will get better glass here secondhand then what you will get new from the shops. Will also work in your favor to post on the introduce yourself section prior to posting a WTB.

Finally welcome back to the world of hunting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Juicy

I have had my eye on both the vortex diamondback HD 10x42 and the Delta Optical Forest II 10x42, both are around $400. I have seen pretty good reviews about the Vortex Diamondbacks but not much on the Delta Optical apart from the odd good mention on this site. Does anyone have experience on comparing these two models? I understand the vortex Diamondbacks have had significant improvements in recent years. Any other contenders in this general price range?

---

I got some entry level Deltas for one of my boys from Sarvo (on this forum), the Delta One 8x32s. Got them as a you're-not-a-kid anymore gift, something that will last him a while. They are really nice, compact, light, clear picture.

My older 8x Steiners have served me well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dannyb

I picked up a pair of as new Leupold BX2 10x50 off this site for well less than $500 and certainly rate them. I would look at any of the BX2 range if they came up

---

I got a pair of BX2 10x42 off here second hand but brand new still boxed for around $400 ish off here a while ago

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

I got a pair of BX2 10x42 off here second hand but brand new still boxed for around $400 ish off here a while ago

---

paid even less than that for mine and they are bloody good buying even at $400

Keep an eye on trademe for Bushnell Legends.
Not bad for price.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...5?bof=h611QAmK
Were about $500 new.

Thanks for the advice guys. Ended up buying the Steiner Skyhawk 3 8x42s which 7.62 linked earlier in the thread. Got them for $450 and they seem to be worth about $900-1000 new so pretty happy. Thought I would go down the route of buying 2nd hand tidy condition ones and get better quality for my limited budget. Just have to get out and spot some animals now!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GWH

A good mate had zen ray primes, we both swapped back and forth with a pair of the older vortex diamond back 10x42's that were well under half the money, we both agreed we thought the vortexs were slightly better, thats all i still use and i see plenty of deer at long ranges.

---

Yeah I'm still on the old diamondbacks as well. Good value and pretty nice optics. Good enough that I havnt bother to upgrade

Have a pair of vortex diamondbacks . Compared them against my mates Swarovskis the other day. Better colours in the swaro and longer twilight time but bloody heavy compared to the vortex and in my opinion not 2k better. Didnt get a burning desire to upgrade to be honest. The diamond backs are great bang for buck

FYIif you wear glasses I found bushnell to have a better eye releif than leupold binos.