Bino question for new hunter.

[Copeingwithfailure]

Are there any cons to a 12x50 bino as compared to something with less magnification? I hunt places with hills but have the funds to buy Vortex diamond back (gift cards). Just curious if too much magnification is a thing. Feels like a silly question but just want your opinions.

 

[bsnedeker]

Are there any cons to a 12x50 bino as compared to something with less magnification? I hunt places with hills but have the funds to buy Vortex diamond back (gift cards). Just curious if too much magnification is a thing. Feels like a silly question but just want your opinions.

When holding your binos the higher the magnification the harder it is to hold them still enough to be usable. Most guys can use 10x binos by hand with no problem. 12x gets harder, but some folks can use them very effectively.

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[AGPank]

What type of distances? What budget? You can get decent performance in an 8x42, 10x42 in the $500 range. 8 and 10x won’t be as impacted by glass quality as 12x.

Good 12x will start at the Meopta Meostar 12x50 in the $1200+range and max at the EL at $2800.


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[wannakillabigbull]

I would not buy a 12 power binocular in the Diamondback price range. The higher you go in magnification the better glass you're going to need, generally. I'm a fan of 12s as an all around binocular but not until you get into the $1k range. If your budget is for Diamondback type binoculars I would stick with a set of 10x42s.

 

[Copeingwithfailure]

What type of distances? What budget? You can get decent performance in an 8x42, 10x42 in the $500 range. 8 and 10x won’t be as impacted by glass quality as 12x.

Good 12x will start at the Meopta Meostar 12x50 in the $1200+range and max at the EL at $2800.


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I have $425 in academy gift cards and was looking hard at vortex Diamondbacks. They have Diamondback 12x50 for 259.99 right now. I could do 10x42 also. Looking to get rangefinders too.

I hunt in Illinois and hope to make it out West eventually. Hilly fields and woods.

 

[Jmac603]

Check out the Vanguard Endeavor ED II in either 10x42 or 8x42. Glass is good and they have a rebate as well.

 

[Copeingwithfailure]

Not available through Academy outdoors unfortunately.

 

[Xlr8n]

Whatever you are interested in, I strongly suggest spending a decent amount of time looking through them and comparing magnifications before buying. The above advice by wannakill and AGPank is sound regarding increasing magnification bringing out shortcomings in glass.

Not many places an 8x or 10x won't get the job done imho.

 

[idahohikker]

12x is harder to make a good one than lower power as mentioned. I would avoid a 12x that's less than $800. 12x will have less field of view, light gathering, clarity, and more. See if you can jump in quality to a better bino--Meopta, Maven, Tract Toric, etc. Higjly recommend the Maven C1. Spend your gift cards on other gear. Vortex Diamondback will be inferior in every way and may leave you wanting unless you're a pretty casual hunter. It's workable though if needed based on looking through them.

 

[AGPank]

I’m not familiar with Academy Outdoors, I went to their website, it is very limited for optics, especially for sub-$500 glass.

The Zeiss Terra are decent budget bino, but $400 seems higher than I’ve seen them other places.

You may want to research the Athlon Ares or Celestron Granite. I don’t have any experience with them so I can’t say.

Some use the Vortex diamondback with success, but their choices of 10x28 and 12x50 would leave me looking at other choices.

There is good glass in the market for $350-500. If you can save up to $600-750 you can find near alpha quality used (Meopta Meostar Hd, Zeiss Conquest, Maven, Leica Trinovid, other).

Are you rifle hunting or archery?

I think 8x32 platform is great and overlooked by many.


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[280twoeighty]

I have not read all the post. Sure good info given. I would not go cheap, especially on 12x.
If budget is small take a look at Nikon and get the best you can afford, maybe.

 

[Newtosavage]

Are there any cons to a 12x50 bino as compared to something with less magnification? I hunt places with hills but have the funds to buy Vortex diamond back (gift cards). Just curious if too much magnification is a thing. Feels like a silly question but just want your opinions.

Actually it's a great question. And yes, too much magnification is definitely "a thing." I've recently backed off from 10x to 8x for my every day hunting and birding bins, and I've always noticed that most of the veteran birders I know use 8x.

My advice if you're looking to shop Academy is either the Monarch 5's or Celestron Granites. Both are very good binoculars. The Celestrons are a better buy IMO

 

[Copeingwithfailure]

Really impressed with all the help. You guys certainly steered me in the right direction when I assumed Vortex was my best option.

 

[pondera]

Whelp...i'll be the one I guess...I hunt in Montana and I am successfully using the Diamondback 12x50 and just bought the 10x28's. I really like them, I call them wildlife magnets-I've spotted alot of game with these. Others on here would shudder to see what I used before Vortex. But I'm on a budget and the Diamond back line filled my needs. In fact both these binos exceeded my expectations for their price point.
But I understand the buy once cry once crowd and if you can swing better glass I say go for it! No better way to use up some gift cards!

 

[Copeingwithfailure]

Whelp...i'll be the one I guess...I hunt in Montana and I am successfully using the Diamondback 12x50 and just bought the 10x28's. I really like them, I call them wildlife magnets-I've spotted alot of game with these. Others on here would shudder to see what I used before Vortex. But I'm on a budget and the Diamond back line filled my needs. In fact both these binos exceeded my expectations for their price point.
But I understand the buy once cry once crowd and if you can swing better glass I say go for it! No better way to use up some gift cards!

I am so completely new to binos and never even knew I needed them until getting my hands on a muzzleloader with a Nikon on it this past gun season in Illinois. Now I must get some glass. Wanted Vortex simply because that is what I have seen the most of and heard great things. Today is the first time in my life that I have ever heard of "the quality of glass" and after doing my own reading I chose the crowd favorite Celestron Granite ED with 8x42mm. I am a little nervous because I could not get my hands on them at the local Academy. I did play with an 8x42 Diamondback and a 10x50 Nikon Monarch. As far as clarity I am not sure the short range and extremely illuminated warehouse that is Academy is the best place to test drive any binos. Both seemed great to me, as an inexperienced glasser.

I also picked up ATHLON bino harness, the only harness that Academy offers, after watching the review video on it, I am sure it will do the job and then some.

Thank you guys a ton for the advice and big learning curve!

Replaced my 5 year old running shoes, got the dog some tennis balls, bought my first binos and harness with 5 gift cards...