Should I upgrade to higher end glass or give myself some room for the future? (1 Viewer)

[pbr1985]

Hey all, new to the forums here. I have had a pair of cheap Carson 8x26 that my parents bought for a cruise maybe 15 years ago and then gave to me. They have a loose prism at this point and I have to slap them a few times to get it aligned, and even that only lasts a few minutes before the double vision returns. But hey, they are only $75 so got my use out of them.

I am turning 40 in a few weeks and figured I would buy myself a nicer pair of binoculars. I mostly use the bins currently for casual birding/nature observation, take them hiking for landscapes, and just looking out the back window at deer, birds, and the occasional sailboat in the bay. I know I’m still young but the aches and pains of life are setting in and having a lower impact activity for sometimes is appealing. I just bought some birding books I’m starting to read. I live in the PNW so lighting is often dim and rainy, but warm enough to be out in the woods.

I have the money for a nicer set. I went to a store a few times now, but they mostly stock higher end gear aside from a pair of Vortex Diamondbacks which were clearly inferior compared side by side with the others (more on that in a sec). The salesperson handed me 8x32 NL Pures as my first test (ha ha) and hadn't done much research at that point, so didn't realize I had started with possibly the best of the best. I have also looked through Vortex Razor UHDs 8x42, Swaro EL 8x42 (I think), Zeiss SFL10x40 in both brighter light and went back to look at them at dusk. I didn't notice a huge difference in the optics, but didn't like the ELs in my hand. The SFL felt really nice in the hands and I appreciated the lighter weight but I want an 8x and they didn't have that. The Razor looked great too but was definitely heavier than the rest. I didn't bother looking through the NL Pures the second time cause I'm not willing to spend $3000.

I was about ready to pull the trigger on the 8x40 SFLs but then started to wonder if I am messing up getting such a huge upgrade over the Carsons. Cost aside, am I going to regret missing out on the "fun" of upgrading in the future? I know I could upgrade the SFLs at some point for marginal gains... but would you all be looking at less of a jump into a Monarch M7 or something along those lines? I am sure those Vortex Diamondbacks would have looked "nicer" to me if not directly compared to the higher end stuff I looked through and I'm sure I could be happy with them for years.

 

[Jinac]

Funny question and the answer depends of you I think... If one of these bino make you a "wow effect" and if you want to economize your money throughout the time, pick the SFL, be glad to be the owner of a such beautiful bino and use it with same pleasure for the rest of your life.
If you want to discover the imperfections of others binos, reads critics and critics for hours and hours, agreeing or rejecting each. Looks for good second hand item, try and try again, and in a few years or months, come back to SFL and discover that's an amazing bino but that maybe, on certains parts, other pairs are better, so go back to read, try, experiment and in a few years, come back to SFL saying yourself " what's a big wast of time...god it was passionating... wait a minutes, and what is this new model "NSFL2.0" mentioned on birdforum ? I go to read a bit more critics..."

PS : I'm a beginner, my words make no sense...or...

 

[pbr1985]

Ha! This is actually great advice. Agree its a funny question but I think part of what prompted it was the "WOW" I felt looking through good glass after years of looking through the cheap pair, and wondering if I'm going to miss out not feeling that big of a WOW again. But you're right, just enjoy the good stuff and stop thinking about it.

 

[Maljunulo]

The first question is how much are you willing to spend?

 

[Thotmosis]

No comment

 

[pbr1985]

The first question is how much are you willing to spend?

I'll top out at the SFLs ($1800 USD). I know this is sounding like an odd question. As Jinac suggested, fork out the cash now and enjoy the nice view or figure out why I should have. I guess what I'm asking is, anyone here been using entry level binoculars for years without upgrading? Or am I going to want to get new ones shortly after if I go that path?

 

[Hermann]

I guess what I'm asking is, anyone here been using entry level binoculars for years without upgrading?

What is an "entry level binocular"? Is, for instance, a Zeiss Conquest HD/HDX an "entry level binocular"? Or an SFL? What's your definition of "entry level"?

Or am I going to want to get new ones shortly after if I go that path?

What I'd do is get a decent binocular in the medium price bracket and use it. My recommendation would be something like the Zeiss Conquest 8x32 (HD, if you can still find one, or a HDX). These are well tried, robust binoculars with very decent optics. If you find you want something "better" after a couple of years, you'll know what to look out for. By then you'll know what you want. And you can keep the Conquest as a reserve pair. Or you may find you want something with a lot more magnification, i.e. a decent scope.

Hermann

 

[mwhogue]

Ha! This is actually great advice. Agree its a funny question but I think part of what prompted it was the "WOW" I felt looking through good glass after years of looking through the cheap pair, and wondering if I'm going to miss out not feeling that big of a WOW again. But you're right, just enjoy the good stuff and stop thinking about it.

@pbr1985

IMO, You have here correctly answered your own question. Given what you say, an SFL 8x40 is potentially a good choice. Either try to find one you can actually try out to see how they suit you or order from a vendor with a good return policy. From there you could always go either up or down in price, size, magnification , etc. , depending on your intended use for a second set and how often you might use them. As you live in the Pacific Northwest, it makes no sense to me not to have at least one good all around bin.

A general caveat to be fair, I get a "WOW" when using high end bins But also get a "WOW" when looking through much less expensive models some of which deliver surprisingly good images and utility for the price.

Good luck with the Quest and let us know how it goes.

Mike

 

[pbr1985]

What is an "entry level binocular"? Is, for instance, a Zeiss Conquest HD/HDX an "entry level binocular"? Or an SFL? What's your definition of "entry level"?

What I'd do is get a decent binocular in the medium price bracket and use it. My recommendation would be something like the Zeiss Conquest 8x32 (HD, if you can still find one, or a HDX). These are well tried, robust binoculars with very decent optics. If you find you want something "better" after a couple of years, you'll know what to look out for. By then you'll know what you want. And you can keep the Conquest as a reserve pair. Or you may find you want something with a lot more magnification, i.e. a decent scope.

Hermann

Entry level is vague. I mean something along the lines of the Vortex Diamondback that I tried. Hear you on the Conquest, which looks great. I am getting lost in the game of "for a bit more I can get this" and I am asking an impossible question to be answered on the internet

 

[pbr1985]

@pbr1985

IMO, You have here correctly answered your own question. Given what you say, an SFL 8x40 is potentially a good choice. Either try to find one you can actually try out to see how they suit you or order from a vendor with a good return policy. From there you could always go either up or down in price, size, magnification , etc. , depending on your intended use for a second set and how often you might use them. As you live in the Pacific Northwest, it makes no sense to me not to have at least one good all around bin.

A general caveat to be fair, I get a "WOW" when using high end bins But also get a "WOW" when looking through much less expensive models some of which deliver surprisingly good images and utility for the price.

Good luck with the Quest and let us know how it goes.

Mike

Yeah I think I am answering my own question. I tried the 10x40 which should give me a close approximation of the 8x40. At least in the handling characteristics. The shop I went to for whatever reason had a pair of $200 binoculars then $1500 binoculars with nothing in between. I'll try and go to another store with some options but they are far enough away that I need another reason to drive that far than to try binoculars for a few minutes.

 

[Maljunulo]

If you want better, I’m not sure $200-$500 is where you should be shopping.

 

[GrampaTom]

Pacific northwest is? Anywhere near Seattle? Theres a pretty good shop there...

 

[pbr1985]

Pacific northwest is? Anywhere near Seattle? Theres a pretty good shop there...

Yeah north of Bellingham. Glazers? Kenmore Camera? I was planning to stop by next time I am in Seattle initially. Sportman's Wearhouse in town didn't have many options, but was driving by Skagit Arms and stopped in and they had lots of high end options. Not a gun person and quite, uh, interesting, walking into those stores

 

[GrampaTom]

Cool, here’s what may be an overlooked resource. Was there a year or two ago.

The Nature Shop - Birds Connect Seattle

birdsconnectsea.org

This is what was the local Audubon society non profit center. Right about time I was there, there were undergoing change of name from Audubon to I believe this above.

You may know about the naming thing. Happened here as well former Audubon Society now Golden Gate etc.

Anyway this place had every Bino I ever wanted to get my eyes on as well as a nice selection of scopes. Very friendly people

 

[pbr1985]

Cool, here’s what may be an overlooked resource. Was there a year or two ago.

The Nature Shop - Birds Connect Seattle

birdsconnectsea.org

This is what was the local Audubon society non profit center. Right about time I was there, there were undergoing change of name from Audubon to I believe this above.

You may know about the naming thing. Happened here as well former Audubon Society now Golden Gate etc.

Anyway this place had every Bino I ever wanted to get my eyes on as well as a nice selection of scopes. Very friendly people

Wow that is a great resource. Will head there next time I’m in Seattle, thanks for the tip!

 

[[email protected]]

Nikon MHG 8x42 for all around but if you bird mostly in the daytime, and if you want something smaller and lighter, and less expensive the Nikon M7 8x30. Both have a much bigger FOV of 8.3 degrees versus the SFL's puny 8.0 degree FOV, and they are as just as good optically for less money. With SFL's you are just paying for the Zeiss name. If you don't believe me, compare them side by side.

 

[Scott98]

I'll top out at the SFLs ($1800 USD). I know this is sounding like an odd question. As Jinac suggested, fork out the cash now and enjoy the nice view or figure out why I should have. I guess what I'm asking is, anyone here been using entry level binoculars for years without upgrading? Or am I going to want to get new ones shortly after if I go that path?

So it's 8x42's you want - my choice was to get Nikon EDG, ordered from Kyoie Osaka in Japan for around $1400 maybe $1500. IMO it's a high-end bino hidden in plain sight in the mid-price market. Much better than Monarch HG's or SFL's for me. The 7x42 EDG is my everyday birding glass. I'm not a fan of the other $1000-$1500 binos, they all seem to have something I don't like.

 

[[email protected]]

So it's 8x42's you want - my choice was to get Nikon EDG, ordered from Kyoie Osaka in Japan for around $1400 maybe $1500. IMO it's a high-end bino hidden in plain sight in the mid-price market. Much better than Monarch HG's or SFL's for me. The 7x42 EDG is my everyday birding glass. I'm not a fan of the other $1000-$1500 binos, they all seem to have something I don't like.

Nah. EDG's are old in the tooth, and Nikon doesn't even support them or have parts for them anymore. If you break them, they send you an HG. The EDG is way heavier at 28 oz. versus 24 oz. for the HG and much bigger and bulkier. The EDG has big heavy rubber armor that is really not needed that Nikon got rid of it on the HG. The EDG 8x42 has a puny 7.7 degree FOV versus the huge 8.3 degree FOV of the HG, and even the EDG 7x42 is only 8.0 degrees.

Why would you buy a binocular with a smaller FOV and pay more for it? The EDG's are not as bright nor do they have the contrast and pop of the HG either, probably due to their color profile. The EDG's focuser is smooth because Nikon puts a big glob of grease in it. I know I have seen them taken apart. Stick with Nikon's current binocular, the HG. It is a better binocular and if you have any trouble with it, they can fix it.

 

[tenex]

Nah.

As ever, not only a copycat but a poor one. You keep leaving out the umlaut.

 

[fazalmajid]

The saying is, "buy once, cry once". Going through the upgrade treadmill costs you more than buying the final target would have.

The shop probably had only 10x binoculars because that is the preferred magnification for hunters.

In the same price range as the SFLs, I would also look at Meopta binoculars.

Consider also the weight, x32 or x42 binoculars are considerably heavier than your x25, and after a long day's hike, you will feel it. One model you should consider is the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25. I prefer it to the SFL 8x30 (haven't tried the SFL 8x40).