DaveH

I'm in the market for a new pair of binoculars. These are supposed to be a Christmas present for me and we are on a budget. I know that you get what you pay for with binoculars and to get the best ones you can afford. That said, I can't afford the best - not even close.

What I want is this. I want good light gathering capability, NO FOGGING and a decent, clear field of view. I'm steering away from the cheap, small compacts that I've been using because they have none of the major things I just listed. I'm guessing I'll need something like an 8X42 or bigger, but I don't want something huge hanging around my neck.

I have no clue what type of prism is better or what lenses are best, etc. so any tips you all can offer are appreciated.

whitetailsoldier

really for me it depends on the terrain. I had invested about 120$ in a great tasco pair of long range lenses but i seem to be hunting more and more woods so I switched it up to a $29.99 special at my local farm and fleet and I love my new compacts more than any other binoc's. They even stood up to the -4 degrees we had yesterday, great pair. So it think its really up to you..

HAZCON7

Hmmmm, how much do u want for the other bino's ?

GMMAT

I was in the same boat you're in.....earlier this season. I wanted the same things you wanted in a quality pair of field glasses.

I settled on the Nikon Monarch ATB's....in the 8X42. I didn't need anything higher than an 8X....because I'm whitetail hunting.....in the woods. I'm not looking THAT far away. I paid about $255 for mine.....and I've never looked back. They have been the SINGLE best archery hunting investment I've made since my bow.

Good luck. Greg/MO also has these glasses.....and I know his review made my decision easier. I'd recommend them to anyone looking for the things you are.

Sincerely

jeff

statjunk

One thingyou might consider are the type of binos that don't need to be focused past 15 yards. I really like those. The ones I ended up settling on are the Steiner Predetors in 8x32. I would say if I had it to do over again I would have gone with something in the 40's but the 8x is plenty ofmagnification to get you out to 300 yards. Also to get much better glass than a Steiner you have to spend a lot. I paid in the low 200's for mine.

Tom

Rob/PA Bowyer

I'm in a different boat. I'm glass ing 200 yards and I like to see what I'm looking at. I carry a pair of 10X50 Bruntons, incredible field glasses. I really liked Jeff's Nikkons for a smaller set. If I remember correctly, the Bruntons were around $200 at the time of purchase. They've never let me down but they are larger than the Nikkons Jeff described.

I wear my rangefinder on my bino strap on my chest. My bino's are on a 2" web strap that is long enough to wear over one shoulder and hangs at my hip. You see a lot of 3D shooters with this type of setup because it makes them very comfortable and easy to use.

Germ

I have 10X42 Swaroski and the 8x30 Swaroski SLC.

1100.00 and 830retail.

I paid 550.00 for the 10X42 and 354.00 a for the 8X30. Find a friend works for Cabelas[8D]

EBB

I have an excellent MONOcular. Don't know it's magnification specs off hand but I've used it on countless canoe trips, hiking & hunting trips.
I like it b/c it's smaller & lighter when packing for the woods.
...just a thought.

Parrot Head

So is it wrong to just pay attention to FOV@1000 yards. I always look at that but the more I read the more I know I am wrong. Wouldnt I want want one that was 280 at 1000 yards instead of 380 at 1000 yards. I am tired of buying the cheap O's and am wanting a good pair in the 2-300 range also.

WhiteBuffalo

If you wear eyeglasses, you'll want a minimum of about 15mm of eye relief for comfortably viewing the entire field of view. The more eye relief the better field of view.