8x32-ish whitetail bow hunting binos?

[quackaddict]

So I’m kind of looking for something 8x32-ish for bow hunting in close quarter Southeast type stuff. Been thinking about the Diamondback HD, Nikon Prostaff 7, maybe the Maven C2 7x28? So something in that price range. Any other options I should look at? Really don’t want to be much over $200 for these particular binos.

 

[TN2shot07]

I bought the Mavens for the exact same use, they were awesome last season and weigh almost nothing

 

[deerhunt1988]

I've used the Mavens for deer and turkey the past 3 years. Love those little jokers!

 

[quackaddict]

How good are they in low light?

 

[flyinsquirel]

Sightron blue sky II. These are a great buy at $200. They keep cycling down to $99 through Adorama every month or so. Not the smallest 8x32, but one of the best till you start spending 3-4x the $$

Sightron SIIBL832 8x32 Binocular (Green) https://a.co/d/dPpplsD

 

[BLJ]

You might also consider the Leupold 6x30 Yosemite. They're no longer in production so it would be used only. Very good for the Eastern woods. Especially for the price. IMO.

 

[n816kc]

Vortex Viper 6s are very nice for whitetail hunting. Compact with really nice optics for the price.

 

[Shraggs]

Swaro cl companion, latest generation. Excellent product at 17 oz

 

[quackaddict]

I see that Nikon just released a new Prostaff p7 8x30 model as well…not much info on them yet though. Wonder how they’d compare?

 

[JustSomeGuy35]

Swaro cl companion, latest generation. Excellent product at 17 oz

Uhhh, he said he didn't want to spend over $200.

 

[Shraggs]

For $200… and close in timber I’d jump down to a 6x30. Light gather will be very good in even a budget in the configuration. Actually leupold Yosemite is darn good, and reportedly the vortex.

 

[Hunt260]

The diamondbacks are fine, I’ve beat mine up pretty good and they still are perfect

 

[95tigerbill]

I picked up Celestron Nature Dx in 8x32. Read about them in a bird watch forum and for the price range of less than $200 I have been thoroughly impressed.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Freaking love my maven 7x28s for whitetail and turkey. They are very light and do everything I need

 

[OspreyZB]

Kowa YF porros are unbelievably good for the price. Pretty much identical to the now discontinued Leupold Yosemite. I love my 6x30 for one handed use while stalking. My dad has the 8x30 and they are excellent as well.

 

[Macintosh]

I got a pair of the 8 x 28 Diamondbacks for exactly this purpose. I had a pair of Nikon 8 by 20s or something, tiny little binoculars, they had terrible low light performance and was looking for something similar in size. The bulk of larger binoculars was a problem for me climbing tree stands a lot, so I really wanted sub compact size. The Diamondbacks are acceptable for this short range purpose, for me that’s just putting antlers on a deer at 50 yards before it can see me to know if it’s a shooter or not, but if you are at all picky about your glass they’re going to be terrible. Probably better than the little tiny Nikons in low light, but not by much. Low light performance is mediocre at best, and edge to edge clarity is noticeably bad. The center of the view is OK, they work, but they’re not going to impress anyone.Best I have found in a subcompact are the zeiss, I think the Terra ED? They are about $350, a little more than you wanna spend, and I do not like the double hinge in use, but in that price category I couldn’t find anything even close. I did not get a chance to look through the kowas or the mavens mentioned above though.
I am strongly considering just ditching the binoculars and using a better quality 6X rangefinder for this purpose. Kill two birds with one stone that way.

 

[LostArra]

Sightron blue sky II. These are a great buy at $200. They keep cycling down to $99 through Adorama every month or so. Not the smallest 8x32, but one of the best till you start spending 3-4x the $$

Sightron SIIBL832 8x32 Binocular (Green) https://a.co/d/dPpplsD

Winner.


While some other sub $200 binoculars have a decent view (I've owned and sold many of those listed above) they either have wonky eye relief issues and/or feel inexpensive ("cheap"). Not so with the Sightron. Solid open bridge design. If you prefer a closed bridge, go with the Celestron Nature DX 8x32.

I wouldn't go any smaller objective size than 32mm for those dusk or dawn hunts in the deep Southern woods. (OP is that a Clemson paw?)

At 500 yards, my Swaros are better than anything listed here as you would expect but at 100 yards the Sightron's are so close the price difference seems ridiculous.

(Disclaimer: my Sightron Blue Sky II binos are over 7 years old. Things may have changed at Sightron but I've purchased these for my daughters who deer hunt and a few son inlaws recently and they love them)

 

[quackaddict]

Winner.


While some other sub $200 binoculars have a decent view (I've owned and sold many of those listed above) they either have wonky eye relief issues and/or feel inexpensive ("cheap"). Not so with the Sightron. Solid open bridge design. If you prefer a closed bridge, go with the Celestron Nature DX 8x32.

I wouldn't go any smaller objective size than 32mm for those dusk or dawn hunts in the deep Southern woods. (OP is that a Clemson paw?)

At 500 yards, my Swaros are better than anything listed here as you would expect but at 100 yards the Sightron's are so close the price difference seems ridiculous.

(Disclaimer: my Sightron Blue Sky II binos are over 7 years old. Things may have changed at Sightron but I've purchased these for my daughters who deer hunt and a few son inlaws recently and they love them)

It is, indeed, a Tiger Paw. I actually see I can get the Diamondback HD 8x32 for $135 with an OnX deal, which seems hard to pass up. But I’m going to look into these Sightrons and Celestrons.

 

[BLJ]

Any info on the HD Blue Sky II?

 

[GMB54-120]

Any info on the HD Blue Sky II?

Unlike the SBIIs the HD version is made in China and they dont get the same rave reviews.