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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Best Optics $100 to $300, $400 to $600, $800 to $1200 and $1800 to $2200. (1 Viewer)

D

Dennis Mau

Well-known member
Supporter
What do you think are the best BIRDING binoculars in each price category $100 to $300, $400 to $600, $800 to $1200 and $1800 to $2200. Since we have a lot of knowledge about binoculars on Bird Forum and everybody especially newbies are buying binoculars in different price ranges it is really helpful to get different opinions from seasoned bird watchers what they prefer if they could spend a set amount of money. You can have several in each category if you like. I will open the voting up with my choices. I will continually update it with other choices so when we are done we will have the ultimate "Bird Forum" binocular list.


1)$100 to $300------ (Nikon Monarch 8x42, Bresser 8x43 ED, Bushnell Legend HD, Sightron 8x32 Blue Sky )

2)$400 to $600------ (Nikon 8x32 SE, Nikon 8x30 EII, Viper HD, Mckinley's)

3)$800 to $1200----- (Used Swarovski 8x32 EL, Used Zeiss 8x32 FL, Meopta/Euro HDs, Zeiss Conquest HD)

4)$1800 to $2200---- (Swarovision 8x32)
 
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I don't have any experience with better bins but for the money, and from the awards it's won, the Bushnell Legend HD should be in your first bracket ! Despite my reservations over build quality the imaging is excellent.
 
Agree with the Bushnell's being in that first bracket. I'd add the Viper HD and McKinley into the 400-600 bracket. I disagree with your placement of WB EL; I consider my pair to be on the same level as the 400-600 bracket. Too much CA and the edges are no better.
 
I think putting used binoculars into an arbitrary price category in a poll like this is nonsense. It puts the entire purpose of the poll into question.

If you have used binoculars you want to sell put them on the market and see what prices they will bring.

Bob
 
Another thread with a send-up premise, so he can pump bins he currently owns. Yet the hook is set for another 30 pages of replies...........
 
ceasar said:
I think putting used binoculars into an arbitrary price category in a poll like this is nonsense. It puts the entire purpose of the poll into question.

If you have used binoculars you want to sell put them on the market and see what prices they will bring.

Bob
Click to expand...
It seems to me the big divisions in price are where I set them. After about $1200 it kind of jumps up to the alpha's. I have been consistently been able to get the older alpha's for $800 to $1200 every time I bought them and I have bought them quite a few times. IMO they will consistently out perform the newer $1000 group like the Zeiss Conquest HD's every time in a lot of parameters.
 
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ceasar said:
I think putting used binoculars into an arbitrary price category in a poll like this is nonsense. It puts the entire purpose of the poll into question.

If you have used binoculars you want to sell put them on the market and see what prices they will bring.

Bob
Click to expand...
Why. It is an excellent tool for beginners and seasoned birders alike to get an idea of what binoculars to look at in their respective price categories. It never gets old either because the newer binoculars are always changing. The members of Bird Forum are a wonderful source of information on what the best performing binocular are in each price category.
 
[email protected] said:
It seems to me the big divisions in price are where I set them. After about $1200 it kind of jumps up to the alpha's.
Click to expand...

It seems to me you have not thought this out.

Should used Nikon 8 x 32 SEs and Nikon 8 x 30 EIIs be competing with new Monarchs, Bressers and Bushnell Legend HDs in the $100 to $300 category?

Where would you place used Swarovisions and in competition with what new binoculars?

Bob
 
[email protected] said:
IMO they will consistently out perform the newer $1000 group like the Zeiss Conquest HD's every time in a lot of parameters.
Click to expand...

I strongly disagree with this. I have not handled the Conquest HD, but I have messed around with the Razor HD along with several of the ~$600 binocs out today and, in general, they perform much better or at least similarly to the WB EL I own which shows both higher levels of CA than either the McKinley HD/Viper HD/Razor HD along with more edge distortion.

I think people idolize the 'Alphas' too much.
 
jremmons said:
I strongly disagree with this. I have not handled the Conquest HD, but I have messed around with the Razor HD along with several of the ~$600 binocs out today and, in general, they perform much better or at least similarly to the WB EL I own which shows both higher levels of CA than either the McKinley HD/Viper HD/Razor HD along with more edge distortion.

I think people idolize the 'Alphas' too much.
Click to expand...

Amen.
 
ceasar said:
It seems to me you have not thought this out.

Should used Nikon 8 x 32 SEs and Nikon 8 x 30 EIIs be competing with new Monarchs, Bressers and Bushnell Legend HDs in the $100 to $300 category?

Where would you place used Swarovisions and in competition with what new binoculars?

Bob
Click to expand...
When was the last time you saw a used SE or EII for $100 to $300? People don't sell them that often and when they do they get $400 to $500.
 
Last edited:
jremmons said:
I strongly disagree with this. I have not handled the Conquest HD, but I have messed around with the Razor HD along with several of the ~$600 binocs out today and, in general, they perform much better or at least similarly to the WB EL I own which shows both higher levels of CA than either the McKinley HD/Viper HD/Razor HD along with more edge distortion.

I think people idolize the 'Alphas' too much.
Click to expand...
FASCINATING! This could be another excellent thread. Do the newer sub $1k ED binoculars with all the bells and whistles outperform the older alpha's that can be had for around $1K. What are other peoples opinions on this? Does a Viper HD outperform the older Swarovski EL? What do you think?
 
[email protected] said:
What do you think are the best BIRDING binoculars in each price category $100 to $300, $400 to $600, $800 to $1200 and $1800 to $2200. Since we have a lot of knowledge about binoculars on Bird Forum and everybody especially newbies are buying binoculars in different price ranges it is really helpful to get different opinions from seasoned bird watchers what they prefer if they could spend a set amount of money. You can have several in each category if you like. I will open the voting up with my choices. I will continually update it with other choices so when we are done we will have the ultimate "Bird Forum" binocular list.


1)$100 to $300------ (Nikon Monarch 8x42, Bresser 8x43 ED, Bushnell Legend HD, Sightron 8x32 Blue Sky )

2)$400 to $600------ (Nikon 8x32 SE, Nikon 8x30 EII, Viper HD, Mckinley's)

3)$800 to $1200----- (Used Swarovski 8x32 EL, Used Zeiss 8x32 FL, Meopta/Euro HDs, Zeiss Conquest HD)

4)$1800 to $2200---- (Swarovision 8x32)
Click to expand...

I wonder how the Zen Ray ED3, Opticron HR WP, and Swift Audubon ED compare to other bins in their price bracket.
 
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