Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Big 3 Glass owners....What Binos do you use?

In 2001 I bought a pair of Swarovski 10x42 EL for my every use. At the time, I felt they had the best image. Back then they were 1450, now they are 1900 I think. ouch.

And slated for a January 1st price increase....

Zeiss Victory II 10X40 and Ultravid 7X42.

Two Geovids....the 8X42's and the 10X42's.

Gettin' a little tired of 'em however. Too many guys always askin' to borrow 'em 'cuz they forgot their rangefinders at home......they likely didn't want to pack an extra piece of gear......grin.

They're Leica quality glass....all the way.

10x42 SLC's

Zeiss 8x42 FLs.

Super sharp and Super bright.

round here I got the nice binos everyone whats to borrow them and they are 250 dollar leupolds

Same here.

10x40 Zeiss Classic.

fwiw,
All things considered I'm fairly impressed with the Leica 8x42 Ultravid BLs. My early unit, one of the first built, developed an inability to focus farther out than about 350 yards after the center pin started to rotate this year mid season. That said Leica will take care of the problem and I'll drive on...

Merry Christmas!

Regards, Matt Garrett.

As a side note. For you guys considering a small pair of 8x20's, please consider the ones Zeiss makes. A year ago when I wanted a pair of the small ones, I called Doug, after researching all of the big three offerings in that configuration. He went straight to Zeiss, without hesitation. So, I bought the Zeiss model, and can say they are superb. I used them a lot this past hunting season with no complaints whatsoever.
IIRC, they are less expensive than the others too.

Don

I use my Zeiss binocs 12 months a year and my $200 scopes maybe once a year each for a few seconds.
But there is nothing wrong with Leupold binocs for a TX deer hunt. I have two pair that everyone also borrows.

stumpy

I've had all 3, and like all 3 - seeing different strengths in each.

For the stuff available today, I compared them all and went 10x42 Leica Ultravid. I thought the Zeiss FL and the Ultravid both outclassed the Swaro EL when I compared them all. Comparing the Zeiss FL and the Ultravid, I found the Zeiss to be a bit brighter and the Ultravid to be a bit sharper with a bit better color rendition. When I say a bit...I mean a tiny bit - the difference so small that I doubted it at times with my own eyes. I believe different eyes might definitely see it differently, so Brother Dave's point that this is very subjective is spot on and should be heeded IMO.

As to power, I combine my Ultravids 10x42's with 6x32 Minox and find this combo pretty effective. The Minox are also great for my kids and inexperienced friends who are with me and trying to see what I see.

IMO, lower power covers a multitude of optical sins - from lesser quality glass to poorer glassing technique, and I believe in something like a 7x42 or 8x42, a guy could probably accomplish almost all I'm getting done with my 2 pair.

The only time I ever question my 10x42 Ultravids is when I'm straining to see at very first or very last light. I think the 8x42's or 7x42's are better because of simple exit pupil factors.

I also think lots of folks glass more effectively with lower power glass because of steadiness and ease of viewing leading to less fatigue and causing them to stick with it better.

If I were trying to do it all with one pair of binos, it would be something in the 8x42 or 7x42 range and it would be an Ultravid or a Zeiss FL. I'd see how those look to your eyes and decide accordingly.

Don't worry - this decision is so hard because the big 3 (with some others not far behind) are so good - so the challenge to be right also means you can't go far wrong.

DJ

I use 10x42 trinovids for everything. Never felt out of place in any circumstance.

10x42 Leica Trinovids for distance and 7x30 Swarovski SLC's for the thick stuff.

It would be very difficult to compare the $250 Leupolds to any of the optics previously listed. Its is just not in the same class. That is not saying they are no good its like comparing a ford Taurus to a Porche. They will both get you where your going one is just plainly better. As the original post you mentioned something about the feel. Each of the big three have exceptional glass so you need to decide what power and try all three, and Doug is the perfect person for that. I personally decided on the Swaro 10x42EL's and the 8x32EL's because I loved the way they fit in my hand. Good luck on narrowing down your search and have fun.

Swaro 10x50 SLC

8X42 leica trinovids are what I settled on as "best in my eyes". this was before the ultras were out, about 10 years ago now. I have used fujinon, zeiss classics, zeiss diafuns, burris signature and most every bino in the sub $400.00 class. pretty big difference between the leica's and everything else I have ever had.

Ditto "GreatWaputi." Gotta find 'em first! Get the best you can afford! Opinions will vary, but if you stick to the BIG 3, you can't go wrong.

Zeiss 10x25, EL 10x42 and a Televid 77 Apo.
Seems to work fairly good.
Charlie