Thread: First binoculars recommendations

Gidday everyone
After a good pair of binoculars for a newbie. Am just starting out in the sport so a bit of money going out at the moment.
I'm not really sure what I'm looking at - i.e what is the expected price point for solid, durable entry-level binos. Happy to spring for kit that I won't have to buy again soon.
Is it worth buying second hand or only new?
Any guidance on good brands/models to look out for appreciated.

I dont have a lot of spare money for my hobby. The binos I bought were a pair of steiner safaris. Very happy with them and warranty is good as well.

Originally Posted by veryfuturistic

Gidday everyone
After a good pair of binoculars for a newbie. Am just starting out in the sport so a bit of money going out at the moment.
I'm not really sure what I'm looking at - i.e what is the expected price point for solid, durable entry-level binos. Happy to spring for kit that I won't have to buy again soon.
Is it worth buying second hand or only new?
Any guidance on good brands/models to look out for appreciated.

Hello

What are your target species and what kind of country do you plan to hunt them in?

Buy some secondhand/used Euros, Leica, Zeiss, Swaro....buy once cry once...your kids will be able to use them

Budget?

I managed to pickup a set of Leupolds second hand but in an unopened box so brand new for an excellent price and so far have been fantastic, my hunting exists on an almost non existent budget so every purchase is considered for a long time as I have to save up for everything.

Kiwi Greg has it right. Otherwise you will be buying very expensive crap binos: the cheapo ones you buy first which are no good and then the slightly better ones which are sometimes OK; total cost about the same as good second hand binos. Don't buy any binos unless you can try that model or the actual item on your face for fit. The older you are the better you will need to buy. You should be set for quite a while with an older secondhand Leica set for about $1200 - 1600. I bought a pair of 10x42 Leica Trinovids, about 10 years old, like new, for $1500. You will need to decide if you are going to be glassing long distances on the tops (10x40) or shorter distances lower down (8x40). Don't get any of the tiny binos, no matter how cute. They are difficult to use and optically inferior to the 8x30s.

I brought a cheap pair first at about $150. Better than nothing, but not great. Since brought a pair of Leupold Bx2 in 10x42 and really rate them for what I do, they were about $600.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a flash pair but can’t justify the cost when I don’t hunt all the time, and moneys needed else where.

Mid range Leupold will do just fine. I have euro brands and they are good. But the difference in price between them and the likes of Leupold doesn't reflect the difference in glass.
The buy once cry once statement is great for pissing contests but that's about it.
Leupold warrenty is better than some of the euro brands.
I just sent a set of Kahles back and it cost $750 to get them refurbished. I've never heard of a cost like that from Leupold.

Leupold all the way for me. Bought secondhand what I thought was expensive at $400 on the yellow site. 5 years later focus knob rubber was slipping. Asked about warranty, ended up with $1400 replacement. Cost me $35 for courier. The internet is your worst decision choice. Find what YOU like, don't buy expensive because its better, because it cost more.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Mid range Leupold will do just fine. I have euro brands and they are good. But the difference in price between them and the likes of Leupold doesn't reflect the difference in glass.
The buy once cry once statement is great for pissing contests but that's about it.
Leupold warrenty is better than some of the euro brands.
I just sent a set of Kahles back and it cost $750 to get them refurbished. I've never heard of a cost like that from Leupold.

Agreed. I bought a pair of Bushnell 10x42 H2Os about 15 years ago and they still live in my glove box. I pull them out occaisonally to scan stuff when I am traveling and they work. They are not Swarovski quality but they cost me $270 (about a 10th of the price of Swaros) and I think you can still buy them for about that. Buy what your budget dictates and you can upgrade later if needed. Any binos are better than none.
It's fine to say buy one cry once but not everybody can pull $1500 out of the budget for a second hand pair of binos. I still haven't even spent that much on a pair.

As I'm still on my first binoculars, I don't know if that makes me more or less qualified to answer... I went Vortex Diamondback HD. Very good value for money, especially if you choose a model which comes with a case and harness. As for performance, I have no complaints. Some haze at longer distances in certain light, but it's not a significant problem.

I had no money when I needed to upgrade. I shot my first tahr using a pair of 10x25 Kathmandu kids binos.
When I got something a bit better it was between the Vortex diamondback 10x42 or the Zen Ray 10x42HD. Ended up getting the ZenRays out of the states for $270 delivered. Still using them today and find them fine to use. I've never had a look through really good euro binos though so can't compare. Lots of people say the diamondbacks are good entry-level binos. Don't think zenray are in business anymore.

At the end of the day you'll need to go and have a look through a few pairs and let your eyes tell you what you should get

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Buy some secondhand/used Euros, Leica, Zeiss, Swaro....buy once cry once...your kids will be able to use them

Would you include Steiner in that list ? I quite liked the view looking through them, even with my odd eyesight.