Buying binoculars - looking for advice

[Rob17]

Hi all,

I’m looking at getting some good binos to be all purpose for mostly stalking and also when I go out walking or safari etc. I’m new and looking to buy once cry once within reason.

I’ve been most interested in the Vortex Fury 5000 HD 10x42 rangefinder binos and that’s the sort of budget. I wonder if they have too much magnification.

Do you all think the rangefinder is useful as I’ve not had one before? The furys seem to be the best rangefinder binos that aren’t swaros and 2x the price. Is 10x good for all purpose?

Any opinions most welcome thank you for your time.

 

[VSS]

Is 10x good for all purpose?

No.
8×42 would be better for general purpose stalking use. Better depth of field.

 

[bullet chucker]

10X is fine any more is to much as the wobble holding them will give blur, also a range finder pair will increase weight

BC.

 

[slider]

I use 10 x 42 Fury's for all sorts of stalking no problems.
LRF works well but once you know your ground you may not use it so much.
The Vortex are brilliant binoculars and are backed by the best warranty in the business. Drop them, scratch them, run them over - it's all covered

 

[takbok]

I find 10x42 great all round. I have Vortex Razor but would probably be just as happy with cheaper ones. Vortex has a great warranty which I've used a couple of times.

 

[Dhindes]

I have some vortex diamondback 10x42's - love them except at low light when stalking partners would say "look at the deer on the edge of the wood" and I could see nothing.
I just decided to get some low light bino's - research, AK prisms needed - 8x56. Found that Geco had some which are actually made by, and same as, GPO ( good optics) but half the price. I bought a pair and am delighted. Can see deer when I can not see them with the naked eye, seem to amplify light. REALLY good but admit they are heavy.

 

[steve w]

i have used vortex for 15 years plus and i was very happy with them ,but i just brought a pair of range finding Leica all i can say is WOW . but for years i told everyone how good vortex was

 

[User00056]

I stalked for years with a tiny pair of Bushnell 8 x 40 binoculars with plenty of success. I them moved on to a pair of Excursion 10 x 42 and noticed a massive improvement. I now use a pair of Zeiss Terra ED 10 x 42 and really rate them

 

[TOMHOWA]

I started off with 10x42s, switched to 8 x42 such a wider field of view. Definitely prefer especially for woodland stalking.

Listening to some of the hunting podcasts a lot of the yanks don’t rate the combined binos with range finder. I think at the price of those binos you could get top end binos second hand like Swarovski,zeiss, meopta etc and a seperate range finder.

 

[Rob17]

No.
8×42 would be better for general purpose stalking use. Better depth of field.

Do you think a rangefinder is desirable?

 

[222BEN]

I started off with 10x42s, switched to 8 x42 such a wider field of view. Definitely prefer especially for woodland stalking.

Listening to some of the hunting podcasts a lot of the yanks don’t rate the combined binos with range finder. I think at the price of those binos you could get top end binos second hand like Swarovski,zeiss, meopta etc and a seperate range finder.

I agree with Tomhowa. For the price your looking at I’d buy the top end European stuff but second hand, as long as you can try before you buy and be patient for the right ones to come up. Just picked up a pair of Zeiss SF well under a grand and like new.

 

[Tazz]

I would add the range finder, it adds a bit of weight but not excessive plus you always have that facility, we all believe we judge distance accurately but often in reality we don’t. In my early stalking it helped with setting sensible ranges beyond which I wouldn’t take shots on as your confidence and ability grow and the circumstances allow you can then go further

 

[VSS]

Do you think a rangefinder is desirable?

Personally no, although I do know people who swear by them.
If you're familiar with your ground, and are shooting out to a maximum of around 230 yds, I would say a range finder is an unnecessary encumbrance, and just one more thing to fiddle about with and miss the opportunity of a shot. If you use the MPB method of zeroing your rifle, and familiarise yourself with the layout of your land, you'll get good results just using mk1 eyeball.
However, if you often shoot on unfamiliar ground then I can see that a range finder could be advantageous.

 

[Rory]

@Rob17 I've previously used a set of Steiner Ranger 8x42, which were really good glass. I've recently switched to Vortex Fury 10x42 LRF.
The field of view is decreased and the glass with LRF not quite as sharp as the Steiners, but they are very good.
I no longer have to glass, locate, then find LRF, locate, lase, rejig etc.
Just look, locate, lase, continue observing etc.
I think it's worth it the trade off.

 

[TOMHOWA]

I only use a rangefinder to get distances to say edges of a woodland from my current spot, certain spots/land marks in my field of view encase one runs across and stops near a specific point. And also to set boundaries like if one pops out inside of a certain point I know it’s within say 200m. Especially for that last hour of light as I find things look further away than they are sometimes. Maybe my eyes playing tricks!

Dont think I have ever ranged an actual deer, but can guarantee the one day I don’t take it I’ll need it. I bought a secondhand Leica on here.

 

[Blench99]

Someone selling a cracking pair of Swarovski 10x42 down my way, just back from service, £695, which I thought was very cheap

 

[Cyres]

See if you pick up a SH pair of 10x42 Geovids.
Seen them for sub £1k which is a steal.
D

 

[25 Sharps]

@Rob17 I've previously used a set of Steiner Ranger 8x42, which were really good glass. I've recently switched to Vortex Fury 10x42 LRF.
The field of view is decreased and the glass with LRF not quite as sharp as the Steiners, but they are very good.
I no longer have to glass, locate, then find LRF, locate, lase, rejig etc.
Just look, locate, lase, continue observing etc.
I think it's worth it the trade off.

Same story, although I’ve gone from Steiner rangers to meopta 8x42 LRF, I find the LRF useful.

I suppose the answer to the OP is if you don’t use a rangefinder already you probably don’t need it in your binoculars, if you do then it’s one less thing to carry and one less thing to faff with it’s when a shot is on.

 

[NBCCS]

@Konar is selling a pair of 10x42 lecia range finders cheap

 

[Heym SR20]

If you have a smartphone download Google earth. You can find your current position and then measure distance to other parts of your ground - woodland edge etc etc.

Cheaper and lighter than having range finding binoculars