Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Binocular Question for Mule Deer

Mule Deer:
I am considering purchasing an 8X43 Pentax Dcf SP binocular. I have examined the Zeiss Victory at a store, and really liked it, but haven't been able to campare it to the Pentax (which I also really like) side by side. I see the Victorys occasionaly on EBay for $600-$700. Which do you think would be the better choice? I know that you have praised the Pentax, but is it as good as the Victory for a difference of $100-$200? Thanks for your advice.

Depends on the Victory. Are they the first-issue Victory, or the newer Victory FL's?

I wasn't very impressed with the first Victory models. In side-by-side comparisons with Pentax (then the previous model, the DCF WP's) the Zeiss came off second-best--and not just in my opinion.

The new Victory FL's are another thing entirely, about as good as it gets. The Pentax DCF SP's are not up to that league, though they are surprisingly close (especially in a battle of optics per dollar) in the size you are looking at.

If you can get a Victory FL for $700, I would go that way. If it's the earlier Victory, I would buy the Pentax.

MD

Thank you very much for the advice. These are the plain Victorys, not even the Victory II. So, I guess I'll get a better binocular and save some money to boot! Thanks again.

MD

I have a pair of the first issue Victorys....there pretty good, ok, but not great. They just dont have the take your breath away feeling like the new ones or the latest Lecias.
Will probably end up trading or selling them this fall.

Lefty

Check out Samplelist.com. I got a pair of Leica 7x42's there for about $750 last year.

I bet if you drop the pentex on a rock by accident......You will wish you had the Zeiss......Just from what I have seen. Those 1st model Victorys are darn sure tuff......

Is the Victory II significantly better than the first issue Victory? Would it be a better choice than the Pentax DCF SP if it could be purchased for $600 to $700? Thanks!

If you can get a NIB Victory II for under $700.00, I'd say you better jump on it.

they have been on four pretty tough hunts...mt.goat, grizzly, and BC. dust, rain, horses, and snow they still look like new.

lefty

leemar28--

Before the Pentax SP's came out I had an 8x42 DCF WP (the previous model of the same glass) that I hunted with a LOT for 4-5 years, all over North America (including Alaska, northerm BC, etc.) and Africa.

Finally gave it to an African PH at the tail end of its second 10-day trip over there, and it was still in perfect collimation. He immediately tossed the (admittedly old) Euro-glasses he'd been hunting with....

MD