Need binos for less than $200 (1 Viewer)

[Seth Miller]

I currently have a pair of small 7x21 binoculars, but I'm wanting to buy bigger ones. I would prefer 8x42, but 8x32 are also an option. Max price this time is $200 since I'm a little strapped for cash. I'm planning on buying new, but if it's better I'd consider used. Would appreciate your sage advice since this is my first time buying optics.

 

[jring]

Hi,

sub 200 USD is not so easy, especially when you want new and and now as opposed to be able to wait for a sale. The following two have been described by many in here as giving a very good view and can often be found inside your budget.

Sightron SII 8x32
Bushnell Legend M 8x42

Used is always an option but due to limited availability you really can only give general advice like price should be 60-70% of new or less, roof bins should be phase coated, read up on reviews for the model or ask here if you have an eye on a used pair.
I try to buy used optics in person or from a reputable business with a no questions asked policy.

Joachim

 

[Seth Miller]

Thanks for your response! I knew that $200 is fairly low, but I need a fairly cheap pair to get me through one more year of high school and then university. I don't need to buy them quite right away if there's a decent chance of a sale in the next few months. Where should I be checking for sales? Amazon? Binocular companies official websites? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

SethMiller, post 3,
I would look for a used binocular, one can find fairly cheap ones even quite a bit below 200 dollars and with a good quality.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[ceasar]

I currently have a pair of small 7x21 binoculars, but I'm wanting to buy bigger ones. I would prefer 8x42, but 8x32 are also an option. Max price this time is $200 since I'm a little strapped for cash. I'm planning on buying new, but if it's better I'd consider used. Would appreciate your sage advice since this is my first time buying optics.

Land, Sea and Sky in Houston, Texas has a used Leupold Katmai 8x32 for sale for $179.00 plus shipping. I presume you will have to act quickly.

https://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3844878&postcount=1

Bob

 

[Seth Miller]

Land, Sea and Sky in Houston, Texas has a used Leupold Katmai 8x32 for sale for $179.00 plus shipping. I presume you will have to act quickly.

https://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3844878&postcount=1

Bob

Are those a better option than the ones mentioned in the first reply? Sorry, I know very little about binos.

 

[justabirdwatcher]

IMO there is nothing under $200 that can come close to the Bushnell Legend M's and you can get them for $159 at at least one vendor. My wife's pair never cease to amaze me. She loves them and for good reason. I would not feel handicapped at all taking them birding anywhere. We recently handed them to a woman who has used her Leica Trinovids for 20 years, but complained about the lack of close focus on her older bins. Her reaction was "wow!" She said my wife's Legend M's were brighter and just as sharp if not sharper than her old Trinovids. She wrote the name down and said she was going to order a pair when she got home.

The buzz around these (esp. the 8x42's) is legitimate. They are great glass and IMO indistinguishable from many pairs I've tested in the $500-750 range.

 

[Alexis Powell]

Another vote here for the Bushnell 8x42 Legend M. Just be aware that some units (of any bino) can be defective straight out of the box. So order from a place with a good return/exchange policy just in case you get a lemon.

--AP

 

[[email protected]]

Can you go JUST $80.00 more? These are a great bargain. I would take them over the Bushnell 8x42 Legend M any day of the week. The thing I don't like about the Bushnell Legend M's is that they are BIG for an 8x42. These are smaller and more compact. Better optics and better quality also. Not as much chance of getting a lemon. On Allbino's the Vanguard's ED II in a 10x42 are ranked 7th and the Bushnell Legend M 10x42 are 30th. The Vanguard's are way superior to the Bushnell's in distortion and edge sharpness also.

Vanguard Endeavor ED II Binocular with Premium Hoya ED Glass
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMSVPFS?ie=UTF8&tag=gosale01-20&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Vanguard8x42EndeavorEDII-138.htm
https://www.allbinos.com/allbinos_ranking-binoculars_ranking-10x42.html

 

[justabirdwatcher]

Can you go JUST $80.00 more? These are a great bargain. I would take them over the Bushnell 8x42 Legend M anyday of the week. Better optics and better quality.

Vanguard Endeavor ED II Binocular with Premium Hoya ED Glass
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMSVPFS?ie=UTF8&tag=gosale01-20&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

For nearly 2x as much, they had better be.

 

[Seth Miller]

Can you go JUST $80.00 more? These are a great bargain. I would take them over the Bushnell 8x42 Legend M anyday of the week. Better optics and better quality.

Vanguard Endeavor ED II Binocular with Premium Hoya ED Glass
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMSVPFS?ie=UTF8&tag=gosale01-20&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Vanguard8x42EndeavorEDII-138.htm

It's not just eighty over my stated limit, its 40% more. I would consider it, but with the Bushnell being $100 cheaper and my being very strapped for cash probably not.
Also thanks for all the advice everyone! It's been very helpful so far. From what people have said, I think I'll go for the Bushnell's.

 

[ceasar]

Are those a better option than the ones mentioned in the first reply? Sorry, I know very little about binos.

It is at least as good as they are and should suit your purpose.

Leupold is an American Company with a first rate reputation. Most of their binoculars are made in Japan.

Here is a picture of it from Allbinos with its Specs and with one highly rated customer review.

It has a rather narrow FOV which is why its price is so low. If it had a typical 8º FOV it would be out of your price range.

https://www.allbinos.com/439-Leupold_Katmai_8x32-binoculars_specifications.html

Bob

 

[Seth Miller]

It is at least as good as they are and should suit your purpose.

Leupold is an American Company with a first rate reputation. Most of their binoculars are made in Japan.

Here is a picture of it from Allbinos with its Specs and with one highly rated customer review.


https://www.allbinos.com/439-Leupold_Katmai_8x32-binoculars_specifications.html

Bob

Thanks for the helpful info! Still leaning towards the Bushnell though... At least partially because I prefer (maybe unfairly) 8x42.

 

[PYRTLE]

Enough deliberating, your mind is made up so order them and use them.

 

[chill6x6]

Can you go JUST $80.00 more? These are a great bargain. I would take them over the Bushnell 8x42 Legend M any day of the week. The thing I don't like about the Bushnell Legend M's is that they are BIG for an 8x42. These are smaller and more compact. Better optics and better quality also. Not as much chance of getting a lemon. On Allbino's the Vanguard's ED II in a 10x42 are ranked 7th and the Bushnell Legend M 10x42 are 30th in 10x42"s.

Vanguard Endeavor ED II Binocular with Premium Hoya ED Glass
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMSVPFS?ie=UTF8&tag=gosale01-20&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Vanguard8x42EndeavorEDII-138.htm
https://www.allbinos.com/allbinos_ranking-binoculars_ranking-10x42.html

Agree 100%!

The Legend M has been thru here. The Vanguard Endeavor ED II is STILL here. OVERALL a better binocular.

 

[justabirdwatcher]

Agree 100%!

The Legend M has been thru here. The Vanguard Endeavor ED II is STILL here. OVERALL a better binocular.

Again, I would hope so for nearly 2x the price.

Chuck, how would you rate the Styrka S7's vs. the EDII's or Legend M's? Or another way of asking, what do they remind you of?

Thanks.

 

[RobMorane]

You have the Kowa 8x32 SV at 200$ on Amazon.
They are great little Binos.
Just saying )

 

[chill6x6]

Again, I would hope so for nearly 2x the price.

Chuck, how would you rate the Styrka S7's vs. the EDII's or Legend M's? Or another way of asking, what do they remind you of?

Thanks.

HAHA!.. I still have the EDII! The Styrka is actually a good binocular...just a little over priced.

 

[18000bph]

The Legend M 8x42 is fantastic for the price. If Chuck says the EDII is worth an extra $120 then I'm sure it is, but if you only have $160 to spend the Legend M is an easy choice. The only downside is that they are a little large compared to other 42mm binoculars. Some complain about the feel of the focus wheel, but mine is as good as any other budget binocular.

 

[justabirdwatcher]

There are few things more certain in life than the sunrise, death, taxes, and the fact that someone will always chime in to recommend a more expensive optic than the OP says they can afford.