Meopta Meostar, Nikon Monarch HG or ?

[Inconstancy]

Guys I'm getting real antsy about my October mule deer hunt that's only 124 days away(cue laugh line). In all seriousness I've been accumulating big ticket items but have yet to buy my glass. Not a huge budget but I do plan to spend for a midgrade pair of binoculars as well as a tripod. Meostar HD's and Monarch HG's have made the final cut but before I choose between them, is there something I'm leaving out that needs more consideration? I know Maven is getting a lot of attention and obviously Vortex has quite a following but maybe something else out there I'm overlooking. What about a Leupold in that $750-$1000 price range?

 

[arri1942]

The tract toric binos are really good binos. And in that $700-800 range. They have been really good to work with and I really like their optics. The founders worked for years for nikon.

They just recently released a 12.5x50 bino to go along with the 8 and 10x42 binos.

They have been talked about a bit on here in the past too.

Binoculars

Binoculars are perhaps the most important tool a hunter can carry no matter the terrain or weather conditions they find themselves in.

www.tractoptics.com

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[thinhorn_AK]

Meopta makes great stuff, I’d also check out the Zeiss conquest line. I wouldn’t bother with vortex if you want to spend 750-1k.

 

[Inconstancy]

Not that I "want" to spend that much lol. Just seems like that's the price range ahead of the diminishing return thing. Yes, the conquests I forgot to mention. Thanks for the reply.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

We have a demo Meopta Meostar 10x42 for only $799.99. It would be our pleasure to work with you.
Doug
516-217-1000

 

[Inconstancy]

Yep, haven't forgotten you Doug. Just experiencing some analysis paralysis. I'm gonna have to call you. Thanks.

 

[Eric4]

I think the Nikon EDGs rate higher than the new Monarch HG. They can likely be found for the same price too!

The meopta meostars are also great bins. Clear, sharp, smooth, and built like a tank. I enjoyed the pair that I owned, only selling them to lighten up my bino harness.

 

[Inconstancy]

Weight is my main concern with the Meoptas, the other would be the eye cup or piece. I've only used what I would consider flexible eye cups or extended eye cups and prefer them to what Meopta appears to have. Not sure if that makes sense but I've looked through Swarovski and though they're premium glass they honestly didn't work for me. Meoptas appear to have a similar eye piece so wishing I could try before I buy.

 

[Eric4]

My meopta eyecups were firm plastic, and adjusted nicely, but I don't recall any detents for matching the same eyecups.

I've switched to Swarovski Habicht 8x30 W GA, which are a more traditional rubber eyecup. No need for adjustments in my case.

 

[bow puller]

Handle the meopta's before committing as they have a different feel in hand and are hefty. Great glass though. The HG's are really nice and lightweight to boot plus good fov. The $800-1k binos are where it's at in my opinion for price vs performance, good luck.

 

[Beendare]

I think the Nikon EDGs rate higher than the new Monarch HG. They can likely be found for the same price too!

The meopta meostars are also great bins. Clear, sharp, smooth, and built like a tank. I enjoyed the pair that I owned, only selling them to lighten up my bino harness.

Yeah those Meoptas are a good value....and those HG's gotta be good.

I don't think Nikon even makes the EDG binos anymore. If you can find some scoop them up- they are fantastic. I'm an admitted optics hound and found a pair of those EDG's for 1/2 price on closeout a couple years ago- they are the best glass I've seen [owned/own; Swaro, Leica, Zeiss]

...

 

[Matt G.]

the newer meoptas have indents to adjust the occular... old ones didn't. also now have locking diopter... wish mine haff it

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[bow puller]

My HG's locking diopter doesn't stay clicked in place as well as I'd like but it's never moved on me. I'm really pleased with them and have looked through a lot of $1k-$2.5k bino's till dark on tripods. I also like not having an extra 1/3-1/2lb hanging on me compared to some of the heavier glass since I'm usually backpacking.

 

[homebru.trout]

Don't overlook the GPO HDs. The glass is top notch to my eyes and the build quality and features are excellent. Locking diopter, multi-position detents for the eyecups. I'm not saying they are SLCs, but they are scary close. Meopta's are fantastic as well...but I didn't get along with the ergonomics.

 

[DangerRanger]

Listening to the kifarucast optics review and seeing the good reviews on here convinced me to order a demo set of the Mavens, I ordered them yesterday afternoon and they are already on a plane flying across the country.

 

[Inconstancy]

Don't overlook the GPO HDs. The glass is top notch to my eyes and the build quality and features are excellent. Locking diopter, multi-position detents for the eyecups. I'm not saying they are SLCs, but they are scary close. Meopta's are fantastic as well...but I didn't get along with the ergonomics.

Pardon my ignorance, GPO's?

 

[homebru.trout]

German Precision Optics. Started by Mike Jensen, former President of Zeiss USA. They essentially leverage global supply chain like Maven, KUIU and others and have final QC and assembly in Germany. Warranty works like Maven, lifetime, transferrable, no hassle (not that I've needed it).

ABOUT GPO | GPO USA

 

[Inconstancy]

German Precision Optics. Started by Mike Jensen, former President of Zeiss USA. They essentially leverage global supply chain like Maven, KUIU and others and have final QC and assembly in Germany. Warranty works like Maven, lifetime, transferrable, no hassle (not that I've needed it).

ABOUT GPO | GPO USA

Nice. Much appreciated.

 

[Newtosavage]

Very tough to beat Conquest HD's in that price range, and they can be had used and Demo for $750 all over the place. I sold two pairs for under $600 recently. From a pure optical quality standpoint, they can't be beat in their price range. But they have a slightly narrow field of view and eyecups that don't fit everyone.

HG's are a solid buy, and often are $750 on sale at LLBean.

Meopta Meostars are great glass, but very heavy and bulky in the hands, which is the only reason I don't use them.

I have four pairs in the house at the moment - my wife's Bushnell Legend M 8x42's (which are large but are spectacular for the $ and just really good overall regardless of price), Conquest HD 8x42's (my main birding binoculars), Cabelas Outfitter HD 8x42's (same as Conquest HD - made in Japan's Kamakura plant and a steal if you can find a pair), and a made in Japan pair of Vortex Razor 10x42's. I like them all for different reasons and grab one or the other depending on the situations I expect.

 

[Inconstancy]

Very tough to beat Conquest HD's in that price range, and they can be had used and Demo for $750 all over the place. I sold two pairs for under $600 recently. From a pure optical quality standpoint, they can't be beat in their price range. But they have a slightly narrow field of view and eyecups that don't fit everyone.

HG's are a solid buy, and often are $750 on sale at LLBean.

Meopta Meostars are great glass, but very heavy and bulky in the hands, which is the only reason I don't use them.

I have four pairs in the house at the moment - my wife's Bushnell Legend M 8x42's (which are large but are spectacular for the $ and just really good overall regardless of price), Conquest HD 8x42's (my main birding binoculars), Cabelas Outfitter HD 8x42's (same as Conquest HD - made in Japan's Kamakura plant and a steal if you can find a pair), and a made in Japan pair of Vortex Razor 10x42's. I like them all for different reasons and grab one or the other depending on the situations I expect.

I'm interested in any of them at those prices. Please let me know when you see them marked down that much. I've not seen anything at those prices yet. Hoped 4th of July sales would bring them within shooting distance. Still looking.