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Carson XM Binos? |
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HntnFsh
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/05/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Posted: January/05/2006 at 18:22 |
Been lurking here for awhile.Looks like a lot of people with a lot of knowledge.So'I'm looking for some advice. Ive seen a lot on here and other sites about the Caron XM series.Pretty much made up my mind that they are what I want. I was wondering if its worth getting the 10x50s over the 10x42s for low light use.I'll be using these binos mostly for scouting Fields and clearcuts,for deer and elk.Weight is not really much of an issue.As I will be using them mostly out of a vehicle or on short walks.I'm mostly interested in clarity and low light performance. Whats your thoughts?Any recomendations on a good place to buy.Another thing that concerns me is buying these sight unseen,as I cant find anyplace around that stocks them.Whats your feelings about that aspect?
Thanks in advance. HntnFsh |
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Acenturian
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/07/2004 Status: Offline Points: 543 |
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HntnFsh
I had a pair of Carson XM 8x42 that I sold to a friend. I loved the binoculars they are the best out there for the money. So why did I sell them? I sold them to buy a pair of Weaver Grand Slam binoculars. The Weavers are nice and cost a lot more then the Carsons and in my opinion the Carsons are much better binoculars. The Carsons are a bit brighter and are less difficult to focus. So I will get another set of Carsons soon. I compared them with the Pentax DCF HRII, Nikon Monarchs, Bushnell Legends, Brunton Lite Tech and nothing came close to the Carsons performance. I think it is the best kept secret in optics. I think my Swift Adubon's are a bit better but its very close. But again the Swift Audubon's are wider (poro prism) weight a bit more and cost more as well. The Carsons also have much better eye relief than the Swifts so if you wear glasses that is a very important.
I to had some reservations about buying the Carsons sight unseen but was impressed with what I had read from reviews as well as from other hunters and I could not be happier. I bought mine through Cabelas, unfortunitly once they sold out they never got more in stock. I plan on picking up another pair soon as I pay off the Christmas debt. For what it is worth I am going with the 10x50. I figured that the extra size objective could only make things brighter when stepping up to 10x. You can do a search on this forum for Carson XM not much information but I remember another forum member comparing them to even higher end Pentax and the Carsons still came out on top.
Also I belong to an archery forum. If you got to this link and go to "board" do a search for "Carson" you will get all kinds of reviews from fellow archers.
I also found this review from a birding sight.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0404/je0404-1.htm l
Good Luck and welcome to the forums AC |
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FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
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AC,
How do the 10x50s compare to the 10x42s in terms of field of view. I remember seeing a comparison chart somewhere but cannot remember the specifics.
..and just out of curiousity, since Cabelas is no longer carrying them, where are you planning on purchasing them from. I think I might want to give one of the configurations a try but other than Cabelas I am unaware of where to purchase them from. |
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Frank
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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Here are the specs for the 10X50 vs the 10X42 taken from the carson website (www.carson-optical.com)
Model XM-050 Model: XM--042
The website also lists quite a few online dealers that sell Carson binoculars.
To me the FOV for the 10X42 is a bit skimpy (though no worse than the Nikon LXL, Busnell Elite, and a host of others. The 10X50 is (to my way of thinking) extremely lacking (though again, no worse than the WindRiver Olympic and others in this configuration. The Leica Duovid @ 10X has a FOV of only 270'.) Can someone explain this phenomenon? Why would increasing the size of the objective lens result in a smaller FOV? I would have thought that it would have been just the opposite.
BTW, in posting this I am not personally endorsing this brand. I have never seen, handled, compared, etc. any product from Carson Optical so, I have no first hand knowledge of what they are like. I just wanted to help answer the questions posted. |
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Acenturian
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/07/2004 Status: Offline Points: 543 |
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FrankD:
Well Lucznik answered the FOV questions, and raised another that is a good question I would think that if a binocular is the same power ie 10x then the larger objective should I would think give you a bigger FOV???
As far as buying another pair of Carsons since Cabelas does not carry them anymore I plan to pick them up off E-bay. I already have owned a pair so I know what to expect and so far some of the dealers listed on Ebay offer the best prices. Also I just looked at my 10.5X Weavers with a 45mm objective and they list the FOV at 298 feet.
AC |
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If You're In A Fair Fight, You Didn't Plan It Properly
- Anonymous |
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FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
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Guys,
Thanks for the info.
You also bring up an excellent observation. I, too, have noticed the 10x50/10x42 disparity in field of view. It was one of the reasons I asked about the Carsons specifically as I was hoping they tended to "buck the trend" towards a narrower field of view.
Beyond that the only two other things that I noticed was the large difference in weight and close focus range. |
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Frank
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GaryO
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/08/2005 Location: Roseville, CA Status: Offline Points: 74 |
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Check this site out... http://www.ebinoculars.com/products/Carson_Optical_8x32_XM_W aterproof_38212.html
8x32's for $160.00 ! |
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HntnFsh
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/05/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Thank you to all of you for your input.. GaryO the link you put up is the lowest price I have seen for these,anywhere.even Ebay. Looks like my wife will be getting me these for my b-day in a couple weeks.So she really appreciates the link.Plus all the info that everybody posted helped me convince her of why these binoculars are worth the $. She couldnt understand why a $100 pair of Nikons wouldnt suffice. I appreciate everybodies help.Cant wait to put these binos to my eyes. Thanks again, HntnFsh
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HntnFsh
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/05/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Just curious if anybody here as used Ebinoculars.com? Are the reputable?I cant even find out where they are located.No info on there website..
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Matt G
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/24/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Hi all I have been looking for some decent binoculars for hunting. I saw this post as well as ones in archery talk and like the reviews of carsons xm. plus you can't be the no hassle warrenty. Anyways I click on the link to ebinoculars and the price now is 230 and the rest of the prices are up and trying to find the pair around 200. However ebinoculars has the alpen shasta ridge for 168. I might go this route because I have heard good reviews of this brand as well. Let me know if you find a cheaper price for the carsons. I am looking for the 8x42. |
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