Thread: New Binos???

I don't buy into the theory that there isn't a big difference between the top tier stuff and the mid-range offerings. The differences may not be of much consequence to you, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

I've owned Swaro EL, Zeiss Victory FL, and Leica Geovids and even between those higher end models there were some notable differences with respect to their strengths and weaknesses.

Do you need to spend 3k+? Not at all. But if you're willing to throw down some dough you'll never regret the quality, and they'll last a lifetime. The extra $$ may not translate to more animals seen, but if you love a nice viewing experience, that extra money will certainly buy you more comfort (ergonomics) and a truly beautiful, sparkling image. Whether that incremental step up in optical quality is worth the cost? I think it is.

Also - you can purchase second hand top tier binos for $1400+...so I don't see much point in buying mid-range binos. Especially from the top brands. Get a secondhand pair and look after them. For $200-ish they can also be sent back to the factory for a full refurbishment. And just like that, you've got a 'brand new' pair of top of the line glasses for a fraction of the retail price.

The likes of Leupold I can understand, because they still come cheaper than secondhand top tier binos, and you get good glass with a great warranty. For some they fit the bill perfectly. Utimately, that's all that really matters.

My suggestion would be to try a bunch side by side before you commit to a pair. Otherwise you may keep wondering "what if". Selling optics isn't very economical...