Binocular recommendation?

R

Rovert

Joined
Apr 22, 2000
Messages
94
Looking for suggestions on a small, light, basic set of binoculars to keep in a BOB / Survival kit. Should be under $200 (preferably around $100), small, roughly 8x-10x, but quality optics. Bells and whistles don't matter - only performance. Has anyone heard anything about the Minox binocs?

TIA!
 
I have a great set of Minolta 9x25's that I love to death. If I remember correctly, they were within your $100 tag.

Mike
 
Take a look at these steiners from Sierra trading Post

STPost.com

Look under General Outdoor Gear, choose Binoculars, its toward the end of the page.


Sam
 
I've used both the Minox and Steiners, and you wouldn't go wrong with either. Also take a look at the Pentax offerings. About a year ago, a Field & Stream writer took a load of high-buck binos to an optics lab for objective testing of their resolution. The $400 Pentax WP series equalled the $1400 Zeiss in resolving power. I bought a friend the 8X32 WP Pentax for under $300 and the 8 or 10X20 were around $200 from NYC camera discounters. By the way, the writer liked the Minox a lot, even though the resolution on the Pentax was a bit better.

I have two old sets of Minoltas (8X20 and 10X25). While they do not have phase coated prisms and do not perform like the Pentax WP, they work just fine for hiking and cost $60-120. A friend has some budget Nikons in that price range that are also fine. I got the Pentax for hunting, where resolution is critical in low light or heavy cover.
 
I have the 8x22 compact Steiners that www.sierratradingpost.com is selling. I like mine for the compactness and the resolution. I have to admit, though, I usually reach for the 8x30 Steiner Firebirds for the larger exit pupil and longer eye relief. Plus the larger size is easier to hold even though they are quite light.

The compacts are now $50 less then what I got mine for. Actually, for a BOB, I'd want something fairly rugged. The 8x30 Military Marines are probably a good choice (for the armor and the water proof/resistance), though expensive if you're just going to stick them in the BOB and leave them there.

The url is www.sierratradingpost.com

You'll brouse the site by vendor as the direct url is too long to work correctly.

gm
 
Steiner Military/Marine 8x30s get my vote. Very tough, waterproof, and great optics. This is probably the only Steiner model you'll find at a really reasonable price, too (maybe because they are produced in much greater quantity??).
I paid $189 several years ago. Still see them for around that, sometimes.
Yeah, my buddy's $1100 Swarovskis are better, but then....they were $1100.
 
Why have a binocular when you can have a monocular. Have the bucks spent on one tube not two. I had a Pentax 8x40 monocular that was very good. Unfortunately, it is now showing the abuse after ten years and the original crisp image is now dulled.

What I really like about small monoculars is that you can hold them to the eye with one fisted hand and without everyone knowing you are watching something. With Bino's, I always feel that everyone around you wants to know what you are lokking at.

Ziess do some crackers though expensive. A better rifle scope is another option.
 
I agree with the convenience/weight/size argument on monoculars. They are handy when you don't need to do really detailed viewing. However, when I've been varmint hunting and used my 10 x 42 Pentax WP binoculars with a rifle that has a 6-18 x 40 scope, I've found that I can't see anywhere near as well with the scope set at 10 power as I can with the 10 power binos. The riflescope needs to be cranked up near 18 to let me see things I can pick up through the binoculars at 10.

If I were making fairly casual observations I'd go along with the monocular, but at least for my eyes it won't do as good a job for detailed viewing (like trying to pick an animal out of thick cover).
 
Originally posted by DancesWithKnives
I agree with the convenience/weight/size argument on monoculars. They are handy when you don't need to do really detailed viewing. However, when I've been varmint hunting and used my 10 x 42 Pentax WP binoculars with a rifle that has a 6-18 x 40 scope, I've found that I can't see anywhere near as well with the scope set at 10 power as I can with the 10 power binos. The riflescope needs to be cranked up near 18 to let me see things I can pick up through the binoculars at 10.

If I were making fairly casual observations I'd go along with the monocular, but at least for my eyes it won't do as good a job for detailed viewing (like trying to pick an animal out of thick cover).
Click to expand...


DancesWithKnives made a very important observation here. There is a definite site/distance/clarity advantage with a Binoc over a monoc. Using both eyes together makes a BIG diference. A 10x Binocular will see farther than a 10x Monocular. Not because of the Binoc itself but because of the way our eyes work. A Binocular is a better investment if you really want quality magnification.
 
I like the Orion brand of telescopes and binoculars. They're only middle quality, but excellently priced. I had a pair of 9x63s that where astronomical quality for only $189. These where probably overkill for survival purposes, but they have compact models and even mini "credit card" type glasses as well as monoculars in your price range. Their antireflection coatings are first rate, customer service is good, and they're easy to order from.
Though primarilly an amateur astronomy company, they also cater to bird watchers, and survailence. In addition to their own brands, they carry cannon, celestron, polaris, and zeis/steiner.

try these: http://www.telescope.com/cgi-bin/Or...9c90285569a271ec0a80a0c069f/Product/View/C024
 
Just stumbled across this thread . . . go one! I am kind of a binoc freak myself and I definitely agree with DWW! My favorite pair of binocs are the Pentax dcf wp 8x42s! They are awesome! But, they are about 4 times! your $100 range!!
For a small binocular, I have not found a better one than the Canon 8x23 WP! They are great and can be had for about $100! They are not Phase Corrected like the Pentax but they are very clear and have a click stop diopter which is a good feature in a small binocular! Hope you find what you want!
 
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