Best binoculars around 1k?

[WesternMDShooter]

In the market for new binos and I don’t have the money for swaros or zeiss what other brands would be comparable for around 1k. Thanks for the input. I want to get either 10 power or 12s.

 

[jimh406]

Tract

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Kowa

 

[Woitey]

I have a Meopta spotter, an Optkia 6 scope, and a Cabelas HD bino that was made by Meopta. All of them were reasonably priced and better quality than they should have been. I own two Swarovski Z6i's, and a Lecia Magnus rifle scope, and a first-gen Swaro EL. I am convinced that the best glass still comes from Europe. FWIW.

 

[hereinaz]

Buy a used pair. That's where the best value is. Buy Vortex Razor HD with confidence, it is very good glass and you have the warranty. Worst case, you can resell it for what you paid, or if you watch, you can even make money on it.

 

[Woitey]

That's actually great advice. You can buy Alpha glass on ebay from a dealer who took it in trade from some birdwatcher who wants the latest and greatest. And Camera Land has some 10/32 Lecias HD's for 950 bucks. New.

 

[Jkean949]

The Maven B1.2 is a solid contender...30 day test run.

 

[renagde]

Maven B2 or Sig Zulu 9. Identical glass, just in different armor for the different brands. Or you might be able to find a pair of the Sig Zulu 10s for around that price.

In my experience, my Zulu 9 11x45 kept up with the Vortex UHD 12x50s and you can find them for a few hundred dollars less.

 

[lundellhunting7]

Used pair of SLCs….. then Tract torics or maven b1.2

 

[WesternMDShooter]

I was looking at the mavens, I just see a lot of them for sale and didn’t know if people didn’t like them or what

 

[Jkean949]

I was looking at the mavens, I just see a lot of them for sale and didn’t know if people didn’t like them or what

...and now I am going to be watching the classifieds for some Maven B1.2

Have you tried going to the nearest big box store to have a look and hopefully get them to let you try at dusk?

 

[Travis Hobbs]

Used Swaro SLC. You’ll get every dollar back out of them you spent and then some if you decide to upgrade later.

Can’t do that with mid-tier glass.

 

[Wyo_hntr]

I like my kowa genesis 10.5x44

 

[Agross]

Maven b2 and b1.2 are both great binos . Meopta meostars are great glass as well for the money. I’m actually gonna be listing a pair of b2’s soon. Nothing wrong with them, I just love trying different glass.

 

[WesternMDShooter]

@Agross shoot me a pm when you are ready to list.

 

[mjspeers]

Depends on what you’re doing, Zulu6 HDX. For my purposes I prefer them over NLs.

 

[Stache Attack]

Meopta, kowa, GPO, razor hd’s, Leica Trinovid new, or shop some used slc/el’s. Saw a pair of 10x42 el field pros go for 1200 fresh from Swaro warranty shop cleaned and re coated. Don’t think you would be disappointed in any of the above.

 

[greenomics]

I just bought new Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42 for under $700 from Optics Planet. Leaves you some money for other fun.

I've also gotten some great deals on optics using the classifieds here.
Check cameraland for demo deals.

 

[JStol5]

I got used ELs for $1400. Was a little more than I wanted to spend but it was either that or $1100 Maven B6s. I’m glad I scrounged the extra money together for alpha glass.

 

[Antares]

The Meopta Meostar 12x50s I have listed in the classifieds for $950 are a great value and I'm honestly a bit surprised they haven't sold yet. I've had 3 pairs of Meostars (8x42. 12x50, and 15x56) and they've all been excellent.