I am in the market to but some higher end binoculars. I will be using them for deer scouting and hunting. I don’t go out west much so extra long distance isn’t a huge factor. So what do you guys think? I want good ones and am not afraid to flip the coin for them, yet don’t want to spend more than I need to either. Also, tell me the difference between the 10×42 vs etc. etc. Which ones suit which best. Thanks in advance.
Eric Ronningen
Eric: I have a pair of Wind River 10×42 made by Leuopold from Cabelas that I’ve had for about 4 years that I’m real happy with. Didn’t break the bank either. Looked at alot of glasses the day I got these and was impressed with the clarity compared to some of the bigger $$$ stuff. Only negative is the eye cups adjustment. I taped them tight to keep in position.
I bought a set of Nikons a couple of years ago. They have a variable zoom tab on them that is amazing, 500 yards looks like it is in your face, extremely clear and have had no problems or complaints from myself or anyone that uses them. They are not real expensive but work great. web page
I picked up a pair of Nikon Monarch ATB 10×42 last year. That went around $290. I believe Nikon has a Warranty thing on these Binocs, kind of a no questions asked thing. These Binoculars are amazingly clear and have awesome light low transibility.
I would give these Nikons a 
. I shopped around for pairs in that price and below and these were by far the clearest and best light transmission ones I tried. I suggest going somewhere that has a good selection and trying different pairs and you will be amazed by clarity of some compared to others that you would have no idea unless you compared them side by side.
Low light pick up would be a major issue to me. As much as possible is a plus for me.
To answer your other question. 10 x42 for example. The first # tells you the magnification and the second # tells you the diameter in mm of the Objective lense I believe. The bigger the lense in mm the more light transmission is a basic rule of thumb. But also it depends on the lense itself. Like I said before you need to compare side by side. Just like everyhting else, there are different levels of qaulity within the same brand. The more dollars the better construction and lense. Not all 42mm lenses are equal even in the same brand (Nikon, Bushnell or Swarovski).
Also I got that pair cause of the 100% gaurantee to be fog proof. There is nothing worse than try to scope out a big buck in late November or December in sub zero temps and having your lense fog up 
. Just another thing to keep in mind 
So I guess given the information you gave above, I think the experts would say that a 8×42 would suit you best. That is what all the magazines I read say is the best. I guess I disagreed with that and like the little extra power and got a 10×42.
I like the extra magnification the 10 power gave me and the 42mm diameter in the lense is big enough that plenty of light was captured with the Monarch ATB. The other Nikons I looked at in the same 10×42 size were cheaper but when compared side by side the Monarchs were way clearer and had better light transmission, something that I wanted/My preference so I paid the extra cash. I think the others had a different lense ssytem. I know a lot of people (myslef included)get the 25 mm size binocs and those are handy light and compact, but you will loose low light condition performance. That is the time the big boys usually pop out or hangon the tree line. That is when you need the binocs the most. The Nikon Pair I suggested above is still pretty slim and non bulky. I also higly reccomend getting that Bino system strap. These thingsa are awesome and well worth the $20. It makes it so you do not even know you have binocs on and can wear them all day with no neck fatigue!
Good Luck, get to a store and compare. I would think you could find a more than adequate pair to fit your needs for around $300 or less.
Now after reading your second post, it all depends on what you want to spend.
Swarovski is probably one of the best. The lense clairty and low light capability is unbelievable. Here is where you need to decide. Do I want the best there is for an extra $500 or can I use a great pair of Binocs for $300?????
It all depnds on what you want to spend. At the time I got mine last Fall, I could not justify upping the qaulity from my Nikon Monarch ATB to the Swarovski pair I was looking at for an additional $500. Here was my reasoning behind it. I Bow Hunt 95% of the time. If a buck is within a 60 yards of me I will most likely be able to see it with my Nikons or hear it at legal shooting light. Now if I was a rifleman, I might have gone the other way and got the Swarovski. Cause @ 200-400 yards on a treeline edge in low light I might miss that deer with my Nikons when scanning the ridge at last or first light. Causing me to miss an opportunity.
Again it all depends on the Hunter and what conditions he/she hunts and what they expect from their equipment.
I’m not sure if Mr. Wade stocks glasses any longer or not. I bought a set for the boat a year or so ago. Big differance between boating glasses and hunting glasses…I know…
But you might want to check his prices before you buy….
Mine work great for watching Sandbar, Turk, Suzuki and others from a distance with out them knowing…. 
dont know much about binox but i know the better name brands are stiner and swarovski.
I have bought 6 to 8 pair of binoc’s in the last 20 yers. I keepa set in every vehicle and the house and shop. My first decent pair was Nikons and after 12 yrs sent them in for new cups and told them to just fix anything needed and let me know what the bill was. Came back all freshened up, NO Charge. I have bought some fair quality ones but I find that that the 150.00 to $225.00 range will give you a large selection. I do have a couple 10X50 which I really like for glassing larger fields and areas with. Especially in low light conditions. They will give you a large and brighter field of vision and I give Nikon 2 thumbs up for there quality and standing behind what they sell.
The info is real helpful guys. Thanks. I need to get in gear and go shopping as Sept. 17th keeps getting closer.
I’ve got three pairs now but none really amount to much. I had a fourth pair, that was real nice but they are not too good now.
Quick story: Two falls ago I was bowhunting. The darkness fell and I headed back to the truck, put the bow away, took all my camo off, jumped in the truck and headed home. It must have been a friday or saturday night cause I was going hunting again in the morning. I pulled in the field drive the next morning and felt an unusual bump. After pulling in that field drive for the last 5 years I could not ever recall a bump like that. Anyways, I hopped out of the truck, got dressed, got my bow all ready and went to grab my backpack and I couldn’t find it. That same split second I realized what that bump was, my backpack with binos, rattling horns, calls, scents, and the list goes on.
Those were real nice Nikons. They held up good and didn’t break but warped the lenses or something cause they’re slightly blurry. So in case you cared, thats why I’m shopping. 
Eric,see your looking for a set of higher end binoculars.
Don’t know if your looking new or used. But I have a set
of Swarovski SLC 8 X 30 for sale. These do not have the
Swarobright coating. Bought these back in 1997 and haven’t used them the last 3 years. I have the new EL’s is why I’m
selling the 8 X 30’s. Asking $575.00 for them.
If interested or would like to see them send me a PM.
I have Pentax DCF HR binoc’s in 10×42. Very nice, very clear, wide field of view, weather proof. I heartily recommend them.
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