Any of you guys ever think about a real rugged "hunting" binocular and wish list.
Why do we need center focusing? Individual focusing is more rugged, less apt to get out of adjustment, and typically offers a better depth of field. I do not loan out my good optics anyway so why adjust them.
When I am hunting early in the morning or on the way out, it is always dark. Somehow the binocs get out of focus. It is hard to refocus in the dark. If you have white on black marks on the individual lens it is easy to locate your desired focus, even in the dark. You need that fine focus at dawn!
Adjustable eye cups are probably what breaks most often on binocs. Just go back to foldable rubber eye cups that are easily replaced.

1) Individual eye focusing
2) Flourite Objectives
3) Flat field eye piece
4) Foldable Rubber eye cups
5) Anti fog lens coatings
6) +16MM of eye relief


Leica, Zeiss, Swar; Are you listening? and BTW; All should have the new anti fog lens coatings.

If any of the BIG 3 would like to produce a nice 10 X 42 with the above options, I would be glad to test them for an extended period

Sounds like you are talking about Steiner Porro Prisms



I used to have a pair of Predator 12x40's until I loaned them to my brother, can't get them back. Since then I have a pair of Leica Geovids so the point is now moot.

3 out of 6 attributes.

If I may, I'd like to add a couple of "wants" to your list, which is very good incidentally.
First, we need binox for hunting here with powers in 6x and 7x, for swamp hunting.
Second, I personally like carrying binox that weigh 20 ounces.
For sitting and scanning long distances for an extended period of time, like out west, heavier and higher powered binox are in order.

Thank you,

Don

Have a look at THIS scope here:

http://titanium-gunworks.com/s...x42-swarovision.html

and if You have taken a look through this Swarovski, You will forget all the crapy rest of "optical devices" anymore...
The price is high - yes, but it is worth every cent. I won´t go hunting without mine anymore & all the guys haven taking a look through it have been astonished as the image is more then brilliant and sharp - it´s just georgeous...!

EZ: You are absolutely correct about the superiority of the IF design over the CF design for hunting binoculars.

Unfortunately, birders, purchasing many times the number of binoculars that hunters do, drive the binocular market. For birding use, quick refocusing is necessary as these guys are trying to follow a 4-inch tall bird with 12X lenses at distances varying from 15 to 150 feet. This kind of viewing really does require quick and frequent refocusing.

When hunting, on the other hand, you almost never need anything but focus to infinity. After all, do you really need to consult your bino when a buck jumps from cover 20 yards from your path?

IF bino designs are cheaper, lighter in weight, easier to seal from moisture, more dependable, more rugged, and most importantly, STAY IN FOCUS when CF binoculars are always being inadvertantly moved out of focus.

The original line of Japanese-made Leupold binoculars came closest to meeting your criteria. Just watch the money they go for when a pristine pair comes up on ebay! You'd think the manufacturers would learn something from this, but I guess they're all out chasing a bird watcher.

I had a a pair of Leupold poro prisms when they initially came out. Probably 30 years ago. They did have IF focusing however they were not waterproof. I used them quite a few years and I believe I left they somewhere but they came up missing.
I agree with you on the birding issue. I would really like to have some Leica HD's with IF focusing and rubber eye cups as I believe they are the best thought out hunting binocs made (compact, highest impact resistance, scratch resistant lense coatings, hydrophobic lens coatings, FL objectives) TOUGH along with great optics!

EZ

It is surprising how few binoculars are waterproof. Certainly the CF mechanism presents an additional challenge in waterproofing. And compared to a riflescope, you have to waterproof two separate "scope" tubes plus the focusing cam connecting them.

Another good reason for manufacturers to offer a high-quality IF binocular.

I have used individual focusing binos, and I hated them. I would NEVER have a pair.

Many times when stalking I will have my rifle on one hand and my binos in the other, the binos up to my eyes, and I want to be able to adjust the focus with one hand.

This lets me look "through" brush, and between trees for any animal part I might see.

+1

quote:

Many times when stalking I will have my rifle on one hand and my binos in the other, the binos up to my eyes, and I want to be able to adjust the focus with one hand.

The only reason you need to adjust the focus of hunting binoculars EVER is if they get moved out of adjustment. IF binoculars with proper detents never move, whereas the focus "wheel" on most CF binoculars seems to move itself whenever you're not looking at it. Then there's the diopter "thing". That presents a second adjustment, making the CF have as many adjustments as the IF, just more complicated ones. Most people try to adjust the CF and the diopter in backward order resulting in optical chaos.

Besides, if you're able to see what you're looking at holding the bino in just one hand, then what you're looking at is way too close for you to need the binos .

10-4 on getting out of adjustment by themselves. Just riding in the passenger seat of the truck they get 1/2-1 turn out of focus and that is just not a specific pair but typical with Zeiss, Swar, and leica. My 10 X 70 Fujis (IF) never move but who wants to carry them?

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

Many times when stalking I will have my rifle on one hand and my binos in the other, the binos up to my eyes, and I want to be able to adjust the focus with one hand.

The only reason you need to adjust the focus of hunting binoculars EVER is if they get moved out of adjustment. IF binoculars with proper detents never move, whereas the focus "wheel" on most CF binoculars seems to move itself whenever you're not looking at it. Then there's the diopter "thing". That presents a second adjustment, making the CF have as many adjustments as the IF, just more complicated ones. Most people try to adjust the CF and the diopter in backward order resulting in optical chaos.

Besides, if you're able to see what you're looking at holding the bino in just one hand, then what you're looking at is way too close for you to need the binos .

I can't imagine needing or even wanting anything more than my Swarovski 10x42 EL for an all-round hunting binocular. I have had smaller and heavier, but this is the only pair I own now and feel the same way about them as Charlton Heston did about guns (...from my cold dead hands).

As an extra pair, I would love a Zeiss 20x60S for mountain hunting, especially if my sherpa would carry them!

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Besides, if you're able to see what you're looking at holding the bino in just one hand, then what you're looking at is way too close for you to need the binos .

I know you are staying this tongue in cheek but in truth binos are very useful indeed in thick cover at distances of 20 or 30 yards, or less. As N E 450 No2 pointed out using the focus on your binos can allow you to see "through" thick cover and focus on the deer standing behind it. For some reason it is much easier to do this with binos than with the naked eye, I guess just because the binos can accurately focus 6 feet behind the screen of bushes on the actual deer.

I appreciate that this isn't an issue for some based on where they hunt but even when sneaking through the bushes here in Ireland using the binos in this way gives you a big advantage. Of course while you are focusing on the deer you are going to stand on a twig at your feet which with break with a crack and chase every deer for half a mile but that is another matter :-)

One word. Weight.

Knock off the CF option and replace the screw out eye pieces with rubber fold down units and you probably save 2-4 oz. Take you 26-27 oz 10 X 42's down to 23-24 oz. A noticeable drop when you are wearing them all day.

I have a pair of Zeiss FL 10 x 42(dunno the designations, the new one), Swaro 10 x 42 EL and Leica 10 x 42, the ones with the rangefinders.

All good glass. One can mentally masturbate over which one can designate a fly's gender at 100 yds. Truth be known I don't see much difference between them and the old Zeiss armored Classics.

As far as hunting is concerned, I only use the Leicas in uncharted territories as the last thing I do is range it before I pick up my gun. They are the most usefull.

As far as weight is concerned. I don't care. I'm fat, I've hunted Alaska (lost 20# in 2 weeks) & BC, even did the horseback thing. When you're carrying 20-30# of gun/gear a couple of ounces TO ME is irrelevent. Just take a shit in the morning to save you some weight.

As far as knobs, etc. The less the better. Last thing I need is an instruction manual on which knob does what, adjust this then do that.....they (above) all have good glass <- that to me is what matters.

The Leicas have the advantage of the range finder. So if I had to have only one it'd be those. But if it's just binos it'd be the armored Classics.

quote:

Originally posted by caorach:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Besides, if you're able to see what you're looking at holding the bino in just one hand, then what you're looking at is way too close for you to need the binos .

I know you are staying this tongue in cheek but in truth binos are very useful indeed in thick cover at distances of 20 or 30 yards, or less. As N E 450 No2 pointed out using the focus on your binos can allow you to see "through" thick cover and focus on the deer standing behind it. For some reason it is much easier to do this with binos than with the naked eye, I guess just because the binos can accurately focus 6 feet behind the screen of bushes on the actual deer.

I appreciate that this isn't an issue for some based on where they hunt but even when sneaking through the bushes here in Ireland using the binos in this way gives you a big advantage. Of course while you are focusing on the deer you are going to stand on a twig at your feet which with break with a crack and chase every deer for half a mile but that is another matter :-)

Caorach: You are exactly right about the ability of binoculars to help distinguish an animal in thick brush at relatively close range. This is quite similar to their use in birding, where ranges can be very short and highly variable. This is a rather specialized occasion in which the CF feature is actually useful. However, it represents only a fraction of the hunting done with binoculars, so I think that EZ's assertion that IF's are superior for most hunting still holds water.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
[ Then there's the diopter "thing". That presents a second adjustment, making the CF have as many adjustments as the IF, just more complicated ones. Most people try to adjust the CF and the diopter in backward order resulting in optical chaos.

Stonecreek, What IS the correct order for that???

L-E-I-C-A
ULTRAVID HD
7x42

thank me later

I am currently using the new Nikon Dialectric 8x42's with no complaints. Optical brightness and clarity are my two most important attributes in a bino. Swarovski's are the best that I have compared but are 3 to 4 times price prohibitive.