Best "budget" 15x binos

[Outdoorsman12b]

Looking for recommendations on the best budget 15x binos. Recognizing the term budget is fairly subjective I would comparing it to the Nikon Monarch/Vortex Viper class in the 10x range as a max for dollars.

 

[Blue72]

You can get Japanese gray market Nikon monarch 5 16x56 on eBay or Amazon for $500

 

[Hatchet Jack]

The monarchs are ok, probably the best in the $500 range. For a little more I’d cruise the interwebs for some docter nobilem or Fujinon 15x60. They are both awesome glass and easier on my eyes than the vortex kaibab.

 

[Newtosavage]

There's a pair of 15x50 Vipers for sale on ArcheryTalk right now. I've seen several over the past few weeks actually. Guys coming back from Western hunts I'd guess.

 

[Antarctica]

The monarchs are ok, probably the best in the $500 range. For a little more I’d cruise the interwebs for some docter nobilem or Fujinon 15x60. They are both awesome glass and easier on my eyes than the vortex kaibab.

I'm relatively new here, but surprised that Fujinon is rarely mentioned - this is the first time I've seen them brought up. Its been a while, but when I looked through a pair of Fujinon's about 10 years ago, I was impressed. Granted, that was in a non-hunting environment.

 

[Newtosavage]

For Sale or Trade WTS WTT 15x50 Vortex Viper HD

$385 for 15x50 Viper HD's seems like a pretty good deal to me. I don't know the seller. Just noticed it.

 

[Blue72]

I'm relatively new here, but surprised that Fujinon is rarely mentioned - this is the first time I've seen them brought up. Its been a while, but when I looked through a pair of Fujinon's about 10 years ago, I was impressed. Granted, that was in a non-hunting environment.

They are very popular with astronomers...but many hunters don’t want the bulkyness of Porro binoculars anymore

 

[Beendare]

FWIW, I sold my 15x Vipers.....mediocre glass. if you are a strict budget maybe....but I regret even buying mine [sold them cheap]

The Nikons are going to be your best bet in the $500-600 range- though you don't get the US warranty.

I would look at the 18x Kaibabs [you can find these for $750 on sale sometimes]....or the Meoptas for cheaper glass.[ sale about $1200]....though everyone raves about the gold standard- Swaros.

 

[dcopher]

I would say save your money and find a pair of Meoptas. Mine have been absolutely fantastic, IMHO very close to Swaros for substantially less money. I had a pair of Vortex Vipers for about a month, not great glass, sold them quickly.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

From my experience the Viper glass is just fine for 8x and 10x binos, but once I got up to 12x then the quality started to bother me. Higher magnification will highlight the deficiencies in any set of binos. For 15x I would not buy a set of Vipers.

 

[Blue72]

FWIW, I sold my 15x Vipers.....mediocre glass. if you are a strict budget maybe....but I regret even buying mine [sold them cheap]

The Nikons are going to be your best bet in the $500-600 range- though you don't get the US warranty.

I would look at the 18x Kaibabs [you can find these for $750 on sale sometimes]....or the Meoptas for cheaper glass.[ sale about $1200]....though everyone raves about the gold standard- Swaros.

From my understanding the kaibabs come out of the same factory as the Nikon monarch 5...if you want more magnification, the Monarch comes in 20x56 also

 

[Outdoorsman12b]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Looks like the Vipers are only now made in 12X so maybe that's a testament to how they were under performing in the 15x class.

 

[204guy]

From my experience the Viper glass is just fine for 8x and 10x binos, but once I got up to 12x then the quality started to bother me. Higher magnification will highlight the deficiencies in any set of binos. For 15x I would not buy a set of Vipers.

This seems like pretty dang good advice. It seems like as the X's increase it's harder and harder to make a good set of binos. Also try out, or make sure you can return whatever you're buying. The 15's seem to have some ergo issues. The original Swaro's had a very wide minimal interpupillary distance. I tried some Kaibabs and while the glass was okay they didn't fit my face at all and where practically unusable.

 

[Beendare]

From my understanding the kaibabs come out of the same factory as the Nikon monarch 5...if you want more magnification, the Monarch comes in 20x56 also

I've seen that comment repeated....I'm curious, where did you get that info?

 

[Blue72]

I've seen that comment repeated....I'm curious, where did you get that info?

I might be wrong, but I have seen it mentioned on astronomy/birding forums