I am having trouble seeing the end of some longer water and land blinds. It seems my depth perception, and vision, are not what they used to be. Any suggestions on which type of binocular, and power, I should be looking at?
Thanks,
Jim
Leupold Yosemite 6x30, compact, fits flat against the chest, fantastic optics, once focused it is set from 50 yards to infinity, relatively wide field so easy to track your dog, water proof and warrantied for life. Around $90.00 on Amazon. I hate those cheap, bulky, bad optic Bushnells.
Sounds like the Yosemites are the ticket for your need. I was surprised at the low price.
I have a nice Pentax 8X40 PCF for waterfowl scouting. They are more power (and size) than you need, most likely, but are good "light gatherers" for my purpose. They were so nice, I bought the same model in 20 power for my wife for bird watching. The 20 power's aren't very good.
I was just looking at some of the pictures from the 2015 National Amateur Retriever Championship and it looks like to me that most of the handlers were using the Bushnell auto focus, just saying.
I was there and I'd say half if not most were using the Yosemites. The people still using Bushnells just haven't tried the Yosemite yet. Sound's like I own stock in Leupold, I don't, I'm just a freak about good optics. I own or have owned Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica, Leitz, Fujinon, Pentax, Bushnell, Nikon and Leupold, a lot of those binos go for around $2,000.00 a pair, I'll tell you, those $90.00 Yosemites hang right in there with the alpha binos.
What are being called auto focus are really fixed focus. Bushnell picked a typical viewing distance, focused the lenses at that and designed them with a very large depth of field. Great for quick viewing but nothing will ever look really crisp and clear, everything will look almost in focus. That can be very distracting and hard on your eyes if you use them for any length of time. Compare them side by side with a pair that can be focused and have a narrow depth of field and as most have said there is a world of difference.
I'm only harsh on the "auto-focus" 4 power Bushnells that are popular with dog handlers. They are junk, too bulky to wear, piss poor optics, not waterproof and a someone pointed out, they are a fixed focus not auto focus. The Elite series is fantastic, I have an Elite scope on my .270.
I have those plus Leica Ultravid 8x42 and Nikon SE 8x32 and 10x42, all great optics but way-way too powerful for dog training use. You need that low power, wide angle, super deep focus a 4-6 power bino has. Plus small in the hand, compact against the chest and light around the neck make the little Yosemite perfect for water blinds.
1. Bushnell Yardage Pro 800 - mono eyepiece w.dual binoc...6 function..light weight ..purchased in 2000 and have used continuously in all weather conditions - one 9 volt battery (Scheels)- great for me!
2. FOCAL- 7 X 50 BAK-4 Prisims for greater low light view..big sweep, great view dawn/dusk moving waterfowl..tried a bunch of others w/poor results for duck hunting..cost did not determine quality functionality..K-Mart
I use my range finder on long FT water blinds. It works for me w/my eyes. My particular binocs do not cut it. I think different strokes for different folks?
+1 on the Leupolds. Also get a harness that keeps the binos close to your chest. I have a harness from Butler Creek that I have had for years and it works really well.
I work for Cabelas in the optics dept.
Our go to brand is Vortex. Life time no fault warranty great bang for the buck. Great reviews.
Do not get high magnification it will reduce your field of view. do not get too small a front lens. No less than 32 better 42 mm again field of view.
Field of view important during the heat of battle more than magnification.
Great buy would be 6.5 power Vortex Raptor. Less than $100.
Don not buy Bushnell perma focus! They suck. Make sure water proof fog proof what ever you get. I heard it rained at a field trial once.
Yosemites are not bad, the eye relief is lousy and only buy when on sale for under a $100. Normally about $130.00
Jan
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