Hi!
First time "poster" here.....I am looking for my first set of decent bins.....I currently have an ancient pair of binolux 7x50's that have definitely seen better days.
I'm looking to upgrade my optics for a vacation I'm hoping to take in the next several months, so have been doing exhausting (and mind boggling) research. Who knew there were so many choices?!
As I'm a bin amateur, I don't need (and can't afford) to spend over a grand on a pair. (and quite frankly, need to keep it WELL under a grand! )
I have been looking into the Vortex Sidewinder 8x42's, but haven't seen a lot of reviews or usage reports on them (what I HAVE seen has been mostly positive), and the company itself offers a fantastic warranty....and they seem pretty responsive to communication (something I like to see).
BUT....has anyone here used them? And are there any other's in that price range that might be a better way to go? Also...does anyone know where the Vortex's are made?
Thanks!
Hi Ozz,
Welcome to Bird forum.
If you have actually had this binocular in your hands and tried it out and you like it, I see no reason to discourage you from buying it. At it's price (Eagle Optics sells it for $189.99 see www.eagleoptics.com.) it has a set of features that you won't find in most 8 x 42 roof prisms at any price. It has a remarkably wide Field of View(FOV) of 420' at 1000 yards! It has long eye relief (ER) of 18mm. It has Phase Coating on it's prisms and is waterproof, fogproof and nitrogen purged. It weighs a moderate 25 ounces. Quite frankly, this is a very nice package for the money! You will have a hard time matching it with other brands in that price range. Most will have a narrower FOV and many won't be phase coated or Nitrogen purged. In that price range, it's nearest competition will come from Nikon and Bushnell. You can compare their respective statistics on Eagle Optics website. Ultimatly it will come down to the picture you see through them and how they feel in your hands which is why hands on tryouts are encouraged. Eagle Optics has a 30 day no questions asked right of return policy if you have trouble finding a variiety of binoculars to try out near where you live. I've never seen or used the new Vortex's or Nikon's so I can't give you a hands on evaluation of either.
Cordially,
Bob