Binocular bargains (2 Viewers)

[BinoBoy]

Cascade porro 8x42

Adorama has them for $190. Not a huge bargain, but the best price I've seen so far.

http://www.adorama.com/LD842CIF.html?searchinfo=leupold cascade&item_no=1

 

[falcondude]

Just to tack an FYI on this thread....

...the $342 for the Zen Ray was a bit of a freak incident. Apparently there was a loophole in the ordering system and coupon stacking was allowed. It shouldn't have been and they have remedied the situation.

In addition....

...they are offering a refund on shipping to birdforum members for the next month or so.

mine is $359 for a 8x after shipping charge refund. Not lucky as those who get in. But I am pretty happy with this.

 

[DHB]

You guys are killing me......... I have the 8x42 ProMaster and the Summit on the way..............ARGH

 

[FrankD]

Don't worry Dave. They will be there before you know it. If they are anything like the EDs then they will be well worth the wait. Trust me.

Truth be told, after having tried the EDs, I am genuinely curious about the two lower priced models. I would love to see what they could do at the lower price points.

And for what it is worth, $190 for the Cascade porros is a good price. They were selling for $280 originally and, in my opinion, they are probably the most underappreciated bin out there.

 

[Josef]

eagleoptics.com
and
optics4birding.com

I suspect other sites/stores will be coming down to this price too, sooner or later.

Just a heads up, I don't know if anyone else has had any problems with optics4birding but about a month ago I sent them a check ($77) for an item, they cashed the check on Jan. 8th. On the 14th they said it would be sent immediately. I have spoken to Steve at the company repeatedly and keep getting the run around as to why it has not been sent, today when I spoke to him he said he misquoted the price and needed more money. After speaking to him I checked their site and they had the item listed for what I had paid.

Joe

 

[orbitaljump]

Credit Card FTW.

 

[Tero]

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1384422&postcount=258

We have created a woman Binocular Nut. I thought that was impossible. Many just go for the Swarovski and keep it 30 years. But I thought all this trading and Bino Bucks management was guy stuff.

 

[mikfoz]

Why are all the bargains in the US?

By the time we've had them delivered across the pond there's no point... :-C

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Why are all the bargains in the US?

By the time we've had them delivered across the pond there's no point... :-C

Because the Brits don't post on this thread? As always its the people that post what they find that makes the thread.

And I have see some British bargains here. But not so many.

 

[lulubelle]

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1384422&postcount=258

We have created a woman Binocular Nut. I thought that was impossible. Many just go for the Swarovski and keep it 30 years. But I thought all this trading and Bino Bucks management was guy stuff.

Thanks Tero, but I don't think I really qualify (I only have 3 pairs now!) for the "binoholics club", but I do have the collecting tendency!! I told Frank that I have "micro-bucks" and I was looking to get the best bang for them! I was looking to upgrade my 8x and was debating buying a scope vs. a 10x. I was trying to research which bin to buy and began reading this forum. I was amazed at the wealth of knowledge regarding bins and what brands were available. It is hard to decide which bin to get after reading the reviews of each new ED bin, the porros - I can see why you guys buy, sell and trade!! It is somewhat contagious!! I like the "bino-bucks" idea!!BTW, I would love to own a Swaro and appreciate the view thru good glass, but "micro-bucks" can't buy the alphas!!

 

[Tero]

Ah the scope. You HAVE to have a scope. 50mm Nikon? 65mm Pentax? 80mm Vortex? There the fun begins.

 

[lulubelle]

I was actually considering a Vortex Skyline 80mm ED; there is a dealer here in Arlington who quoted me $385 new. However, the question is - do I want to lug a scope around or use someone else's on a field trip? I was hoping the 10x ED - probably ZEN - would do for the moments I generally need a bump in magnification. I have a friend who has offered me her Pentax scope and the Manfrotto-Bogan tripod & head for about $500. Can't remember what the scope specifics are now, but it seems a very reasonable price for all. I know this is off topic, sorry!!

 

[Kevin Purcell]

I reported on a SHOT show thread that Scott Berish of Liberty Optics LLC had mentioned a very low price for Hawke Frontier ED. I checked with him by email and he confirmed it.

$350 for the 8x43 and $360 for the 10x43 would be our price.

Thanks,

Scott
-- Scott Berish
Liberty Optics LLC
An Official Vendor of Sniper's Paradise & Sniper's Hide.
"See Better, Shoot Better"
www.libertyoptics.com
406-890-2714 (W)
352-572-1469 (C)

[email protected]

He doesn't keep stock (AFAICT) but he's set up to order from Hawke. He also said if a group is willing to get together he can do 10 off orders and reduce the price. Not sure about return policies.

He mentioned Bosma on his blog so I'm seeing if he's thinking about stocking or ordering from Bosma. That could be fun.

Have at it. The Chinese ED market is hotting up!

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with any of the deals I post. Just helping binouholics get their fix at the lowest possible price.

 

[Steve C]

I was actually considering a Vortex Skyline 80mm ED; there is a dealer here in Arlington who quoted me $385 new. However, the question is - do I want to lug a scope around or use someone else's on a field trip? I was hoping the 10x ED - probably ZEN - would do for the moments I generally need a bump in magnification. I have a friend who has offered me her Pentax scope and the Manfrotto-Bogan tripod & head for about $500. Can't remember what the scope specifics are now, but it seems a very reasonable price for all. I know this is off topic, sorry!!

lulubelle,
Checkout CameralandNY they still have Stokes Sandpiper 15-45x65 spoters for $199.95. Good enough scope to see if a scope is what you need and not too much to spend if it turns out you don't want a scope.

The 10x ZEN ED seems OK to me for close in birding, but I generally prefer 8x. Too many x's too close in might strain the brain, but if you do a bunch of waterfowl and distance, maybe the 10x is OK. How you balance both your budget and birding is your choice. Personally, I'd do the 8x.

 

[lulubelle]

Thanks Steve! They still have the Sandpiper for $199. I would have been leery of the scope considering the price, but from what I have read in many of the posts on the forum & now your suggestion, I will consider it. I actually do lots of waterfowl on lakes and the local sewage ponds. Not to mention shorebirds in August & Sept - there have been many occasions when I wish I had a pair of 10x's or a scope. Many times the ducks are close enough that I don't really need a scope, but could use something better than my Rangers. I like the Promaster 8x and think maybe the ZEN ED 10x would be a nice addition. Plus a scope.......! I think I may give the Leupold Cascades a shot as well, to have another choice. The reason I was questioning the possibility of using the 10x for passerines is because sometimes I would just love to get great detail, although 10x is not optimal for that type of birding. Could certainly use them when I go to Corpus Christi for Hawkewatch next year!!

 

[Steve C]

lulubelle

Equipment considerations are certainly paramount. Nothing spoils an outing more than having gear not up to the task. Good luck.

 

[Tero]

I forgot to mention that someone has to make the sacrifice and order the Zen Ray scope. If it is available. Laura needs a scope, so...

 

[Kevin Purcell]

I think Chinese ED prices are falling off a cliff ... competition and the financial crisis perhaps working together.

I've already mentioned Liberty Optics selling the Hawke Frontier ED 8x43 for $350.

Over on Optics Talk a guy find his local Promaster dealer selling the ELX ED for $350 back in December.

http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13810

and Doug at CameraLand has droped his price (to those that ask) by $100 to $400.

http://24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread...showflat/Number/2751394/page/1/gonew/1#UNREAD

And we already had Mike Camera in CO at $400.

I also mentioned on the SHOT show thread that Bushnell have a Legend Ultra-HD (i.e. an ED Legend with wide FOV) coming out at $300.

Expect more of this sort of thing, I think.

 

[lulubelle]

Looking at the Leupold Cascade porros 8x42's on the Eagle Optics site and I noticed that their price has gone up - was $209 around Jan 11. Now they are $269. The Bushnell Legends were $109 and now $119 - not a big hike at all. Do bin prices fluctuate quite a bit?

 

[FrankD]

Laura,

Yes and no. Other than the super expensive Euros most of the bins usually just drop over time...or at least stay the same. Interesting to note those two price increases as I don't have an explanation for it.

Do I take it that you didn't order either before the price increase?