We all know what would be mentioned if price was no object, but I want a pair of inexpensive waterproof bins. (My main bins are 8x42 but I have a pair of Nikon SE 8x32s on the way)
I do not own a pair of 10x bins and never have. I will use them as a loaner for my friends, and I will use them for scanning an open field behind my house toward a ridge about a mile away so therefore the 10x, and I'll use them under wet conditions, too. FOV is a consideration, as is eye relief. Weight is less a consideration. Roof or prism, but please suggest one of each if you can. (I realize that all things considered, the porro in this price range may be the most bang for the buck.)
So the deal is less than $200, waterproof, 10x*, roof or porro, acceptable FOV and a good warranty.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
I'm inclined to think that the 10x mag with $200 price limitation makes it very likely that anything you would get would be a waste of money.
To accomplish any of your needs beyond having another bin as a loaner, I think you need something optically as good (at least in the center of the field) as what you already have because otherwise, the 10x mag is not going to be of any advantage scanning the field, and the limitations on FOV, depth of field, and close focus in 10x, especially cheap 10x, would make an 8x better, both for your uses and as a general purpose loaner. Very seriously, I'm skeptical whether you will really have much use for a cheap 10x, or any 10x, if you have the 8x32 SE. If the 10x has the least bit compromised resolution, or, like most cheap binos suffers from poor contrast (esp. when used against the light), the SE is going to be better for scanning the field. The SE is very well sealed so long as you keep the oculars upright, and you can tuck it under your jacket if it is raining like crazy. If you're worried about damage, theft, loss etc w/respect to using your SE, get a personal articles insurance policy for them (Actually, having insurance for all one's camera/optical gear is a good idea regardless).
Based on my concern for optical quality being critical to a 10x bino being at all worth buying for your purposes, I can't recommend any roof-prisms. The only cheap 10x that I've found to be optically excellent have been 10x50 models. So I guess I'd look at the Nikon 10x50 Action EX--it has a good FOV and a good warranty, the same miserable (~20 ft close focus) as all the other cheap 10x porros, and is waterproof.
--AP
Thank you for your thoughts, but with all due respect, you did not address the purpose of this thread.
If you had $200 and had to spend it on a pair of 10x waterproof binoculars, what would you buy? The Bushnell Trophys are sometimes suggested as are the Nikon Action Extreme ATB. But, surely there are other people who have a favorite pair of inexpensive bins who could address the question of this thread as it has been proposed.