Quote:
Originally Posted by offroaderTodd
Not too sure if this has been discussed lately, I am looking at purchasing a new bino for my wife. That being said, I would like to keep it to around 3-400.00 range.
Does anyone have experience with the Cabelas brand, who makes equipment for them. I have read, and seen that their warranty is not as nice as the Vortex,Burris or Steiners, but, are they as good or even worth it when we can find these other top brands on sale and within budget.
Im not looking for anyones idea of which is best, I know we all have our own preferences...just the facts.
Yes I do know that Swarovsky or leuphold and Zeiss are really nice, but lets be real, anything over 600.00 we be scared to take it outta the box and scratch it.
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I had three different people (avid hunters) look through four different pairs of binoculars in your price range +/- and all three of us made a different choice. I then asked 4 different ladies to come out on the deck and try them out and each of them choose the lightest model I offered them to look through. Two of them (my wife and daughter) changed their minds when they looked again at dusk but each chose a different pair.
The fact is that everyone's eyes are slightly different as is the size of our hands and arm strength. The best binoculars are the ones that you (or in this case your wife) enjoy using and have with you because you enjoy carrying them.
Another fact is that most everything in your price range is going to be partly or completely manufactured in China regardless of the brand name. The factors are design, quality control, warranty and price. You are exactly right in that Cabelas is extremely lacking on the warranty side when it comes to binoculars. You can get the same or better for a lower price with a lifetime warranty.
Lastly and perhaps most importantly is their intended use. Glasses for bush hunting have little in common with a quality pair of mountain binoculars or even a good set for spot and stock on the prairies.
I am a bush hunter and got by for many years with a mid range pair of 8x25 that I carried comfortably in an inside pocket. I like to shoot big mature bucks but number of points and actual score is not a factor. I could safely identify my target and beyond with these and that is all I used them for. As I am getting older, I recently upgraded to a better set 8x36 with ED glass but they are still mid range and more than adequate.
Of the ones you mentioned, I would look at the Vortex. Cabelas has the Talon 8x32 HD on for 399 save 200 dollars. Not a fan of their scopes but the optics on everything I have looked through has been good and a good warranty.
Nikon has some really nice small framed binoculars with an excellent warranty on paper although I have read of some issues with them honouring the warranty. The Prostaff 7s are impressive for the price as are the older Monarchs. The new Monarch 7s have moved out of your price range.
I owned and really liked the Leupold Cascades. I have not been keeping track of the latest changes but mine were made in Japan and of excellent quality. At the top of your budget 399 with an excellent warranty. A buddy kept bugging me to sell them to him until finally I did. I had another pair I liked more and had just purchased these because they were such a good deal on Kijiji. If they were the only binoculars I owned, I would have just kept and used them as nothing bothered me in the least about them.
You should also check out some lesser heard of brands in the hunting community. Celestron and ZenRay are well rated on the birding forums and those guys are picky about optics.
Having said all that, I went with the Bushnell Ultra Legend HD. They have the Prime ED glass just like the top of the line Elite models and are backed by a no fault, no questions asked lifetime warranty. Even though they were among the lowest priced models I considered, I couldn't find anything I liked more for under $1000.
My son has had the Bushnell Excursion since he was a kid and they are surprising clear as well. I purchased them in 2008 and last year decided to try the warranty out as the focus wheel was getting a little sloppy. I received the new and latest HD model in the mail in less than 2 weeks for a $15 dollar handling fee. These are stupidly clear for the price point and would be more than adequate for the majority of outdoorsman.
You should try to get her to try as many brands and models as possible. Also try different examples of the same model if possible. Most every set of mid range binoculars has weak spots in the glass or they wouldn't be mid range. I picked up two pairs of Monarch 7s of the same power. One set was near perfect and the other had more edge distortion than a $30 set of Tasco.
Best Binocular for budget
Linear Mode
