New Binoculars: OL Reviews the Best Full- and Mid-Size Hunting Binoculars
Take a look at this shiny new collection of optics

From the flimsy to the fortified, this year’s field of 14 full-size binos and 4 mid-size binos have something for everyone. The most interesting trend is the continuing integration of electronics into hunting optics. Three binoculars feature rangefinders. See our review of the best new hunting binoculars on the market.
These binoculars are from 2013. Looking for 2015’s best binoculars? Check out our Optics Test here.
Full-Size Binos
Units with ranging features include the plasticky Pulsar Expert ($800), Bushnell’s Fusion 1-Mile ARC ($1,200), and the new Geovid HD-B from Leica ($2,945), which represents the pinnacle of this alliance of electronic and optical technology.
The Pulsar’s rangefinder is a simple laser unit with no angle-calculating inclinometer or ballistics information.
Bushnell has come a long way with its ranging bino since the first Fusion was launched a couple of years ago. The objective lens coatings are much clearer and the dot-matrix display is much easier to read. The Bushnell includes a sophisticated inclinometer, a bullet-drop calculator that displays holdover references for eight families of rifle calibers, separate bow and rifle settings, and a laser that ranged targets out to 1,800 yards. Bowhunters will like the Fusion’s close-in ranging ability.
The more traditional full-size binos ranged from Carson’s handy $250 3D to Steiner’s Tactical ($799), which sports bat-wing eyecups and a blacked-out finish.
Weaver’s Kaspa makes the case that a headache-inducing binocular is no bargain even at $125. Other disappointing optics included the Redfield Rebel ($175), the Sightmark Solitude XD ($399), and Leupold’s McKinley HD ($775), which had such boxy eyecups that most testers couldn’t get the binocular to comfortably fit their face.
Three super-size binoculars completed the field: Alpen’s well-priced and appealing 10×50 Teton ($445); a tight and bright Vortex Razor HD in 10×50 ($1,289); and the behemoth 15x56mm Minox BL ($899), which ships with a tripod adapter to minimize hand shake and fatigue.

Zeiss Victory HT 10×42
Price: $2,499
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: A
Perceived Image: A
Performance: A
Design/Durability: A Price/Value: B
Final Verdict: An heirloom optic, with gem-bright glass and hand-gripping barrels

Nikon Monarch 7 10×42
Price: $500
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: A-
Perceived Image: B+
Performance: B+
Design/Durability: A-
Price/Value: A
Final Verdict: A screaming value in a tight, bright, light, and grippy hunting optic

Minox BL
Price: $899
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: A
Perceived Image: B+
Performance: B+
Design Durability: B+
Price/Value: B+
Verdict: Very nice image in this gargantuan configuration. A good value.

Vortex Razor HD
Price: $1,289
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: A
Perceived Image: A-
Performance: A-
Design/Durability: A-
Price/Value: A
Final Verdict: A sweet optic, this well-made binocular is very fairly priced and very bright

Leica Geovid HD-B (Innovation Award)
Price: $2,945
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: B+
Perceived Image: A-
Performance: A+
Design/Durability: A+
Price/Value: B
Final Verdict: Best rangefinder in the industry, monster field of view. A game-changer.

Steiner Tactical
Price: $799
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality: A-
Perceived Image: B+
Performance: B+
Design/Durability: B+
Price/Value: B
Final Verdict: Love or hate the bat-wing eyecups, the tactical-leaning Steiner has fine glass.

Alpen Teton EDHD
Price: $445
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality: B+
Perceived Image: B+
Performance: B+
Design/Durability: B+
Price/Value: A-
Final Verdict: Great balance and hand feel, and adequately bright optics, in a value bino.

Sightmark Solitude XD
Price: $399
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality: A-
Perceived Image: B
Performance: B-
Design/Durability: C+
Price/Value: B
Final Verdict: Optically sharp, this priced-right open-bridge bino features textured armor.

Leupold BX-4 Mckinley HD
Price: $775
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality: B+
Perceived Image: B-
Performance: B
Design/Durability: B
Price/Value: C+
Final Verdict: This tight, heavy bino features disappointing glass and a boxy frame.

Carson 3D
Price: $250
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality: B
Perceived Image: B
Performance: B
Design/Durability: B-
Price/Value: B+
Final Verdict: Optically average, this is a solid price-point binocular.

Bushnell Fusion 1-Mile
Price: $1,200
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: B-
Perceived Image: B
Performance: B
Design/Durability: B
Price/Value: B
Final Verdict: Optics and coatings are much improved in this fast, accurate ranging bin.

Redfield Rebel
Price: $175
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: C+
Perceived Image: B-
Performance: B-
Design/Durability: B-
Price/Value: B+
Final Verdict: An optically underwhelming but otherwise tight, value-priced binocular.

Pulsar Expert LRF
Price: $800
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: B-
Perceived Image: C+
Performance: C
Design/Durability: C+
Price/Value: C+
Final Verdict: The rangefinder in this plasticky binocular is adequate, but optics are not.

Weaver Kaspa
Price: $125
Overall Score: ★ ★
Optical Quality: C-
Perceived Image: C-
Performance: C
Design/Durability: C
Price/Value: C
Final Verdict: This bino is cheap in every way, from its price to its questionable durability. Mid-Size Binos This year saw a stark division between entry-level and more sophisticated optics in the mid-size class. At the lower end of the spectrum was Bushnell’s porro-prism NatureView ($100), detailed above, and the 8×32 Sightmark Solitude ($175), which failed to impress both optically and mechanically. At the other end of the price and quality spectrums were the Zeiss Conquest HD ($900), left, and another European bino, the bright 8×32 Kahles ($921) that testers thought was overpriced.

Zeiss Conquest HD 8X32
Price: $900
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: A+
Perceived Image: A
Performance: A
Design/Durability: A Price/Value: A-
Final Verdict: Bright glass in a durable, marvelously balanced optic. our only knock: the focus feels too slick.

Bushnell NatureView 6×30
Price: $100
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★
Optical Quality: C
Perceived Image: B
Performance: B
Design/Durability: B
Price/Value: A Final Verdict: A basic porro prism with decent glass, this is a good deal for an entry-level optic.

Price: $921
Overall Score: ★ ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality B+
Perceived Image: A-
Performance: A-
Design/Durability: A-
Price/Value: C+
Final Verdict: This tight, compact binocular is a good choice for a hunter who wants a bright, light optic. Jeff Wilson

Sightmark Solitude
Price: $179
Overall Score: ★ ★ ½
Optical Quality: C
Perceived Image: C+
Performance: B-
Design/Durability: B-
Price/Value: B
Final Verdict: This nicely sized and balanced binocular failed to focus well and caused eyestrain.
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See the riflescope review.