I am going to buy a new pair of bino's. Does anyone have any experience with the Zeiss Conquest 10X30, or the Steiner Predator C5 10X42?
I have and use two pair of Steiners The go-to pair is 8 by 30 Nighthunter, a good stout general use medium sized pair of binocs.
I also use Stiener 25 by 80 Astronomical binocs, tripod mounted, to spy on elk a few counties away...
But,,,,the dream pair of binocs I long for are a pair of Lieca Duovids 10 and 15 by 50. I could get rid of both Stieners then.....but I can't seam to afford the price of those rascals.
Zilla, you're comparing apples to oranges. The Ziess are a great glass but much smaller in objective size. You won't go wrong with either pair.
steiners are the go!! i've got a pair of 10x50 nighthunters. as the name suggests, excellent low light bino. i want a pair of 8x30 as well. every bit as good as leicas but half the price.
I have a pair of Zeiss victory? 8x 40s
Love the Zeiss but want a pair of swarovski EL. But like Mike I cant seem to afford a pair! Have to bite the bullet one day though.
Also would like to have a Swaro spotting scope.
To your question I do not think you can go wrong with the Zeiss, I have never messed with Steiner but abviously they are good glass as well. Cant go wrong either way, gotta love choices like that.
J
I own the Steiners now but if I had the funds to choose, the Zeiss would get the nod. There is no comparison between the two. I also would look at the Liecas as mentioned. Steiners are not in the same class as these.This is not my opinion, just the facts. Get what you can afford. But I do like my Steiners.
Mike
Steiner makes moderate to fairly high priced glass, and it's all pretty good. Some is just better than others. My brother has a pair of 8-30 Steiner Predators that are a few years old. Those are very nice glasses. In recent years, Zeiss, too, has offered lower priced glasses. I get the models mixed up, but I wouldn't automatically assume that the Zeiss is better than the Steiners. Personally, I don't think there's a better glass around than Leica if you can swing it financially.
Don't skrimp on binos. Of course it depends on what and where you are hunting, but on some trips I have probably spent 4-6 hours a day looking through mine and have turned into one of my better investments. I bought Leicas 20 years ago and have used them a lot all over the world, from sea level to over 12,000' and from Australia and South Africa to the Arctic and Mongolia, with never a problem. I paid $472 back thenm but I still get offers for double that, if I ever want to sell them. I have a friend that returned two pairs of Steiners in a row for fogging up in wet conditons and although Zeiss is very good, they aren't in the same class optically with Leica or Swaro. Leica is my first choice, but Swaro is very close, Zeiss is third, but a bit farther back.
I'll second the Leicas. I bought the 8x32 model and they are wonderful. I don't have any experience with the two binos that you are asking about. Sorry
I have 8x30 Swarovskis and they are fabulous ! ............... I also bought my wife a pair of Nikon 8x30 and they are very good as well for the price I was very pleased so I just recently bought a pair of Nikon 10x56 that I will use in the truck and during summer scouting ......... they are also very good
I've just bought a set of SLC Swarovskis as well after wanting them for years. BEST $$$ I EVER SPENT!
Now off to cure my jet lag!
AK.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rick Perry:
........ I also bought my wife a pair of Nikon 8x30 and they are very good as well for the price I was very pleased ....
Rick, which model Nikon's ?
Thanx for the input. I bought the Zeiss today. I have experience with Swaro's, but don't have the coin. And Lieca's are my first choice, but again not enough dinero.
For under $300 the Nikon Monarch ATBs are good glass. I popped for the big bucks and got some Leica 10X42 and am very happy with them.
I have used Steiners predators 8x30's for five years and love them, clear, rugged, and affordable.
i have the zeiss 10X30 and love them!
Make it a point to save until you get the best glasses available. Yea, they'll run you a few bucks but look at it this way; It's a one time investment that will heighten your time in the field and should last your lifetime, if properly cared for. Why handicap yourself by using cheap glasses?
JL
i soooo want a pair of leica geovid rangefinding bino's. 8 or 10 X 42. The big boss (wife) would kill me though.
$2300 online.
I have both-had both -my son just told me he can't find my Steiners, Two years ago I hada rifle tag and out here it is possible to see a deer at miles-yes two to four miles. While you can see its a deer, not a goat or sheep, you cna't tell antler size without good glass. Spotting scope in the car, we had to hike/run for half that distance to catch the deer before he fed over the mountain. I now have Zeiss. You have a choice glass or shoe leather-good glass saves shoe leather. JMO, but eh best you can afford-if it's a question of a couple of months to save-do it. Back East a pair of Bushnells will do the trick, not so out this way....
Much depends on the application wanted for your bino's. Are you hunting out west, glassing long distances, for long periods of time mostly in good daylight? Are you whitetail hunting the upper Midwest where you may mainly use your bino's when something catches your attention, at closer ranges and often in lower light?
While a 10x is often best for the former, it is not for the later.
If bowhunting for whitetails in the upper Midwest, I've found that the best bino's are the Leupold 6x32 Katmai's. Yes, 6x. At 6x32, they are very bright and very easy to orient a deer with, using only one hand, with the other holding the bow. They also give you all the magnification you need out to 250 yards or so.
If you use the system of determining low light brightness, you'll find that 32 divided by 6 offers more brightness than 42 divided by 8.
Sadly, convincing hunters that 6x is a great power for most eastern bowhunting situations is a hard sell and Leupold discontinued the 6x32 Katmai last year. You can still find them with a google search for $290, vs the old $450 retail.
If anyone wants what I think is the best eastern bowhunting binoc, I can't suggest them highly enough.
QuoteOriginally posted by tradwannabe:
i soooo want a pair of leica geovid rangefinding bino's. 8 or 10 X 42. The big boss (wife) would kill me though.
$2300 online.
I have the 10 X 42 Leica Geovids and they are great. I also have a pair of the last generation 8 X 32 Leica, but I really want the latest Ultravid model which is smaller overall and has HD glass and better coatings. I also have the 8 x 30 and the 10 X 42 Swarovski binoculars and think they are close behind the last generation Leicas, but not in the same class as the new Ultravid Leicas that I do not have yet. In a spotting scope or a rifle scope, the Swarovskis are the best. I have the Swarovski 80mm HD spotting scope and it is definitely the best out there, although Leica has a new one coming out that I have not looked through yet. In optics, unlike many other sporting items, the more expensive models are much better if you can afford them. I hate crappy optics. I can say that the Signature Select optics from Burris are perhaps the best bargain in binoculars, even though they don't compare to the $1000 plus optics from the best makers. I won't talk about weapons optics here because they really don't belong on a trad bow, but I do not invest in the highest quality optics except for viewing purposes as opposed to sighting purposes.
Allan
I totally agree with Rick McGowan. I've owned both Zeiss and Leica's. I prefer Leica. I was in Germany a few years ago and according to their consumer report Leica ranked #1 Zeiss #2. If your going to invest in a pair of bino's don't skimp on quality.
Bob
Try the Alpen line of Binoculars and look at the Apex, Rainer and Shasta. First have the salesperson set out some of your favorites (Steiner, Zeiss, ect.) then close your eyes and pick up various pairs and decide without looking at the brand name which one's are best for you.
Good luck,
Idabow
I was kindly reminded that it is "ETC." and not "ECT." by my firefighter co-worker who thinks he is an english teacher.
Idabow
Has anyone tried the new Vortex line of binos?
I bought some 10x 42s for out west for $209...and they are gas filled and have a lifetime warranty.
My Swaros are 8x32, and was just not enough power for out west, so I went shopping....
I compared them to some other high priced brands, and I was very impressed with the Vortex.
I think the company is about 2 years old.
Anyone?
Click Here then click select 10x42 on the Diamondbacks (http://www.vortexoptics.com/binoculars)
Terry, I looked at the Vortex line and was really impressed, especially in the higher powered models.I felt like the Viper and Razor models were exceptional. I was really looking for 8x32 for my area so I ended up with Kahles and I'm satisfied for the price I paid but if the Vipers had been available with a 32 objective lense I would have bought them. Grant
I bought a pair of Leicas a couple of years ago and I cannot believe how much time I wasted with cheap binoculars. Most of the time, I would not even bring them with me. Now, I will not go in the woods without them. I bought the 8x32 model and they are absolutely perfect for bowhunting whitetails in thicker cover.
I can't agree more, back when I had cheapy binos, I rarely even took them with me, since I got the Leicas, I almost never go hunting or scouting without them, its amazing how much walking they can save,i.e. "is that a rub way over there or just a patch of sunlight". The other thing I discover that it wasn't worth it to economize was socks, believe it or not, when I finally broke down and bought QUALITY socks, I thought to myself, life is way to short to wear cheap socks!
Thanks Grant.....I think the Vortex 10s are gonna serve me well for the few days I spend out west. And I'll still have my 8s for here back east for most of my viewing.
The guy that sold them to me was very excited about this new line, and that they were definately undervalued as most nitrogen/argon gas filled glasses start at $500. He said they were cutting into his higher price glass sales, but he was selling more binos because of the Vortex value/quality. Most folks couldn't tell much difference in binos costing a $1000 more.
Terry,
How do the Diamondbacks compare in resolution and color saturation to your Swaros? Do you have the 8x32 SLC's?
All things being equal the larger objective lenses let you see much greater detail, especially at dawn and dusk. Hard to find a good store that will let you carry the binos out in the parking lot at dusk so you can look at something 1/4 mile away at dusk. Pick out the best ones you can find/afford and compare them that way.I bet they look totally different near dark. You might even see something you simply cannot make out with a 42mm and smaller especially at those western scouting ranges.
I have a pair of the Vortex - Hurricane 10x28 compact size. I am very impressed with them. They are great optics for the money.
Tim
Mojostick: I agree re the lower power for eastern and midwestern hunting. I have an old pair of Bushnell 7x26 custom compacts that work real well. A friend of mine has the 6 power. It's a shame that more manufacturers don't make 6 and 7 power binos. Just like the magnum craze in guns, there's the high power fad in binocs.
Been quite happy with my 8x42 Leupold Windriver Olympics. Great mid priced binos - in the suitcase for a trip to SA as we speak.
I've heard the 8x36 Nikon Monarch ATBs are excellent for treestand hunting (even had a Vortex dealer tell me this). Can anyone comment?
QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Anderson:
QuoteOriginally posted by Rick Perry:
........ I also bought my wife a pair of Nikon 8x30 and they are very good as well for the price I was very pleased ....
Rick, which model Nikon's ? [/b]
Monarch ATB
correction ....... they are 8x36
I'm too hard on equipment to spend big bucks on binos, and I've been perfectly happy with all of the Nikons I've had. I've gone through several pair of 8 or 10 power (kids!), and they have all had quality optics. I prefer the 8's. The only time I want something bigger is out west, where you spend a lot more time with them stuck to your face.
"money" pretty much dictates what we will do or not, or what we get. I bit the bullet to have the Leica 8X40 and the Leica 12X50. Leica, there are none better! I've owned Zeiss and Steiners and Bauch & Lombs. I have them all, and the Leica stands out, bar none. I've always believed, you get what you pay for! I'm looking for a set of Leica 8X32 now! lol :thumbsup:
My vote for the best all round hunting bino goes to the swarovski slc 8x30. It's light weight, has plenty of power and a great field of view. I traded mine in on a new pair of EL 10x42, but I think I used the 8x30s more than the ELs.
I don't know if they've been mentioned yet, but I think one of the most under-rated set of optics is the Bushnell Nature View roof prisms. They run around $150 and blow away similar optics that are better than twice the price.
The Vortex line has a great deal to offer at a lot of price points, very nice glass. For the money at any of them.