New Jersey Hunters banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Binoculars for UNDER $200

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
D

Daver77

· Registered
Joined
·
326 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I was looking for binos for under $200. That's my budget, yes I know if I pay more I'll get more but what I would like help in is glass at this price range.

I want something I can use all around deer/ turkey hunting in woods, Compact design.

I was thinking of these:
http://www.binoculars.com/binoculars/hunting-binoculars/8x22predatorprocompact.cfm
Anyone have them? anyone have anything they like that you paid under 200 smakeroos?
 
#2 ·
#4 ·
I would stay away from any glass with a 22mm objective. They may be fine for football games, but will not work very well during dawn/dusk or low-light woods.
Leupold Green Ring Acadia 8x42 can be had for under $200.
If you step it up another $20, you could get the Nikon Monarch ATBs 8x42, which have always gotten fantastic reviews as the best glass under $500. I have a pair of these and prefer then to my 10X Swaro ELs for NJ hunting.
Also keep in mind, that for 99% of you east coast hunting, 8X is more than enough power, anything more and the wobbles will make it hard to glass for any length of time.
 
#8 ·
Cannon 8-32 waterproof
you can get them cheap at B&H photo in NY
they usually come in 1 day
think they were 139 bucks

THEY are def as good as my swarovski 8-30 at an eigth of the price.
 
#10 ·
Nikon makes a popular inexpensive glass that appears a good bargain; just don't have anything go wrong because their Customer Service has an abysmal reputation.

BURRIS makes a pretty good inexpensive glass.

LEUPOLD has a good reputation and has excellent Customer Service.

B&H PHOTO is an outstanding supplier and can be trusted implicitly. Canon is ... well ...Canon; a top shelf outfit.

Optics Planet has some pretty good pricing on lights & optics. I’ve used them and trust them. http://www.opticsplanet.com/

I'd recommend a 8x30 "WATERPROOF" glass which is light, easy to carry and will perform well during all legal shooting light. Birders have stated that any glass over 25oz gets "heavy" when using for extended periods of time ... I've found this to be true.

There's some pretty decent glass coming out of China now.

Finally ... anyone saying anything other than a Zeiss or Leica is as good or better than a Swarovski is talking through their butt. You may LIKE it better, but it isn't better.
 
#11 ·
#13 ·
Theses Nikons aren't bad there 10 power but the over size of the binos isnt that big only like 7 inches tall...Ive always like 10 power its not too much for hunting here out of a treestand and you can use it out west for glassing..
 
#14 ·
There are a bit heavy, but I bought Steiner Military Marines 10x50 on e-Bay for about $200 (used), maybe not the best hunting choice but they are for a variety of applications.

Used on e-Bay is the way to go in my opinion.
 
#18 ·
I would stay away from any glass with a 22mm objective. They may be fine for football games, but will not work very well during dawn/dusk or low-light woods.
Click to expand...
That is another area where the quality of the optics comes into play.

Some people require that their glass be so compact that it fits in a dedicated pocket in their hunting clothing (which is more understandable in NJ eastern woods hunting). Light gathering in low light conditions is a function of both objective lens diameter and quality of materials/construction.

Higher magnification, when the objective lens remains the same, also reduces the amount of light reaching your eye. 8X is pretty powerful for woods hunting. If you dropped down to 6X or 7X ... it would increase the low-light performance.

I use glass to stalk deer on western Pa ridges. It sure isn't western-mountain hunting ... but I have different requirements than you do.

Good luck.
 
#19 ·
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
About this Discussion
28 Replies
16 Participants
Last post:
Iron Duke
New Jersey Hunters
posts
3M
members
61K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to New Jersey’s hunters and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, gear, troubleshooting, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Hunting Discussions Member Classifieds Fishing Field Testing and Evaluation NJ Firearms ID Card & Gun Permits