Thread: Best binoculars?

Hey guys!

What are the best binoculars to buy!

Thanx 4 advice

You get what you pay for with optics.
My vote goes towards Swarovski, or Leica, but there are lots and lots of options.
Best bet is to look at your budget and go from there.
There are endless online reviews and comparisons, but the best idea is to try and get behind a few to try out.
I have an older set of Swarovski SLC 8x30WB, I have never regretted the initial expense.

With optics the more you spend the better they are, but a $3000 pair won't be 3x better than a $1000 pair. The main time you will notice the difference is at first and last light. If you are comparing binoculars then don't look at things in bright sunlight, look at things in the shade or deep shadow, that will show the biggest difference.
Keep an eye out on trademe for second hand pairs, you might find a real bargain, this pair here could be an awesome buy Zeiss Dialyt 10 x 40 Binnoculars | Trade Me but I'd probably want to look through them first.
The other place to get a bargain is demo pairs. Camerland New York often has good deals.
At the cheaper end, Bushnell Legend HD are a good pair. Zenrays have good glass, but I'm hearing issues with them starting to break. Vortex is another reasonable brand. I have Minox HG that I got for an absolute bargain.
Your best bet is to look through as many pairs as you can, then save some more money. Optics is one area where you won't regret buying quality first time.

If you want decent Bino's that will last Its not just the quality of the units to consider but the after sales service is equally as important.
I purchased a pair of Leica 10X40 in 1995 and they got used a LOT. In 2014 I started having issues with the focus. They were sent back to Leica in Germany for service and I expected to pay. After all they did looked very knocked around. They were returned (I think 5 weeks later) COMPLETELY refurbished at no cost. They looked sooooo! good that I had to check the serial number to confirm that they were not a new pair.
I heard recently of a guy ( He may be a forum member) who dropped his brand new Geovids off a bluff and destroyed them. They also went back to Leica in Germany and were replaced with a NEW pair. I believe he had to pay the shipping cost though.
What other Bino manufacturer supports their product to that extend?
Bottom line if you can afford Leica's get them. It will be an heirloom purchase that you can leave to your kids.
PS I don't work for either Leica or Lacklands

Just bought a pair of vortex razors. Close to $2k local dealer. Compared to my zenrays these are night and day better. Only 27g lighter tho but shorter. Not a massive saving buying overseas and imported. So went local.

I wanna spend about 150 -200$ I 've heard Levenhuk n Celestron are not expensive and not bad. Is it right?

Originally Posted by EllieMar

I wanna spend about 150 -200$ I 've heard Levenhuk n Celestron are not expensive and not bad. Is it right?

No

I had never even heard of those brands :S You'd be better off saving your coin and dropping a bit more cash on a decent pair.. My opinion obviously.

Originally Posted by EllieMar

I wanna spend about 150 -200$ I 've heard Levenhuk n Celestron are not expensive and not bad. Is it right?

Id look at getting some 10x42 bushnells off Amazon.

Originally Posted by EllieMar

I wanna spend about 150 -200$ I 've heard Levenhuk n Celestron are not expensive and not bad. Is it right?

Unfortunately you wont even come close to the best for that money.

Originally Posted by BobGibson

If you want decent Bino's that will last Its not just the quality of the units to consider but the after sales service is equally as important.
I purchased a pair of Leica 10X40 in 1995 and they got used a LOT. In 2014 I started having issues with the focus. They were sent back to Leica in Germany for service and I expected to pay. After all they did looked very knocked around. They were returned (I think 5 weeks later) COMPLETELY refurbished at no cost. They looked sooooo! good that I had to check the serial number to confirm that they were not a new pair.
I heard recently of a guy ( He may be a forum member) who dropped his brand new Geovids off a bluff and destroyed them. They also went back to Leica in Germany and were replaced with a NEW pair. I believe he had to pay the shipping cost though.
What other Bino manufacturer supports their product to that extend?
Bottom line if you can afford Leica's get them. It will be an heirloom purchase that you can leave to your kids.
PS I don't work for either Leica or Lacklands

That was me! Leica, you rock!

Originally Posted by Moutere

You get what you pay for with optics.
My vote goes towards Swarovski, or Leica, but there are lots and lots of options.
Best bet is to look at your budget and go from there.
There are endless online reviews and comparisons, but the best idea is to try and get behind a few to try out.
I have an older set of Swarovski SLC 8x30WB, I have never regretted the initial expense.

I brought the same about 25 years ago and they are still going strong. You will never regret buying quality.

Originally Posted by lost

I had never even heard of those brands :S You'd be better off saving your coin and dropping a bit more cash on a decent pair.. My opinion obviously.

Celestron make (and has made for some time) Astro glass, telescopes and the like. They make some pretty high level kit as well as cheap stuff and have a good rep amoung star gazers.
The entry level Nature dx has a very good reputation for being better quality than others in its class. They aren't flash, but they do work

Originally Posted by EllieMar

I wanna spend about 150 -200$ I 've heard Levenhuk n Celestron are not expensive and not bad. Is it right?

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. You're funny

I got me some Vanguard 10x42 Binos after a LOT of research.
EG: Link

They have done me really well so far. Everyone who looks at them is impressed by what they can do, with how much they cost - was US$230 when I got them.
They are cheaper now.

Highly recommend them