JVS Report post Posted November 22, 2009 Thanks for the input guys. I appreciate it. If you have read through the thread you can see that I am still torn between the two glasses. Some say the bruntons are great, others no...I have looked through the minox and really liked them, but never for an extended period. Anyway, any last words of wisdom? I'm leaning toward the minox, based on "you get what you pay for." Am I right on that, or do the bruntons give you an equal glass for half the $$? If I can't settle this, I might just have to fork out the cash and go with the swaros or liecas Man, I jsut can't justify it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted November 22, 2009 Get the Minox and I'm one of the Brunton owners, I just can't get the Minox to close down enough for my eyes. Minox are great binos, German made, I love my Minox HGs in 10X. They will last you a lifetime. Get the Bruntons if your eyes need them, which you don't. Or if you want a very light weight 50mm bino for backpacking, that's another reason I use them over my heavy porros. I'm not sold on the durability of the Bruntons, even though I've road them hard for a couple years, don't seem as solid of a body as my Minox, we'll see. Get the Bruntons if you only have 300.00 bucks. If you ever upgrade to Swaros, they make great loaners or for your kids. Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HUNTAZ Report post Posted November 22, 2009 i actually bought my bruntons of a fella on craigslist but on their web page the 15x51 eternas are goen for 600$ i believe..... Am i not seeing something?. Just looked em up on their home page an they are listed for 598$...check it out.Also id really consider the cabelas alaskan guide series binos their the clearest brightest binos ive ever looked through an ive glassed with em all!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted November 22, 2009 They've been 1/2 price for a few years. I don't know if they made a bunch years ago and just don't sell much or what. I got mine for 313.00 from optics planet I think. Googled them and Amazon has them for 292.00 new in stock. It's been that way for 3 yrs that I know of. I know they were originaly 600.00 like the vortex. Maybe still clearancing old stock? Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wbyfireman Report post Posted November 23, 2009 I know it wasn't mentioned but if the Swaro"s are simply too much $$ to spend ( as it was for me) but I wanted GREAT optics look into the Vortex 15X56 Kaibab!!!! I saved for almost a year on a tight budget and picked up a pair. The glass is FANTASTIC. Everyone i have spoke with rates them slightly higher than the Minox and just a smidge (is that a word) below the Swaro's and the Leica when looking at a resolution chart. There was an AWESOME review on this website that convinced me to purchace them. After looking through them and the Swaro's in the field for the first time I could not tell a difference between the two. Are they as good as the Swaro's........no, are they dang close YES!! P.S. The warranty is the absolute best in the business as well. Good luck in whatever you choose Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
120carp Report post Posted December 3, 2009 how about 15x50 vortex vipers? how would those compare to these other two binos? i think these would be in the same range as the other two. im looking to sell my 12x56 nikons to get something better. does anybody know which one would be better vipers, bruntons or minox in the x50+ mags? i dont like my nikons at all. any review would be helpful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted December 3, 2009 Everyones eyes are a little different, I did personal research on the roof binos I could use that would fit my narrow eyes. At the time that was the Brunton 15X51, Viper 15X50, and the Zeiss 15X45. The Zeiss were worthless except in pure daylight and I still didn't like them., I've been pounded for this opinion but those that get on me can't themselves say they're any good, just upset I say something bad on Zeiss. I repeat the 15X45 Zeiss only are crap. The Bruntons and Vipers were close, the Bruntons for me were a tad better optically and fit my face better. They both started out at 600.00, the Viper has dropped to 500.00 and the Brunton to 292.00 or something. I wouldn't get the vipers over the bruntons. The Minox is a better bino than any of those, still a hair to wide for me, 549.00 is a killer price for a very good 15X. Now , I checked out the new Kaibabs, they are supposed to close down smaller than the Swaros and they do. I can barely get them to work, if I can come up with the dough I would get them. This is how I would go depending on the money I have, if you don't see a bino it's cause I wouldn't get it at all. Brunton 15X51 300.00 Minox 15X58 550.00 Kaibab 15X56 1200.00 Swaro 15X56 1800.00 Any will find you a bedded deer in the high grass, in shadows, first light, my bruntons did for my last deer. Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
120carp Report post Posted December 4, 2009 thanks kent thats good stuff. sucks about your leg though. hope everything goes back together right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted December 4, 2009 Thanks for the thoughts. My leg is 60% the doc said, I was able to start walking on it 2 weeks ago. It's going to be slow going for sure. My foot sticks out to the outside quite a bit, just healed that way, so one foot steps toes straight and the other toes to the side. If I knew they could turn my foot around I would have had them point it to the rear and ran as fast backwards as I can forward. Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
120carp Report post Posted December 4, 2009 one more question kent would the nikon 12x56's make your short list about? and what ones did you say are better the bruntons or minox? i know you said the minox dont fit your face. but are they better glass than the bruntons? i just dont know anybody that has either of them to check them out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted December 5, 2009 I have not actually sat behind the nikons, I did go to cabelas when they came out with the 12s and all I can say was they seemed a little grayish when I looked through them in the store. Doesn't mean anything, plenty of people like them and find game with them. I've sat one eyed behind the Swaros and Minox, I could tell they both were excellent glass and believe it when those that use them say they are super. I have Minox 10X52s and they are fantastic, if I could use the Minox 13X56 or the 15X58, I would and never look back. That said I can find game better with a 300.00 two eye bino much better than a expensive one eye bino or scope. The Minox 15s are better optically overall, bring a bit more color and a little low light advantage. Negative is they are heavy if you pack them and may not fit your face well with the bulk. The 13s are lighter and better shaped, I could almost use them and thought about buying them and shaving the sides a little. Things a guy will think of. The Bruntons weigh 32 oz and are great to pack, very sharp optically but have a slight white wash. Do better than I thought in low light, differences are slight under the Minox and even Swaros. Durability may be an issue, so far so good after a few years. I was able to use the Bruntons this morning on my Brother's elk hunt, elk are easy to see over a coues, but they did great again. Spotted a herd of 30 plus at a couple miles in the cedar ridges at first light. I could see if they had horns even spikes at that distance no problem. Of course they move from the cedars, across the flats to right below us at 100 yds, no bull at 2 miles and no bull at 100 yds. They would have walked over us but my brother was crying so loud they just slowly walked around us. I would also add the Minox 13s in the mix at around 750.00, and of course the Leica 10-15X50s but those are so beyond my spending level, would fit my eyes though. Unless you only had 300.00 or wanted a light backpacking bino, or had Chihuahua eyes. I qualified for all three. Buy the Minox. Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pronghorn Report post Posted December 7, 2009 I have owned several Brunton Eterna binos over the years. I currently own the 11x45, which I really like! I sold my 15x51's earlier this year. I simply could not get an acceptable view out of them. The focus was not what I have come to expect from Bruntons. I used them only on my tripod and have found that the 11x45's were etter for long range and especially long term glassing. I have spent a fair amount of time comparing the 15x51 Bruntons to my friends 15x51 Vipers and was really blown away by the difference. I will be purchasing a pair of the Vipers when my wallet allows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
outdoor rush Report post Posted December 9, 2009 Has anyone tried the pentax 20X60 i know they are a little big but they look pretty bright and clear, and for 230 they wont break anyones wallet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JVS Report post Posted December 22, 2009 Gentlemen...thanks for the input. I got my Minox for Christmas. I was almost to order them about a week ago, but my wife stopped me and brought out a pair she had already bought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted December 23, 2009 Well, no matter what else, you have a world class wife! Nice buy, find a bunch of animals. Kent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
