[newfie ghost]

What is the best binocular deal you have scored? What was the model and the price?

For me, Nikon EDG I referb, $699 dollars. I paid more for my Premier.

[bh46118]

Vortex 6.5X32 Fury for $130.

[FrankD]

Nikon venturer 8x42 for $350. Excellent condition. Gotta love when folks incorrectly price models.

[Torview]

Optolyth Alpin 8x30 Classic Ceralin Plus, £29.50 !

[ceasar]

Nikon 10 x 32 EDG I with Nikon SLR Camera Kit for $999.00.

Bob

[Veracocha]

Every Hawke Frontier ED I ever bought (9). Just got another pair of MK II for £200

[Brisket]

Vortex Fury 6.5x32 for $105 shipped and a Minox 8x25 Macroscope for $60 shipped, both new in box. Almost makes up for some prior junk optics purchases. Perhaps there should be a worst deal thread as well.

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by FrankD

Nikon venturer 8x42 for $350. Excellent condition. Gotta love when folks incorrectly price models.

No fair, Frank. I know that before bidding, you rub your fingers on a rabbit's foot from a rabbit you caught yourself!

Well, not quite the steal as that, but close, was another BF member, whose name I shall not mention to maintain his privacy, who bought a Nikon 10x42 SE on eBay for mooreorless $275! Once this spoiled him rotten, he could not bring himself to buy any premium bin unless it was discounted at least half price.

I guess the best deal I ever got was on a Swift 8x44 Ultralite ED, which was "old new stock" from a store on eBay. Can't remember what I paid, but it was about half the price it sold for new, though they had been discontinued for a number of years at the time of purchase, so I guess the store was anxious to get rid of them.

I was pretty excited about this purchase, but then disappointed when I found that the optics had excessive pincushion like the 10x42 Ultralite. I was hoping the distortion level was similar to the 8x42 Ultralite, which I liked and regretted selling, but pincushion started not far off axis and at the edge of the field of view (which was not large), Cupid's Bow was primed and ready to shoot. The rectangular-shaped garbage bin out back looked like a horse saddle. More typically, WF bins suffer from excessive pincushion, so this surprised me.

There was much to recommend about the bin, the large exit pupils, the ED glass, and the lightweight body and good ergonomics. Those who are not susceptible to "rolling bowl" would probably enjoy using them. The bin's only real shortcoming for birding was its long close focus - 18 ft.! If I had kept it I could have tweaked that down to about 15 ft by rotating the screw on the front of the centerpost.

<B>

[FrankD]

Actually Brock it was Cabelas bargain cave. Nearest I could figure was that someone there mistook them for slightly glorified Nikon Monarchs and priced them accordingly.



Haven't been on the bay much lately. Only a handful of bins I would be interested in and it seems everyone else is too.

I did see a Zen Ray Prime 8x42 over on astromart a day or so ago for under $500.

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by FrankD

Actually Brock it was Cabelas bargain cave. Nearest I could figure was that someone there mistook them for slightly glorified Nikon Monarchs and priced them accordingly.



Haven't been on the bay much lately. Only a handful of bins I would be interested in and it seems everyone else is too.

I did see a Zen Ray Prime 8x42 over on astromart a day or so ago for under $500.

Ah, so you carry your rabbit's foot around with you? :-)

Did you also see the 7x50 Nova I PMed you about for $375? I don't think it sold. Probably got bumped off the list. He said if he didn't sell it at his price, he was going to keep it. We'll see. I'll be checking eBay for it. Not that I want to buy it. I'd prefer the 7x35 Nova. Less heavy, and its exit pupil size is more suitable for my eyes.

<B>

[mr h]

I paid £300 for a pair of leica ultravids ,they came as a deal with a leica apo 62 with zoom and 32w eye piece and stay on case plus tripod all for the bargain price of £950 .As new ?,i used them solid for 2 years until the zoom eye piece developed a rattle and the bins turned into a snow globe,i made such a fuss at the shop that they gave me the credit,but i wasn't happy ,i walked out with apair of svs straight swop

[stephen b]

I have had a # of very good deals over the years. And some good ones recently.

But as far as details- I can't share that info; its classified

As one of my ex. Brother in law's used to say- " If I told you that information- I would have to see to it that you were hurt"

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by newfie ghost

What is the best binocular deal you have scored? What was the model and the price?

For me, Nikon EDG I referb, $699 dollars. I paid more for my Premier.

My new Nikon 8x32 EDG II's for $800.00(Retail $2200.00). Bought a pair of EDG I's on E-bay for $800.00 and I had trouble with them and I sent them back to Nikon and they sent me a new pair of EDG II's for no cost to me.

[edwincjones]

Fujinon 25x150MT - $5000 (2002)

regular price, but binoculars have done more for me than any others
more astronomy, but a good birding binoc,
AS LONG AS the birds come to me

edj

[rmcconachy]

A pair of new `old stock' Nikon 12x50SE binoculars that I purchased about four years ago for $375.

[mooreorless]

"Well, not quite the steal as that, but close, was another BF member, whose name I shall not mention to maintain his privacy, who bought a Nikon 10x42 SE on eBay for mooreorless $275! Once this spoiled him rotten, he could not bring himself to buy any premium bin unless it was discounted at least half price."

Yep, that was me, Ebay "Buy it Now" . Sold it to Kevin P, wish I had kept it.

[FrankD]

Speaking of which, Kevin should have quite a selection considering what I sold him as well. It is a shame he doesn't post more often.

[mooreorless]

Frank I got some very good deals off you. Thanks!

[FrankD]

Anytime Steve. The only Bin I plan on selling at the moment is a Nikon Action 7x35 for $25. I am only selling it to finance another inexpensive purchase.

Truth be told I forgot what I sold you. I remember the Earth and Sky 60 mm but can't recall anything else. Kevin, on the other hand, bought more of my high end stuff than I can remember...a Zeiss Fl 7x42, Diascope 65 with Baader Hyperion zoom, Meopta Meostar 8x32 and I am sure many more.

[Roadbike]

Originally Posted by newfie ghost

What is the best binocular deal you have scored? What was the model and the price?

For me, Nikon EDG I referb, $699 dollars. I paid more for my Premier.

Swarovski 6x30 Habicht new in the box with case, straps and papers for $350. Nikon EII 8x30 new in the box for $250. Nikon 6x15 Mikron reissue new in the box for $130.

[mooreorless]

Originally Posted by FrankD

Anytime Steve. The only Bin I plan on selling at the moment is a Nikon Action 7x35 for $25. I am only selling it to finance another inexpensive purchase.

Truth be told I forgot what I sold you. I remember the Earth and Sky 60 mm but can't recall anything else. Kevin, on the other hand, bought more of my high end stuff than I can remember...a Zeiss Fl 7x42, Diascope 65 with Baader Hyperion zoom, Meopta Meostar 8x32 and I am sure many more.

Frank the Leupold 6x30 Yosemite and Nikon 8x32SE [Brock has it now]. I traded a Nikon 8x32LX for another 8SE .

[FrankD]

Ah, yes, now I remember. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.

[Yippeekiay]

I did get a Doctor 15x60 for $600 last year(?). That's about the only deal thus far....
Unless you count a $1500 sub woofer for $0. Neither here nor there I just like to tell it!

[John Dracon]

One day I picked up a like new Bushnell Rangemaster 7x35 made in the 1950s for $75.00 The case was also mint, Not many people on this web site claim they own one of these gems. Probably the best 7x35 wide angle ever made. Stunning view for single coated binocular. (525 feet with hugh sweet spot) One has to use these to appreciate how good the best Japanese optics were almost 60 years ago.

[tpcollins]

Early 2011 I sold my Swarovski 8x32 ELs (that I had for 8 years) for $70 less than I paid for them , turned around and bought a brand new pair of Zeiss Victory 8x42 FL T* for $1400 that I drool every time I look thru them.