I'm not a birder, I don't hunt huge parcels for Elk, and I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'd like some good binos for blind hunting and "sitting around the ranch looking at stuff." I recently saw some Vortex Diamondbacks (both 10x42 and 10x50) on sale, but I can't get a feel for whether they're garbage or great. I currently have a pair of old Nikon 8x42s (no idea the model name) that are pretty good, but I want a little more reach and love the idea of 50mm objective lenses from a light capturing standpoint. So, what can you recommend? (I searched, but everything I could find was about much more expensive binos.)

Leuopold Rogue

They are heavy but for sitting around i couldn't find anything better in that range. Should be around $175

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_32052_-1?gclid=CjwKCAjwk4vMBRAgEiwA4ftLs00J9bpIJV62p9-FFrpd5aSLbb28RBQpx2lzwh_4NCQZGJ8PcrisoxoCylwQAvD_BwE

Guess they went down

These Leupold BX-3 Mojave in either 10x32 or 8x32 on sale at Cabela's for $199 (regularly $369 and $349 respectively) right now is a pretty smoking deal.

I have the 8x32s based on a recommendation from Caladan and think they are great.

If you want to spend a little more, these Mojave Pro Guides are great as well.

I really like my vortex diamondbacks.

We all know Caladan knows his chit....I was just about to buy the Leupold 10x32 until dog posted about the Vortex 10x32. They are the same selling price. Would I go for the Leupold just because the list price is higher? Any suggestions other than going to the store and looking through them. Both of the sales info reads that their pair is the bees knees. The Vortex is UNlimited lifetime, the Leupold is Limited lifetime. Suggestions? Comments?

ratfacemcdougal said:

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We all know Caladan knows his chit....I was just about to buy the Leupold 10x32 until dog posted about the Vortex 10x32. They are the same selling price. Would I go for the Leupold just because the list price is higher? Any suggestions other than going to the store and looking through them. Both of the sales info reads that their pair is the bees knees. The Vortex is UNlimited lifetime, the Leupold is Limited lifetime. Suggestions? Comments?

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The 32mm Mojave is a much better performer than the 32mm DB's. Even if you had to pay $50 more for a Mojave, I would still recommend you do that rather than purchase a DB. Therefore, if the same price, the choice is a no-brainer. I don't have much against the 42mm DB's, but I thought that the 32mm's performed poorly.

That being said -- 10x32 is a hard nut to crack, and the lower-priced ones do not perform as well as the 8x version of the same model. Unless you just really need that extra 2x, I would recommend going with the 8x32 instead of the 10x32. The 8x's image will be brighter, wider, and sharper. BTW - $199 for an 8x32 Mojave is pretty much the best deal going right now for a general-purpose daytime all-round binocular.

OP - I will put up some comments about your post too, but it might have to wait until this evening. I'm still at work right now.......

Thanks,

8x32 Leupold in the mail.

I got some 8x32 Raptor Vortex that I like for simple deck birding or hiking viewing around here. They are the same as Balconies Canyonlands Wildlife Preserve uses for visitors. BCWP is just a mile from my house so we have lots of birds to view around here.

I've been looking at the Nikon Monarch 5 12x42's which I can get on Amazon cheaper than the 10x42's, anyone have an opinion on either of these?

Snow Monkey Ambassador said:

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I'm not a birder, I don't hunt huge parcels for Elk, and I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'd like some good binos for blind hunting and "sitting around the ranch looking at stuff." I recently saw some Vortex Diamondbacks (both 10x42 and 10x50) on sale, but I can't get a feel for whether they're garbage or great. I currently have a pair of old Nikon 8x42s (no idea the model name) that are pretty good, but I want a little more reach and love the idea of 50mm objective lenses from a light capturing standpoint. So, what can you recommend? (I searched, but everything I could find was about much more expensive binos.)

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Sorry it has taken so long to reply. I have been extremely busy with work. The closer we come to the start of school, the busier we become.

I have not ever used a low-end 10x50 of any type, so I spent some time looking into them. What I found is not ground-breaking -- no one model stands out in this price range, so no one model to recommend. However, there are a few that I would consider if I were in your place. Take a look at the Carson 3D, the Hawke Endurance, Vortex Diamondback, and the Opticron Imagic TGA WP. The last one is a porro design, but it has something that you hardly ever see, and that is a very long 19.5mm eye relief (if their website can be believed). I have not ever seen a porro with that much ER. Certainly the Nikons and Leupolds in your price range do not have this. The Nikon Action Extreme has it's admirers, but I'm not one of them, and I don't think their ER is what they state. The Opticron is probably what I would go with. In this price range, porros tend to perform better than roof-prism binos of the same price. You can see these at Opticsplanet, and I believe that Opticron also has a website.

C

cashag95 said:

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I've been looking at the Nikon Monarch 5 12x42's which I can get on Amazon cheaper than the 10x42's, anyone have an opinion on either of these?

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I have an opinion.

Which should come as a surprise to no one.

I have not ever liked the Nikon M5. They have a very good level of construction, and resolution is pretty decent. However, I did not feel that the view is very bright, and their FOV is dismal. Like looking through two paper towel tubes. I also feel that their ER's should be a few mm's more, but that is just me. Not trying to be a Nikon-basher. I also feel that the absolute best bino under $500 is a Nikon. But I just don't get on with the M5.

I have not used the 12x version, but that is something I would not ever recommend to anyone. A 3.5mm EP is bad enough when you are carrying that much bulk, but is probably even worse in a bino that is not very bright to begin with. FOV will be dismal too. Also, consider that most people will see less detail with a 12x as compared to a 10x because of shake. I know that in the price range of these two, the only way I would go with a 12x over a 10x is if I were to use the 12x mounted on a tripod, and only during bright daytime.

C

Spider69 said:

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I got some 8x32 Raptor Vortex that I like for simple deck birding or hiking viewing around here. They are the same as Balconies Canyonlands Wildlife Preserve uses for visitors. BCWP is just a mile from my house so we have lots of birds to view around here.

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Good little binos, and a great choice for casual users and kids, since they have a small minimum IPD.

Does anybody know if the Mohave have lens covers? I don't see anything about in the description and there are none on the pictures.

Thanks for the help!