Budget Hunting Binos

Jackomason

Jackomason

Poop-smith aka "Turd Herder"
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 26, 2013
1,636
1,397
Westcliffe Colorado
#1
Well, I'm sure I'll be giving Doug a call in a couple weeks but thought I'd do my research before hand.

Last season I broke my binos, I got them for free years ago and they were about as cheap as they come. I had all but forgot about it but now hunting season is around the corner and I'm short on time and funds. I want to stay around $200. It is what it is but I'd like to get the most for the money.

Any ideas? I've been considering the Cabelas intensity 12x50 and the Carson RD line. There's an overwhelming amount of options.

Purpose: elk hunting in Colorado. I'm ok with 10x or 12x and durability is on my radar.
 
#3
Jackomason said:
Well, I'm sure I'll be giving Doug a call in a couple weeks but thought I'd do my research before hand.

Last season I broke my binos, I got them for free years ago and they were about as cheap as they come. I had all but forgot about it but now hunting season is around the corner and I'm short on time and funds. I want to stay around $200. It is what it is but I'd like to get the most for the money.

Any ideas? I've been considering the Cabelas intensity 12x50 and the Carson RD line. There's an overwhelming amount of options.

Purpose: elk hunting in Colorado. I'm ok with 10x or 12x and durability is on my radar.
Click to expand...
I have Swaro SLC 15x 56 and the 299 Cabalas HD something or other as does my son. Yes the Swaros are better but dang for the 200 or was it 299 the Cabelas are amazing..

He and his buddy used the Cabelas this morning. They put on a good stock and used a bow.. about 40 minutes drive from their house.
659F204E-8713-4037-9023-624B96275833.jpeg



8BC7694C-2A37-4BCC-BF09-DCE04E32C70C.jpeg


They packed 100% out— I would have broken it down more.. damn teenagers
 
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#4
That's awesome! And that's a beautiful bull! I wish I could say I'm a trophy hunter but it's all about the meat. I have an either sex tag so if there's a bull big enough he'll be going down.

The intensity are $199 & $229. Honestly if I can see it's a 4+ point bull past 300 yards I'll be happy. My old ones could do that no problem in an open field.
 
#6
Put it this way. You have to be on tripods to begin to tell the difference. First light, the SLCs are much better. But again I am 100% amazed by the performance of the cabalas, his and mine. I have both the SLCs and cheap Cabelas so no ego playing a roll.. for 10x less the price they are really something..

We have ELK cow tags for third rifle in CO.

For what it is worth we look thru the Burris, Vortex, Bushnell, Leica and Ziess at the matches.. the higher $ stuff is all good... the closest to the SLCs by far, are the Meostars.

But nothing in your 200 price range is as good as the Cabelas
 
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#7
Diver160651 said:
Put it this way. You have to be on tripods to begin to tell the difference. First light, the SLCs are better. But again I am 100% amazed by the performance of the cabalas, his and mine.

We have ELK cow tags for third rifle in CO.

For what it is worth we look thru the Burris, Vortex, Bushnell, Leica and Ziess at the matches.. the higher $ stuff is all good... the closest to the SLCs by far are the Meostars.

But nothing in your 200 price range is as good as the Cabelas
Click to expand...

Done! Thanks.

I've looked through high dollar binos and been to many classes but I've realized my lot in life lol. I appreciate the mini review. I believe all cabelas optics are meopta made, if you get a chance to see the exact model I'd appreciate it!

3rd season is great. I got stuck with 1st having a baby on the way in the middle of 3rd.
 
#8
Jackomason said:
Done! Thanks.

I've looked through high dollar binos and been to many classes but I've realized my lot in life lol. I appreciate the mini review. I believe all cabelas optics are meopta made, if you get a chance to see the exact model I'd appreciate it!

3rd season is great. I got stuck with 1st having a baby on the way in the middle of 3rd.
Click to expand...
Will do have the cabelas in my car and the Swaros on my match pack. Maybe in the morning I can do a thru the bino picture but the phones crap it up.
 
#10
Diver160651 said:
Will do have the cabelas in my car and the Swaros on my match pack. Maybe in the morning I can do a thru the bino picture but the phones crap it up.
Click to expand...
They are the Intensity- please note this is at dusk. The houses in the center are from 2500y to 4150y near the water tank; the hill with antenna is 11 miles away.

I didn’t get a good hold on the cabelas with my iPhone - picture look way worse.

Images show both the Swaro QR bino mount and the Outdoorsman QR bino mount.. Swaro uses a lever and does not need a plate and the other you push down the knob. Both are excellent.
C7493BDB-BC9E-40BE-AC9E-08658F25B7C4.jpeg
1313768F-C0C2-4B25-ADCB-E19586571FF2.jpeg


SLCs
86260194-6AFE-4FE7-AF3E-B7D10E4A04F0.jpeg


Cabelas $200 12x the dark spot is more me with the phone moving in and out
39084BBB-0DC1-4B3F-9E48-69AF7C06C0C4.jpeg



Edited to ADD the iPhone just destroyed both images
 
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#12
I've been running a set of 10x50 intensity's for about half a year. I don't have much experience with higher end binoculars but these have performed great so far. I also know that inside a store isn't a good place to compare glass but these were noticably better than anything else they had in stock to compare them to in that price range. So far I don't regret this purchase at all.
 
#16
kingston said:
I use the Uni-Dapter

Amazon.com : Vortex Optics Uni-Daptor Binocular Tripod Adapter : Camera & Photo

Amazon.com : Vortex Optics Uni-Daptor Binocular Tripod Adapter : Camera & Photo
amzn.to

61EpJbMAWWL._SL1500_.jpg
Click to expand...
The Swaro or outdoorsman is really better for anyone wishing to chest carry and tripod mount. No tools once installed - noting sticking out when used without the tripod. When on the tripod it can not get pulled or bumped off accidentally.

The Outdoorsman are about 1/3 less $$ but do nearly the same as the the Swaro.


I carry my binos hunting in a KUIU chest rig, so QR is huge.

For matches I use my chest rig but it is pinned to the small pack. You can see why the bino mount needs to be QR.. no room in a chest harness (even on the back of my pack).
9C9CD2CE-A813-4A23-8737-BE50717355DF.jpeg


A4FDDEB3-728E-4F93-BA07-593D2ECFC1B1.jpeg


I’ve used the same Vortex mount plus this one. I do not care for either. Both are in the nick box..

76A00595-A902-43FD-A288-581D90A98D68.jpeg


Edited to add: if you ever used the cheap uni-Mount from Vortex and grab your tripod in a horizontal position and hustle quickly a ways away with the binos still attached, it will be the last time you use that mount... your binos will no longer be on your tripod as they separate freely. Don’t ask me how I know —
 
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#17
On a 56mm objective binocular, this doesn’t stick out. I’ve been using it on a 8x56 Minox HG BR for several years. The binocular slides in and out of a AGC Bino pack with the mounting stem attached, no problemo and no tools.
 
#18
Not sure on price now a days, but a few years ago I got the 10x42 Nikon Monarch 7 binos for around $225-250. Very nice for the $, big FOV, ED glass, light weight, and good warranty too.
 
#19
This is the nicest QD tripod mount I've tried, especially for the price. The stud mounts to the binoculars and don't add anything to the overall size. Then the stud slides in the mount and you push down to lock. There is also a thumb wheel on top to more securely lock it.

www.bushnell.com

Buy AR-15 Bipod Adaptor and More | Champion Target

Shopping for the AR-15 Bipod Adaptor - Learn more about the latest Hunt/Shoot Accessories Site Catalog and other hunting or shooting gear at Champion Target.
www.bushnell.com www.bushnell.com
 
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#24
I have a friend that bought both the cabelas krotos spotting scope and the vortex razor gen 2. The pictures spoke for themselves and he returned the razor. So that's what kinda clued me in that cabelas wasn't joking around. I'll let everyone know what I think when I get them.
 
#29
Diver160651 said:
Put it this way. You have to be on tripods to begin to tell the difference. First light, the SLCs are much better. But again I am 100% amazed by the performance of the cabalas, his and mine. I have both the SLCs and cheap Cabelas so no ego playing a roll.. for 10x less the price they are really something..

We have ELK cow tags for third rifle in CO.

For what it is worth we look thru the Burris, Vortex, Bushnell, Leica and Ziess at the matches.. the higher $ stuff is all good... the closest to the SLCs by far, are the Meostars.

But nothing in your 200 price range is as good as the Cabelas
Click to expand...


Just picked up a pair of 12x50 Cabelas Intensity based on your reviews here and I must say they are AWESOME for the money! I have a pair of Steiner 25x80 Observer binoculars and while not an apples to apples comparison, the Cabela's blow the Steiner's away in image quality and clarity!
 
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#30
Doug sold me a pair of Meopta last year for my waterfowl blind bag as I didn’t want to have my Swaros in that environment. I have been super pleased with them for the price. Doug and the crew at Cameraland have alway steered me right.
 
#33
Very impressed, my only worry was that 12x might be too shaky but unless you're Tom Hanks in saving private Ryan then I dont think you'll have problems.

CA shows up a bit in photos and I didn't have the best rest nor a good focus but once everything is set up... I'm pretty happy. These will do just fine for counting points.

No frills but clean packaging
20190920_162802.jpg


20190920_163512.jpg


Horse is 775 yards and the picture was hasty, I'll see if I can find some bucks tomorrow.

20190920_163554.jpg
 
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#37
The funny thing is, Burris has a binocular line up made in Japan, that sells for a the same or less money than a lot of stuff coming out of China.

The HD Series is Japanese made, and comes in 8x32, 10x42, and 12x50. As I just told another Hide member in a PM, my 12x50 HDs made my 10x Razor binos look like bad value. Same glass and quality, half the price. And of course, Vortex has moved the binos to China.

I guess I'm doing a bad job of shilling my brand here. Its amazing how many people aren't aware of these..

Signature HD Binoculars | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com www.burrisoptics.com
 
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#38
Birddog6424 said:
The funny thing is, Burris has a binocular line up made in Japan, that sells for a the same or less money than a lot of stuff coming out of China.

The HD Series is Japanese made, and comes in 8x32, 10x42, and 12x50. As I just told another Hide member in a PM, my 12x50 HDs made my 10x Razor binos look like bad value. Same glass and quality, half the price. And of course, Vortex has moved the binos to China.

I guess I'm doing a bad job of shilling my brand here. Its amazing how many people aren't aware of these..

Signature HD Binoculars | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com www.burrisoptics.com
Click to expand...

I have those in 12x50 and I really like them for the $ spent. Will be going to Wyoming with me in a few weeks. If the 8x42’s didn’t have such an abysmal FOV I’d have a pair of those for hunting in Alabama.
 
#39
Honestly, the cabelas ones impress me every time I use them. And for what I paid I'm not worried about destroying them. That's not to say they aren't robust. The only thing I have against them is that they are made in China. Which is increasingly on my radar with how they've been treating the Wegers and I think that should be factored in when buying/supporting their economy.
 
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