KY Hunting Guy
AH member
- Joined
- May 20, 2024
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 40
Zeiss conquest binoculars are good and you can find them for very reasonable. I would recommend the 10x42.
30 mm objectives will limit your light gathering, which is important dawn and dusk. Best advice is, "buy once, cry once" and stretch your budget. Otherwise you are certain to be upgrading later and your present purchase wasted IMO.On my just concluded hunt in the Eastern Cape I used my Maven B.3 8x30 binoculars. They worked fairly good and were light enough. However, the PH and my brother-in-law who had 10x binoculars were able to pick out some animals that I missed. This was especially true when we were searching for kudu on a conservancy where we had to look across a valley at 5-700 yards to see them.
I am considering taking advantage of some of the Father's Day sales to upgrade to 10x binoculars. While my PH suggested 10x42, I'm wondering if having a 10x30 or 10x32 would be handier. One that I'm looking at are the mid-range Kowa BD II's in 10x32 as well as 10x42. The 10x42's are about 4 ounces heavier. They get some good reviews from the birders.
I'd love to go the Swarovski/Leica route but they are out of my budget range. I'm open to suggestions on other brands.
Should I upgrade or make due? While I no longer have 20/20 vision, I still don't have to wear glasses except to read.
Your PH is always going to spot the game before you. He knows the territory and he is accustomed to searching for animals.On my just concluded hunt in the Eastern Cape I used my Maven B.3 8x30 binoculars. They worked fairly good and were light enough. However, the PH and my brother-in-law who had 10x binoculars were able to pick out some animals that I missed. This was especially true when we were searching for kudu on a conservancy where we had to look across a valley at 5-700 yards to see them.
I am considering taking advantage of some of the Father's Day sales to upgrade to 10x binoculars. While my PH suggested 10x42, I'm wondering if having a 10x30 or 10x32 would be handier. One that I'm looking at are the mid-range Kowa BD II's in 10x32 as well as 10x42. The 10x42's are about 4 ounces heavier. They get some good reviews from the birders.
I'd love to go the Swarovski/Leica route but they are out of my budget range. I'm open to suggestions on other brands.
Should I upgrade or make do? While I no longer have 20/20 vision, I still don't have to wear glasses except to read.
You are correct about birders. From the reviews they post, they are demanding about their optics.Some profound thoughts on the subject here:
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/want-to-buy-safari-binos.75066/page-5#post-1061702
I have had my Geovids for over 15 years. I love them. I have Leiva 8x20 Ultravids for when I am going on a walkabout. I have had great deals on optics from Camera Land NY and Eurooptic after the shows when they have "open box" specials.You are correct about birders. From the reviews they post, they are demanding about their optics.
I'm following an Ebay auction for 10x42R Leica Geovids. It is the older, pre-2022 model which *only* ranges to 1200 yards as opposed to 1800 in the new model. Price right now is in the low $400 range. They seem a little heavy for my purpose but I might bid on them anyway just because.
I love your bino “purse”. That is a seriously good looking case.I never hunted with binoculars till I went to Africa. Didn't need them tracking deer, elk, and moose in snow and timber. First safari I had none. They are not needed as PH and tracker always had excellent glass and they know what they are looking for. But it is more enjoyable for everyone if I'm not swinging the barrel around scoping animals. So I bought a pair of 8x Steiner for the next safari and, while they were handy to carry, didn't provide anything better than 9x on my scope. My left eye is so beat up that I'm generally not getting the "binocular" effect anyway. Smaller binocs also tend towards double vision with my eyes. One day I happened to be shopping for nothing in a local pawnshop and noticed a showcase full of binoculars. Some were even new in the box. I had the fella dig out the lot and I tried each one. Darned if I didn't find a pair of no name 10x42 still in the box that worked with my goofy eyes. Hmm. "Those are Nikon knockoffs." Yeah, sure. Pffft. He made me a "deal" and I walked out with them for fifty bucks US. Whatever. If they crap out, I'm not gonna get beat up. The case was junk so I made a holster from leather scavenged from a lady's purse I bought at Salvation Army store. "Darn. No tampons in here" The checker gal didn't think I was funny.
View attachment 613615
View attachment 613616
(Snap added later to strap)
I took both binocs to Africa on my next safari in case new pair crapped. The belt holster was very handy. Most of the time the flap is tucked inside for quick draw. These cheap binoculars have worked great through three safaris and as many fall deer/elk hunts in Montana (though rarely out of the vehicle when I'm hunting there). I didn't expect them to hold up in freezing conditions but have been pleasantly surprised. These were bought purely to see if it was worth it for me to invest in something similar of better "quality." Upgrade not needed ... so far.
10x42 is definitely the way to go.
Back when I was doing a lot of still hunting I used my binoculars almost more than I do now.I never hunted with binoculars till I went to Africa. Didn't need them tracking deer, elk, and moose in snow and timber. First safari I had none. They are not needed as PH and tracker always had excellent glass and they know what they are looking for. But it is more enjoyable for everyone if I'm not swinging the barrel around scoping animals. So I bought a pair of 8x Steiner for the next safari and, while they were handy to carry, didn't provide anything better than 9x on my scope. My left eye is so beat up that I'm generally not getting the "binocular" effect anyway. Smaller binocs also tend towards double vision with my eyes. One day I happened to be shopping for nothing in a local pawnshop and noticed a showcase full of binoculars. Some were even new in the box. I had the fella dig out the lot and I tried each one. Darned if I didn't find a pair of no name 10x42 still in the box that worked with my goofy eyes. Hmm. "Those are Nikon knockoffs." Yeah, sure. Pffft. He made me a "deal" and I walked out with them for fifty bucks US. Whatever. If they crap out, I'm not gonna get beat up. The case was junk so I made a holster from leather scavenged from a lady's purse I bought at Salvation Army store. "Darn. No tampons in here" The checker gal didn't think I was funny.
View attachment 613615
View attachment 613616
(Snap added later to strap)
I took both binocs to Africa on my next safari in case new pair crapped. The belt holster was very handy. Most of the time the flap is tucked inside for quick draw. These cheap binoculars have worked great through three safaris and as many fall deer/elk hunts in Montana (though rarely out of the vehicle when I'm hunting there). I didn't expect them to hold up in freezing conditions but have been pleasantly surprised. These were bought purely to see if it was worth it for me to invest in something similar of better "quality." Upgrade not needed ... so far.
10x42 is definitely the way to go.