NZ’s Best Selection of Waterproof Hunting Binoculars
You’ve packed your rifle and your freeze dried meals – but equally important to your kit is a decent pair of binoculars. At Hamills Taupo, we have a wide range available to suit all budgets and specification requirements. With your favourite brands covered from Leupold and Leica; Bushnell to Zeiss; as well as extra features like in-built rangefinders – we’ll tick the boxes for you!
SO – where to start?
Magnification
We usually suggest that a 10x42 magnification is best suited to NZ hunting.
What does 10x42 mean? 10x means the binoculars will range up to 10 x magnification compared to the naked eye. 42mm is the front objective.
A quality 10x bino is hard to beat because it delivers significant magnification in a lightweight package. With the perfect field of view for dense brush, yet enough power for long-range detection and high-definition performance, it’s our go-to.
12x binoculars are difficult to hold steady and 10x50 binoculars allow wider visibility (not always suitable for focusing on a target). 8x binoculars have lower magnification, lower light and lower image quality. In our professional experience, most people prefer the 10x42.
Which Brand is Best?
Many people have their favourite brands set in stone. For some, they like to use the same brand in binoculars as their scope for familiarity. For others, they stand by the warranties offered by a brand.
We make a concerted effort to hand select top brands with proven quality and performance, suitable for New Zealand hunting conditions.
Our top performing brands include:
- Leupold – offers lifetime guarantee. They will guarantee the performance of the binoculars for life and stand by any repairs or replacements, whether you are the original owner or not. This ongoing support is worth its weight in gold and can justify the price point for many. Leupold is also a popular option for riflescopes, which make them a popular choice when matching brands across hunting hardware.
- Zeiss – quality German construction and performance, utilizing top quality glass and materials. From the Zeiss Terra ED range starting at $799 up to the Zeiss RF Laser Rangefinder Binoculars at $4,999 – the quality and features of the Zeiss range are impressive. The multi-coated, anti-reflective glass offers a high level of light transmission and the lenses are quick to focus. The RF model offers connection to the Zeiss app allowing you to import up to nine personalized ballistic profiles.
- Leica – the Leica Geovid 3200 Rangefinder binoculars offer instantaneous distance detection (up to 2900m) and pair impeccably with your Leica scope. Quickly enter the distance of your target to determine your scope settings enabling pin point accuracy.
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Bushnell – our top recommendation for an entry level binocular with fantastic quality and warranty back up. 100% waterproof, fogproof and multi-coated lenses offer leading performance and starting at only $349. Check out the Prime or Trophy for our entry level picks of the bunch.
What features should I consider?
- Lens quality – when glassing for long periods of time, a quality lens is important to reduce the strain on your eyes. A quality lens will also prove their performance in low light environments – dusk, dawn and dense bush.
- Weight – it goes without saying, saving weight wherever possible when walking long distances and holding gear for a long period of time is key.
- Inbuilt Rangefinder – identify your target and determine their distance at a moment’s notice. If your budget allows you to extend, laser rangefinder binoculars are a wonderful multi-purpose investment, saving you the time to locate your rangefinder when you need it – and also saving on additional weight. Leica, Zeiss and Bushnell offer laser rangefinder binoculars, and Leupold is not far off.
Bushnell Fusion Activsync Display
- Waterproof and Fogproof – the weather is unreliable. Be prepared for rain, fog, or shine. There would be nothing worse than locating a trophy stag and discovering your binoculars have fogged up.
Bushnell's Exo Barrier Lens Coating
How much should I spend?
The tried and trusted advice rings true for binoculars – you get what you pay for ;)
Rest assured that the entry level will still perform well – but any extra investment you can add will offer improved low-light performance, clarity, focus and longevity.
If you would like to chat through your options, please feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to lend you support.
07 3787779
Check out our top picks!
For entry level, check out the Bushnell Trophy at $399 or the Bushnell Prime at $349
Our top sellers would be the Leupold BX-1 McKenzie and BX-2 Alpine options
For top of the line, we recommend the Zeiss Victory RF Rangefinder Binoculars
