My first pair of ? binocs?

[GB Jack]

Hello folks,
Just joined elk 101, and am going on my first bowhunt for elk this elk.  My friend
Who lives out west and has a spotting scope , said I should def lay down some
Cash for the binocs.

I?m
10x42, I wear glasses , Considering viper vortex 10x42, the Zeiss conquest hd, and much to my dismay,( price ) swaros ( have no idea what model). Looking for any and all
Input, won?t takw offense to anything, just trying to learn from some experience . Thanks to all in advance !!

 

[DTP]

Hey GB Jack, welcome to the site  :upthumb:




First off I want to start this by saying I've never killed an elk because of my binos.
I hunt thicker areas and 99% of the time my binos sit in my truck.


With that being said I'd ask yourself a couple questions to help better answer yourself.


Do you want to just identify game? Or classify game as trophy potential or not?
The reason I ask this is because if you're just looking for a set of 10x42 to identify that something is an elk and nothing more, you don't need top of the line optics....


The 10x42 vortex vipers would work just fine for that. They are decent enough glass to most likely suite you on this hunt. Especially if your buddy has a spotter.


If this is your first elk hunt you probably won't care of it's a 3x3 or a 400" bull, you're looking for elk, then horns, and then going in. Am I right?


Another thing I'd ask yourself is how often would you be using these? Could you justify using them at home or are they only going to be once a year on an elk hunt. Again it would be hard for me to spend $2300 on some swaros that would only get used once a year.


Another question is are you ok with used stuff or do you have to have brand new? Just like camo, bows, vehicles, etc people upgrade stuff all the time. So you can buy very good used optics for much less.




This probably isn't the popular answer, but from the sounds of your situation, you probably don't need top of the line optics and I think some vortex vipers would be just fine.

 

[Kdkehoe]

DTP hit on a lot of great points.  I hunt super thick areas.  I spot them then go into the dark timber where if I hit a 60 yd open lane i would be lucky.  I carry the 10x42's and have the tripod adapter and that works just fine especially in the thicker stuff.  I lately even have a smaller set too that work out great.  If price is a concern the diamondback glass isn't a bad option either especially if your in darker thick timber.  Some can see a difference but I can't, not until the leap to the Razor line or Swaro glass.

 

[WW]

Somebody will probably jump all over me for this. But the Vipers are light years ahead of Pentax in low light conditions. I have owned both and can verify that. I have also compared my Vipers to Swaros during the day time. Couldn't see much if any difference. If the Swaro is any better in low light, I'd go with night vision. Just kidding!

Dan brought up a good point about buying used. Vortex has a no questions ask policy. Guaranteed for life and it is transferable from one owner to the next. So I would never be afraid to buy used Vortex Vipers even if they were completely ruined.

 

[patch1010]

Everything said about the Vortex line of Binos is spot on. I have been using Vortex products for years and I will spend my hard earned cash on them before anything else. Not only are they great  glass, customer service is much quicker than the German brands. I use the Viper 10X42 out here in Idaho for all of my game animals.

 

[cnelk]

If I was in your position I?d check out the Vortex monocular.
All the great vortex features, a little less cost and a little less weight.

My next glass purchase will be one of them

 

[Boom]

There is no way. Minoculars are very awkward for me. Nature gave us two eyes. I don?t even like scrunching one eye closed to use my range finder.


I have an older Pentax. My brothers newer vortex Razors blow them out of the water.


I demoted my vortex to my wife?s car binos.

 

[GB Jack]

Thank you guys so much!!! Used is NOT out of the question. This is my midlife crisis.
At 43, need a hip replacement ( scheduled in December ) this is a prove it to myself and others who said I couldn?t , trip
On public land for me ( a Wisconsin native) . I?m happy taking a raghorn and above .
That to me would be a trophy!!!

 

[GB Jack]

DTP hit on a lot of great points.  I hunt super thick areas.  I spot them then go into the dark timber where if I hit a 60 yd open lane i would be lucky.  I carry the 10x42's and have the tripod adapter and that works just fine especially in the thicker stuff.  I lately even have a smaller set too that work out great.  If price is a concern the diamondback glass isn't a bad option either especially if your in darker thick timber.  Some can see a difference but I can't, not until the leap to the Razor line or Swaro glass.

Do you feel the razor is inherently better tHan the viper ?

 

[ironhorse_archer]

I went with Vortex for a couple reasons. One their warranty, the founder is a mil vet, and they are on par with some of the pricier brands.

I went diamondback > Viper > Razor, with my binos & Diamondback > Razor on my spotter. I lost a bit of money making my way to the Razors and wish I had bit the bullet right off the bat, 20/20 hindsight  :haha: . If you can swing it, i'd definitely recommend the razors. There is a bit of difference between Vipers and razors. Clarity, low light performance and edge clarity were all noticeable improvements, that being said, you can't go wrong with the vipers at their price.

 

[GB Jack]

All valid reasons , seems the vortex razors be the happy medium for me

 

[Firehawk]

Another great binocular worth considering are the Mavens.  I have a B2 that I have used for a couple of years now.  Very good glass, solid construction, very comfortable to use.  Good enough for me to sell my Leica Duovids and keep the Mavens.


I just picked up a Maven C1 8x42 as well.  Very impressed with the clarity and sharpness.  Well built and easy to use.  They aren't my B2s, but the are really good.  My buddy sold his Vortex Vipers to go with his Maven C1 10x42. 


Vortex Razors are good too.  Always been pleased with Vortex as a company and their customer service is really good. 


Good luck.

 

[10ringer]

I second what Firehawk said, for the price its hard to beat the mavens. A set of c.1 nockers in 8x42 or 10x42 will run you under $350. 


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