Best binoculars around $100

Monofletch

Monofletch

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I am looking for the best binoculars I can buy for around $100.
I have found Vortex Diamondback HD so far. Anyone with more knowledge than me want to chime in and help?

Thank you
 
Monofletch said:
I am looking for the best binoculars I can buy for around $100.
I have found Vortex Diamondback HD so far. Anyone with more knowledge than me want to chime in and help?
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Help us with your intended use or uses. Birding? Hunting? Marine? Astronomical? A night at the opera? Will they stay at home or travel with you? If they'll travel, how will you carry them? Suitcase? Car? Jacket pocket or backpack? Which is more important to you, field of vision or compact size? How big and strong are the intended users?

Your price point is low, but Pentax makes good compact binoculars that sell for around $100.
 
Piso Mojado said:
Help us with your intended use or uses. Birding? Hunting? Marine? Astronomical? A night at the opera? Will they stay at home or travel with you? If they'll travel, how will you carry them? Suitcase? Car? Jacket pocket or backpack? Which is more important to you, field of vision or compact size? How big and strong are the intended users?

Your price point is low, but Pentax makes good compact binoculars that sell for around $100.
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Good question here ^. I only have one Vortex brand optics and that was a good surprise. Bushnell is still a decent company.
Unless you are looking for compact, 8x32 is the smallest general purposes use, though 8x42 is a huge improvement especially as regards light gathering at either end of the day. $100.00 might get you good used at those sizes. Surprisingly they come up here on the exchange pretty regularly.
 
Vortex Diamondback HD are pretty good, and 8x42 is plenty and lighter.

Now, if somebody would gift me binoculars, most of them wouldn't work. I suggest to find some way to check that min/max antipupillary distance of the binoculars will work for the recepient.
 
10 X 50 is borderline needing a tripod to keep the image stable. Surgeons would have no issues but some old arthriticy person would likely be happier with the 8x42. I use 9x42 and that was a good compromise.
 
If you can, check multiple pairs at night. Binoculars can vary from example to example and improperly aligned lenses can be an eyesore. You would be checking to see if stars resolve to pin points.

n2s
 
BTW, 7x50 will get you a nice wide field of view, which is ideal for hunting.

n2s
 
Monofletch said:
Piso Mojado Piso Mojado RayseM RayseM They will be a gift for someone- general purpose and hunting. I was looking at 8x42 or 10x50 I think

Mostly ride in a backpack.
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If the recipient will be backpacking 10+ miles over hill and dale, then weight is the most important consideration. Look at 8x25 compacts and compare weights, they vary considerably. Small sizes are easier for older children to handle. (There are plastic children's binoculars for the little ones.)

If you're backpacking 2 miles from Starved Rock parking lot to Lover's Leap, over plank trails with staircases on the steep hills, then you have more latitude or should I say longitude? 8x42 is good for general use, and 7x50 would be good for hunting as noted. 10x50 is too heavy for most of us to carry far from the car, and too wobbly without some kind of support.

Athlon, Bushnell, Carson, Celestron, Nikon, Pentax, Vortex Diamondback have ok reputations. I've been happy with Pentax. If you need to downsize to meet your budget, 8x32 is a good compromise.
 
Piso Mojado said:
If the recipient will be backpacking 10+ miles over hill and dale, then weight is the most important consideration. Look at 8x25 compacts and compare weights, they vary considerably. Small sizes are easier for older children to handle. (There are plastic children's binoculars for the little ones.)

If you're backpacking 2 miles from Starved Rock parking lot to Lover's Leap, over plank trails with staircases on the steep hills, then you have more latitude or should I say longitude? 8x42 is good for general use, and 7x50 would be good for hunting as noted. 10x50 is too heavy for most of us to carry far from the car, and too wobbly without some kind of support.

Athlon, Bushnell, Carson, Celestron, Nikon, Pentax, Vortex Diamondback have ok reputations. I've been happy with Pentax. If you need to downsize to meet your budget, 8x32 is a good compromise.
Click to expand...
I did see a review and Carson was the budget winner by a lot.
Thank you for the help!
 
I purchased Diamond Vortex binoculars and ended up selling them. I replaced them with Nikon Monarch 5 binoculars that I like a lot more. Of course, they do cost a bit more but are worth it.
 
You might try searching the net for something like "best budget binoculars". People into birdwatching keep track of binocular ratings and quality and there are probably some up to date articles listing the best buys in different price ranges.
I'm not a serious binocular user but I have quite a few pair. My small Nikons that I bought many years ago still work well, these are probably 9x30. I have a couple of pair of Pentax that seem to me to be very good. I agree that around 8 or 9 power is best for most people.
 
I participated in the annual hawk migration watch a couple of years ago. Most of the participants had high end Leica and Zeiss binoculars. The most knowledge and the one who spotted birds that were way out there was a park ranger. He was using Nikon Monarch binoculars that obviously had seen some hard use, but were still very clear.
 
I have narrowed it down to……

Athlon Optics Neos G2 HD 8x42
Vortex Vanquish 10x26
Leupold BX-1 Rogue 10x25mm
 
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