I need a pair for my wife. I like the Pentax I have now 8X40. Whats your suggestion?

Pentax DCF SP's from Doug at Cameraland New York. He sells the 8x43 for $409.99 shipped and the 10x43's for $439.99 shipped.

gr8fuldoug@aol.com
www.cameralandny.com
212-753-5128

Any flavor of the Pentax DCF SP. Don't forget the Pentax DCF SP 10x50mm for $500 from Doug at CameralandNY.

Can't speak to the DCF SP's, but I've got a set of the discontined DCF WP'S. I like them, but don't over look the Nikon Monarch ATB's. Got a pair for my brother this Christmas and they are not too shabby and about $250. Haven't put them side by side yet, but no noticeable differences.

What Buster said! If I wasn't already binocular poor, I'd buy another pair for that price.

Hmmm Steiner makes a good hunting binocular in the predator series and leupold's wind river binoculars are pretty good for the money if you don't want the spectrum shift of the predators.

John

Hey Top!

I did the same for my Frau, who wanted her own pair.

Went to SWFA's (www.SWFA.com) Sample List (www.SampleList.com) and purchased a great pair of Steiner 8x30's for less than $150,-. She loves'em.

About to post a set of Steiner 8X56 Night Hunters in the Classifieds... Belong to a friend, Cabela's price approaches $900, and he wants $500 shipped...

without a doubt, the best NIB binocs you'll get in the under $500 range are either the Pentax DCF SP 8x43's or the DCF SP 10x43's .... from Doug at CameralandNY.com ...

for general purpose hunting, the 8x43's are (IMHO) the only way to go ...

I think the Burris Signature line is hard to beat for the money; either in compacts or full size.

DITTO on the Pentax, DCF-SP 8-43..I love mine.

Try the Nikons out. They are much less than your Max $ but, they are great optically.

Good Luck

Reloader

Let's see...
Buy Nikon Monarch ATBs that have been made in a Chinese plant with Chinese labor and Japanese supervision and equipment with only seven years under its belt, OR
the Pentax DCF SP which is superior optically/technically and made in a Japanese plant with Japanese labor, supervision and equipment with 50 years of experience.

I would spend the extra $160 for the Pentax anyday!

Burris Signatures are not any better than either the Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class or Celestron Regal LX binoculars which cost about the same and the Signatures do not have their no-fault warranty that will give you a new pair of binoculars for about $25 even if you break them.

Zeiss Diafun Binoculars.

Leupold Wind River's or Cascade's are very nice in my opinion

The Wind River Cascades previous to the 2006 model year were not phase-corrected and hence not worth the money when compared to other similarly priced roof prism binoculars that have phase correction. Now that the new models are phase corrected I will have to get my hands on a pair to see how they stack up against the similarly priced roof prisms of Chinese production.

The Wind River Olympics (the next interation of the P1) are a good value. But the question was the best for under $500. Pentax DCF SP hands down.

I am with Gerry; SWFA: Bought my Steiner 10x50 military police for under $400. used. Did not find a mark on them...SWFA sample list is always my go to first for optics.

Steiner series work well in the field. Recently used 10x30 on a deer hunt. Was able to id in low light / foggy conditions. Paid about $325 for them on Ebay.

I have the pentax SP in 10x43, they are great value and I paid way more for them than the Cameraland price about 1 year ago.

If anyone's interested, there's a NIB Pentax DCF SP 8x43 in the classifieds over at www.24hourcampfire.com for $375.00.

I agree the pentax is prolly the best on the list, however an extremly close second is the 8x42 nikon ATB, They feel slightly better in my hands and I honestly could not tell the difference between the ATB's and my SP's in low light conditions, maybe my lenses have a scratch or two, and his binocs where fresh out of the box, I think they are slightly lighter too, either way you can't go wrong

The Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42s deserve a look.

Hey, Doug from Camera Land here.
I happen to think that the best quality under $500.00 is the Pentax DCF SP series. They are awesom and as close as you will get to the Euros without approaching the $1000.00 mark.
With that said, we are running a special right now on the Minox binocs and they are worth a strong hard look.
Minox Shot Show Special
From now until I get back from the Shot Show on February 15th we are offering your choice of the Minox BD 6.5x32 IF or the Minox BD 9.5x42 IF binoculars for only $249.99 each, and the Minox BD 15x58 BR ED ASPH @ $769.99 each including shipping in the USA.
So if you are interested in any of these 3 great binoculars now is the perfect time.

The Pentax prices are still as discounted as ever @
Pentax 8x32 DCF SP @ $339.99
Pentax 8x43 DCF SP @ $409.99
Pentax 10x43 DCF SP @ $439.99
Pentax 10x50 DCF SP @ $499.99
Pentax 12.5x50 DCF SP @ $539.99

Pentax PF80 ED Straight Spotting Scope with the Pentax Zoom Eyepiece and the Soft Action Case for only $749.99

There certainly are a lot of options. I can't say my analysis is current, but about tree years ago shopped for good binocs that wouldn't make me feel suicidal if I dropped them from a stand. I ended up with a pair of IOR 7X40s. They are remarkably clear and bright, especially in shadow. The only down side seems their individual focus which slows me up some at very close range. I prefer my little Minox binocs when birding at close range because they have central focus and the color is truer. The IOR's are tough but a little heavier than most. I have a mild tremor in my left hand and the extra weight is a bonus for me. Without the weight I'd need stabilized binocs if scanning for long periods...like when I'm varmint hunting or hunting deer around the edge of a big soybean field.