Telescope Reviews: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all)

gaz-in
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/17/07

7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

#5655120 - 01/31/13 09:31 PM

Meade has the 7 X42 Binoculars for $79 in their weekly deals:

Meade 7 X 24 Montana

So what do you all think of the deal?

Post Extras:

BillC
on a new path

Reged: 06/04/04

Loc: Lake Stevens, WA, USA

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: gaz-in]
#5655174 - 01/31/13 10:09 PM

The 7x 42 is a lot better deal than the "7x24"!

It's a convenient size for casual observing, and hard to beat for nature and bird watching. You should have many hours of enjoyment.

Cheers,

BillC

Post Extras:

core
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/08

Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: BillC]
#5655392 - 02/01/13 12:30 AM

I'm curious as to their performance as well (astronomically, since this is CN

) - let's say compared to Nikon AE 8x40?

... on second thot, did a quick search here on CN, looks like to be a pretty good deal, think I'll bite

Post Extras:

charen
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/28/05

Loc: New Zealand

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: core]
#5655491 - 02/01/13 02:02 AM

What annoys me most is that under the Meade web. site is that there are no specs listed, no FOV, no ER, no weight etc etc.
Just to add there was an earlier now discontinued Meade 7x42 Montana with Hi-specs. which were Japanese made. They were the same as the Bushnell Discoverers which were also the same as the 'Older' Weaver Grand Slam's, the RSPB HG.PC. and the Fujinon CD's.These series of binos had a 8 degree FOV, FMC lens and were phase coated. They had a 20 mm ER. Tbey were well made and somewhat heavy at 28 Oz. They had usually excellent reviews.
I have an earlier B. and L. Discoverer 7x42 [prior to being relabeled Bushnell in 2004]. They are a excellent little bino.
This latest version as advertised appears to be of Chinese origin and I would suggest with inferior optics and build qualities.
However testing them would be the best outcome for proof of quality.

Chris

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: charen]
#5655905 - 02/01/13 09:32 AM

Quote:

This latest version as advertised appears to be of Chinese origin and I would suggest with inferior optics and build qualities.

I have owned a pair of "made in Japan" Meade Montana 7 x 42s for several years. They are excellent binoculars.

The binoculars in the photo and my Japanese Montana's are identical in every respect, there is no doubt in my mind that the photo is of the Japanese Montana's.

The question is whether the binoculars they are shipping are the Montana's pictured or something else. I do know that a few years ago they were advertising the Montanas for $100 (I purchased a pair via astromart) and those were the Japanese version but then they ran out and were substituting the Glaciers which I believe are Chinese.

Jon

Post Extras:

Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5656342 - 02/01/13 01:12 PM

Ditto what Jon says, an excellent buy in the 7x42 size,however the pair I received last year had several cracks in the strap for the case no doubt from long term storage folded, also I found them to be heavy, however thats not a bad thing, I loaned them to a birding friend of mine who loved them, in the end I told him to keep them as his funds were limited and he,d been very good to me while I went through an illness,at the time I bought mine they were going for $100 so the current price is a bit of a steal,if they are the Japanese pair as shown in the photo,they did as Jon said run out and ended up shipping the Glaciers DA.

Edited by Binojunky (02/01/13 01:53 PM)

Post Extras:

charen
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/28/05

Loc: New Zealand

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5656541 - 02/01/13 03:01 PM

If they are identical they they would be an excellent buy. Sorry to my eyes the photo looked different to the original Japanese versions. My Bausch and Lomb version 7x42 has the XTR / phase coatings. There is some field curvature at the periphery but otherwise just a bright, very usable wide image.
I would not hesitate to buy one at that price.

Chris

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: charen]
#5656684 - 02/01/13 04:26 PM

Quote:

If they are identical they they would be an excellent buy. Sorry to my eyes the photo looked different to the original Japanese versions. My Bausch and Lomb version 7x42 has the XTR / phase coatings. There is some field curvature at the periphery but otherwise just a bright, very usable wide image.
I would not hesitate to buy one at that price.

Chris

I still wonder whether they are actually selling the binoculars in the photo...

Jon

Post Extras:

Griffin!
super member

Reged: 09/12/10

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5656758 - 02/01/13 04:55 PM

I gave customer service a call a little while ago because of this thread, I got routed to one of the managers, and they said the binoculars in the image are the ones being shipped, and that they are not the glaciers.

Edited by Griffin! (02/01/13 04:57 PM)

Post Extras:

medinabrit
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/27/04

Loc: medina ohio USA.

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Griffin!]
#5656790 - 02/01/13 05:10 PM

I got these a few years ago .They are a great value .They are kept im my Truck.Ive payed more for much less.

Post Extras:

KennyJ
The British Flash

Reged: 04/27/03

Loc: Lancashire UK

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: medinabrit]
#5656820 - 02/01/13 05:32 PM

Hello Brian,

I was going to mention that I remember you having and liking a version of this model,but was unsure whether your specimen was Japanese ,Chinese or made in West Ham ! :-)

Kenny

Post Extras:

Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case [Re: KennyJ]
#5658207 - 02/02/13 01:52 PM

Checked out the web site, the Glaciers are shown lower down on the page and at a different price, I think last time they had a rush on the Montanas that to honour orders they shipped the Glacier when they ran out, this time they make it clear that the Montana deal applies to existing stocks only, what the heck for $79 I ordered a pair.DA.

Post Extras:

medinabrit
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/27/04

Loc: medina ohio USA.

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5662360 - 02/04/13 07:39 PM

Hi Kenny .Only things made in West Ham are Hammers.
When snow eases ill look in the camper to see where mine were made.

Post Extras:

BobinKy
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/27/07

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: medinabrit]
#5662466 - 02/04/13 08:44 PM

These look interesting. Almost pushed the button. But backed away--I just picked up three binoculars last month and a parallelogram. It took some time to work those into the collection. But thanks for the update on a good deal.

Post Extras:

Oscar56
member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: BobinKy]
#5662719 - 02/04/13 11:52 PM

I am a little suspect of this price reduction, especially when I cannot see the specs. None of their other binoculars are nearly in the non sale price range.

If it is too good to be true...?

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5662931 - 02/05/13 05:19 AM

Quote:

I am a little suspect of this price reduction, especially when I cannot see the specs. None of their other binoculars are nearly in the non sale price range.

If it is too good to be true...?

The Montana's have been around a long time. I bought a used pair when they first came out 10 years ago, I paid $150, they actually were selling for close to $300. Meade must have bought a lot of them because since then I have watched Meade try to sell them off. They are a hard sell at $300, should be an easy sell at $100.

In 2010 I purchased a second pair via Astromart for $75. I told the seller he was selling them too cheap, he told me he had bought them recently from Meade for $100 new. I would buy another pair but I am too lazy to deal with the all the hassle. But the Meade Montana 7x42s are the real thing, phase coated, 8 degree TFoV binoculars made in Japan.

Jon

Post Extras:

harbinjer
sage

Reged: 12/17/08

Loc: Southeastern Minnesota

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5663361 - 02/05/13 11:02 AM

I got these for Christmas a few years ago. They are sharp, bright, about 8.2 degrees(I checked against known stars), and very comfortable eye relief with glasses(and without). They definitely have some rolling-ball effect, but it's more visible during daytime. Also the 6mm exit pupils are noticeably larger than 4-5mm ones, even during the day, you get the "instant image" effect. Very pleasant IMO, daytime and night.

Post Extras:

gaz-in
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/17/07

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: harbinjer]
#5663769 - 02/05/13 03:23 PM

Last week's deal was a 24MM UWA Eyepiece and 2" Dielectric Diagonal. Regularly around $389, sale price of $159. I got it and they were the real deal. Very nice set for the price.

Gives me hope that these Montana Binos are the real thing.

Post Extras:

jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: gaz-in]
#5663789 - 02/05/13 03:36 PM

Quote:

Last week's deal was a 24MM UWA Eyepiece and 2" Dielectric Diagonal. Regularly around $389, sale price of $159. I got it and they were the real deal. Very nice set for the price.

Yes, that was a no-brainer. I'd have grabbed it if I didn't already have that eyepiece. It was my primary outreach EP when I was more active. I don't use binoculars much but I snagged this one in case it's a similar bargain.

Post Extras:

Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: 7x42 Montana Binoculars with Strap and Carry Case new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#5665218 - 02/06/13 01:05 PM

I also ordered the 7x42 Montana binos. Couldn't resist the sale price. I already have a pair of Brunton 8x42 Lite-Techs which have many of the same features. I will probably end up selling one or the other, depending on how I like them.

The Montana's have about 8 degrees TFOV, 6mm exit pupil, and weigh 1.9 lbs. The Brunton's have 6.5 degrees TFOV, 5.3mm exit pupil, and weigh 1.3 lbs. If I keep both, the Montana's will be for astronomy, the Brunton's for day hiking.

Mike

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all)

Extra information

1 registered and 26 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: knuklhdastnmr, panhard

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 4598

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics