I had a bit of bad luck with my binoculars... I HAD three pair. Minox 8x42br - I think a teen age son put them with some other stuff in a garbage sack and they found their way to the landfill... but not sure. The 7x40 NVA zeiss were with us last deer hunt but never found them upon returning home... my dad found them this week with his 4 wheel drive tractor and farm machinery... He says they are totally ruined. Now I only have a 1985 pair of zeiss 8X32 jenna which are nice but i want some more low light glasses.

Now the issues... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$! It will not be easy to scrape together a few hundred right now... but season is coming! scouting post haste! So I am thinking on trying the 8X42 Nikon Monarchs... or do you recomend something else... I CANNOT justify buying some $1000+ glasses at this time... nor with my receint track record want to!
They will be for hunting in Kansas, Namibia, and sight seeing in southern Africa.

What do you think!???

Can you get hold of the new generation Lynx products. They are right up there with the swarovski stuff. I have a Nikon range finder that I am very happy with, but if you want to go with the Nikon then I suggest you first try the Canon Bino's. They are the best optics for the same money.
The 7 x 42 I think is only a few hundred.
Good luck
Ian

Check out the Vortex Diamondbacks. I have a pair in 10x42, and they are a great glass for a couple of hundred bucks. They are available in 8x42 as well.

For the money, they are hard to beat.

Aaron,

I have a set of Nikon Monarch ATB's - I thought they were good until I was hunting in a Texas blind. I couldn't make out the detail on a critters antlers at dusk and had to pass on a shot. I was really shocked at it.

I've since bought a pair of Minox 8x42 HG's - the difference between the two are amazing. the Minox HG's ($500) are so much brighter and clearer - there's just no comparison. Reportedly the HG's use the same glass as the Zeiss Victory bino's.

Anyway, I was in the same position as you - didn't want to spend $1k+ for the top of the line stuff...but didn't want to settle for less. Minox works for my eyes...although they aren't as nice ergonomically for viewing through glasses (gotta hold them out a tad for eye relief).

Check out the Zen binoculars. I read a number of reviews and decided to buy a pair. $400 for a 8 x 43. I don't know how they will stand up, but to my eye they are at least as bright as my Swaro EL and my son's Ziess FL

OK, you can all dump on me for being a purist, but why, pray tell, do folks purchase binoculars in pairs. One binocular is all I carry at one time.

I have Pentax 8X43 DCF SP that I bought from Cameraland 3 months ago as a Demo Unit for $350.00. They look like they have never been handled. Very nice. Since then I acquired Swaro SLCs used from a forum member. I will sell the Pentax for $325 shipped. See Cameralands site for pics and specs.

Also, Cameraland (on Sept. 2) ran an add for demo Minox binos. See the Classified forum.

That's how one set of Binoculars is referred to: As a pair of binoculars. Buy the Nikons.

I just had the chance to compare a Nikon, a Leica with a range finder, and a Zeiss with a range finder.

The zeiss seems to be the best.

It is the one I am taking to Tanzania later this month.

Will report on how it works.

Actually, a binocular is a pair of monoculars. I know that "pair of binoculars" is common terminology, but it is inaccurate. (And this is ACCURATEreloading.)

I have bought several pairs of Swarovski's on EBay for under $500 per pair. These are like new 8x30's.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Rust:
Now I only have a 1985 pair of zeiss 8X32 jenna which are nice but i want some more low light glasses.

Would you have any interest in trading your 8x32 for a Zeiss 7x50 Jenna in good condition?

Thanks all!

JBrown... I don't know... I'll think about it.

Aaron

Check out Brunton's, I have used them from Alaska to Zim and personally think they are great. All my guides and Ph's have thought they were very good too and they don't hurt the pocketbook as much as the high end boys do.
Wesley

I have 10x40 Zeiss and Swarovski glass. Compared to those, my little 10x25 Nikon LX binoculars are phenomenal. I recommend them without any reservation. Cameraland has a demo pair for $329.00. New set for $449.00.
My 2¢,
Robert

Contact Doug at Camera Land. He goes by gr8fuldoug here on AR. Their website is: www.cameralandny.com

He will do you right. I don't think you can go wrong with the Swarovski 8x30. I guide elk and deer hunters in Wyoming and hunt in Africa. If affordable, they'd be perfect for your trips.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
That's how one set of Binoculars is referred to: As a pair of binoculars. Buy the Nikons.

It's actually a pair of monoculars. The misnomer "a pair of binoculars" is in common usage, but it's incorrect.

I think the Zen-Ray ED's are right at $400.00

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
That's how one set of Binoculars is referred to: As a pair of binoculars. Buy the Nikons.

It's actually a pair of monoculars. The misnomer "a pair of binoculars" is in common usage, but it's incorrect.

Jetdriver

Thanks for setting us straight on that. I'll put that in the Claven file.


I'll buy you a drink at the next SCI show if you walk up to the Zeiss boot and ask them if you can take a look at their best "pair of monoculars".

I use a 10 x 42 Nikon Monarch. I have also used the 8 x 42 Monarch and I am very happy with them.

I have used them at night sitting in a blind watching owls catch mice. It was a bright moon lit night and the moment I used the bino's it was as if the lights were switched on.

I have also used the bino's for scouting in mountainous area's and they are in my opinion really worth the money.

You're all wrong. This is a pair of monocles:

You might consider looking into Kahles. I have a pair and use them often. Have been told they use Swarovski glass and coatings. Is it the same parent company? They compare well to more expensive glass i use as well.

In order to have a real Claven factoid in my repertoire I typed and spell checked the following;

A binocular, those binoculars, a pair of binocular, a set of binoculars, a pair of monoculars

A red line only appeared under; "monoculars". It seems the word police belive it shoud be a pair of "monocular".

I would assume a set of binoculars woud be along the lines each one 10 x 40 and one each 15 x 50 and my preference would be in Swarovski's though I suppose a set does not need to be "bi" at all so throw in one each 8 x 32!

All that aside I lost several sets of cheap (er) bino's before purhasing my Swarovski 10 x 42's. Something about the money but I think more so about the quality have made these easy to hang on to! I didn't know what I was missing!

Best regards

Mike O

I actually use a monocular a lot, it's good, it's real easy to use with little movement. And it's easier to hide one lens.

Seriously good cheap prices on all sorts of binos, just order from a proper site.
Ive heard of bootlegs and I have seen a bootleg Leupold scope that was bought on line.

I have a pair of these Kahles in 8x42 and they are phenomenal, better than my Swarovski binos.

You cannot beat this glass and they are a steal at $399

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ka8xlihnbicl.html

SNAP! those Kahles are a good deal... I ordered some BD8.5X42BR aspherical lens minox today for $250. I already had minox and loved them.

After you decide on what you are looking for check out www.riflescopes.com. You can really get some good deals on some of their products.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
That's how one set of Binoculars is referred to: As a pair of binoculars. Buy the Nikons.

It's actually a pair of monoculars. The misnomer "a pair of binoculars" is in common usage, but it's incorrect.

Jetdriver

Thanks for setting us straight on that. I'll put that in the Claven file.


I'll buy you a drink at the next SCI show if you walk up to the Zeiss boot and ask them if you can take a look at their best "pair of monoculars".

Wish I was going. I'd take you up on that.

Hell of it is, I lost the vision in my right eye over 40 years ago, and one of the first things I discovered is that a quality monocular is difficult if not impossible to find. Or was, the last time I looked, many years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
[
Hell of it is, I lost the vision in my right eye over 40 years ago, and one of the first things I discovered is that a quality monocular is difficult if not impossible to find. Or was, the last time I looked, many years ago.

I'm sorry to hear about your eye. Have you tried the Zeiss MiniQuick monocular?

PM me and I will send you an email from an outfitter friend that just put up a nice pair of binos he has for sale. Forget the details but I can send you his email and you can contact him.

Thanks everyone, I purchaced a Minox BD8.5X42BR aspherical from Doug at Cameraland. I emailed him on his day off, friday, not expecting to hear from him until monday. He called my cell and told me about these and their promo price for them at $250. I had some of the old Bd8x42br that were not aspherical that I loved so I thought these at this price will be hard to beat. Thanks again everyone.