Looking for a good compact set of glass with clear optics and decent zoom, but small enough to be tossed in a bag and carried while hiking. Prefer to spend less than $200, though many makers offer some sort of military discount.

Who do y'all recommend? And specific models?

For that price point, you can't go wrong with Vortex Diamondbacks. I picked up a pair and they are as good or better than my more expensive and larger binos.

I'll second Vortex Diamondbacks. Love mine. When I lost a lens cover, I called them up to order a new set of lens covers. The lady I spoke with got me fixed up and when I asked about payment, she told me it was no charge. That's above and beyond customer service.

Which magnification do y'all use?

How's 12x50?

I wouldn't recommend 12x50 unless you have a steady hand or going to use a tripod. There will be too much movement for a clear picture for me at least.... 10's or maybe better 8's for just hiking around.

Naveronski said:

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Which magnification do y'all use?

How's 12x50?

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You're waiting for a response from the binocular whisperer, Caladan... once he/she posts, you'll have all the info you need

Until Caladan speaks, do not make a move

Hello,
Hello Naveronski,

A few points to consider:

There is no zoom binocular worth it's weight in cardboard packaging. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. The only thing that would be close to a zoom, and would be worth recommending, is the Leica Duovid switch-power binocular, which is out of your budget, and not a compact.

Any 50mm binocular would be the direct opposite of a compact. It would be a large binocular.

Any 12x compact would not be worth buying. That is too much magnification for a small compact objective lens. That is why no maker of high-end binos will produce a 12x in true compact size.

A true compact bino would have objectives anywhere from 20mm to 30mm. And for this size of objective, you would want to stay in the 6 to 8x magnification range. You could go up to 10x, but not in your budget range.

If you could decide on whether or not you want a compact, or a large 50mm, and more or less what magnification you desire, I could probably come up with a few good suggestions. These suggestions would also be based on actual experience.

BTW - how is that heater I gave you a number of years ago working?

Caladon,

I have been looking into a new pair of binos myself and researching the difference between 8x and 10x. My understanding is an 8x gives a broader view range, better low light capibilites and helps the image stay constant if you shake while holding the binoculars.

I will mostly use them for deer hunting around Texas and I am leaning towards 10x for the extra magnification.In particular I looking into the Tract products.

Is a 10x the better choice for deer hunting Texas?

Caladan said:

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Hello,
Hello Naveronski,

A few points to consider:

There is no zoom binocular worth it's weight in cardboard packaging. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. The only thing that would be close to a zoom, and would be worth recommending, is the Leica Duovid switch-power binocular, which is out of your budget, and not a compact.

Any 50mm binocular would be the direct opposite of a compact. It would be a large binocular.

Any 12x compact would not be worth buying. That is too much magnification for a small compact objective lens. That is why no maker of high-end binos will produce a 12x in true compact size.

A true compact bino would have objectives anywhere from 20mm to 30mm. And for this size of objective, you would want to stay in the 6 to 8x magnification range. You could go up to 10x, but not in your budget range.

If you could decide on whether or not you want a compact, or a large 50mm, and more or less what magnification you desire, I could probably come up with a few good suggestions. These suggestions would also be based on actual experience.

BTW - how is that heater I gave you a number of years ago working?

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Hah! That was a minute ago. It worked great, despite the 1930's insulation not doing it any favor. I passed it down when I moved out of that house.

After doing more research, I'm scrapping the 12x idea. There were a couple of 8x42 and 10x42 compact-ish models that had good reviews.

The Vortex Diamondback 8x42 has good reviews, and my price is solidly where I'd like to be.
Riton has a RT-B 10x42 that was offered as an option. It looks good on paper, but I'm not familiar with the brand.
Not limiting it to the options, but they're what I'm working with right now.

I say I want a compact, but maybe I'm not using the correct term. The binos we had in the army were huge and heavy. They gave a great image, but never left the OP due to size and weight. I don't need a tiny pair, but not a 10lb brick.

I'm planning to shop in store this weekend to get a feel for the physical sizes, but will buy online.

iPanic said:

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Caladon,

I have been looking into a new pair of binos myself and researching the difference between 8x and 10x. My understanding is an 8x gives a broader view range, better low light capibilites and helps the image stay constant if you shake while holding the binoculars.

I will mostly use them for deer hunting around Texas and I am leaning towards 10x for the extra magnification.In particular I looking into the Tract products.

Is a 10x the better choice for deer hunting Texas?

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A few things to consider. One is that in low-end binos, an 8x will often give a more precise view than the same model in 10x. Also consider that in some parts of Texas, the viewing distance can be quite short, or quite long. In some areas, an 8x would be preferable (or even 6x if you are bowhunting in heavily-wooded areas), and in some areas such as far west TX, a 12x would be preferable.

But in general - yes, I think it would be reasonable to say that a 10x is the better choice for most people - as long as you are buying a quality binocular. Certainly the Tract Toric could be considered a quality binocular, so if you can stay in or around that general price range, I would say go for it.

Let us know what you end up with.

C

If tract still has them, the 10x torics were on sale for $480 for a demo version with full warranty. I got a pair and you can not tell at all they were a demo. I can read a for sale sign easily close to dusk at 200 yards or so. These are also the new school ht glass

I'll also add one more to the list of Vortex.

Naveronski said:

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Caladan said:

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Hello,
Hello Naveronski,

A few points to consider:

There is no zoom binocular worth it's weight in cardboard packaging. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. The only thing that would be close to a zoom, and would be worth recommending, is the Leica Duovid switch-power binocular, which is out of your budget, and not a compact.

Any 50mm binocular would be the direct opposite of a compact. It would be a large binocular.

Any 12x compact would not be worth buying. That is too much magnification for a small compact objective lens. That is why no maker of high-end binos will produce a 12x in true compact size.

A true compact bino would have objectives anywhere from 20mm to 30mm. And for this size of objective, you would want to stay in the 6 to 8x magnification range. You could go up to 10x, but not in your budget range.

If you could decide on whether or not you want a compact, or a large 50mm, and more or less what magnification you desire, I could probably come up with a few good suggestions. These suggestions would also be based on actual experience.

BTW - how is that heater I gave you a number of years ago working?

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Hah! That was a minute ago. It worked great, despite the 1930's insulation not doing it any favor. I passed it down when I moved out of that house.

After doing more research, I'm scrapping the 12x idea. There were a couple of 8x42 and 10x42 compact-ish models that had good reviews.

The Vortex Diamondback 8x42 has good reviews, and my price is solidly where I'd like to be.
Riton has a RT-B 10x42 that was offered as an option. It looks good on paper, but I'm not familiar with the brand.
Not limiting it to the options, but they're what I'm working with right now.

I say I want a compact, but maybe I'm not using the correct term. The binos we had in the army were huge and heavy. They gave a great image, but never left the OP due to size and weight. I don't need a tiny pair, but not a 10lb brick.

I'm planning to shop in store this weekend to get a feel for the physical sizes, but will buy online.

---

It might be better to wait until this weekend to provide a more in-depth answer. Once you have investigated the possibilities, decide on what size and magnification you want, and let me know.

I will say that for hiking/backpack use, I would just go with an 8x32. Unless you will be doing a lot of glassing when the sun is below the horizon, an 8x32 would do just fine for the great majority of people and situations. A very good "general-purpose" 8x32 in your price range is the Sightron SII Blue Sky. Very good optical performance for it price range, and also light in weight too.

At any rate - let me know what your preferences are, once you have narrowed them down a bit........

C

Pay a little more and get the HD in any Vortex binos. You can thank me later.

Went by Academy this weekend, and got my hands on the Vortex 10x42, and a couple other x32's from other manufacturers.

The size didn't seem to change much, but the 42's seemed to give a wider field of view.
10x was more than I needed inside a store, but it's hard to tell when I'm not looking very far. That said, the detail was incredible.
They were larger than I'd like to clip on my belt, but only barely. They would be very easy to drop in a day pack.

I did see a couple of the "offset tube" style bino's too, and they're still as big and unwieldy as I remember. Good grief.

I think I remember Caladan or someone saying to find how good a the optics are find something close that you can focus on with the Binos and see how one shows the details of that object. A blade of grass, flower, etc.. Pick something in a store like that. I have not had the time to try this as have not been looking for optics lately.

correct me if I am wrong on this.

drred4 said:

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I think I remember Caladan or someone saying to find how good a the optics are find something close that you can focus on with the Binos and see how one shows the details of that object. A blade of grass, flower, etc.. Pick something in a store like that. I have not had the time to try this as have not been looking for optics lately.

correct me if I am wrong on this.

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You are certainly not wrong, and it was probably me that said it. When handed a binocular to try for the first time, many persons immediately look at something very far away. The problem with doing this is that atmospheric conditions will often affect the image, and therefore one does not get an accurate evaluation. Even high-end optics can experience a great degrading of the view when there is a lot of haze or dust or heat waves in the air.

By looking at something small and detailed, at ranges close enough to not be affected by atmospherics, one will get a better feeling for the quality of the view. Look at edge sharpness in a blade of grass, or the color rendition of an insect, or the detail in the veins of a flower petal or small leaf located 20 or 30 feet away. It can occasionally be quite interesting what you find going on in your own lawn.....

Naveronski said:

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Went by Academy this weekend, and got my hands on the Vortex 10x42, and a couple other x32's from other manufacturers.

The size didn't seem to change much, but the 42's seemed to give a wider field of view.
10x was more than I needed inside a store, but it's hard to tell when I'm not looking very far. That said, the detail was incredible.
They were larger than I'd like to clip on my belt, but only barely. They would be very easy to drop in a day pack.

I did see a couple of the "offset tube" style bino's too, and they're still as big and unwieldy as I remember. Good grief.

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42's on average do not tend to give a wider view. Quite the opposite actually, espeically in the lower price ranges where 32mm tends to give a wider FOV.

If you are going to stick with a 10x42, then you might as well go w/a Diamondback. However, you might see if there are any rebates going on right now for the Vanguard Endeavor ED. At normal prices, they are often more expensive than a DB, but Vanguard often have rebates, which makes the ED and ED II very competitive. I prefer the ED over a DB, as long as the price is fairly close. I used to have the 8x42 Vanguard ED, but gave it to a guide up in Alaska (not a hunting guide).

A lot of the "offset tube" style binos are indeed rather bulky, but don't discount the type just yet. Two of the very best binoculars you can buy under $600 are the 8x32 and 10x35 Nikon E II, which are phenomenal binoculars. But for the average user, the roof-prism style is preferred.

For your purposes, I would still say you should consider an 8x32. If you are still located in the B/CS area want to try a few, such as the Sightron I mentioned above, let me know.

C

Caladan said:

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Naveronski said:

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Went by Academy this weekend, and got my hands on the Vortex 10x42, and a couple other x32's from other manufacturers.

The size didn't seem to change much, but the 42's seemed to give a wider field of view.
10x was more than I needed inside a store, but it's hard to tell when I'm not looking very far. That said, the detail was incredible.
They were larger than I'd like to clip on my belt, but only barely. They would be very easy to drop in a day pack.

I did see a couple of the "offset tube" style bino's too, and they're still as big and unwieldy as I remember. Good grief.

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42's on average do not tend to give a wider view. Quite the opposite actually, espeically in the lower price ranges where 32mm tends to give a wider FOV.

If you are going to stick with a 10x42, then you might as well go w/a Diamondback. However, you might see if there are any rebates going on right now for the Vanguard Endeavor ED. At normal prices, they are often more expensive than a DB, but Vanguard often have rebates, which makes the ED and ED II very competitive. I prefer the ED over a DB, as long as the price is fairly close. I used to have the 8x42 Vanguard ED, but gave it to a guide up in Alaska (not a hunting guide).

A lot of the "offset tube" style binos are indeed rather bulky, but don't discount the type just yet. Two of the very best binoculars you can buy under $600 are the 8x32 and 10x35 Nikon E II, which are phenomenal binoculars. But for the average user, the roof-prism style is preferred.

For your purposes, I would still say you should consider an 8x32. If you are still located in the B/CS area want to try a few, such as the Sightron I mentioned above, let me know.

C

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I'm not married to 10x by any means; but that's all Academy had in reasonable models. Their only 8x binos were in the $40-60 category. I'm still favoring the 8x, even if I can't try it first.

The bulk of the offset would likely be a deal breaker. These are ultimately for my wife, and I want them to be comfortable and easy to use.

Unfortunately, I'm in Fort Worth, and won't be near CS any time soon.

Thank you for everyone's continued help.

You can try a ton of different models at SWFA in Midlothian.

When you do a search for binoculars on the web......the Wikipedia page comes up with......CALADAN!
His knowledge and recommendations are spot on, best free advice you will ever get.
Good Luck

Any thoughts on best way to test dealing with light flare and ghosting?

Back before big box stores and online seemed to rule the retail world, I would try to find smaller stores at a non busy time with a salesperson that was willing to go outside with the glass I was interested in. A photographer friend showed me how to test a lens/scope/binocular/etc by looking at an object a few degrees off angle to the sun to maximize flare, ghosting and washout. It is amazing how poorly some optical designs dealt with being viewed with the sun just outside the FOV. Some models I had been sold on as good glass inside.

AV8ORAG84 said:

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When you do a search for binoculars on the web......the Wikipedia page comes up with......CALADAN!
His knowledge and recommendations are spot on, best free advice you will ever get.
Good Luck

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Thanks for the kind words!!

C

aggiepublius said:

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Any thoughts on best way to test dealing with light flare and ghosting?

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The only good way that I know of is to go outside on a sunny day, and point in the general direction of the sun.

C

Naveronski said:

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I'm not married to 10x by any means; but that's all Academy had in reasonable models. Their only 8x binos were in the $40-60 category. I'm still favoring the 8x, even if I can't try it first.

The bulk of the offset would likely be a deal breaker. These are ultimately for my wife, and I want them to be comfortable and easy to use.

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I asked my wife what she would choose if she could only have one binocular for hiking/backpack use. She is also a very experienced bino user, and has four very nice binos she uses on a regular basis. She would pick an 8x32 every time. Not surprised at this, as her 8x32 is her most-used binocular, and by quite a large margin. Please keep in mind that she also has very nice 8x25, 7x42, and 10x42 binoculars, along with access to my much larger collection.

I just looked at the Opticsplanet website. They currently have the Sightron 8x32 SII Blue Sky for $155.12, and that includes free shipping. That is a very good price for a very competent binocular that is very easy to hold and use, and that has a very manageable weight (well under 20 ounces). For well under $200, it would be a great choice for a hiking binocular in your price range. You should consider trying one. Since they will pay for return shipping, you don't really have anything to loose. Heck -- order it and an 8x42 DB, and send back the one you don't like.

C

At the same price point are the leupold BX-4 a better buy than the diamondbacks. I see them on Op for <$500. The 10x50s

I'm pretty happy with my Carson 10X42's I got on Amazon last year
Carson 3D Series High Definition Binoculars with ED Glass, Mossy Oak, 10x 42mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RYMDLNU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jB5EBbTBC16WV

there's a "never used" vortex fury 6.5x32 on ebay for $50 plus shipping. I have this binocular and it's spectacular
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-6-5X32-Fury-Binocular-unused/232898671144?hash=item3639d7b228:g:9pIAAOSw7kVbe1~T
not my ad. If it doesn't go over $100 I will have 2...

CTGilley said:

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At the same price point are the leupold BX-4 a better buy than the diamondbacks. I see them on Op for <$500. The 10x50s

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I just bought the 10x42 BX-4s. Excellent glass.

CTGilley said:

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At the same price point are the leupold BX-4 a better buy than the diamondbacks. I see them on Op for <$500. The 10x50s

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The BX-4 is certainly a much better bino than the Diamondbacks, which should be expected given that they cost twice as much. At any rate, I didn't mention the BX-4 because they are well over the OP's budget.

NRD09 said:

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there's a "never used" vortex fury 6.5x32 on ebay for $50 plus shipping. I have this binocular and it's spectacular
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-6-5X32-Fury-Binocular-unused/232898671144?hash=item3639d7b228:g:9pIAAOSw7kVbe1~T
not my ad. If it doesn't go over $100 I will have 2...

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Those would probably make an excellent choice for a stadium/racetrack glass. If it weren't for the fact that we have a 6.5x32 Meopta bino, I would be in competition with you for that binocular......

C

BurrOak said:

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CTGilley said:

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At the same price point are the leupold BX-4 a better buy than the diamondbacks. I see them on Op for <$500. The 10x50s

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I just bought the 10x42 BX-4s. Excellent glass.

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Congrats!

If you get a chance, could you look at the underside of the binos and find out where they are made, and post it here? Earlier versions were made in Japan, and I am wondering if that still holds true.

Thanks,
C

I happened to notice the stamp when I first opened them out of the box.

Made in Japan

Caladan said:

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NRD09 said:

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there's a "never used" vortex fury 6.5x32 on ebay for $50 plus shipping. I have this binocular and it's spectacular
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-6-5X32-Fury-Binocular-unused/232898671144?hash=item3639d7b228:g:9pIAAOSw7kVbe1~T
not my ad. If it doesn't go over $100 I will have 2...

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Those would probably make an excellent choice for a stadium/racetrack glass. If it weren't for the fact that we have a 6.5x32 Meopta bino, I would be in competition with you for that binocular......

C

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also great for looking for critters in dark timber (east texas treestand or creeping through deadfall in CO)