OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Other Optics > Binoculars
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Stablzd. binocs for varmints?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

Stablzd. binocs for varmints?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
holzauge View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/22/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 48
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote holzauge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Stablzd. binocs for varmints?
    Posted: July/29/2004 at 18:25
I'm fairly new to varmint hunting and have discovered that my Minox 8x32 binocs are unsuitable. Their clarity and
light wt. make them fine in the tackle box, in the eastern woods for birdwatching or deer hunting, and I can move
the field of view through the brush to find my target. But, I have a slight tremor in the left arm that makes the
prolonged scanning required for varmint hunting uncomfortable with such light binocs.   I am considering
heavier, wider objective, deep field of focus binocs at 7x or 8 x, or maybe even stabilized binocs at 8x or 10x for
varmint hunting.   I tried a friends stabilized Canons in Australia in Feb. and was astounded at how easily and
comfortably I could use them. My guess is stabilized binocs woud also be much more useful that my Minox
when hunting deer over Eastern Shore soy bean fields.   

What do you guys think? Any other info, thoughts or recommendations?
Back to Top
ranburr View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master


Joined: May/16/2004
Status: Offline
Points: 1082
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2004 at 00:14

I would suggest a good pair of standard binos and a tripod. 

ranburr

 

Back to Top
holzauge View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/22/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 48
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote holzauge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2004 at 04:08
Ranburr,
I hunt groundhogs in rolling country so I move a lot. A tri-pod to carry and set up in addition to the bipod on the
gun sounds pretty impractical.
Back to Top
ranburr View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master


Joined: May/16/2004
Status: Offline
Points: 1082
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2004 at 12:16

I am just not a fan of stabilized binos.  The higher end ones are good, but they cost a small fortune and in my opinion are hvy and poorly balanced.  The more affordable models have the same problems and they do not appear to be very durable.  I like my gear to be as basic, rugged, and foolproof as possible.  you can get some very lite-wt collapsable tripods these days that fit nicely into a small carry bag.  That is the solution for me.  But as I said, I just don't like the stabilized stuff that is currently available.

ranburr

 

Back to Top
Rusty View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: April/12/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 147
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rusty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2004 at 14:17

The Nikon StabilEyes I looked through (14 X 40) were not very optically impressive.  They were also heavy and expensive.  I could tell that the image was somewhat more "still", the image itself was not all that bright, detailed or clear (I was comparing it to Bushnell Legend 8X32).

Back to Top
holzauge View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/22/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 48
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote holzauge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/31/2004 at 06:23
Thanks Rusty,

Bright, detailed and clear are definately important but I've gotta be still enough to see. A response I got on another
BB suggested that some stab. binocs are not waterproof. That would be a real show stopper where I hunt in MD
and VA because it is so often wet. A good standard binoc would certainly work.   I'll have to keep gathering data.
Back to Top
Chris Farris View Drop Down
TEAM SWFA - Admin
TEAM SWFA - Admin
Avatar
swfa.com

Joined: October/01/2003
Location: Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 8024
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/31/2004 at 12:56

I've hunted with the Canon IS and the batteries had to be replaced daily.  They also made me feel sea sick from time to time because they seem to move a millisecond behind my actual movement.

I hunted out of a top drive truck once that were equipped with regular binoculars and the Zeiss 20x60 mechanical stabilized binos and they worked great.  We would use the normal 10x42's most of the time then the Zeiss when we really wanted to take a good look at something.  This set up is nice if you have a top drive truck to hunt out of and an extra $4599.99 for the Zeiss binoculars.

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.108 seconds.