What bino's do you use

[bimbo]

I am going to ge me a pair of binoculars for hunting but have no idea where to start. Plan on hunting in state forrest which i imagine is quite dense/short visability as well as hilly paddocks so massive magnification isn't needed. I am thinking around 8-10 mag will be plenty - sound reasonable.

Also looking at around the $200 mark.

So what do you use and what would you recomend

Thanks

[adonn223]

barska make a some good binos for about the $200 mark I have a pair that cost about that and they are great

[ogre6br]

Ask the Vortex guys- if thier binos are as good as their scopes you cannot go wrong--

see rinso
beat you too it

later
p

[Ned Kelly]

G'day Bimbo,
i was looking for a set for my brother for his birthday, and we got him a set of bushnell 8x42 rubber armoured binos very clear and sharp for the $250-.

I have a set of leupold 8x42 rubber armoured binos for around $330-

Both were bought around 3 yrs ago but definately look around and buy the clearest, brightest and sharpest imaged binos you can get, make sure the image is clear & sharp without distortion right out to the image edge and they will be well worth it!

Personally, I use mine nearly everyday looking for varmints in our bush block and I believe 8x42 is a very good compromise for weight, size and magnification. Certainly, you can easily identify what you think is a target as well as saving lots of boot leather and time.

Cheerio Ned

[Rinso]

bimbo,

Vortex have a huge range of bino's, give Antony a call and have a chat.

Ogre,

Couldn't let you have the last word mate

cheers
Rinso

[Ackley Improved]

hmm.. I think I might need some bino's too..

Anthony... the Vortex.. what do you recommend?

Cheers
AI

[malcolm]

I have a pair of Swarovski's---10 x 50, crystal clear, but I have always said " a little too big for Oz---perfect for glassin' New Zealand stuff "
I got sick and tired of lending my bino's to the missus, so at the last gunshow I bought a set of Vortex from Anthony.
I purchased the 8x42's, Diamond back's and honestly these bino's cannot be faulted. These things are as clear as my Swarovski's without doubt. I just spent a weekend hunting fallow and I used the Vortex more than my Swarovski's.
Cheers Malcolm

[Thomo]

Just picked up a set of 10x Nikkon bino's of a fella from AHN for $70. should be here in a few days but if they are as good as my camera/optical dealer tells me then they should be great.

[Vortex AU]

The Diamondbacks mentioned above are our biggest seller. Without a doubt the bigger objective lens helps in lower light conditions and the chassis of the Diamondback makes the 8 or 10 x 42's as compact as possible.



My preference is for 8x42's as an all rounder as you get a greater field of view.

All Vortex binos have the Lifetime, transferable warranty.

If you wish you can contact me on 07 5596 2138 or PM me your contact number and I will contact you to discuss other options.

Antony

[feralbuster]

Bimbo,
I know you are on a budget, but don't scrimp on binos if you can avoid it, buy the best you can afford. Most of the serious hunters I met in Canada spent more on their binos than on their rifles (they use the binos a lot more than their rifles!)
After looking through all their Leica's & Swarovski's I got hooked, saved up and bought some Kahles 8X32's (couldn't afford the aforementioned ones). Now when hunting my mates all wait for me to do all the glass work and leave their 'coke bottle quality' tascos in their pockets!
The vortex ones look pretty well designed, but clarity is obviously where it counts so you need to look through them if possible. Blackfoot designs make a good harness if you are doing a lot of walking & glassing.
good luck

[Dr G]

I have spoken to some birdo's in the states and vortex binoculars, in particular the top of the range models were regarded as good bits of kit. This from Leicia and Swarovski owners. One of the blokes bought a set for his grandkids to use as he didnt want to get crap binos that would put them off birdwatching but he didnt fancy forking out for another set of Swarovski's. He rated them as equivalent or better than the top of the range Leopold, Nikkon and Olympus.

Personally I have never looked through a set of vortex bino's so I cant comment first hand but the gentleman I am refering to travels the world trying to see as many bird species as he can. last time I spoke to him was when I was chasing some background info on vortex scopes midway through 2007. At that point he was getting close to the 3000 species mark which is no mean feat.

[Curtley78]

I have an old pair of Steiners that I dropped whilst out on Horseback and would like to get them repaired. I think the prism shattered.

Does anyone have a contact that can repair Bino's?

I would detest having to throw them away, although I have seen Mal's pair of vortex or should I say aunt Viv's.

[7mmmag]

Steiner predator Pro 8x30, just arrived today from The Optic Zone in the states, they cost me around $250 aus. I would highly recommend the Steiners.

[seantheaussie]

I've just bought some binoculars (nikon monarch 8x42 atb from natchez). These are the reviews I relied upon
http://binoculars.org/productreviews.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publicatio ... Binos.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.optics4birding.com/reviews.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.njaudubon.org/NatureNotes/PickBins05.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/binocularpicks.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2007 ... riced.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2007 ... _main.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://binoculars.org/birding/Reviews/Index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The standouts in mid price, handheld hunting binoculars seemed to be the nikon monarch 8x42 atb & leupold wind river katmai 6x32. As the nikon monarch 10x42 had better reviews than the leupold wind river katmai 8x32 I went with what I perceived as the odds & got the nikon.

[Brad Y]

I got a set of bushnells for about 180 bucks when i went to south africa (duty free of course) They were very handy when on safari. Good optics too.