I am just looking for input, should I stick with my traditional optics from the early 80s or upgrade? I can’t believe I used to hunt with these. Actually they are probably pretty decent quality, made in Japan. I remember getting these as I was getting into bow hunting. They do bring back some memories.

If they still work well, I'd stick with them. If you want new glass Vortex is a good company to check out. But no need to spend money if it's not needed or wanted. I use Steiner and Vortex optics along with Leopold. They are pretty darn close in quality. In my time in the military I've spent some serious time behind optics. And I'd say Leopold and Vortex are neck and neck with only Steiner edging them out.

If they work for your hunting style and terrain, keep using them. I have 2 pair like yours, a 10x22 and 8x21, and love them. I only hunt the ground, and in thick woods, so I don't need anything larger, heavier, or more expensive.

They don’t work well for how I hunt and have upgraded a few times over the decades.

Leopold 6x30 is a great choice. Inside 100 yds in trees/brush forest the field of view is excellent and gathers light for clarity like the expensive optics do. Very reasonable price with lifetime warranty.

Like veryone else said, if they still work and they are still clear why change?

I wear glasses and some optics are easier to use when wearing glasses. I love my Leopold binoculars. I have one pair that are 8x42, little bigger, little heavier, but I like them. My other pair are the 6x30 that I like best in the white-tail woods. They work great in low light conditions. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, so if you are happy with your optics that's really all that matters. I'm with newt on the 6x30's, great choice!

I have Leopold Acadia 8x32. I used to use the smaller 8X22 like pictured. They were small and lightweight for carrying. The 8X32 are not much bigger and are much better.

Another vote for Vortex. Beside my buddies $1200 Swarovskis, my Wife's Vortex binos are the best I've used.

I don't use bino's near enough.,I've always been of the old school that if a deet Is within 20 yards I can see him. All else is just sightseeing and looking at deer.,but I would stay. with those Out west is different

kadbow,

"I am just looking for input, should I stick with my traditional optics from the early 80s or upgrade?"

"They don’t work well for how I hunt and have upgraded a few times over the decades."

So what is your question again?

Hard to beat Leup's Yosemites.I got them on sale at the same time Leup had a rebate going and Midway had free shipping.Back then total was around 50 beans.

Baush & Lomb, and Bushnell is my choice. I have old ,and new that work great for me.Leupold, and Lyman,and Unertl for rifles.

If you really want to learn about optics you need to join a Bird Watching Forum. I ain't kidding...they know their glass there!

I really like Vortex HD glass 8 x 42, or 10 x 42's do everything I need them to. And yes those bird watching forums have a ton of folks who really get into optics.

Small pocket binoculars like that are very handy in bright light situations. I have a compact pair of Leupolds that were made by Leica and are 7x21. But that small exit pupil is terrible under low light conditions (which are often the best hunting times). I would step up to something with at least a 4mm exit pupil (like 8x32) or even higher. My favorite low light binos are my 7x42 Leicas. But you don’t have to spring for premium models. There are a lot of quality binos that are much more affordable. The Leupold Yosemites that others have mentioned are a good choice. I bought a pair for my grandson and was impressed with the quality of glass. I’m also a fan of the Nikon Monarchs. I’m a big believer in buying quality glass. I seldom hunt without binos. Good binos make the hunt much more enjoyable. You will use your binos more than the bow or gun you will be carrying. Just my 2 cents.

Buy USA if you can

I like Styrkas, but it does not matter, get what you like. HOWEVER, get a Rick Young bino harness, and you will wear them all the time, never knowing their on you.

yosmite 6x30 plenty good for southern ohio.

4x's the Leopold Yosemite 6x30s. Best binocs I've owned. I think they might be hard to find now. Should run about $95. Not super compact but still light. Also they are great in low light. You can pick apart ever bit of brush out to 100 yards. Combine with the Rick Young Harness - The perfect set of vino for my needs in Souther Zone NY.

I've got a pair of those as well.

Plus my Fathers Nikons and my Uncles Big pair from WWII.

I bought a pair of vortex glasses this year and I'm very impressed with them, they are a very good product and a lifetime guarantee also. I chose them over the Nikons due to complaints about them not standing behind their guarantee.

I've used and really like both Vortex and Meoptas. Both very good companies/warranties, and both great glass at a bargain price.

Mark,

I know you're being facetious about whether to buy something new. Those would go really well hanging on the wall with my vintage Bear bows. They are cool and look to be in good shape. They might be worth some money to a collector now that K-Mart is almost gone. I think my dad had some Focal binos when I was a kid. I'm sure we had a Focal slide projector as well. Probably a "Blue Light Special"!!!

Mike

I thought I knew about bino's until a new girlriend got me into serious birdwatching. She's been my wife for 32 years, now, and I still cant go back to 'good'. That being said, I had a pair of Tasco World Class waterproof 8 x 22's in the early 80's, made in Japan and the best 'affordable' ($400) compact glass I've ever used. They were the victim of a canoeing misadventure on a woodpecker watching trip on a very clear 0 degree New Years Day. They're probably still on the bottom of that river, perfectly usable. Swift Audubons, 8.5 x 44, now. A bit heavy but huge field of vision, amazing clarity and durability.

The Focal brand was made for K-Mart. The fact that they were made in Japan is actually a plus since they are likely pretty good optics. Not good if you want to brag about how much you paid for them, or drop a name like Swarovski, but pretty good nonetheless. But you already said they aren't working for your style of hunting, so it seems to be a rhetorical question at best.

Don't go in the woods without optics. Upgrade if you can, ive found leopold to be pretty good here in the east and out west. Good warranty also.

I was joking about upgrading but I managed to hunt with those for several years. It is kind of ironic that those were probably considered Japanese junk at the time and with my recent upgrade I chose Maven over Vortex because Maven parts are made in Japan and vortex parts are made in China. I am really happy with the Mavens so far and the same warranty as vortex. I still can’t justify Swaros.

Longshot762 x2

Sounds like you made a good choice! What power and size did you get?

For bowhunting I carry a pair of well travelled Bushnell Legend waterproof 8 x 26 porro prism compact binoculars.

These have actually been underwater (kayak incident) and shrugged it off. Of course, as I like them, they are now discontinued.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell-8x26-legend.html

I made a little bungee harness to keep them close to my chest but useable.

Vortex are made in Wisconsin and are taking the optics world over with their no questions asked warranty replacement. Check them out!

For most, its affordability. A lot of decent affordable glass out there. IMO, buy the best you can afford under your budget. Theyre the most important item in your gear, and enjoyed for more than just hunting. You'll never regret it. Again, just my opinion.

I think the choice of optics depends on intended use. If you use them as quick checks of your surroundings (less than a 30 second look) then almost any will work. If you are in open country and use the optics to study details of distant objects for several minutes, I think you'll find the higher priced ones will work best. I'm not an optics designer so I don't know how it's done. But I can look through my Swarovski binoculars for very long periods of time without eye fatigue.

I got tired of cheap binocs and saved my pennies and sold stuff until I could afford a really nice pair of binoculars for bow hunting. I had just purchased a pair of Vortex which were very nice. A month later I went to the Great American Sports Show in Harrisbug PA and stopped at the Maven booth. One look through their B series compact binocular and I immediately regretted buying the Vortex. Fortunately Bass Pro gave me a full refund on the Vortex. I used that money and put it towards the Mavens. I get giddy everytime I lift these little buggers to my eyes. Amazing.

I purchased the B.3 8x30 they also come in 6x30 and 10x30 https://mavenbuilt.com/b-series- binoculars/

I use Steiner 8x32’s. Love them. Also have Nikon monarchs I just sent in to have repaired. They lasted 11 years and the eye cup stripped so sent them in. Paid 225 for them 11 years ago. Not bad imo. But the German steiners are better imo. And slightly smaller.

Partly depend on *when* you use them most. Mid day or dusk and dawn. Those compacts with the 2.x exit pupil are not very useful in low light.

(Exit pupil = front lens diameter divided by magnification. 8x20 yeilds 2.5, 8x40 yeilds 5. And because exit pupil is a measure of area, there's a square factor involved. I'm still using a decent pair of Pentax DCF's I bought 30 years ago, 8x42's.)

I’m always glad I bought my 8x30 Swarovski 30 years ago. Best investment I ever made. They go with me on every hunt.

Your profile says your in Colorado. If your spot and stalk hunting then you need a good pair. Vortex got a lot of their hype initially but quality tanked and now only the razor line still gets good reviews. Leupold is good but you pay for the name it seems. Maven, Athlon, Upland, and more smaller companies have came out boasting great glass at much better prices. Then there’s really good companies like Swarovski, nightforce and Khales/Kono/K something I just had a brain fart. But from when you bought those bino’s until today’s bino’s it’s a huge change. Lotta upgrades in glass, design, gas purging, and coatings. And most every company has a great warranty these days. My go to pair for the past couple seasons has been the Upland Optics 10x42 bino. It’s done better against every bino I’ve tested it against except a high end maven and a Swarovski. And those did better with low light and the colors at long range mostly.

You will need the warranty with Vortex we've send back scopes,and one pair of binos 3 times. . Leopold has lifetime warranty and there stuff lasts . Spending the extra money on Swarovski is worth it they are so much sharper and let in more light for their size, makes it easier to see in low light conditions

Roger Rotthasr once til me when he goes in the woods to hunt his Binos are the most important thing other than his bow

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