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Good binos #6428430 08/28/16 11:18 PM
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Amarillo.Hunter Offline OP
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Hey all,
Just got my first Swaro scope and I think that I'm a glass snob now.

Probably don't have the 2k+ laying around for a pair of Swaro binos, but want something better than what I currently own.

Are there any brands out their that produce binos outside of their price range?

And, I don't mind spending money if it is cost justified - might take me a couple years to get a great pair - but buy once cry once.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428690 08/29/16 02:08 AM
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Look into the vortex binos with the hd glass or the meopta.
It's been a couple years or more but head to head swaro and vortex the swaro was better but not $1000 plus better.

Watch the weight, lightweight is another huge plus of swaro

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428730 08/29/16 02:38 AM
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I'll second the Vortex Viper HD. My son has a pair of 10x50 and the clarity is incredible. I tested them side by side with my Leupold BX-2 Acadias and I wanted to throw mine in the trash (not exactly apples to apples I know, but still...). Zeiss Conquests are also extremely good glass for the money.


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428746 08/29/16 02:48 AM
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I've got the Meopta Meostar 10x42 HD's, and they're a lot of glass for the money.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428761 08/29/16 02:56 AM
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I have a hard time getting quick full view with zeiss Bino my dad has. Good binos are a game changer

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428779 08/29/16 03:04 AM
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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428811 08/29/16 03:33 AM
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Zen-Ray makes some great bino's,and you can buy demo units directly from them at great prices.

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/demo.html

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428869 08/29/16 04:49 AM
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Not an absolute but good in theory is vortex in whatever price range you buy will be the best value In that price range. I like the vortex binos better than the vortex scopes within each price range. Optics bring on more opinions than rifles it seems.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428891 08/29/16 07:15 AM
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When I tested binos a couple years back, vortex was right there with swaro, Leica, and Zeiss, and miles ahead of anything else. I did not have meopro or zen-ray to test, but did test against leupold, bushnell, nikon. It wasn't even close when going too of the line other cases mid range vortex. I ended up with talon hd 10x42 and couldn't be happier. Can glass all day, and never get tired eyes or feel like I am strained.

I am sure there is better stuff out there now, but with the warranty and the quality, hard to beat.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428911 08/29/16 10:55 AM
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There's a new player, Tract Optics. Their Toric line is getting some very good reviews. They seem to be following the same business model that Vortex has laid out. Their binos are built in Japan.


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6428989 08/29/16 12:37 PM
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Vortex Razor, or Viper is where I would look first. Good glass, awesome warranty.


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Re: Good binos [Re: RiverRider] #6429256 08/29/16 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: RiverRider
There's a new player, Tract Optics. Their Toric line is getting some very good reviews. They seem to be following the same business model that Vortex has laid out. Their binos are built in Japan.


I'm an optics junkie myself, and this statement is 100% correct. I compared my new 8x42 Tract Toric to my Meopta Meostar HD, SLC HD, Vortex Razor, and Conquest HD recently. The Toric is on par with the Razor HD, Meostar HD, and better than the Conquest HD IMO. You would have to have the Toric and SLC HD side by side (I did) to notice any difference at all. I also just returned from Namibia with the Toric's, and in camp there was a Conquest HD, Swaro WB, Swaro SLCneu, and a Leupold Mojave Pro guide HD. The Toric was the best of the bunch, and everyone there agreed.

The Toric is a fantastic binocular, and a fantastic value since they are a direct to customer seller, eliminating the middleman and the middleman's 30-40% markup. You will have to spend $2k to get something better.

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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6429448 08/29/16 05:21 PM
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Your review was at the top of my unspoken list, Raider. Had I not already bought a ZenRay 10x42 HD Prime, I'd probably have shopped for the Tract.


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6429511 08/29/16 06:06 PM
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Tract optics seem like a pretty good deal. Sure wish I could look through a pair before plunking down the money.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6429886 08/29/16 09:40 PM
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Amarillo, check this out:

Tract Optics Terms and Conditions / 30-day no risk


12. Return Policy

Buying a high-end optic online has its challenges, you obviously can’t hold it or look through it. So, if you get it and it’s not the optic we said it

was, then contact us within 30 days and as long as it’s in like-new condition in the original packaging, then we will exchange it or give

you a full refund. You will be responsible for shipping it back to us and we will do everything we can to make it right.

Contact us by email at: support@tractoptics.com


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6429955 08/29/16 10:30 PM
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$664 on thier website for those like me who are interested.


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6430589 08/30/16 03:36 AM
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The Toric ads have been popping up on FB. I need to check but I think one of those ads metioned having Schott glass in their scopes. I have an IOR scope with Schott glass and nothing else I have compares. Great glass. I'm going to buy a few before the price goes up. It will.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6430999 08/30/16 02:04 PM
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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6451487 09/14/16 12:33 PM
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We just got a pair of Steiners for $179 from SWFA Sample List for my dad for his 70th birthday. They're pretty awesome compared to anything else I've used. I'm sure they're not on par with $2k binoculars, but having that amount of $ to spend on something like binoculars is completely foreign to me. I had trouble convincing my wife I needed our $80 Bushnells 5 years ago and they have been just fine.

Re: Good binos [Re: westexhunt] #6451649 09/14/16 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted By: westexhunt
Not an absolute but good in theory is vortex in whatever price range you buy will be the best value In that price range. I like the vortex binos better than the vortex scopes within each price range. Optics bring on more opinions than rifles it seems.


I pretty much feel the same way. Vortex scopes don't happen for me until you get to the Japanese Razors but they seem to be more tactically oriented for my hunting needs. I would own Vortex binoculars though and Vortex marketed them long before they got into the scope business.

I have Meopta and am very happy. If I were purchasing today I would go with Tract. I've had some personal correspondence with Trevor at Tract and with their guarantee would have no qualms about trying them.


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6453347 09/15/16 03:34 PM
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I agree with boo in that I have no interest in Vortex rifle scopes. The Viper HD and Razor HD binos are good (razors are great), but I can usually find something in the same price range that is better. Once again, for $600 the Toric is head and shoulders better than the viper, and every bit as good as the Razor HD's, for half the money.

Re: Good binos [Re: patriot07] #6453372 09/15/16 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted By: patriot07
We just got a pair of Steiners for $179 from SWFA Sample List for my dad for his 70th birthday. They're pretty awesome compared to anything else I've used. I'm sure they're not on par with $2k binoculars, but having that amount of $ to spend on something like binoculars is completely foreign to me. I had trouble convincing my wife I needed our $80 Bushnells 5 years ago and they have been just fine.


I have had, used, and could have again the high end binos, but I have never found any that overall size, quality, glass, durability, matched my Steiner 8x30 Military/Marine. I want nothing else.

Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6457344 09/18/16 06:37 PM
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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6459314 09/19/16 11:46 PM
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I have a pair of Busnell Elite 12.5x50's that have great glass, they are discontinued, if you can find a pair used, they are lightweight. Of course everything is always for sale... I'm looking for some 15x56 binocs right now, so won't need these if I can make the decision on which ones to buy (Nikon Monarch 5 or Vortex Kaibab).

My 10x42's are Vortex Talon HD. Love them as well, way better than my Leopoldo Cascades.


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Re: Good binos [Re: Amarillo.Hunter] #6498722 10/17/16 12:49 PM
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I just picked up a pair of the Tract Toric 8x42 and I am looking forward to see how they stack up. We have several guys on the lease that have the Vortex Vipers or the Zeiss Conquest and I want to see how the Tract's stack up.


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