I'm going on a spring bear hunt in East Glacier, MT. It's mainly spot and stalk with lots of glassing. I've hunted out west before and realize the benefits of really good glass. I am trying to narrow my choices.

1. Magnification
2. Objective size
3. Brand
4. Model

I am a huge fan of German glass but I'm considering a pair of Vortex Razors.

IME, Razors are a bit overpriced. You will get better performance and build quality out of a Meopta 10x42HD, and save some $$$ at the same time. I had the Meopta side by side with my SLC HD and there is little to no difference to my eyes.

For my eyes 10x40 or 10x42 seem to be the perfect match for my style of hunting and the terrain I hunt. I am mostly a spot and stalk guy from Antelope on the plains to Sheep and Goats above timberline and Deer Elk and Bear in between.
I'm still using a fairly old pair of Nikon Monarch's, just sent them in for a cleaning and "tune up" so I haven't really shopped for new optics in awhile.
Find something that is sharp for "your eyes".
Optics seem to be a very personal choice. What looks crisp to one person may not be perfect for the next guy.

If you wear spectacles, your priority need be sufficient field of view. Most binoculars currently manufactured have narrow fields of view to allow reasonably sized binoculars to have higher magnification.

High magnification - that is, higher than 7 power - isn't really needed if you use your binocular rather than wear it. By "use" I mean that perhaps 80 percent of your hunting time that is not getting to-and-from your area is invested looking.

To be able to do this requires a binocular that allows you to view easily, and particularly to view as near to your field of veiw without binoculars as you can get.

Okay, so what binoculars fit what I suggest? Older military binoculars in the 7x40 range are designed to be precisely what I suggest. While central focus is desirable, reality is that you will focus at or near infinity and that's that.

What binoculars do I own? I have a pair of Zeiss 7x42 B/GA T* P* made in 2004. Although it is discontinued, it has optics that are comparable with the best currently made. Abbe-Koenig prisms are their "secret weapon." These are central focus with field of view of 150 meters at 1000 meters.

Military binoculars that meet the criteria include the scarce civilian version of Zrak RD 7x40 (a clone of Zeiss-Jena NVA DF 7x40, made 30 years after NVAs), civilian version of the, circa 1970s, NVA 7x40. There are many others. They are over-built and will do what I recommend without breaking the bank.

Oh, one more thing. I live and hunt in central west Montana, near where you want to hunt.

Hope this helps.

For lots of distance glassing, I'd recommend any of the high end models from Zeiss (Victory HT) Leica (Ulradvid HD), or Swaro (EL) in 10x42. I've upgraded over the years and wish I had gone to the best glass earlier and saved all the $$$ in between. I have the 10x42 ELs.

quote:

I am a huge fan of German glass but I'm considering a pair of Vortex Razors.

I would look at Zeiss Conquest HD over the Razors in 10x42 configuration.

I have had a Zeiss FL, Swaro SLC HD, and Meopta HD, all in 10x42 side by side in the field. In short, the so called "alphas" won't show you anything that the Meopta,or Conquest HD for that matter, won't show you equally as well. I've had well over 100 hunters in camp since 2001, so I get to see all the top shelf stuff. The days of having to spend $2k are long gone IMO.

The Razor would be near the bottom of my list if I were spending $1000 on binos.

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:
I have had a Zeiss FL, Swaro SLC HD, and Meopta HD, all in 10x42 side by side in the field. In short, the so called "alphas" won't show you anything that the Meopta,or Conquest HD for that matter, won't show you equally as well. I've had well over 100 hunters in camp since 2001, so I get to see all the top shelf stuff. The days of having to spend $2k are long gone IMO.

The Razor would be near the bottom of my list if I were spending $1000 on binos.

The new Conquest HDs and Meopta HDs are very good for $1K. Inside of 500 yards or so, there isn't much daylight difference on most $500 and up binos. Go to low light, or 1+ mile, the difference really shows. For example, my Burris Signature 10x50's were as good as the previous model Conquest binos, but my friend's SLCs blew them both away at long distances.

I was strongly considering the new Conquest HDs or Meopta HDs when I bought by Swaro ELs. I'm not sure I could have told the differeence in the real world, but what the heck, I got the ELs.

I'd get swaros and be done with your binocular needs for the rest of your life.
If weight is an issue, 10X or 8X32 work great.
If weight is less an issue, get 10X or 8X42.

The new SLC HDs are supposed to be very nice and they are a few hundred less than ELs.

I find my 8x easier to hold & look through than my 10x.