Binoculars for around $400

Vortex Talon HD

Thanks again for recommending these. I've birded for almost a decade with Eagle Optics regular 10x50 and wondered if the ED was worth it. I really didn't get anything I wanted for Christmas and my old Rangers are beat up and I have a trip to Costa Rica which often has low light conditions in the rain forest. The new ED binoculars just came in. So, is the ED coating enough of an improvement to justify the extra cost? I'd say definitely. The difference in brightness between my old Rangers and the new ones is quite noticeable. The new binos are also sharper than the old ones which I was very happy with for a long time.

1. If you are going to use binoculars much in low light get the ED coating, it does make a difference.
2. I'm also a fan of Eagle Optics.
3. If anybody wants a 10% discount on Eagle Optics binoculars call them rather than order on the internet. And tell them you have a discount from their pro referral program. The code is PRP-10 and is for Debi Shearwater. With the discount these ran me $329 which is a bargain.

The Monarch 7 is a really nice piece of equipment.
I found this company Zen-Ray and researched the hell out of it and can't find a bad review, I bought the new model ZRS summit 8x42's and couldn't be happier spent less than 250.
Very very bright in low light and crystal clear during the day!

LINK

$400?

Jesus Christ just squint man


I always just use the scope, because if I can't figure it out through the scope, I shouldn't be shooting

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get the ED coating

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From my limited understanding, ED is not a coating, but rather a fluorite lens, which is a lot better than glass and much more expensive. Same with all optics, telescopes and camera lenses too.

With camera lenses, Nikon calls their flourite lenses ED and Canon calls theirs L-glass. Telescope manufacturers call these lenses APO or apochromatic.

If it makes it more expensive, why are they still under $400? Why hasn't this been used in rifle scopes? It has it?

I have this same pair by Pentax and could not be more happy with them. I have also had a pair of Swarovski binos that were excellent until I dropped them. For the price difference I would never buy another pair of Swarovskis. They are just not that much better. Years ago the European glass was light years ahead but not anymore.

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Isn't the scope sucks, I would much rather use Binos. The new Nikons are great and I would get the 12 power.

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I have 12x42 Monarchs. They are great during daylight hours, at dawn and dusk they leave a lot to be desired, not the optics fault the exit pupil on a 12x binocular makes them poor in low light.

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Only gripe is that I wish they were more compact.

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Absolutely.... There's a time and a place for midsize binoculars. I thought I was being smart probably 6 years ago before I knew what I needed by getting the 12x42 instead of a 10x42 since they were the same size. I really want to down size the ones I use on a regular basis to something more compact. 6-8x32 range and keep the 12x42s for certain areas.

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ED is not a coating, but rather a fluorite lens, which is a lot better than glass and much more expensive.

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You are right, it is higher quality glass. And there are different varieties:

ED: Extra-low dispersion glass
FL: Fluoride glass
HD: High-definition glass

The ED glass added $80 to the cost of the binos I bought, and it was well worth it.