• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Vortex Solo - Monocular

Laker

New Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2015
Messages
26
Questions to those who own one:

1. Are they pocket size and one hand operation? * I like the thought of both these ideas...
2. 10x25 combo for bowhunting? * It's a big price jump to the 10x36...
3. Low light?
4. Other recommendations/thoughts?
 
792eeb6d41da1cb454a1ef5a298801eb.jpg


Using it in the tree right now. I love this thing. I can see clearly out to 200 yards. Maybe not count pts on buck but enough to tell if it’s a shooter. I went with the 10x25 for both size and price. Great for bow!
 
hmm looks nice more input please! i despise bringing my binos as theyre so heavy but this intrigues me.
 
Let's get the SH effect going....someone needs to make an 8 x 42 monocular/rangefinder. It would be hella good for treestand hunters. The 25 and 32 objectives are junk in low light.
 
Let's get the SH effect going....someone needs to make an 8 x 42 monocular/rangefinder. It would be hella good for treestand hunters. The 25 and 32 objectives are junk in low light.

Agreed! I have some older Leupold 8x25 binos and they have always been awesome except for low light conditions. Then I’m better off without em.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
On visibility for low light I did a little testing tonight...

-5:15 sunset it had perfect clarity

-5:25 80%

-5:35 60%

-5:45 end of shooting light mb 20%

For me I could still use it until about 10 min left of shooting. At that point the deer has to be pretty close anyways for me to make sure I take the shot in time. Overall I couldn’t be happier. If they could make a 8x42 in the same compact form I’d definitely upgrade but for the size and price I don’t think it can be beaten.

I got mine on sale at optics planet this summer FYI.
 
Let's get the SH effect going....someone needs to make an 8 x 42 monocular/rangefinder. It would be hella good for treestand hunters. The 25 and 32 objectives are junk in low light.
I’ve tried alot of binoculars and monoculars and agree. If the lens doesn’t have enough light gathering at low light, it’s not really worth carrying to me. I agree that you need 42mm objective to get that essential low light clarity. I’m not saying smaller objectives can’t help, I just prefer a 42mm objective. Plus high quality lenses are a must.
 
Just found this. Bushnell Ultra HD, 10x42 fully coated optics, in tan with reticle or black with no reticle. Black model includes nice case. On sale for $150 Bushnell website. Might have cost myself $150. weighs 13 ounces....beats my 31 ounce binos!

TAC OPTICS 10x42 Monocular


A compact & lightweight monocular with a MIL reticle and ED Prime glass for spotting and ranging in the field or at the range.
  • Flat Dark Earth with N/A eyepiece
  • ED Prime Glass - Bushnell’s highest quality glass delivers amazing color, resolution and contrast, even in low-light conditions.
  • RainGuard HD - Patented, permanent water-repellent coating resists moisture from rain, snow, sleet and condensation for clear viewing, even in inclement weather.
  • Fully Multi Coated - Multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on all air-to-glass surfaces deliver bright, high-contrast images.


Legend Ultra HD Spotting Scope - 10x42


This sleek, high-powered viewing companion will go anywhere you can and is ideal for all-around use.
  • Black with N/A eyepiece
  • ED Prime Glass - Bushnell’s highest quality glass delivers amazing color, resolution and contrast, even in low-light conditions.
  • RainGuard HD - Patented, permanent water-repellent coating resists moisture from rain, snow, sleet and condensation for clear viewing, even in inclement weather.
  • Fully Multi Coated - Multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on all air-to-glass surfaces deliver bright, high-contrast images.
 
Just found this. Bushnell Ultra HD, 10x42 fully coated optics, in tan with reticle or black with no reticle. Black model includes nice case. On sale for $150 Bushnell website. Might have cost myself $150. weighs 13 ounces....beats my 31 ounce binos!

TAC OPTICS 10x42 Monocular


A compact & lightweight monocular with a MIL reticle and ED Prime glass for spotting and ranging in the field or at the range.
  • Flat Dark Earth with N/A eyepiece
  • ED Prime Glass - Bushnell’s highest quality glass delivers amazing color, resolution and contrast, even in low-light conditions.
  • RainGuard HD - Patented, permanent water-repellent coating resists moisture from rain, snow, sleet and condensation for clear viewing, even in inclement weather.
  • Fully Multi Coated - Multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on all air-to-glass surfaces deliver bright, high-contrast images.


Legend Ultra HD Spotting Scope - 10x42


This sleek, high-powered viewing companion will go anywhere you can and is ideal for all-around use.
  • Black with N/A eyepiece
  • ED Prime Glass - Bushnell’s highest quality glass delivers amazing color, resolution and contrast, even in low-light conditions.
  • RainGuard HD - Patented, permanent water-repellent coating resists moisture from rain, snow, sleet and condensation for clear viewing, even in inclement weather.
  • Fully Multi Coated - Multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on all air-to-glass surfaces deliver bright, high-contrast images.

Oh great thanks for costing me more money in 2020! Here is a pic of that in someone’s hand. Seems a little bigger than the 10x25 Vortex but close to size of the 10x36.

db3bd27cdca3505a6fdf08c01afa32e4.jpg
 
On visibility for low light I did a little testing tonight...

-5:15 sunset it had perfect clarity

-5:25 80%

-5:35 60%

-5:45 end of shooting light mb 20%

For me I could still use it until about 10 min left of shooting. At that point the deer has to be pretty close anyways for me to make sure I take the shot in time. Overall I couldn’t be happier. If they could make a 8x42 in the same compact form I’d definitely upgrade but for the size and price I don’t think it can be beaten.

I got mine on sale at optics planet this summer FYI.
Thanks, that is helpful.
 
The light gathering ability of larger objectives makes sense. It's the money... :) If the 10x25 can at least be worth trying, the cost savings is worth it to me. It's a classic case of balance we all try for in gear selection: purpose/quality/performance/MONEY.
 
The way I see it, the reticle is not necessary in a bow hunting application. We have range finders for precise yardages. With a gun at the range, or in the field, the tactical reticle may aid in estimating distance. Don’t see it necessary for us. The black Bushnell doesn’t have a reticle.

As far as price, it’s like most things, you get what you pay for. Good binoculars are $500 and up. So $150 for a mono is pretty reasonable. But we all have our budgets and what we value.
 
Oh great thanks for costing me more money in 2020! Here is a pic of that in someone’s hand. Seems a little bigger than the 10x25 Vortex but close to size of the 10x36.

db3bd27cdca3505a6fdf08c01afa32e4.jpg
Yea, it’s definitely a little bigger than the vortex, but that’s due to the 42mm objective. Still much smaller and less profile than binoculars. If I buy one of these, I’ll post an update.
 
Is there a big jump up from the Vortex 25 to 36 mm? Don't need the recticle. If you factor out the little extra gain in low light, us it worth going to the 36 - will the 36 make a noticeable improvement in normal light?
 
IMO yes, regardless of brand It’s my experience that there is a significant jump going from 25, to 36 to 42mm objectives. The larger the tube and lens, the more light gathering capability the unit has. Thats assuming decent lense quality. Most units can reasonably magnify an object during perfect or daylight conditions. Where it’s critical IMO, is when you are in the woods or on a field edge at the crack of daylight or right at dark situations. Better yet when it’s cloudy, drizzling rain, etc. That’s when I want to be able to see what I’m looking at. And in those conditions, poor lens coatings and smaller objectives struggle.

So I received the Bushnell Legend HD Monocular. I got the black color without the reticle. I’m pleasantly surprised at the quality as I have never been a Bushnell fan. Rubberized, very good lens quality and coatings, quick focus access and a good eye adjustment. It is a beefy little unit. I have only tested around my property, which has woods, both in daylight and extreme low light. The low light visibility appears to be very good, so I’m excited to get it in real hunting situations. It is definitely going in my pack or pocket to replace my high end euro binoculars! I thinks it’s an incredible deal for $150. Plus they included a very nice scope/tripod case that would work for many other uses like a multiple pistol or broken down rifle bag. I would say the bag alone is worth $50-$75. This unit isn’t tiny, like I said it’s, beefy, but it is definitely a lot smaller that mid-large binoculars and weights far less.476E39CC-960E-468F-95E7-6B926F4091E4.jpegA4309F83-E472-4607-A5A2-EFBCC8AF9F4D.jpeg979FC66A-5203-4258-B645-7200C2F5504A.jpeg8C56F00C-416A-42C8-A577-AACDF0C9F3EF.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top