Looking for a new pair of binoculars, my budget is approximately $2000.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Looking for a new pair of binoculars, my budget is approximately $2000.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:22:23 PM EDT

Yes that's probably a lot of money to spend on a pair of binos but the pair I'm currently using were inherited from my father and are thirty years old so this will be a once in a lifetime purchase barring any major advancement in binocular technology in my lifetime.

What I'm looking for:
8x or 10x magnification
40-50mm objective
rugged
water and fogproof
preferably roof prism for compactness but I'm also open to porro prism

What I'm NOT looking for:
anything made in China (I'm looking at you, Vortex Razor HD)
a built in laser range finder

Also, there a forum for binos and spotting scopes that's the equivalent of AR15.com?

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:25:34 PM EDT

[#1]

canon with image stabilization (all weather)
18x50 $1400 or so

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:30:27 PM EDT

[#2]

I have enjoyed my Leupold binocs. 10x.
But for 2k I would be looking hard at Swarovsky (sp?).

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:35:11 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
canon with image stabilization (all weather)
18x50 $1400 or so

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That's too much magnification to be useful without a tripod or support.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:39:36 PM EDT

[#4]

I have 10x42 Swarovski SLC HDs. I love them, and doubt I'll ever buy another.

You missed out, last fall they were on sale. A couple hundred off.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:41:08 PM EDT

[#5]

I would be looking at swavorski or lieca both are pretty much top of the line in quality and ability....I have used both(friends) and both are excellent....

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:43:04 PM EDT

[#6]

2K get you swarofski 10x50. Best binos peroid.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:43:45 PM EDT

[#7]

Leica fits into your pay range...

Almost

Even though vortex are Chinese you can't beat the customer service if you have a problem.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:45:02 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's too much magnification to be useful without a tripod or support.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
canon with image stabilization (all weather)
18x50 $1400 or so

That's too much magnification to be useful without a tripod or support.

Have you tried them? Unless you're Michael J. Fox, you should be able to see through them fine.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:46:54 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have 10x42 Swarovski SLC HDs. I love them, and doubt I'll ever buy another.

You missed out, last fall they were on sale. A couple hundred off.

View Quote

My brother has these and the are crazy how clear they are.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:49:09 PM EDT

[#10]

Glad to finally see a GD thread where OP isn't asking for cheap China crap advice.

Swarovski is the way to go. But Swarovski,Leica, and the high end Zeiss are all approximately the same.

Leica has a new Noctovid that is intriguing but it's still heavier than Swarovski ELs

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:50:44 PM EDT

[#11]

Swarovski EL

8.5x42

I was just usiing mine to spot crows at 1400 yards today

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:51:08 PM EDT

[#12]

At that price, Swarovski is the gold standard.

Posted: 6/24/2017 6:57:44 PM EDT

[#13]

I don't think Razors are built in China. I believe only the lower end Vortex stuff is made in China.

With $2K I'd look at Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss. I'd probably end up buying Razors and spend the money I saved on ammo.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:00:24 PM EDT

[#14]

I collect optics of different kinds, and my personal experience is that Swarovski offers durability and optical performance in the best available balance.

Leica has excellent optics with a very good build.

And Zeiss providing possibly the best, sharpest accuity and most accurate colors, but unfortunately with a significantly less durable build. And that even applies to their top line; as you are aware they also produce lower grades. I have had Zeiss binos literally start to fall apart, but they had stunning optics. That was not an acceptable trade.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:03:40 PM EDT

[#15]

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Quoted:

Have you tried them? Unless you're Michael J. Fox, you should be able to see through them fine.

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I'm going to hell because of you, you bastard.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:08:44 PM EDT

[#16]

I absolutely love my Cabelas euro hd's and don't feel I give anything up to my friends running their swaros. If you put a good bino on a tripod there's not much you won't see

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:17:56 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Swarovski EL

8.5x42

I was just usiing mine to spot crows at 1400 yards today

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This is what I use.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:18:54 PM EDT

[#18]

Bought Leica years ago. Have new looked back. Sold off everything else.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:19:24 PM EDT

[#19]

Buy Vortex and enjoy the money saved.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:19:51 PM EDT

[#20]

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Quoted:

That's too much magnification to be useful without a tripod or support.

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Hence the IS

I've never used their binoculars but the canon lenses I have with IS are nice.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:21:05 PM EDT

[#21]

check out Orion binoculars

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:23:30 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Also, there a forum for binos and spotting scopes that's the equivalent of AR15.com?

View Quote

Yes. http://www.opticstalk.com/

Sent you an email.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:24:13 PM EDT

[#23]

If you don't mind a larger pair of binoculars, I'd highly recommend the Canon 18X50 Image Stabilized binoculars. They're electronically image stabilized so you can really see a lot more detail than you can with 10X. I can read vehicle license plates up to almost 1/4 mile away. Most places sell these for $1,300.00. I found this online:

Link to Canon 18X50 under $1,000

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:24:42 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
I don't think Razors are built in China. I believe only the lower end Vortex stuff is made in China.

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Yup, just had my hands on a brand new pair of Razor HD 10x42 this morning that had "Made in China" on the bottom. According to google Vortex shifted production there recently.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:25:42 PM EDT

[#25]

Leica - 8x42HD.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:27:25 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

Sent you an email.

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Haven't received it.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:27:38 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

That's too much magnification to be useful without a tripod or support.

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That's the whole point of the electronic Image Stabilizer. It eliminates the need for a tripod. I have a pair and I can hold them by hand and read license plates up to 1/4 mile away. They're fantastic!

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:35:58 PM EDT

[#28]

I have Swarovski, they had to be returned twice because of internal fogging.

Were I to buy again it would be Canaon Image Stabilized binocs.

I used the Swarovskis today for a bird walk, they did well but Image Stabilized is far better for my use.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:38:45 PM EDT

[#29]

I think you can get Swarovski SLC 10 X 42 for around $2K. Love mine.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:39:11 PM EDT

[#30]

Meopta (they make the Cabela Euro)

Meopta HD

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:45:24 PM EDT

[#31]

What are you going to use them for?

High quality 8x32's are light, reasonably compact, easy to use and have a decent field of view.

High quality 10x42's or 10x50's are much heavier, are much larger, and have a much smaller field of view. They are at about the limit of what most people can handle easily when viewing by hand and are much more fatiguing to hold steady.

8xx32's are much better all around binoculars for terrestial viewing.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:45:59 PM EDT

[#32]

Swarovski HD.

They are amazing, when you go green, you won't go back to black.

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:47:16 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's the whole point of the electronic Image Stabilizer. It eliminates the need for a tripod. I have a pair and I can hold them by hand and read license plates up to 1/4 mile away. They're fantastic!

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

That's too much magnification to be useful without a tripod or support.

That's the whole point of the electronic Image Stabilizer. It eliminates the need for a tripod. I have a pair and I can hold them by hand and read license plates up to 1/4 mile away. They're fantastic!

I would not own any binocular that requires a battery to function. Those binos would be useless if the battery dies. 10x is considered the limit for handheld without tripod support. I have a pair of Fujinon 10x70s, they're so big and heavy that they still require a tripod for comfortable use.

OP, for your budget, go Swarovski. Ignore the Vortex fanbois.

PS I don't know the OP's age. Younger eyes dilate to about 7mm when dark adapted, and can make use of a 7mm exit pupil--divide the aperture by the magnification to find exit pupil (10x70, for example--70/10=7mm). This will give the brightest image in low light conditions. If you're getting old, a 5mm dilation may be the best you can hope for, in which case a 5mm exit pupil would be ideal (10x50s--50/10=5mm, for example).

Posted: 6/24/2017 7:53:08 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have 10x42 Swarovski SLC HDs. I love them, and doubt I'll ever buy another.

You missed out, last fall they were on sale. A couple hundred off.

View Quote

This.

Out of all the high end manufacturers Swarovski to me has clearer glass.

Posted: 6/24/2017 9:51:23 PM EDT

[#35]

Take a look at a pair of Kahles 8X32 or 10X42 binoculars. The 10X42's can be had for about half of your $2000 budget and the 8X32's for even less $$.
Kahles was the oldest rifle scope manufacturer in the world and Swarovski bought them out several years ago. Though not well known in America, they are in Europe and I own both their binoculars and rifle scopes and I put them on a par with Swarovski. Check them out if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.

Posted: 6/25/2017 12:05:34 AM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
Meopta (they make the Cabela Euro)

Meopta HD

https://static.bhphoto.com/images/images500x500/Meopta_467781_10x42_Meostar_B1_HD_1330555860000_844239.jpg

View Quote

This. I have the Cabela's Euro model. Love em.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Looking for a new pair of binoculars, my budget is approximately $2000.

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