Binoculars - Advice please

[Spear Chucker]

I have been given permission to upgrade my binoculars from a battered pair of Redfield 10x 42 that is showing its age.
I am looking closely at Kahles 10x42 either with or without RF capabilities. Budget @ £1500.
RF is not critical for me as I know the distances on my ground and I am distrustful of electrics.
My stalking is mostly in South Eastern England, sweet chestnut / chestnut coppice and deciduous woodland / grassland. I stalk mostly on foot, but use high seats where conditions/opportunities demand - and usually in low light.
I use a hand-held thermal imager for location before identifying the subject with binoculars.
An optics trader mentioned that the famed maker of green covered binos has recently switched to using a more "ecologically friendly" rubberised coating that does not last as well as the original, although with the guarantee, can be recoated apparently. if this is accurate (not sure) I would probably steer clear of these, preferring functionality/quality/resilience to swanky brands more interested in saving the world than doing the job. It may be the same for Kahles as I am told they are linked to the other manufacturer.
56mm objective lenses may come as part of a pretty bulky package and I am uncertain they will offer a significant advantage for the extra weight (in Kahles case, nearly 0.4kg difference between 10x42mm and 8x56mm)
Grateful for views and advice on brand and optimum configuration.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[lochty]

Have a look at www.rmacleod.co.uk pretty sure they had a s/h set of Kahles well within your budget.
@R. Macleod & Son

 

[NickJ]

Kahles are good in my experience. I'd probably still sooner buy used Swaro, Leica or Zeiss than anything 'lesser' new, usually a few in the Classified Optics section on here.

I wouldn't buy RF unless you need it, if the electrics go wrong the warranties are poor (apart from Vortex's.)

If you are mainly woodland stalking I would advise 8x over 10x.

I just bought a pair similar to these For Sale: - MINOX HG 8.5 x 43 Binoculars for an upcoming safari trip and have been very impressed with how light they are and the glass. They were £250 used. The glass is very nearly up there with my Swarvoski's I use (10x42 as as stalk on the hill.)

 

[Spear Chucker]

Have a look at www.rmacleod.co.uk pretty sure they had a s/h set of Kahles well within your budget.
@R. Macleod & Son

many thanks for this

 

[Spear Chucker]

Kahles are good in my experience. I'd probably still sooner buy used Swaro, Leica or Zeiss than anything 'lesser' new, usually a few in the Classified Optics section on here.

I wouldn't buy RF unless you need it, if the electrics go wrong the warranties are poor (apart from Vortex's.)

If you are mainly woodland stalking I would advise 8x over 10x.

I just bought a pair similar to these For Sale: - MINOX HG 8.5 x 43 Binoculars for an upcoming safari trip and have been very impressed with how light they are and the glass. They were £250 used. The glass is very nearly up there with my Swarvoski's I use (10x42 as as stalk on the hill.)

Thank you. it all sounds like good sense to me.

 

[Dazb1967]

I have just bought a pair of Swaro CL10x25 from Macleods, I am very impressed with them, So much so they will be my go to bins now, I also own a pair of Swaro EL 10x42's but I will be taking my 10x25's with me everywhere now, very compact compared to the EL's and fit in the pocket nicely, They are still quite expensive but they should hopefully last a lifetime.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I'd go Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42, if you cannot afford new buy used, they will be under warranty, someone was selling some on here last week at under a grand.

Good luck with your search and enjoy your new binos.

 

[Dazb1967]

I'd go Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42, if you cannot afford new buy used, they will be under warranty, someone was selling some on here last week at under a grand.

Good luck with your search and enjoy your new binos.

I would have agreed with you a week ago, Now though I feel there is no need to cart these big lumps around, the 10x25's are more than adequate and less than half the weight

 

[VSS]

8x42 will give you better depth of field than 10x42, so would be much better suited to woodland / lowland stalking such as you describe.

 

[Spear Chucker]

I'd go Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42, if you cannot afford new buy used, they will be under warranty, someone was selling some on here last week at under a grand.

Good luck with your search and enjoy your new binos.

Thank you Sir, much appreciated

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

8x42 will give you better depth of field than 10x42, so would be much better suited to woodland / lowland stalking such as you describe.

I’ve used 10x50 Leica ultravids for 15 years and I’ve used them for all stalking.

Look for the ones with the most warranty I think the only brands that to long term warranty Leica (30 years ) vortex are life from what I understand

 

[VSS]

I’ve used 10x50 Leica ultravids for 15 years and I’ve used them for all stalking.

Look for the ones with the most warranty I think the only brands that to long term warranty Leica (30 years ) vortex are life from what I understand

I "upgraded" from 8x to 10x a few years ago, but the reduction in depth of field annoyed me so much that I took the 10x straight back to the shop and asked them to swap for a pair of 8x.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Opticron

 

[UpNorthMI]

Here is the ad title: Price reduced Swarovski 8.5 x 42 EL binoculars​

Not sure if still for sale.

 

[Dazb1967]

Here is the ad title: Price reduced Swarovski 8.5 x 42 EL binoculars​

Not sure if still for sale.

Is it this one, I have no connection to the seller I'm just trying to help out

Sold: - Swarovski binoculars

For sale are my Swarovski binoculars 8x42 EL in very good condition, recently been serviced by Swarovski with no major issues. Glass is 100% with no marks or scratches they come with a Swarovski harness and the original strap and a lens cover. Price £1000

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Spear Chucker]

8x42 will give you better depth of field than 10x42, so would be much better suited to woodland / lowland stalking such as you describe.

Very grateful to you. Clearly -in this scenario- like so many others in life, bigger tools are not necessarily the best tools. Rather a relief to be able to get better results with lighter kit for once!

 

[Dazb1967]

Very grateful to you. Clearly -in this scenario- like so many others in life, bigger tools are not necessarily the best tools. Rather a relief to be able to get better results with lighter kit for once!

If it's lighter kit your after go with the 10x25's, Massive difference in weight and no compromise in image quality, I can't comment on the difference between 8 mag compared to 10 mag but here's a pic of the difference in size for carrying around

 

[Spear Chucker]

Opticron

Thank you, hadn't thought of them

 

[Will the chippy]

Opticron

How good as these for there size?

 

[Spear Chucker]

If it's lighter kit your after go with the 10x25's, Massive difference in weight and no compromise in image quality, I can't comment on the difference between 8 mag compared to 10 mag but here's a pic of the difference in size for carrying around

It is quite a difference. Also just discovered that Kahles, GPO, Opticron are assembled in China. I would prefer to support a European business if I cannot support a UK based manufacturer, so we are back to the main European players. Probably no bad thing.