Which Binoculars are best?

Flintrock · July 22, 2002, 11:35 AM

Which binoculars (Manufacturer) would you recommend?

7X35
8X40
10X40

Watch-Six · July 22, 2002, 11:59 AM

Swarovski or Zeiss. I love my Swarovski's. Watch-Six

Jeff OTMG · July 22, 2002, 01:48 PM

You can add Leica to the list as well and I think that Zeiss have about the best optics of all.

bobs1066 · July 22, 2002, 04:46 PM

If you can stand the price, Zeiss is the way to go. Take a look through a Zeiss & the next brand you look through will seem horrible by comparison, IMHO.

Al Thompson · July 22, 2002, 05:51 PM

Cabela's has the Ziess Diafun series at a decent price. $299 for the 8x30, $350 for the 10x30. I have the 10x30 set and am very happy.

PaP · July 22, 2002, 06:47 PM

I second the vote for Swarovski

rocko · July 22, 2002, 08:03 PM

Zeiss and Swarovski are definitely top notch. However, the price tag can often scare most folks. You may want to elaborate on what your proposed use would be as there are two basic designs used in modern glass - porro prism and roof prism. Porro prisms are much cheaper than roof prisms of an equal quality image, but are often less rugged and weather resistant. You can buy a really nice set of porro prisms for $200-$250, but will likely spend about 3-4x that amount for a pair of roof prisms that look equally as good. Of course, the roof prisms will likely outlast the porro prisms, especially if you aer going to carry them in the field. So... if you only plan on a trip to the range every once in a while or watching some birds, you may want to stick with the porros. If there is some sort of military/leo application where your life could depend on them, then drop the $$$ and go with the roof. For hunting, I'd say it is a toss up - no lives will likely be at stake, but a bust pair of binos could potentially ruin your day and/or trip.

Check out http://www.betterviewdesired.com , which is actually a birder site. Of course, their needs in regards to reliability/ruggedness may be different than your average TFL'er, and so they may tend to favor the porro's a bit more (especially if your not willing to drop $750+), but they are very discriminating about image quality.

http://www.adorama.com is a good site to purchase all types of glass, except for rifle scopes (unfortunately).

Rocko

DC8-73 · July 22, 2002, 08:21 PM

How do Steiner's compare?

trapshooter · July 22, 2002, 08:51 PM

Personally, I'd take the Steiner's, but I already have a pair of old one's that I refuse to replace unless necessary. 7x50. Great optics, excellent light-gathering. (Not that any of the others already mentioned are bad. I don't know, as I haven't used any of them. I like my Steiners. JMHO.

Wile E. · July 23, 2002, 02:40 AM

The top of the line Nikon and Bausch & Lomb are a cut above the rest and pretty close to Zeiss I think, but the best in my book is Swarovski. I've never tried Leica so I can't say, but if price is any indication, they should be better than Swarovski.

PaP · July 25, 2002, 04:46 PM

I have a cousin who sells the Steiner Predator line. They seem like good glasses but I have never taken them in the field. One good feature is that you can adjust each eyepiece sepaerately for your eye

Chugach · July 26, 2002, 02:22 AM

Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski are the top of the heap, and charge accordingly.

Nikon makes highly functional gear at a much more reasonable cost IMHO.

July 22, 2002, 11:35 AM	#1
Flintrock Member Join Date: July 22, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 21	Which Binoculars are best? Which binoculars (Manufacturer) would you recommend? 7X35 8X40 10X40

July 22, 2002, 05:51 PM	#5
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,611	Cabela's has the Ziess Diafun series at a decent price. $299 for the 8x30, $350 for the 10x30. I have the 10x30 set and am very happy. __________________ http://www.scfirearms.org/

July 22, 2002, 11:59 AM	#2
Watch-Six Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Location: Utah Posts: 654	Swarovski or Zeiss. I love my Swarovski's. Watch-Six

July 22, 2002, 01:48 PM	#3
Jeff OTMG Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: OKC, OK & Austin, Tx Posts: 3,707	You can add Leica to the list as well and I think that Zeiss have about the best optics of all.

July 22, 2002, 04:46 PM	#4
bobs1066 Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: Eastern Kansas Posts: 222	If you can stand the price, Zeiss is the way to go. Take a look through a Zeiss & the next brand you look through will seem horrible by comparison, IMHO.

July 22, 2002, 06:47 PM	#6
PaP Member Join Date: January 12, 2001 Location: Hixson, TN Posts: 58	I second the vote for Swarovski

July 22, 2002, 08:03 PM	#7
rocko Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2001 Posts: 229	Zeiss and Swarovski are definitely top notch. However, the price tag can often scare most folks. You may want to elaborate on what your proposed use would be as there are two basic designs used in modern glass - porro prism and roof prism. Porro prisms are much cheaper than roof prisms of an equal quality image, but are often less rugged and weather resistant. You can buy a really nice set of porro prisms for $200-$250, but will likely spend about 3-4x that amount for a pair of roof prisms that look equally as good. Of course, the roof prisms will likely outlast the porro prisms, especially if you aer going to carry them in the field. So... if you only plan on a trip to the range every once in a while or watching some birds, you may want to stick with the porros. If there is some sort of military/leo application where your life could depend on them, then drop the $$$ and go with the roof. For hunting, I'd say it is a toss up - no lives will likely be at stake, but a bust pair of binos could potentially ruin your day and/or trip. Check out http://www.betterviewdesired.com , which is actually a birder site. Of course, their needs in regards to reliability/ruggedness may be different than your average TFL'er, and so they may tend to favor the porro's a bit more (especially if your not willing to drop $750+), but they are very discriminating about image quality. http://www.adorama.com is a good site to purchase all types of glass, except for rifle scopes (unfortunately). Rocko

July 22, 2002, 08:21 PM	#8
DC8-73 Member Join Date: February 12, 2002 Posts: 48	How do Steiner's compare?

July 22, 2002, 08:51 PM	#9
trapshooter Junior member Join Date: January 2, 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 902	Personally, I'd take the Steiner's, but I already have a pair of old one's that I refuse to replace unless necessary. 7x50. Great optics, excellent light-gathering. (Not that any of the others already mentioned are bad. I don't know, as I haven't used any of them. I like my Steiners. JMHO.

July 23, 2002, 02:40 AM	#10
Wile E. Junior Member Join Date: July 23, 2002 Posts: 9	The top of the line Nikon and Bausch & Lomb are a cut above the rest and pretty close to Zeiss I think, but the best in my book is Swarovski. I've never tried Leica so I can't say, but if price is any indication, they should be better than Swarovski.

July 25, 2002, 04:46 PM	#11
PaP Member Join Date: January 12, 2001 Location: Hixson, TN Posts: 58	I have a cousin who sells the Steiner Predator line. They seem like good glasses but I have never taken them in the field. One good feature is that you can adjust each eyepiece sepaerately for your eye

July 26, 2002, 02:22 AM	#12
Chugach Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2002 Location: Alaska Posts: 172	Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski are the top of the heap, and charge accordingly. Nikon makes highly functional gear at a much more reasonable cost IMHO.