Telescope Reviews: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP?

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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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Karl_Bonner_1982
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/13/09

Loc: Columbia Gorge, Oregon

Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP?
#5011763 - 01/11/12 06:26 AM

That is the question of the day. I'm curious just how far into superb territory you can get by paying the typical equivalent of a $300 MSRP. (My Whitetails were on sale for less than $40 but the MSRP was $100, which is the number you are looking for!)

There's a good chance that in another 2-4 years I'm going to want to upgrade to a better 50mm bino. But my next bino is probably going to be a giant one, maybe 20x80. Then the *next one after that* is a top-end 10x50 or 12x50...

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Richard McC
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/31/04

Loc: Australia

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Karl_Bonner_1982]
#5011768 - 01/11/12 06:37 AM

I'm going to assume that you want these binoculars primarily for astronomical use so individual focus is acceptable. IMHO the best 10x50 binocular available new for under $300 MSRP is the Kunming BA8 series which is sold under a variety of labels, e.g., Oberwerk Ultra Series and Garrett Signature Series.

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richsvt
sage

Reged: 01/09/09

Loc: North Shore of Boston

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Richard McC]
#5012582 - 01/11/12 05:24 PM

I agree. I have these set close to the back door to grab and go. These are also the ones I take on trips. Wonderful views. Worth the price.

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Mark Harry
Vendor

Reged: 09/05/05

Loc: Northeast USA

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: richsvt]
#5013432 - 01/12/12 07:56 AM

I bought a pr of Garrett 10x50s last year for $100 with center focus. I must have got lucky, everything was in order. Collimation, tight focus, crisp and contrasty views were all there. Even my wife is interested, and she _never_ gets enthused, etc.
Only debit, there's slight field curvature, and a little bloat at best focus with astigmatism near the edge of field, but the central 2/3rds is really sharp. Have to look real hard to notice the defects. A steal for $100, imo.
Maybe the only time in the last 20 years I've got something that's made me sit up and take notice.
M.

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Mark Harry]
#5013475 - 01/12/12 08:30 AM

Agreed, also available in the 12x50 size at the same price, $100, I also had the Garrett 10x50 Fuji clone, more money, I found it heavy and just disliked the individual focus for the eyepieces, OK for star gazing but limited the binocular for anything else, ended up selling it, Dave.

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EdZ
Professor EdZ

Reged: 02/15/02

Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5013507 - 01/12/12 08:59 AM

Garrett sells 3 models of 10x50s.

The $100 model is the classic, the middle line. Not bad actually, but it does measure out to only 10x45 with a 6.1° fov. Two of the GO Classic (10x50 and 8x40) series were thoroughly reviewed in my Small Binocular CN Reports.

The Signature model (by any name) is a full spec binocular, as close as you can get to the top-of-the-line Fujinon 10x50. At $229, it's a steal compared to the "used price" of $350+ for a 10x50 Fujinon. Having owned 5 binoculars (4 sizes) from this Signature/Ultra model line, and having tested and written about all of them, nealry every aspect of about 15 different things that can be measured scores higher than the GO Classic, or any one of 10 other 10x50s for that matter.

edz

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Man in a Tub
Postmaster

Reged: 10/28/08

Loc: Fogpatch, CA

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: EdZ]
#5013865 - 01/12/12 12:53 PM

Since the OP queried 12x50s for under $300 MSRP:

Nikon 12x50 Action Extreme and Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II.

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mmclure
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/30/10

Loc: Sacramento, CA USA

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Man in a Tub]
#5014010 - 01/12/12 02:24 PM

One reason I went with the GO Classic 10x50 instead of the GO Signature 10x50 (apart from price) is weight. The Classic is 2lb 2.5oz, the Signature is 3lb 8oz. If you're planning to use them handheld (as I was) an extra 1lb 5.5oz makes a difference.

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hallelujah
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/14/06

Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? *DELETED* new

[Re: Karl_Bonner_1982]
#5014056 - 01/12/12 03:00 PM

Post deleted by hallelujah

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Karl_Bonner_1982
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/13/09

Loc: Columbia Gorge, Oregon

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: EdZ]
#5014940 - 01/13/12 06:16 AM

Quote:

The Signature model (by any name) is a full spec binocular, as close as you can get to the top-of-the-line Fujinon 10x50. At $229, it's a steal compared to the "used price" of $350+ for a 10x50 Fujinon. Having owned 5 binoculars (4 sizes) from this Signature/Ultra model line, and having tested and written about all of them, nealry every aspect of about 15 different things that can be measured scores higher than the GO Classic, or any one of 10 other 10x50s for that matter.

edz

Did you check the effective aperture of the Signature? If so, what was it?

Yeah I had in mind something along the grade level that the Signature is. The reason I ask is so I would have an idea what to get if, a year or three down the road I decide I want to upgrade to an "advanced" model.

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Karl_Bonner_1982
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/13/09

Loc: Columbia Gorge, Oregon

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: hallelujah]
#5014944 - 01/13/12 06:25 AM

Quote:

]

There is no way of knowing exactly what the economy will be like in the next 2-4 yrs. I would not wait. Prices will continue to increase over the years.

I'm sorry but that has to be the poorest argument I've heard in a long time. If by rising prices you mean inflation, then it's a wash: EVERYTHING is going up together. Does that mean I should buy a new car about 3 or 4 years before I'm going to end up needing it, because by then the price might have gone up? Or how about buying potatoes and rolls today that we plan to serve 3-4 years from now at Thanksgiving!

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Karl_Bonner_1982]
#5015091 - 01/13/12 09:34 AM

Well the bino is certainly cheaper than a new car, and you could be enjoying the better quality bino now instead of later, considering you can get a nice good binocular for $200 or so then to me its a no brainer, even a lowly Yosemite that sells for about $80 is vastly superior than the Wally world $40 throwaways, to each his own,Dave.

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Albie
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/22/05

Loc: Alberta,Canada

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Karl_Bonner_1982]
#5015146 - 01/13/12 10:10 AM

Quote:

Did you check the effective aperture of the Signature? If so, what was it?

I believe when Edz said full spec he meant that all is as advertised.
I plan on getting the 10x50 Signature soon.Did my homework a while back and realized that if you can't afford the Fuji's then the Signature's are the next best thing.

Edited by Albie (01/13/12 10:16 AM)

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EdZ
Professor EdZ

Reged: 02/15/02

Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W

Re: Best 10x50 or 12x50 under $300 MSRP? new

[Re: Albie]
#5015406 - 01/13/12 12:40 PM

Quote:

I believe when Edz said full spec he meant that all is as advertised.

correct
edz

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