High end binos

[Umpqua Hunter]

I've used Swarovski 10x42s for the past 20 years. When they were coming out with the ranging binoculars at the end of 2011, I sold enough old gear in a week to put them on preorder. It looks like the price has gone up $300 since I bought mine. I love, love, love mine!

One of the best uses of the built in rangefinder was on my wife's sheep hunt. The rams were rutting and moving pretty quickly between bands of ewes. We were in huge open canyon country and the built in rangefinder was awesome for picking out features quickly as we were trying to set up quickly for a difficult shot opportunity. I don't think we would have pulled that of with a separate rangefinder.

Every time I have done warranty work with Swarovski, it has been ridiculously good. My first pair of SLCs had 10+ years of hard wear and use on them. When I got them back they looked like they were brand new. That completely sold me.

My last warranty work was on a spotting scope. I drove over my scope after spotting a big buck on the way driving in one morning. They did charge me but it was pretty minimal considering the level of squash-ed-ness I had given that scope…lol.

 

[ando_31]

The reason I have and have had such high end scopes were for 1000 yard F class matches and tactical matches, I didn't need to spend so much money on premier, Schmidt & Bender and nightforce but thought I needed to try them all. Now I'm hunting with a $300 dollar pair of binos, and I have no idea why I haven't upgraded yet. I keep thinking of that saying, buy once cry once and just need to figure out what I want to get. I'm guessing I should probably get a new pair before alaska in sept if I want to see anything.lol

I suppose that is as good of reason to have high end scopes over binos as a person could have.

I don't think you can go wrong with the three big brands. All have good resale values and are exceptional glass. Vortex is no doubt a step down, but not as far a step down as nikon monarchs. It sounds like all you need to do is find a place to try the binos and pick what suits your eyes best. As far as the zeiss being brighter than the swaros, that was also the case for spotting scopes in an article posted by Mike Eastman in one of recent magazines where the spotters were compared side by side.

If you're going to buy a pair of high end bino's at some point in life, doesn't it make sense to do it sooner rather than later since chances are you will have them the rest of your life? The sooner you buy them less cost will be incurred in a per year basis....thats how I typically end up talking myself into big optics purchases.

 

[Retterath]

yeah thats where i would love the rangefinding binos is not have to put your binos down grab your rangefinder then try to find it again and get a range.

yeah ando its better i buy now then later cause they always go up in price.
What do u guys that bow hunt use for a rangefinder? do u use a small hand held one or do u use your bino/rf

 

[Musket Man]

They have gone up alot. I hear some of why Swaro has gone up so much the last few years is our dollar is worth less and the exchange rate had bumped our price up. I think 10x42 EL were $13-1400 when I got mine and I think that was in 2003?

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

They have gone up alot. I hear some of why Swaro has gone up so much the last few years is our dollar is worth less and the exchange rate had bumped our price up. I think 10x42 EL were $13-1400 when I got mine and I think that was in 2003?

I think I would have bought 100 pairs if you found them for $13

 

[Musket Man]

I think I would have bought 100 pairs if you found them for $13

They only had 1 left, lucky I got there when I did

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

They only had 1 left, lucky I got there when I did

Crud, that always happens to me too.

 

[Musket Man]

Had to drive all the way to Nebraska at that! LOL

 

[Retterath]

now if i wanted to use the range finding bins for bow hunting are they heavy and hard to range with one hand, cause i was thinking if i buy the range finding binos, I'm probably still going to need to keep a smaller hand held rangefinder for bowhunting? Don't some of those rangefinder binos, the closest they range are like 30-40 yards?

 

[mntnguide]

Mine ranges quickly in the 10 yard+ range...but that being said it would not be my choice for bowhunting. Binos are definitely heavier and more cumbersome than the small one-hand rangefinders...But you can get great small bowhunting rangefinders for very good prices now adays when you are just wanting it for close range and dont need the longer range models when you have the binos.

 

[Retterath]

swaro's 10x42 EL swarovision for $2190 am i going to get any cheaper anywhere else

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

swaro's 10x42 EL swarovision for $2190 am i going to get any cheaper anywhere else

That is a fair price on a great binocular.

 

[Retterath]

Does the zeiss victory bino/rangefinder 10x45 have the angle compenstor in the rangefinder

 

[ando_31]

....I went from being glad I wasn't in your shoes to being jealous real fast

 

[Retterath]

i have been on the computer all day and my wife is making fun of me saying I'm so indecisive and can't ever make up my mind. I don't know if i should get the range finding binos or just get the El 10x42 since i have a leica rangefinder 1600 but now I'm thinking i should have a rangefinder with angle compensation in it. Help me!!! musket man already told me just get the el non rangefinder and be done with it.

 

[mntnguide]

Zeiss does not have angle compensation in it

 

[Retterath]

well mntnguide i know u spend many days in the mountains hunting elk and mule deer do wish that you think you have ever need the angle compensation hunting from steep inclines

 

[mntnguide]

I personally dont mind not having it. It is a useful tool though for someone who wants it. I just have been around the mountains long enough that i take into perspective shooting at inclines and have for many years, so I feel i make the correct judgements when either shooting myself, or telling clients where to hold. . For someone who has not had much experience hunting in steep trajectory areas and doesnt understand that you must take angle into account for where you hold, It is definitely worth having. When i get out of guiding someday and get to spend more time hunting for myself, I probably will pick up a small rangefinder with angle compensation in it for my bowhunting. With rifle, you get a bit more lenience in where you have to hit an animal, whereas with a bow, misjudging a 40 yard shot for 30 because of the angle could cause you to plain miss or worse, wound an animal

 

[JNDEER]

I know this is from another site, but this is my feelings on the subject.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?7225-My-quest-for-quot-the-one-quot

 

[Retterath]

Wow great job jndeer, everyone needs to read that if looking at new binos. Do u ever wish u had a rangefinder built into the bino's? This is where I don't know what to do. The geovids B don't have that angle compensation till after 100 yards plus the Swarovski el range, the closest they range is 30 yards and plus the range button is on the right side, kinda hard to hold bow with left and range at the same time. Has anyone ever used the bushnell fusion 1 mile the new version. They have button on right side and also have angle compensation but don't know how the glass would be.