I have had several $70.00 or less binos and really want a better quality pair. I know I could buy Zeiss or Leupold, but they are a little out of my price range.
I am looking at a pair of Steiner 8x30. They can be had for less than $200.00
Is this a wise quality/value choice. Are there ohter brands I should consider?

I went to Talladega with a guy who had a pair of Nikon 10x50's and they were very bright and clear. I think they were right at 100.

Check out the Leupold Wind River line. Seems like they are a good value.

I've found some surprisingly good binos over the years from lesser-known makers.

Stay away from the 'zoom' power ie "4-12x50" or whatever. I've never found decent performance from them.

The smaller objective does limit a bit lower light and field of view, yet they carry better & are handy. Usually cheaper too. Trade-offs abound in bino design.

A pair for many years I loved was 12x36 Nikon. As my own vision began deteriorating though, it became necessary to upgrade my glass for maximum help.

Even have an antique "world class" Tasco 10x50s that still serve well, although they are large & clunky.

Steiners have been another brand I'd certainly buy if I needed some. Bushnell has some decent models for the money too.

Fortunately, years ago I ran across a bargain on used Zeiss 10x40 dialyts.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I use binocs often for casual astronomy viewing. Good contrast, resolution and absence of aberration is important. Pentax binocs have a very good reputation for that purpose and aren't too expensive. Nikons are good too in the $200 under range. A good (experienced) user review site is http://www.cloudynights.com. What's interesting is that you don't find a lot of Leupold products showing up on there.

Check the forum section (much like the S&W Forum) for user reviews, equally detailed like here. Here's an index/link to over 400 bino reviews: Cloudy Night Bino Mini Reviews

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" I said, good DAY! "

I have a WWII-vintage set of 7 x 50s made for the U.S. Navy. Not up there with recent products, very heavy, but still surprisingly good.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I've had good luck with my 7 X 50 Fuji's. I used them professionally for a number of years working as a boat captain. They were about $450 tens years ago, no idea what they go for today. They have a built in compass which very handy on the water. When you spend a couple of hundred extra you get far better optics which translates into far less eye strain. If you are going to use them occasionally, for relatively short periods then a cheaper pair will do. If you are going to spend hours behind them then the extra money will be well spent.

As you may have surmised from my signature on posts (T-Star), I am a big Zeiss fan. I know of NO other brand that is as good, save for recent Leica examples.

But if you want the most bang for the buck, look at Swift's 8.5X44 Audubon, the roof prism model. I've seen them for about $450.

Binoculars aren't something to skimp price on.

By the way, I have used a number of Nikons, which I feel are mostly overrated, Steiner (a grave disappointment), and Bushnell, Pentax, etc.

Of the lot, I'd choose that Swift model, unless I could affford Zeiss or Leica. Swarovski is pretty close, but I think they lack that final 2-3% edge in sharpness and brightness.

These are my subjective opinions, but were arrived at by testing many binoculars, often for months at a time, under a variety of lighting and weather conditions.

T-Star

I am there with Paladin, I have a pair of WW2' ish binos made by Square D in NY.

They are 7x50's with diopter adjustment on each eye. I took them to a guy in Montana who refurbs binoculars and now have a very good pair of binoculars that I am not afraid to be a little rough with.

bob

I use Steiner 8x30 military/marine binocs and like the binocs very much.

In my job, I use binoculars each and every day. I hit on Burris about 6 years ago and love them. Stick with the "Signature" line. Burris has one line more expensive and one less. I found that the 8x42 roof prisms are the best balance of magnification and weight for me. The Burris binocs are tough having survived many long rough days being bounced around in my Jeep. .... Big Cholla

I like Burris binoculars and scopes. I have beat them up pretty bad doing stupid stuff but they have a lifetime guarantee and have been repaired back to new.

Read an article once that the average person buys 3 to 5 cheaper pair of binoculars before they buy a really good pair; guess it makes sense to save money in the long run and buy the really good pair first.

Binoculars are a passionate pursuit for many, perhaps even as much as S&W revolvers. You will find countless excellent and varying opinions out there, especially from the hard-core bird watchers. This link will take you to one of the better articles and bino comparisons I've seen on the web:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/P...r2005/Age_Binos.html

You can also get a lot of great info from the bird watching forums. Check out birdforum at:
http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=112

Do some basic research, and then go test drive as many as you can. Good luck.

A few years ago I wanted a good set of binoc's. I was fascinated by the Canon IS series. It stands for internally stabilized. Yes, it does require batteries. The set that came with it, probably in 2006 just died last weekend. So I replaced them with Energizer Lithium.

Its just unbelievable how good they are. Canon is one of those Japanese camera companies that is out in front on lens production. After a point, a lens made for viewing with the eye rather than recording on film won't make a differnce. What makes the IS binoc's stand out is those of us with the shakes get a rock solid image. Your hands might shake, but your eyes and the target appear rock solid.

Mine don't have a huge objective lens, I belive its 12 x 36, and the 36 doesn't gather as much light as a 50mm, but I haven't noticed a difference. And I do a fair amount of viewing after dark.

We've taken them on a couple of river boat cruises. The entire boat is moving, and so are my arms. But once you push the little centered button, there is a very small "snap", and the image doesn't move.

I know, high tech. But I'm sold on them.

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Dick Burg

To your original question, I have been very pleased with my Steiner binoculars. I've had mine for about 4 years, they've made it on two trips to Alaska, through 4 football seasons watching the Arkansas Razorbacks and 4 deer seasons. I've done the hundred dollar Nikon, Tasco, and Simmons thing, but I am very well pleased with the quality of the Steiner's.

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- Change it back -

I don't know if you guys have wolfe camera's where you live, but many here are having "going out of business" sales. I picked up a pair of $80 binocs for $20.

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I mean, you feel me....

I bought a pair of the Steiner 8x30's that were Israeli trade-ins about 10 years ago for $100. They are the best bino I have ever used.

The clarity is amazing. You can't loose the lens covers. Individual diopter adjustment for each lens. Once you set your focus, it is good out to infinity. They are fairly small and with the rubber armor, very rugged.

I've carried them hiking in AZ and use them for hunting, bird watching and at races. I'm sold on Steiner.

I've got a pair of 10 year old 8.5x42 Leica's that are clear, sharp and very bright. I've got "Leica" stamped in my forehead from spending so much time looking through them.

Between Leica and Swarovski, you can't go wrong. I think both have the edge on Zeiss except perhaps in much more expensive models of Zeiss.

nikon monarch 10-56 can be had for around 300 if you read the cornell review thats the review that sold me for only a shade better youll spend 1000+ more on the high end brands the monarchs for the money cant be beat

Yes, you'll be happy with Steiner 8X30 Military/Marine. Excellent value. It's a great binocular for the money.

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The earth laughs in flowers

I have some Steiners and Nikons and they are both very good for the money and I think for 200 bucks you will be happy with the Steiners.

I love my Steiners

+1 That is excellent advice, and here is a link to a birding site with binocular evaluations. Good reading.

http://www.birdforum.net/reviews/

I was in the market about 3-4 years ago and the problem is that all bino's look great at the store. I found a web sight done by Cornell Univ. which evaluated about a million pair, classed by price and power. The evaluators were normal ?? people of all ages. I believe Cornell is big into ornithology as a science so hence the eval. In the under $300 price range, first place I believe were Nikon Monarch 8x40's. I bought a pair at Sportsman Whorehouse for $285 and they are excellent. I have hunted hard with them and would buy them again. I hunted bear in the Eagle Cap in Eastern Oregon and lots of rock chucks/birds/deer/antelope in Oregon and elsewhere. Look up the evaluation and see if I'm FOS. There are lots of good products out there.

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beaver

I don't have any experience with Steiners, but have some experience evaluating sport optics, and will suggest that you need to answer for yourself your intended use of the binocs. There's a big difference between birdwatching and purposefully glassing for hard-to-spot game... As an indifferently skilled amateur birder, I find myself putting up my glasses to more closely examine some avian critter that I've already noticed with the unaided eye --- a flash of yellow warbler, a glimpse of orange tanager, a soaring raptor... The birds seldom hold still or stick around long enough to stare at them thru binocs for very long. I was schooled in big-game glassing technique by Jerry Day, a biologist (for you Southerners, a "biologist" is a person who studies animals, not someone who studies very hot water...) and javelina researcher with Arizona Game & Fish. Javelina are about the size of large Spaniels. Jerry said, "Glass for javelina, and you'll see every deer, and most everything else that moves. Glass for deer, and you'll miss most of the javelina and everything else." He spent years behind binocs.

This sort of dedicated, all day glassing, sometimes involving hours behind the objective lenses, reveals the flaws and failings of lesser optics in ways that short duration use, such as my birding, won't. With cheap glasses expect these deficiencies: Misaligned optical paths will cause your eyes to try to compensate and correct, with a fierce headache the typical result. Low light level performance will be poor, as will be contrast and resolution, and color correctness. None of these shortcomings are fatal flaws for casual, short-duration use, but are ruinous to prolonged, detailed observation, especially in poor lighting conditions.

This has been a long-winded caveat about putting too much stock in birdwatchers' evaluations of optics, and an endorsement of the already mentioned "you get what you pay for" advice. As I've said before, "Whoever said 'money can't buy happiness' never spent it on quality optics."

I would like to learn more about his methods..GOK how many deer I've overlooked.. Old dogs can learn new tricks..

I'll try to point out his methods ---

Use the best binoculars you can get your hands on.

Sit still, i.e., comfortably --- use a padded seat if necessary.

Wear a hat with a brim of sufficient size to shade the ocular lens --- a Stetson may not be right for low sun angles...

With no tripod mount, use a rifleman's "sitting" position, elbows rested on thighs...

Scan the area in an imaginary grid, and go over it again and again. Animals unseen in one pass will sometimes miracuously appear in another examination of the same terrain.

Repeat, repeat, repeat. The animals are there, you've just not found them yet...

Helps to look for the flicker of an ear or tail, the blink of an eye, or a slight shift in position that brings an animal into your field of view where a moment before, there was only brush. Sometimes, the sun coming out from behind a cloud will reveal what was hidden.

Look through the brush, not just at it.

And not to amaze JKC, some Southerners do know what a biologist is. We aren't all cast in the mold of the stereotype. In fact, my future daughter-in-law is a geneticist at a major university.

T-Star

lkc, Are your biases and prejudices always so obvious? What have you to say about us educated southerners? You know, like those of us with degrees in science?

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The earth laughs in flowers

As stated by an earlier post I have found the Burris Signature Series to be an incredible value..performance next to my Leica's and Swarovski's for significantly less money.
Although I have not always owned the really good stuff like I do now, I was always advised to buy the best quality optics I could AFFORD. I still use my Nikon's, Leupold, and Pentax binoculars for various things.
I would also encourage you to evaluate a set of binoculars OUTSIDE the store as they will all look pretty good inside.
Hope it helps you out.
Randy

Have you considered a used set of a brand you could not afford new?

I have had that happen...

THX for the info. Some new ideas to try..

I have a pair of Steiner Police 7x30 binos I used for UC surveillance everyday at work. The picture is crisp & clear and I love the fact that once I set them, I never have to adjust them. I too like the lens caps that never get lost. They're not that expensive IMO for what you get.

Check out the SWFA Samplelist.
They've got quite a few factory refurbished Steiners at great prices.
I bought a set of Military Marines 8x30 last year and love them, especially for what I paid.

the Stiener 8x30's are OK, i carry a pair in my bag.

but if you want some GREAT optics in the $200 range, look for some Carl Ziess Jena(70-80's vinatage) bino's in 7x50...I have 2 pair, got dad a pair and he wont even use his Steiner 7x50 Mil;s anymore. Now the CZ are not waterproof nor small but damn the glass is great. my 7x50's are Jenoptem's, my 10x50 with range finder are Dekaris

another is the Hensoldts(Ziess Mil) surplus, use to be able to find them for $150-200

good site with great info
http://www.holgermerlitz.de/index.html

Good grief, I was simply attempting a humorous mockery of Southern accents --- no insult intended, gents...