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Hawke Frontier ED X, Celestron Trailseeker ED, Meopta Meopro HD - 8x42 (1 Viewer)

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outbackmaster

Member
Hi Folks,

I am new to this forum and wanted to grab some feedback and user experiences on the above mentioned binoculars. Primary use would be mostly nature, general sightseeing and birding.

I cant demo these brands or models in person so thought to get some advice here on which one would be a good pick.

Thanks
 
Yes looking all in 8x42 format. Price range would be upto 500USD. The above mentioned models are readily available here and based on some reviews I have shortlisted these 3.Im open to suggestions if there is anything better in this price bracket. Thanks
 
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In that price range I would look at the new Kowa XD II's in an 8x42. I recently bought the 6.5x32 and I think they are a very good value for the money especially if you like a big FOV and they are one of the lightest 42mm I have seen at 22 oz. and they are magnesium not plastic. The 8x42 has a 429 foot FOV. They are $449.00 for the 8x42. Amazon.com ships to Australia.

https://www.kowaproducts.com/BDII-XD-brochure.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/Kowa-BD-42mm...eywords=kowa+xd+II+8x42&qid=1570769544&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202053220
 

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Hello Outbackmaster,

I have the older Kowa 8 x 42 BDXD Prominar binocular and I find it to be very good.

You might want to look at this one as well.

Cheers.
 
In that price range, I would personally not consider any of those binoculars.

I have personally owned (very briefly) the Hawke Frontier ED-X and Meopta Meopro, and they both suffered from severe distortion, as I have so often seen with Chinese-made binoculars. I actually had two pairs of the Meopros at the same time, both new, a 8x42 and a 10x42 and they both went back the same day, just like the Hawkes.

The only chinese-made binocular in that price range I can recommend is the Vortex Viper HD. My personal favorite in that range is the Monarch 7. I think the Monarch 7 is the gold standard in that range. I have yet to see it's equal although a good copy of the Viper HD can be awfully close.
 
Thanks everyone for their feedback. From the online reviews I was reading so far, I understood that I could get a better performance in a less expensive binoculars when comparing it to Vipers and hence I didnt pay much attention. Are GPO's especially passion ED/Evolve ED any good?
 
tbanks Denco

I was considering KOWA as well but one retailer here who carries Kowa straight out said Zeiss Terra ED are optically better... well performance rating would be very subjective unless you experience yourself.


B][/B]
[email protected] said:
In that price range I [/I]would look at the new Kowa XD II's in an 8x42. I recently bought the 6.5x32 and I think they are a very good value for the money especially if you like a big FOV and they are one of the lightest 42mm I have seen at 22 oz. and they are magnesium not plastic. The 8x42 has a 429 foot FOV. They are $449.00 for the 8x42. Amazon.com ships to Australia.

https://www.kowaproducts.com/BDII-XD-brochure.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/Kowa-BD-42mm...eywords=kowa+xd+II+8x42&qid=1570769544&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202053220
Click to expand...
 
"I was considering KOWA as well but one retailer here who carries Kowa straight out said Zeiss Terra ED are optically better... well performance rating would be very subjective unless you experience yourself."

Don't always go by what a dealer says. Remember they are a dealer and sometimes they will push you towards the binocular they have a bigger profit margin on. I know they do that here in the states with Vortex's. I have had the Zeiss Terra ED and now the Kowa's and IMO the Kowa's are much better optically especially in brightness and FOV. But try them yourself because that is the best way to determine which binocular is best for you.
 
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outbackmaster said:
tbanks Denco

I was considering KOWA as well but one retailer here who carries Kowa straight out said Zeiss Terra ED are optically better... well performance rating would be very subjective unless you experience yourself.


B][/B]
Click to expand...

I spoke with another retailer who said the exact opposite. So there you go. Only one way to tell what you like better: compare them yourself.
 
My 2cts on the table is that the Kowa is a step up from the Terra, esp the mechanical build and function. It also comes down to what they cost where you are located.

Andy W.
 
dries1 said:
My 2cts on the table is that the Kowa is a step up from the Terra, esp the mechanical build and function. It also comes down to what they cost where you are located.

Andy W.
Click to expand...

Based on the Kowa BD II 6.5x32 XD I am reviewing right now, I agree with you Andy. I like Terras but the Kowa is a step up in all respects.

Lee
 
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