8x32 Binocular Recommendations Sub $500

[Minitron]

I am looking to upgrade from my 8x32 Vortex Diamondbacks. I enjoy how compact these are and the field of view. The main issue I have with them is the chromatic aberration. I do wear eyeglasses so a little more eye relief would be nice as well.

I currently have it narrowed down to the Kowa BD II 8x32, Opticron Traveler ED 8x32, or Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x32.

Does anyone have experience with these or have any additional binos I should look at?

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Used zeiss conquest hd

 

[Minitron]

Used zeiss conquest hd

I will look into these. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Sled]

I still enjoy my maven b3 as a primary bino. Not sure what they cost these days but you can find them used

 

[Samson7x]

Check out the Maven B3 8x30. Love mine for a light compact option.

 

[Minitron]

Two recommendations for the B.3s I will add them to the list to look into.

 

[Moccasin]

That Kowa is a good little bino, as are most of their products. If you are willing to wait, you can find older 8x30/32 Leica or Swaros for a few hundred bucks more.

 

[Agross]

Maven b3 8x30. Great binos

 

[nm.otter]

Thread 'Best truck binos for $300 or less, used?'

Saturday at 2:15 PM

Looking for some suggestions on what would be the best optical performance for a pair of truck binos. Definitely open to buying used, with a price cap of $300. In the used market, this should get me Maven C.1, Vortex Viper Hd, etc. What brands/models should I consider?

• Schmo
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Optics

 

[180ls1]

Monarch HG 8x42 - 22oz and 430' fov? They can be had used for that price or close.

 

[Minitron]

Looked into the Maven B.3 and the only issue the eye relief is 15 mm. Since I wear eyeglasses the 15 mm is a little short for me. If not for that they seem to be exactly what I was looking for.

Looks like the Monarch HG also comes in an 8x30 that would fit the bill as well if I could find it for a good deal used.

 

[timberlinehunter]

Looked into the Maven B.3 and the only issue the eye relief is 15 mm. Since I wear eyeglasses the 15 mm is a little short for me. If not for that they seem to be exactly what I was looking for.

Looks like the Monarch HG also comes in an 8x30 that would fit the bill as well if I could find it for a good deal used.

I wear glasses too and that was my concern when I was looking for the lightweight pair of binos. I ended up buying them anyways and decided I would return if I didn't like them. I tried them out and to my surprise the short eye relief wasn't an issue for me at all. They are very comfortable to get behind and use. They may be worthwhile doing the demo program from Maven and trying them out. It was worth it for me. They are now one of my favorite pair of binos I have.

 

[Minitron]

I wear glasses too and that was my concern when I was looking for the lightweight pair of binos. I ended up buying them anyways and decided I would return if I didn't like them. I tried them out and to my surprise the short eye relief wasn't an issue for me at all. They are very comfortable to get behind and use. They may be worthwhile doing the demo program from Maven and trying them out. It was worth it for me. They are now one of my favorite pair of binos I have.

I appreciate the info, that is good to know. I think the depth of the eyecups affects the eye relief as well, maybe these have shallow eyecups. I will look into the demo program. It seems like these are highly recommended.

 

[nm.otter]

Eyecups don't affect eye relief, but they have the potential make or break the user experience when handheld.

 

[Minitron]

Eyecups don't affect eye relief, but they have the potential make or break the user experience when handheld.

I didn't clarify with the prior post. The amount of "usable" eye relief changes with the depth of the eyecup at the lowest position when wearing eyeglasses. If two binoculars have 15 mm of eye relief but the distance from the ocular lens to the edge of the eye cup is 2mm on one and 3 mm on the other it feels like the binocular with the 2mm gap has longer eye relief when pressed up against eyeglasses.