Thread: First binoculars recommendations

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.