Best Binos for $400 or Less

[TexEnv700]

As the title says, budget is sub $400. What will give me the most for my money? Looking at Maven C series, vortex diamondbacks, Leupold BX-2, etc. Primary use will be deer hunting with lots of low light, picking deer out of tall grass/brush in prairie/ag field terrain. Have hopes of a western hunt in the future. Looking primarily at 10x42s. Thanks for any input.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

The maven c series run circles around my diamondbacks.

I just picked up a used pair of vortex viper made in japan for $350. They are impressively clear.

 

[Tikka300wsm]

Maven C1..they hold their own with any binocular up to $5-600 IMO

 

[JGRaider]

Athlon Midas HD from Doug at CL. On par with Viper HD in every way, but only $199. They are very nice.

 

[Tonyjohnson619]

i like my leupold bx-2 arcadia and they around 200 on amazon

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Athlon Midas

Athlon Cronus

Meopta Meopro

Meopta Optika

Hawke Frontier ED X

Kowa BD II

Feel free to give us a call, 516-217-1000, to discuss what would be best for you

 

[ChrisAU]

You can get into new 10x42 BX-4's without much work.

 

[Franklin]

Athlon Midas

Athlon Cronus

Meopta Meopro

Meopta Optika

Hawke Frontier ED X

Feel free to give us a call, 516-217-1000, to discuss what would be best for you

With glass quality being the main concern, how would you rank these starting with the best or is that how you listed them?

 

[JGRaider]

You can get into new 10x42 BX-4's without much work.

The Midas has a much wider FOV

 

[ChrisAU]

The Midas has a much wider FOV

341 ft vs 326 feet absolutely would not outweigh MIC vs MIJ, a locking diopter, an ounce or two less weight for the BX-4, and what I would surmise is much better glass IMO. I haven't had a Midas, but I have had a Cronus 8.5x42 that I compared directly to the BX-4 8x32 in low light and I sent the Cronus back. It had impressive glass but was a tank and optically I though the BX-4's even with the much smaller objectives were brighter.

 

[Midwestwaterfowl]

I use a set of maven c1 8x, much prefer them over diamondbacks. Those are the only two I have experience with.

 

[bsnedeker]

I use a set of maven c1 8x, much prefer them over diamondbacks. Those are the only two I have experience with.

+1, the C1's CRUSH the diamondbacks...at least the 12x I've tried side-by-side

 

[gonhuntn78]

How do the athlon Cronus or Midas for that matter compare to the maven c1’s?

 

[High Voltage]

Pentax had them for close to 20 years, and they still are doing a good job.

 

[SaltyUte]

Maven C1s

 

[Newtosavage]

Maven C1's or a clearance/used pair of Leupold BX-4's Nothing else can compete with those two in that price range IMO.

 

[ndayton]

Another vote for Maven C1's

 

[curlyintn]

i have a pair of nikon monarch 7 10 x 42. love them for price

 

[Bohale87]

Mavens have been a favorite lately

 

[Scooter90254]

I would rob Peter to pay Paul and work up to the BX4. Way more Binos for the money. Watch sales or cash in your cabelas points. It’s worth it