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1,312 Views | 24 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by Checks Out
tandy miller
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7:35a, 1/6/26
AG
My binos blew over on the tripod yesterday and broke. Had a pair of meopta Optika HD 10x42. Looking for something comparable, in the $500 range.

Use will be bowhunting. Currently looking at the Kowa BD II XD and the Maven C.1's. Both in 10x42

TIA
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tandy miller
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7:37a, 1/6/26
AG
Also- I emailed meopta but don't have high hopes as they apparently don't do business in the US.

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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to tandy miller • 7:53a, 1/6/26
AG
They were on a tripod stand (like a holder for the binos) and fell? Or they fell off a tripod you were hunting in and hit the ground from like 10' up?

I would hope Meopta does warranty them and am surprised to hear they don't do business in the US despite being sold by a ton of people here...

No advice on the binos but I'd just wait for Caladan to chime in
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tandy miller
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 8:09a, 1/6/26
AG
ttha_aggie_09 said:
They were on a tripod stand (like a holder for the binos) and fell? Or they fell off a tripod you were hunting in and hit the ground from like 10' up?

I would hope Meopta does warranty them and am surprised to hear they don't do business in the US despite being sold by a ton of people here...

No advice on the binos but I'd just wait for Caladan to chime in


They were on my tripod and I went to set it on the other side of a barbed wire fence and it wobbled and blew over. Fell in grass. Was surprised they broke hitting grass like that.

Apparently I will have to send them to the Czech Republic if they do decide to honor the warranty.



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Mas89
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In reply to tandy miller • 9:53a, 1/6/26
AG
Up your budget and get the Swarovski EL 10x42s. Sell something you haven't used in a few years to fund something you will use on every trip. Huge difference- I use binos several times a week to check edges, fence lines, tree lines and animal tag numbers. We keep a pair in each utv and ranch truck of the common vortex, Leupold, redfield, etc. I keep the ELs in their case in my truck and am always amazed at the difference of clarity and ease of use compared to all others.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to Mas89 • 9:58a, 1/6/26
AG
I just got these this year after himming and hawwing around for years and regret I didn't do it sooner. I have really good eyesight as is but these things just completely change the game.
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txag-15
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10:02a, 1/6/26
AG
Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide. Great clarity and around your budget.
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EFE
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10:05a, 1/6/26
AG
Don't give up on Meopta, I've dealt with them after losing a tiny screw for a zero stop and they shipped me a new one free. It took a bit, but they did come through.
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tandy miller
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In reply to Mas89 • 10:08a, 1/6/26
AG
Mas89 said:
Up your budget and get the Swarovski EL 10x42s. Sell something you haven't used in a few years to fund something you will use on every trip. Huge difference- I use binos several times a week to check edges, fence lines, tree lines and animal tag numbers. We keep a pair in each utv and ranch truck of the common vortex, Leupold, redfield, etc. I keep the ELs in their case in my truck and am always amazed at the difference of clarity and ease of use compared to all others.


I don't need swaro level glass for my 10's… 95+% of glassing is <300, and most within 100. I'm going to spend that $ on 15's. Getting a lightly used pair of SLC 15x56 from a guy I hunt with when he gets NL Pures
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Mas89
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In reply to tandy miller • 10:22a, 1/6/26
AG
That's where they are the best. Especially the time between sunset and dark/ daylight and sunrise. Hunted with 12x50 Leicas for 25 years before the ELs. Took both a few times for comparison and haven't used the Leicas since then.
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tandy miller
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In reply to Mas89 • 10:36a, 1/6/26
AG
The way I look at it I have budget for 1 premium set of glass. I used borrowed hobos in Az this past year and was already planning on getting 15 swaros. IMO the extra $makes more sense on those than 10's, even though the 10's get used more. My meoptas have been fine for years for my needs from 10's. Yes that level glass is not as bright/clear/etc as swaro, but at bowhunting distances I can still see everything I need to, which isn't the case with cheap 15's vs swaro.
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tandy miller
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In reply to Mas89 • 10:40a, 1/6/26
AG
Also I can get a 1 yr old pair of SLC 15's for $500 cheaper than the EL 10x42 new. Even if I bought a pair of $$$$$ 10x42's I still need 15's.

Not willing to do 15's only bc I'm not lugging those around on my chest all day. Plan for future out west is to wear my 10's and use 15's more as a spotter
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Charismatic Megafauna
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10:41a, 1/6/26
AG
Caladan recommended the athlon midas 10x42 fairly recently, they are ~$220 on amazon
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Furlock Bones
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10:46a, 1/6/26
AG
Try and find a pair of Zeiss Conquest or Leica Trinovids on one of the forums like rokslide.

Either one of these binos is a huge jump over anything close in price like the aforementioned Leupole BX4s.

thank me later.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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10:50a, 1/6/26
AG
Also I have the kowa bdii xd 10x42 and side by side the vortex viper hd 10x42 is way better
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Caladan
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1:18p, 1/6/26
In the $200-$300 range, the 1st gen. Athlon Midas in the grey body that can be found at Amazon for around $229.

$300-$400 range, consider the 2nd gen. Athlon Midas G2 UHD that you should be able to find for around $330. These have a black body w/orange trim.

Above $400, I like the Zeiss Terra and the Leupold Pro Guide HD. Unfortunately, I have never used them side by side, so I can't really say which is better. But I have used both and like both.

The Vortex Viper HD is normally in the $400 and above price range, but I occasionally see them in the $300-$400 range. If you can find one around $350 or so, then it would make a very good choice. Check Euro Optic, Scheel's, and SWFA before you buy. I think Scheels has the Terra for $399 right now too, so check their site.

C
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Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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In reply to Caladan • 4:30p, 1/6/26
AG
Caladan said:
In the $200-$300 range, the 1st gen. Athlon Midas in the grey body that can be found at Amazon for around $229.

$300-$400 range, consider the 2nd gen. Athlon Midas G2 UHD that you should be able to find for around $330. These have a black body w/orange trim.

Above $400, I like the Zeiss Terra and the Leupold Pro Guide HD. Unfortunately, I have never used them side by side, so I can't really say which is better. But I have used both and like both.

The Vortex Viper HD is normally in the $400 and above price range, but I occasionally see them in the $300-$400 range. If you can find one around $350 or so, then it would make a very good choice. Check Euro Optic, Scheel's, and SWFA before you buy. I think Scheels has the Terra for $399 right now too, so check their site.

C


Euro Optics has Vortex Viper HD 10x42s for $350 right now! I love mine, not as much as my Huskemaw 10x42s, but they are great binos, especially at that price.
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SB IV
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In reply to txag-15 • 4:49p, 1/6/26
txag-15 said:
Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide. Great clarity and around your budget.

Can second this for the budget
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LRHF
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6:24p, 1/6/26
AG
As a bow hunter, I strongly prefer small optics (especially during elk season). My go to optics are now 8x32 Swaro EL's. I have spotting scopes (big and small) and normal sized optics but prefer small optics in my chest when roaming. Different story if we are mule deer hunting but then we have a spotting scope or binos on a tripod.
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tandy miller
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12:47p, 1/7/26
AG
Still no response from meopta.
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Jdb101808
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1:19p, 1/7/26
I love anything vortex… i even have a monocular that fits easy in a pocket and is very clear and good sight picture
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to tandy miller • 1:22p, 1/7/26
AG
tandy miller said:
Still no response from meopta.

There's enough Czech boys on this board - maybe you should use one of their last names and refile the compliant?
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ldg397
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4:17p, 1/7/26
AG
I have swaro el 8.5x42 on Caladans recommendation and they are great. I say that to state I had a pair of meopta meopro I got on a steal and left them at Kyle field(i am an idiot). I was so impressed with those meopro even compared to my swaros.

I will say after 50 it is getting harder for me to justify the higher priced binos my eyes just aren't good enough anymore to see the difference. For 20 years I had lasik in both eyes to 20/10 and you can tell a huge difference in glass.
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StayGolden05
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10:34p, 1/7/26
AG
Pro Guide HD's for 7 years & still haven't looked through another top tier brand that makes me want to switch.
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Checks Out
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11:32p, 1/7/26
AG
I got Vortex Viper HD 10x42s and Viper HD 3000 Rangefinder before this season.

The rangefinder was off eBay and has a LED display problem that's non-repairable. Vortex just offered to replace with a Razor HD 4000 since Viper replacements are apparently out of stock and would take a few weeks. Awesome customer service.

Anyway, now I've got an itch to upgrade the binos to Razor HDs as well. The Vipers are very lightly used at this point because I only got a few trips in and found myself mostly saddle hunting timber with just the rangefinder. Would sell them for slight discount vs new if interested but also just wanted to share my Vortex warranty experience since relevant.
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