Bargain Binoculars

While today’s high-priced optics certainly reflect a “you get what you pay for” quality, the degrees of higher performance garnered from them are negligible to some and certainly not worth the difference in price to many. The Burris Signature Select series of binoculars is designed to deliver a high level of crisp, clear viewing with a wide field-of-view (262 feet at 1,000 yards) and high contrast in even low-light situations. Of course, without all of the cost of some branded models that deliver similar performance. BAK-4 prisms are made to exacting standards and then coated with silver for better light transmission. Additional features include twist eyecups for eyeglass wearers, as well as the standard waterproof, fogproof and impact-resistant qualities expected of any optic that will run you more than 100 bucks. Focus can be achieved on objects as close as 8 feet, eye relief is measured at ¾ inch and they weigh 23 ounces. They are also available in the slightly less-expensive 8x42 and the slightly more-expensive 12x50 models. ($360; burrisoptics.com)

Squeezing the features of Bushnell’s popular Legend series of binos into a pair of compact versions is a good thing for the hunter who prefers to travel light. At the heart of ergonomic performance on the 10x26 compact (as well as the 8x26) is an easily adjustable, center focus knob large enough for efficient manipulation even while wearing thick gloves. Optics are fully multi-coated with the company’s patented RainGuard HD coating, and wide-angle porro prisms of BAK-4 glass are clear and true to color all the way to the edge of the viewing plane. The Legend compacts are waterproof and shockproof and offer a textured, non-slip rubber armor coating. ($180; bushnell.com)

Leupold’s Cascades are designed to deliver the best of both quality and value for which the company has come to be respected by legions of dedicated sportsmen. The ergonomics of the Cascades are sharp with their slim, in-line design that makes for easy handling no matter how big your hands are or whether they are sheathed in gloves or mittens. Low-light performance is typical top-shelf Leupold, while color clarity and brightness all make for stress-free viewing during extended spotting sessions. Field-of-view is 267 feet at 1,000 yards. Eye relief is 16 mm, and close focusing is achieved at 10 feet. The 10x42 model weighs 23.1 ounces, and is available in a rugged armor-proofing of either black or Mossy Oak Break-Up, and 7x42 and 8x42 versions are also available. ($251; leupold.com)

The ProStaff 7 joined Nikon’s popular ATB optical line in 2011 with both 10x42 and 8x42 models. They are made to withstand the harsh punishment many of us tend to heap upon our gear. Lenses are fully multicoated for bright, high-resolution even in low light and are shockproof, waterproof and fogproof. Eye relief in excess of 15 mm offers easy viewing, and a very respectable field-of-view of 314 feet also helps when doing distant glassing. The slim barrels fit securely in your hands, and the center focus knob rotates smoothly for precise viewing. Close focusing is achievable at 13 feet. Available in black or Realtree APG camo. ($200/black, $210/camo; nikonhunting.com)

The first compact binocular I ever owned was a small Simmons model that alternated living inside my turkey vest and deer hunting daypack for nearly five years before I set them down during a Virginia turkey hunt, and couldn’t remember where. While the company’s 2011 additions to its ProSport line are made in a larger configuration than those once-cherished compacts, it’s safe to say they still deliver the affordable performance I sought back then. True to many of the models at this price point and above, the ProSport’s optics are multicoated for bright, clear viewing, and roof prisms are of quality BAK-4 glass. Twist eyecups aid viewing with or without glasses. Five models complete the new line: In addition to the 10x50s, there are also 8x42, 10x42 and 12x50 models all in black and a 10x42 model in ATAC camo. ($132; simmonsoptics.com)

Offering a wider, low-profile and decidedly more European design, the Safari Pro 8x30 delivers big-name performance in a ridiculously affordable package. Designed similarly to Steiner’s Military/Marine bino, Safari Pros boast greater glare- and UV-blocking ability. Profiled wrap-around eyecups help shade ambient light for a surer view through the binocular. Steiner’s Sports-Auto-Focus feature allows a user to set the focus for his or her eyes and then delivers crisp viewing anywhere between 20 yards and infinity without constant back and forth adjustment. Eye relief is at 20 mm, field-of-view is 360 feet and the weight of these mid-size optics is a mere 18 ounces. ($200; steiner-binoculars.com)

Unique in design, these 8x42 optics (a 10x42 model is available) feature an Open-Bridge configuration for central durability without the unnecessary extra weight. The compact roof/BAK-4 prisms are phase-coated with a high-transmission silver coating for crystal clear viewing. A single center wheel adjusts both focus and diopter, with the diopter function lockable once set. Eye relief is long at 18 mm, and twist eye cups have click stops for a range of adjustment. A textured surface in matte black aids grip. Field-of-view is 387 feet at 1,000 yards. Weight is a shade less than 24 ounces. ($260; truglo.com)

When Willie Robertson of “Duck Commander” set out to create his own empire in the form of Buck Commander, endorsements and approved products were sure to follow. Now working with Weaver, Buck Commander has its own line of optics complete with a rifle scope, two full-size binos (in addition to this 8x42, a 10x42 model) and two compact offerings in the form of 8x25 and 10x25 designs. Designed with the rigors of deer hunting in mind, Buck Commander optics are subjected to extensive testing against drops, water submersion and freezing temps. Phase-coated roof prisms allow for a sleek, ergonomic design, while fully coated lenses provide optimal clarity and brightness, even in low-light conditions when a deer hunter needs it most. Field-of-view is 330 feet, eye relief is long at more than 19 mm and the matte, rubber armor rounds out this model’s rugged looks and performance. ($493; weaveroptics.com)