How many binos do you own?

HuskyMusky

Veteran member
Nov 29, 2011
1,337
183
IL
How many pairs does a guy need?
What about a father/son?


I think I'm understanding women's shoe addiction a bit better... but of course binoculars actually are useful ;)
 

zacii

Member
Aug 30, 2013
78
0
Arizona
I only have one set. Leupold 8X42 .

I'd rather invest in a spotting scope before a second pair of binoculars.



Sent from my Galaxy S2
 

Murdy

Active Member
Dec 13, 2011
359
0
North-Central Illinois
Well, I've had some 10x Monarchs for a while, and just recently bought a spotter. Not that I can afford it right now, but have been sniffing around binos on-line.
 

hardstalk

Veteran member
Sep 13, 2011
1,550
43
vegas
I have an unfair advantage, Im a vortex dealer and have access to all my displays when there stocked. Diamondback,Talons, vipers, razors, 8-15x occasionally ill bum the 15x56 swaro's from a buddy. I haven't found my "favorite" or " if I had to choose one" yet. But im having a good time trying to find it :)
 
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mcseal2

Veteran member
Mar 1, 2011
1,171
195
midwest
I have a cheaper pair of 8x42 Minox and 8x30 Steiners that are designated truck binos, stay in there all year.

My good glass is all Zeiss, one pair of Zeiss Victory FL-T 8x56's that are the closest thing to night vision I've seen, great for scouting and stand hunting whitetail around home. For western hunts or anytime I'm more mobile I have the same binos in a 10x42. My wife hunts also so whichever set I'm not using she usually is. I couldn't afford them at retail but found them as demos through Cameraland, Doug cut me a great deal on the pair.

It sounds crazy but the 10x42's and Nikon ED50 pay for themselves every spring when we are calving on the ranch. The spotter's glass is good enough I can often check and see if a new calf is sucking or just trying to find the teat from a half mile without disturbing the pair or spending time trying to find a way to get close. If the calf just starts sucking and then I go disturb them the cow takes off and the calf may be exhausted before she gives him another chance to suck. The Zeiss binos are sharp enough I can check a cows bag to see if she has been sucked from 40yds away instead of walking right up to her which doesn't disturb her as much or get me charged trying to get within 10ft. They really help me perform my job efficiently and the time saved checking one pair may mean I save another before I run out of daylight.

I want to add a Vortex Viper HD 15x50 set for calving, antelope hunting, and to use for scouting from the truck around home. I really want Kaibabs or Swaros but I'm not sure how much use they would get especially with their added weight. From the truck the ED50 will do what the 15x binos can anyway.

I feel crippled scouting without a spotter also anymore. I take the ED50 on all scouting trips and most hunts.
 
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hardstalk

Veteran member
Sep 13, 2011
1,550
43
vegas
I have a cheaper pair of 8x42 Minox and 8x30 Steiners that are designated truck binos, stay in there all year.

My good glass is all Zeiss, one pair of Zeiss Victory FL-T 8x56's that are the closest thing to night vision I've seen, great for scouting and stand hunting whitetail around home. For western hunts or anytime I'm more mobile I have the same binos in a 10x42. My wife hunts also so whichever set I'm not using she usually is. I couldn't afford them at retail but found them as demos through Cameraland, Doug cut me a great deal on the pair.

It sounds crazy but the 10x42's and Nikon ED50 pay for themselves every spring when we are calving on the ranch. The spotter's glass is good enough I can often check and see if a new calf is sucking or just trying to find the teat from a half mile without disturbing the pair or spending time trying to find a way to get close. If the calf just starts sucking and then I go disturb them the cow takes off and the calf may be exhausted before she gives him another chance to suck. The Zeiss binos are sharp enough I can check a cows bag to see if she has been sucked from 40yds away instead of walking right up to her which doesn't disturb her as much or get me charged trying to get within 10ft. They really help me perform my job efficiently and the time saved checking one pair may mean I save another before I run out of daylight.

I want to add a Vortex Viper HD 15x50 set for calving, antelope hunting, and to use for scouting from the truck around home. I really want Kaibabs or Swaros but I'm not sure how much use they would get especially with their added weight. From the truck the ED50 will do what the 15x binos can anyway.

I feel crippled scouting without a spotter also anymore. I take the ED50 on all scouting trips and most hunts.
On a side note: some folks seriously underestimate.

A. How much the smallest technology helps ranchers. Ex. Quads, good glass, comfortable boots and quality wool.

B. the kindness of a heifer. There flat ass mean when they have some calves. Ive seen more horses get their a$$ kicked by heifers with calves than I can count. Ive been on the short end a few times also. Bulls will charge and stop. A pissed heifer will run and run and run you down until they get what they want.
 

ando_31

Active Member
Sep 14, 2012
402
0
ND
4 pair (more pairs of optics than shoes).
Minox 8x20 (100 dollars and good for a take with you everywhere bino)
Minox 10-15x40 (impulse purchase on ebay for 300 dollars and decent quality but may sell soon)
Leica 10-15x50 (1300 used on ebay instead of the 2800 new pricetag and my serious hunting bino)
nikon 8-12x30ish (175 on ebay instead of 850). I just bought the nikons to replace a pair my dad owned many years back that my brother had lost...ebay is a wonderful thing sometimes.
I also own a 80hd swaro.
The leica's are impressively clear, though I have looked through a few pair of duovids that I couldn't get clear no matter what I tried. In hindsight, I would have been better off owning a pair of 15x swaros or zeiss as I don't use the 10 power very often (only when I can't hold 15x still enough), but I'm happy with the 1300 dollars I paid for the used leica.
The variable power binos I bought are the top of the line in the variable bino world and I know some people consider them junk. I think it was more of a hobby/compare em' thing for me. Someday I'll get my 15x swaro's and ditch the rest.

Bino's are to me what shoes are to women. I can only use one pair at a time but I have a pair for just about every occasion.
 

mcseal2

Veteran member
Mar 1, 2011
1,171
195
midwest
On a side note: some folks seriously underestimate.

A. How much the smallest technology helps ranchers. Ex. Quads, good glass, comfortable boots and quality wool.

B. the kindness of a heifer. There flat ass mean when they have some calves. Ive seen more horses get their a$$ kicked by heifers with calves than I can count. Ive been on the short end a few times also. Bulls will charge and stop. A pissed heifer will run and run and run you down until they get what they want.
You are right on with both statements. The glass can save a lot of stress and possible injury for me and my horse or the Polaris Ranger if I'm checking with that. The tamest cow in the world can be a different animal right before, during, and right after calving until her hormones calm down. Mother nature designed it that way to deter predators and it works. Sometimes too the heifer or cow will take off when she sees the threat if she has time and get the calf to follow. If she runs to far and the newborn calf hasn't yet sucked it can be to weak and exhausted to suck by the time she stops. Often to when she stops she is stirred up looking back for the threat and won't stand still for the calf. It is just way better to check from a distance when possible and let nature take it's course, not getting involved unless there is a problem. There are always plenty of problems that spring up during calving, especially in bad weather without going looking for them. Sounds like you have experienced that too.

As far as the technology, I'm the only local rancher wearing Sitka bibs on the ATV I think but I stay warm!
 

Umpqua Hunter

Veteran member
May 26, 2011
3,576
88
61
North Umpqua, Oregon
Two.....a Swarovski EL 10X42 Range and a Swarovski 15x56. I sold off a bunch of old gear, including a pair of Swarovskis and a couple of Leica rangefinders to buy the ranging binos. One of the best purchases I've ever made.
 

UB-AZ

New Member
Dec 17, 2013
42
0
AZ
1st pair - Leica 10x42 Ultravid
2nd pair -Leica 10x42 Geovid (Range Finder built in). Now the wife's bino's.
3rd pair - Swaro's 15x56 SLC's (just for fun because they were cheap on CL)
4th pair - Swaro's 10x42 EL Range...... and probably not the last pair......
oh and I almost forgot. Leica Televid 77 APO spotting scope