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Best Bet in the $600 range

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BOATBUM101 View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/20/2004 at 20:28
Want to get a pair of 8x42's.Want the brightess/clearest I can afford.Any suggestions?Definately must be waterproof.What about the Kahles 8x42?
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ranburr View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2004 at 23:51

Kahles or a pair of 8x43 Pentax.

 

ranburr

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Brady View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brady Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2004 at 09:05

Two of the brightest/clearest pair of 8X42's on the market today are the Leica Ultravid's and the Swarovski El's. Don't know how much you can afford but these are the top of the line as far as optical performance. Hold the two side by side and the difference is almost unnoticeable to the untrained eye. The EL's just offer a more ergonomic body style that appeals to someone that will carry them around a lot. If the price is too much for a pair of binoculars your next best bet will be those Kahles then the Pentax.

 

                Swarovski El's 8.5x42.... $1638.99  Leica Ultravids 8X42...... $1349.99

Kahles 8X42.................. $748.99 

Pentax DCF/SP 8x43..... $598.99

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mwyates Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2004 at 12:39
Save up $300 more and get Nikon's Venturer LX 8X42.  You'll be glad you did.  I bought a pair of Nikon Monarch 8X42's for $300, because I couldn't see any difference in them and the Kahles.  The Venturer LX is much brighter and clearer.  It been chosen best of the best by several reviews (even over Swarovski EL's).  My Monarchs are for my kids now.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2004 at 14:32

Brady...Brady....Brady, did you happen to read the title to his post?

 

Kahles or Pentax   Some good deals on the samplelist.com site right now on Kahles.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brady Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2004 at 14:52
Sorry BOATBUM..... Chris had to call me out on that one. I just clicked on the thread and only read your post.... not the title. Listen to Chris the samplelist would be your best bet.
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BOATBUM101 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BOATBUM101 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/21/2004 at 20:58
No sweat.Been looking on Sample list.Have heard pros/cons on Pentax.Most think the Kahles represent good value for the $.Especially off the list.Brady's right about the best,some of the birders like the Nikons.Someday hopefully.We all must have goals.Thanks for your help.
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Richard View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/22/2004 at 18:29

Check the sample list and take a look for MINOX ( German)  10 X 58 ED BR

 

I bought a this after months of looking at 8X42 binos

 

They are really impressive ( flouride glass lenses) unbelievable twilight clarity and as i reall ~ 700 bucks on the sample list

 

I am absolutely satisfied with thes glases.   Large , Heavy but for the range , car just great.

 

Minox offers a tripod mount so you can set them up for fixed viewing at the range or with the Leupold window mount for spoting out the truck window

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/24/2004 at 01:43

To paraphrase The Bard, "..Value, thy name is Kahles!"

 

or something like that...Wink

 

If you're going to carry them all day on a hunt or intend to go chasing pheasants around the upper plains, you'd be hard pressed indeed to match the optical quality and dependabilty of a Kahles 8x32 off the Sample List for $350.  They're only 4.5" by 4.7" dimensionally, but they yield a 400 ft field of view at 1000m and they're crisper in their detail than they Pentax SP's.

 

If you're going to be on more static hunts like deer from a stand or doing more birding than gaming, either the 8x42 or the 10x42 would probably be a more suitable choice.  From a stand in timber looking through brush, my 8x42's do a great job at any time of day whether it's pre-dawn or post-dusk.  I don't know that the 10x really gives you tremendously more resolution than the 8x when you factor in the diminished exit pupil, but most hunters seem to crave magnification over image rendition.  It's probably the same "X" factor that causes people to purchase 30 caliber magnums when a .270 will do the job...

 

Just my two cents...

 

Take the long way home.

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BOATBUM101 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BOATBUM101 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/24/2004 at 10:28

I believe for the majority of my hunting the 8x42 will be the most useful.The higher powered glasses are hard to hold still enough to get a useful view.Yes I want something that can pick an animal out the woods/thickets.Sometimes all you can see is an ear or tip of a rack.With good glasses you can see if its a quality one or not.VERY useful if they have a min. point requirement.Nothing will get you run off quicker than taking one below the min. or worse not making a good shot.I don't push shots,if I can't get 300yds or closer I don't shoot.Also shoot std cals, no mags.Mainly because of age/health the last thing I want to do is hump around the country cause I didn't take time to do it right the first time.These are my limitations.I've made 400yd+ shots in the past,some on running game.Nowdays just getting away from work,phone,crazies etc.works for me.

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