Inexpensive BAK4 binocs (1 Viewer)

[nuttingd]

Hi,
I am interresed in getting a good pair of inexpensive BAK4 binoculars. I have looked at Barska Blackhawk series, Alpen Pro series, Winchester DTW and VDT series and Brunton. I am trying to keep it under $125, and all of these meet the price range. Anyone have experience with the above brands? I am looking for ones to avoid or definatly take seriously (other brands also an option).

Thanks
Dave

 

[lucznik]

For your price range, look at the porro prism Bushnell Legend line. They will be superior to any roof prism binocular costing 2-3x as much $$$.

 

[kmiernik]

How about Nikon Action VII series? They are quite nice especially if you look at their price around 80$. At around 130$ you can get Nikon Action EX 8x40 witch is definately unbeatable in this price range and much better then Action VII.

Also look at Minolta Activa WP.FP series - with almost same optical performance as Action EX. And cheaper Minolta Classic Sport being mirror series of Action VII.

 

[Tero]

I find a lot of differences in porros. I would go out and try some, see how they look and feel. Trouble is, most stores carry just one brand of porros. 8x is easier to find, but most places have some 10x50s if you like that.

Bushnells, some, and Nikons are out there. Avoid Wal Mart Bushnells.

 

[nuttingd]

Hi,
I am interresed in getting a good pair of inexpensive BAK4 binoculars. I have looked at Barska Blackhawk series, Alpen Pro series, Winchester DTW and VDT series and Brunton. I am trying to keep it under $125, and all of these meet the price range. Anyone have experience with the above brands? I am looking for ones to avoid or definatly take seriously (other brands also an option).

Thanks
Dave

Thanks, for all the suggestions. I am actually a little more interrested in roof prism 10x42, but open to porro if it is light enough.

 

[WJC]

Also, avoid basing a sale on ONE aspect of a binocular. You can put a Corvette engine in an old Chevy station wagon. That does not make it a Corvette, though.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[kmiernik]

Every roof binoculars below 125$ would be waste of money. These binoculars have to be very dark and very bad optically. Only possibility to get usable binoculars in this range is porro. Light transmission even in cheap porro is at the level of 85-90% while roofs at this price won't go more than 60-65%. Roofs have resonable transmission at price level 250-300$ when it is possible to get something with phase coated prisms.

 

[Tero]

The typical 100 dollar 10x42 is not phase coated, so at 10x it is going to be a bit dim.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-outland-lx-10x42-binoculars.html

I have a pair pretty much like that, 10x Nikon Sporter. You can get them for $100-150 if you can find them. I would go with 8x, brighter. Save up for more expensive 10x later.

 

[ksbird/foxranch]

There are at least 3 roof prism binoculars I could recommend in your price range. This Barska phase coated roof prism binocular is only $119 as an intro price for a while. I haven't seen this one but I've seen the slightly more expensive model ($139) and we own various Barska binoculars at the ranch. We end up selling them when people rent them and then decide to keep them.

Not seen in person (Ebay item #7226876084) from a retailer $119 close-focusing model
http://cgi.ebay.com/BARSKA-10x42-PH...ryZ31711QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Seen in person, it's very reasonable, Ebay item #7225244844 same retailer($139) more ruggedly built model
http://cgi.ebay.com/BARSKA-10x42-WA...ryZ31711QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

We have had 5 pairs of the Discovery Channel Ultimate Precision waterproof phase coated 10x42 roof prism binocular. It's fairly lightweight, really sharp images and we've sold 2 pairs this season (barely used $99) to visitors who like them and they seem to be happy when they bring them back for more birding. They retail for $149 w/BAK-4, fully multicoated etc. Call any Discovery Channel store and they'll ship them.

All of that being said I am personally not a roof prism fan. For under $125 I recommend any of the Nikon Action Extreme binoculars but you will have a difficult time getting a Nikon current model 10x50 for less than $125. The non waterproof Nikon Action 10x50 is the same glass but will need a cleaning in 3-5 years depending on how much wet weather you out in and these are definitely available for less than $100. We have 2 pairs of these here and we love them.

But I don't use them. In your price range I use the Yukon 10x50 if I have to worry about whether my binoculars might get damaged. They aren't waterproof, but the image is razor sharp, not only do they use BAK4 prism glass but they also use Russian heavy flint glass in the lenses (which is similar to Schott Dienstglas) for much better than normal color correction, similar to ED glass quality. They are every bit as good as the best Japanese 10x50s. I can't compare them to my Zeiss Jena Dekarem 1Qs that now sell used for $300-400, but they are very close. My #1 12x50 and 16x50 binoculars are both Yukons, and the 12x50s are wide angle models.

If you go to Olympusauctions the Ebay seller, you will find a variety of 10x50 factory refurbished binoculars with warranty and Olympus ships anything for $5. I have never seen a 10x50 Olympus Trooper DPS binocular that sold on Ebay from Olympus for more than $90. This is a really excellent, low-priced binocular. Olympus has 5 pairs of these on EBay auction right now. These are a few of the numbers: 250017241270, 250017638794 & 250018156303. We buy stuff from this Ebay seller all the time. It's always an incredible value.

We also buy the 10x40 Foton Russian roof prism binoculars because they are very well made and a favorite with visitors. I prefer not to use any of the roof prism binoculars myself (except to occasionally use the Discovery 10x42s), but we have the Zeiss Diafun 8x30 and the Foton 7x35 and 10x40 roof prism binoculars for teens and preteens because many, super-quality porro prism binoculars are heavy and the 3 binoculars I just mentioned are very light weight. The Foton 10x40 sells new on Ebay from Binocularsmart.com ($119) or direct. Binocularsmart also sells a very high quality 10x42 porro prism binocular for $139. Be careful as some of these models have rangefinding grid marks in one eye. Some of these binoculars are also sold with the Newcon brand badge for slightly more money through retailers.

Finally, we like the Konica/Minolta Wp 10x50s and the Bushnell Legend WP 10x50s too. The Audubon 10x40 porro prism, BAK4, fully multicoated, waterproof (nitrogen purged) Intrepid model from Optics Planet also seems to be in your price range and my friends say it is a very good binocular too. So you see there are quite a few choice of good binoculars in your price range.

Thanks, for all the suggestions. I am actually a little more interrested in roof prism 10x42, but open to porro if it is light enough.

 

[WJC]

ksbird wrote: >>>They are every bit as good as the best Japanese 10x50s.<<<

Hi:

A bino is what it is what it is. However, I hope no one tried to convince you that it’s a made in America product.

I must say, I do think those lens caps look intriguing, and on at least one website the ad is a hoot:

“Yukon Futurus utilizes solid optical characteristics.”

“Solid optical characteristics?” What’s that mean? ‘Reminds me of some of the nomenclature used in the late 50’s and early 60’s. You know: “Deluxe Lenses.” Or, “Triple Tested.” Or, my personal favorite: “Supernatural Lens.” [I tested that bino for hours but never could figure out just which lens it was that was “Supernatural.”]

The ad went on to say:

“Fully multi-coated lenses utilize True Color™ magnesium coatings to provide improved light gathering capabilities as well as exceptional color transmission that is high in contrast and resolution. Futurus' porro-prism optical schematics are designed with long eye relief for comfortable viewing.”

From this I concluded:

1) It was cheaper to coat a lens with “magnesium” than with “magnesium fluoride.”
2) Some binoculars only transmit in black and white.
3) You can design a schematic with eye-relief—though it probably hurts. And,
4) That the writer does not know that, being named for Ignazio Porro (1801-1875), Porro should be capitalized.

Yes, I am having some fun.

BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PRODUCT!!

It’s just that as I tech writer and optics geek, I often see ads in which it is painfully obvious that the writer is clueless about his or her subject. Even a small contract with all the companies that are way off base with their ads and I would be independently wealthy in 3 months.

I’ll crawl back into my hole now.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[ksbird/foxranch]

As a collector of wide angle binoculars (bins with a 10 degree wide FOV haven't been made for the last 20 years) I often marvel at old literature packed with some little used binoculars. Marketing-wise today's Chinese and Russian binocular makers haven't moved up to the same educational class as the current German and Japanese manufacturers, although the "English" web pages of some of the smaller European and Japanese/Taiwanese companies makes me wonder. Some of the Russian/Chinese binoculars makers today are about equal in English language proficiency to Japanese manufacturers of the 50s and 60s. Germany's proximity to England, the EU and the British/Amercian occupation of Germany during the 40s and 50s probably helped German companies to produce better English language texts for consumers.

Luckily a company might have the technical prowess to make a decent product, while at the same time lacking the money to explain why their product is of high quality. I always prefer that to companies that spend allot of marketing money to get great advertising and literature while trying to sell products that range from ho-hum average to outright trash. What can often be funniest are the operating instructions.

ksbird wrote: >>>They are every bit as good as the best Japanese 10x50s.<<<

Hi:

A bino is what it is what it is. However, I hope no one tried to convince you that it’s a made in America product.

I must say, I do think those lens caps look intriguing, and on at least one website the ad is a hoot:

“Yukon Futurus utilizes solid optical characteristics.”

“Solid optical characteristics?” What’s that mean? ‘Reminds me of some of the nomenclature used in the late 50’s and early 60’s. You know: “Deluxe Lenses.” Or, “Triple Tested.” Or, my personal favorite: “Supernatural Lens.” [I tested that bino for hours but never could figure out just which lens it was that was “Supernatural.”]

The ad went on to say:

“Fully multi-coated lenses utilize True Color™ magnesium coatings to provide improved light gathering capabilities as well as exceptional color transmission that is high in contrast and resolution. Futurus' porro-prism optical schematics are designed with long eye relief for comfortable viewing.”

From this I concluded:

1) It was cheaper to coat a lens with “magnesium” than with “magnesium fluoride.”
2) Some binoculars only transmit in black and white.
3) You can design a schematic with eye-relief—though it probably hurts. And,
4) That the writer does not know that, being named for Ignazio Porro (1801-1875), Porro should be capitalized.

Yes, I am having some fun.

BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PRODUCT!!

It’s just that as I tech writer and optics geek, I often see ads in which it is painfully obvious that the writer is clueless about his or her subject. Even a small contract with all the companies that are way off base with their ads and I would be independently wealthy in 3 months.

I’ll crawl back into my hole now.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[FrankD]

In the price range you listed, and with the binoculars I have experience with, I would opt for either the Nikon Sporters (a 10x36 configuration) or the Bushnell Buckhorns that Cabelas sells. I owned a pair of the 8x36 Sporters and was fairly impressed with them for the price. I purchased a pair of the Bushnell Buckhorns for my father in law and he has been pleased with them. Keep in mind that neither bin is phase coated so the images will not be the optical equal (brightness and resolution) of phase coated roof prism bins.

Hope this helps.