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$300 vs $500 Binocular Decision

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Klamath View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2015 at 21:35
MSRP on the regular Mojave 8x42 $479.99 the 10x42 is $499.99.  The 8x42  Pro Guide is $689.99 and the 10x42 is $714.99.  There is a local big brand store that has the regular for $100.00 less.
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron

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Optics GrassHopper
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gumball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/26/2015 at 01:20

May I suggest that you consider vintage binos - WW2 era.  If you search on ebay, under "WW2 binoculars", you will find binos starting at $5.00 and going up.  Some are excellent glasses.

I have a "WW2 collection" and consider them equal to, or better than most of the "new" glasses available today, for much less money.

. . . . just a thought . . .

Leitz beh 7x50 U-boat
Leitz beh 7x50
Leitz 10x50 "WA"
Zeiss 10x50 (1917)
Zeiss 18x50 (1923)
Zeiss 7x50 "U-boat"
Zeiss 7x50 "Gas Mask"
Zeiss 7x50 "Smooth Ocular"
Zeiss 8x60
Barr & Stroud CF42


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steerdog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/26/2015 at 23:50

I looked at a few binoculars today.  I was limited to what the different stores carried.

Nikon Monarch 7 10x42

Vortex Diamondback 8x42

Eagle Optics Ranger ED 8x42

Leupold Mojave 8x40

REI 8x42 ED

REI 8x32

My thoughts.

ED glass seemed to make a huge difference in brightness.  I was unimpressed with the Diamondbacks optically except I liked their ergonomics much better than the Ranger EDs.  I preferred the Monarch 7 despite the 10x mag to the Mojave and REI glass.  The Eagle Optics Ranger ED's optics trashed the Diamondbacks.  I had a harder time getting my face oriented with the 8x32 REI and the glass was much less bright than the ED versions. 

I couldn't get up to the Big Box Outdoor store to look at binoculars again this weekend.  Hopefully, next weekend to check out the Viper HD 8x32 and 8x42, Tera ED and the next gen Leupold Mojave Guide HD as recommended. 

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Optics GrassHopper
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gumball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/09/2015 at 16:29
Leitz beh 7x50 U-boat
Leitz beh 7x50
Leitz 10x50 "WA"
Zeiss 10x50 (1917)
Zeiss 18x50 (1923)
Zeiss 7x50 "U-boat"
Zeiss 7x50 "Gas Mask"
Zeiss 7x50 "Smooth Ocular"
Zeiss 8x60
Barr & Stroud CF42


.
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3_tens View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/09/2015 at 18:00
The Vintage WWll binoculars are 75 years behind in design and coating technology's. The modern coatings on the upper low end will blow the old binoculars away in low light preformance and color rendition. Of course if you want to look at them on a shelf, rather than thru them they may be ok.
Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.

Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow
Now the rules have changed again.
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Optics GrassHopper
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gumball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/09/2015 at 18:59

Just curious, but are you speaking from experience??

Have you ever used a pair of GOOD WW2 era binoculars??  Such as Zeiss, Leitz (Leica), Hensoldt??  And are you actually saying that a 6x30 or a 7x42 will out-perform a decent 7x50?? . . really??

In the 75 years since some of them were manufactured, affordable optics technology has not advanced all that much.

I have a small collection, and use them regularly.  And, YES, I have compared them to several of the "new and updated" modern binoculars. 

As an example, I have a pair of Leitz 7x50 "U-boat" binoculars that I HAVE done a "side-by-side" comparison - against "modern-up-to-date" Steiner 7x50, Nikon 7x50, Bushnell 7x50 " and Celestron 7x50.  And my "old, uncoated and outdated" Leitz performed very well (better than I expected)  The clarity at distance as well as "low light" was equal to the Steiner Marine and Bushnell, better than the Nikon and Celestron.  When "star gazing" only the Celestron showed comparative clarity and color.

Check the prices of the "vintage" glasses on ebay, and compare them to a few of the ones suggested in the above post.  Then compare that to some of the glasses suggested in the above posts.

Not trying to start a war, I was merely attempting to make a helpful suggestion to anyone purchasing binoculars.

.

Leitz beh 7x50 U-boat
Leitz beh 7x50
Leitz 10x50 "WA"
Zeiss 10x50 (1917)
Zeiss 18x50 (1923)
Zeiss 7x50 "U-boat"
Zeiss 7x50 "Gas Mask"
Zeiss 7x50 "Smooth Ocular"
Zeiss 8x60
Barr & Stroud CF42


.
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Peddler View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peddler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/09/2015 at 19:11
      ðŸ‘€
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steerdog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/09/2015 at 20:55

I went dramatically up in price.  I ordered a pair of Razor HD 8x42 for a good price.  I like the warranty and ergonomics, and the optics seemed better than less expensive options.  They are lighter and have a better FOV versus the Vipers.  They arrive mid-week.  Comparably priced Leica's were much heavier and I couldn't justify the next jump in price.

I realize that I want the Swaro ELs but don't have the money now.  I hope that these will hold their value reasonably well and I can sell them for the upgrade in a year. 

Thank you for your suggestions.  I will comment about my decision once they arrive next week and I get a chance to use them. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/10/2015 at 00:12
You will love the Vortex Razor HD 8X42. They compare favorably to the alpha brands without the price tag.
Yes from experience. In bright daylight they may be clear, but when things start getting dim there is a big difference. If looking near the sun at sunset the newer glasses will not have the flare that the older glasses experience. Color and contrast suffer without corrective coatings that were not in use back then. Most of the older glasses suffered terribly with a narrow field of view. It was not until the 70s that you even heard of fully coated lens systems.
     I can easily see a huge improvement in quality in only the last 10 years. Now you say that 75 year old optics are as good as what is being made today... It speaks for itself.
       It very well could be that the less than stellar glasses might be the one of the reasons that most of the u-boats were spotted first and got sunk.
Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.

Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow
Now the rules have changed again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fishermanhunterguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/10/2015 at 11:22
Very nice Steerdog. Can I ask how much you got them for? And were you able to compare the viper and razor 8x42's? I just purchased 12x50 razors and so far couldnt be happier. I compared them to the other high end german glass options but never was able to compare them to the 12x50 vipers to see if I could justify the price. Im sure they arnt twice as better but Im very happy with the awesome clarity and will have them for life.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/10/2015 at 12:46
steerdog, you made the best choice possible. That was smart. 
Your Razor 8x42 will do 99% of what a Swarovski does. Hold on to that glass, you may have to pay $1500 to upgrade by just a little. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gumball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2015 at 21:31

Steerdog, it sounds like you made a reasonable and good choice.  I hope they work well for you.  I was merely trying to show you more options.


Devil 

and in reply to several other "experts" out there . . . . I wonder if anyone has actually tried a few of the top WW2 era optics (that have been serviced and restored) in a reasonable comparison test . . .

 . . or if the opportunity just came up to stand back and throw trash . . . .

Bricked


.

Leitz beh 7x50 U-boat
Leitz beh 7x50
Leitz 10x50 "WA"
Zeiss 10x50 (1917)
Zeiss 18x50 (1923)
Zeiss 7x50 "U-boat"
Zeiss 7x50 "Gas Mask"
Zeiss 7x50 "Smooth Ocular"
Zeiss 8x60
Barr & Stroud CF42


.
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