Budget bino's

thermo

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a set of weather proof bingo's suitable for stalking in low light in the €200-300 range?
Any help appreciated.

Richard308

Slightly over your budget but worth the small stretch. https://irelandswildlife.com/hawke-frontier-edx-8x42-binocular-review/

cookimonster

Hawke Endurance 8x56......

https://uk.hawkeoptics.com/endurance-8x56-binocular-green.html....

I use these for woodland stalking and similar, very clear and great in low light. You will get them a better prices then the Hawke website-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hawke-Endurance-ED-10x50-Binocular/dp/B00P7WDHN8/ref=asc_df_B00P7WDHN8/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310106774344&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16161876986191987077&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007850&hvtargid=pla-557909513215&psc=1

I also use the Hawke 10x42 Vantage for hill stalking,.....

https://uk.hawkeoptics.com/34222.html

.....not particularly what you asked for, but I have had these out in some fairly heavy weather and have had no issues with them. So I can attest to thier waterproofing. The range looks like it's being replaced with-

https://uk.hawkeoptics.com/nature-trek-10x42-binocular.html

Again hunt around for better prices.

Asus1

I bought some bushnell 8×42 trophy for £80 from uttings.I dont hunt deer but I find these are fine in low light conditions.They are very rugged and are definitely water and fog proof as I left them out on a fence post one night and it rained a fair bit that night.
Only downside is their weight as they are slightly heavy but I have a binocular harness on its way from china so that will sort that.I dont think you can find cheaper binoculars on any other site than uttings.
https://www.uttings.co.uk/p128850-bushnell-trophy-8x42-binoculars-green-bn334208/

thermo

Cheers, I'll have a look at them now.

Anyone have any experience with this brand?
https://www.photospecialist.ie/vortex-diamondback-hd-12x50-verrekijker

cookimonster

thermo wrote: »

Cheers, I'll have a look at them now.

Anyone have any experience with this brand?
https://www.photospecialist.ie/vortex-diamondback-hd-12x50-verrekijker

I know a good few lads swear by Vortex here and the UK.

I would be careful about choosing 12 power magnification. At that range you'll need a good rest and possibly even a tripod. Higher mags transfer any tremble of slight shake in your body etc into the view finder and you will loose a far bit of definition. I use 10x42 and that would be my limit for a free hand bino and as I said I use them only on the hill were I hunt mostly during daylight hours.

For your original stated purpose , dawn and dusk, you won't get much benefit out of that magnification range. A good set of 8x42 are more manageable then a blurred 12x50. The classic high seat or night shooting scope in a combination of 8x56 gives you the optimum light transmission of 7 (objective bell diameter of 56mm divided by the magnification power of 8 = 7). The magic number repeated in other combinations such as 6x42. So an 8x56 set of binos will go somewhat toward the perfect set up once the glass and manufactoring is sound.

RaySla

I have the minox 8x42 for the last 4 years well worth the 200 euros

Rosahane

thermo wrote: »

Cheers, I'll have a look at them now.

Anyone have any experience with this brand?
https://www.photospecialist.ie/vortex-diamondback-hd-12x50-verrekijker

Vortex are great bins, probably better quality than their price point. However, be sure that they "fit" you as I've found some Vortex models have a wider Interpupillary Distance than others and mightn't close enough to be perfect. Try before you buy.

juice1304

Minox are great for the price.

Sika98k

As others have posted. Minox. But why not save up and buy a second hand pair of say Leica 8x42s ?

thermo

Cheers for the replies guys, I was moreso wondering about the brand / line then the magnification per sé. The specs on the diamondback seem pretty decent for the money along with the "lifetime warrenty", I was interested to see if anybody here use them as I prefer to hear from real people over people paid to write nice things about products on the Internet.

Again thanks for the input and replies guys.

tomtucker81

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/cameras-and-camcorders/photography-accessories/binoculars/nikon-aculon-a211-zoom-model-10-22-x-50-mm-porro-prism-binoculars-21485824-pdt.html

Used these since 2013, never any problems. Good low light visibility and hard to beat the price now