The Hawk Endurance 8x32 ED would be a good choice. The Hawk has ED glass and is almost sharp to the edge and is has better resolution, contrast and it is not as dark as the Sightron. It also has a magnesium chassis which is amazing for a binocular in this price range and it comes with a nice hard sided case. The Sightron is a nice binocular but it is plasticky, has no ED glass, has a smallish sweet spot compared to the Hawk and the focuser is on the stiff side and it gets stiffer in the cold and it comes with poor accessories.I thought that the BirdForum default answer was Sightron 8x32 Blue Sky SII, usually available for $177.
--AP
Vortex Diamondback 8x32. I have it and I'm happy with the bang-4-buck. Vortex do an 8x28 too, plus now they're all 'HD' but according to their CS dept. the Diamondbacks contain no HD/ED or other fancy glass.
Also they're 'Murican ... if that gives you an extra tickle.
90% of Vortex stuff is Chicom made. It's pathetic.
No idea what or where 'Chicom' is, but Vortex is an American company based in WI who manufacture in China just like pretty much everyone else except maybe the top models from the usual suspects: Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica.
Maybe you are a follower the erroneous assumption that everything made in China is cheap trash, because that is what you are used to from Walmart.
Many companies have their own factories in China, often with design being done in their home country, manufacture in China and final QC again in their home country.
Others send their designs and exact requirements to a Chinese OEM who then gets the contract, provided his quality matches the standards set out by the contractee.
So you see, just parroting 'Chinese-made is crap' is missing a large part of the story. But I guess the parrots don't care.
Maybe you're under the false assumption that Chinese made binoculars are on par with high quality, of which your sadly mistaken. Japanese made optics still run circles around Chinese crap. You can choose to buy into that nonsense all you want, but those who've been around the block a time or two in this arena know better.
The last Chicom Razor HD and Viper HD I tried were of very low quality control. The hinge was so loose on the Razor it wouldn't stay where I put it, and the Viper's eyecups were way too loose as well.
The Hawk Endurance 8x32 ED would be a good choice. The Hawk has ED glass and is almost sharp to the edge and is has better resolution, contrast and it is not as dark as the Sightron. It also has a magnesium chassis which is amazing for a binocular in this price range and it comes with a nice hard sided case. The Sightron is a nice binocular but it is plasticky, has no ED glass, has a smallish sweet spot compared to the Hawk and the focuser is on the stiff side and it gets stiffer in the cold and it comes with poor accessories.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...optics_36200_8x32_endurance_ed_binocular.html
https://irelandswildlife.com/hawke-endurance-ed-8x32-binocular-review/
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Hawke8x32EnduranceED-161.htm
The Diamondbacks are Made in USA?
To add to Bill's observations about the limited optical production in the US . . . .
Swarovski does assemble some telescopic sights at their SONA facility (Swarovski Optics North America, located in Cranston RI)
The components are made in Austria, but assembled and subject to final inspection in the US
Both the units and packaging are clearly marked ‘Assembled In USA’
John
I would say just give them the $200.
This is the best suggestion so far..:t::t:
Regarding the Bushnell Engage comment by Upland, you better make sure you get a good sample prior to giving it as swag, or it will be a useless piece of plastic/glass trash. I say so since many of these Bushnell binos on the Amazon site are returns, recycled and resold, and the customer service from Bushnell?....well that is another story.
Andy W.