LAST EDITED ON Oct-11-04 AT 12:03PM (MST)[p]Help me decide, please. The Zeiss Victory II are a bit cheaper plus they have a deal where Cabelas gives you $100 off on your next purchase. I am also considering the Swarovski SLC and the Leica Trinovid BN. All 10X40 or 42. Pro's and Cons? Experiences? Whatcha think?
Zeiss Vs Swaro Vs Leica`
- Thread starter BigPig
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C
crazyaboutcoues
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I have a pair of Ziess classics 10x40 that I bought thru Cabelas for 700.00. They are the best high end nocks you can get JMO. I've compared them with the swarovski 10x42, can't see the difference.
R
rost495
Guest
BP
In all honesty I bought Zeiss years ago. They now need lenses replaced due to the hard pounding they got over the last 20 years. But thats my fault and its reasonable enough.
That being said and having looked through a number of binocs and even considering that the Leicas seem to weigh more, I'd buy Leica hands down over any other brand.
Now the few things I might waiver on is rifle scopes where Zeiss had always been good for me, but I sure would like to have a Leica and a Schmidt and Bender. The other option is rangefinders. While I was going to buy a Leica, Swarovski has come out with one that ranges to 1500 yard and would be worth the bucks just to get more yardage for me. Package size and weight would be a factor there though.
Back to the original binocs only question, if I had the money its Leica, no questions asked.
Jeff
In all honesty I bought Zeiss years ago. They now need lenses replaced due to the hard pounding they got over the last 20 years. But thats my fault and its reasonable enough.
That being said and having looked through a number of binocs and even considering that the Leicas seem to weigh more, I'd buy Leica hands down over any other brand.
Now the few things I might waiver on is rifle scopes where Zeiss had always been good for me, but I sure would like to have a Leica and a Schmidt and Bender. The other option is rangefinders. While I was going to buy a Leica, Swarovski has come out with one that ranges to 1500 yard and would be worth the bucks just to get more yardage for me. Package size and weight would be a factor there though.
Back to the original binocs only question, if I had the money its Leica, no questions asked.
Jeff
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Buck Nuts
Guest
Big Pig, I see by your posts that you are in a dilema about which glass to buy. I bought my first pair of Zeiss' when I could'nt afford to, It was one of my best purchases.Since then I have invested some serious money on optics. You will want the best you can possibly afford.I think you should "Go for broke" on this one purchase. Save a bit more money and buy the best. The Swarovski EL's are bout the best IMHO,the new Leica Douvids are flat out awesome....a bit heavy, but incredible to have multi-power glass in one package. The Duovids will probably be my next splurge.Whatever you do don't buy something half heartedly, Bino's are something that will last a very long time(unless your careless) Don't get Pentax or something you will have regrets about.Go with one of the big three makers,Zeiss,Swarovski,or Leica.....and spend a bit more than you planned on. You will not regret it! Happy glassing! Buck Nuts.
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DeerKing
Guest
Nate
I bought a pair of SLC and couldn't be happier. I'm sure the Leica's are great glass as well.
I bought a pair of SLC and couldn't be happier. I'm sure the Leica's are great glass as well.
Paul_Crawford
Long Time Member
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Leica.
FamilyMan
Very Active Member
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Last year I had the same question. I bought the Zeiss Classics from Cabela's then took them to the local sporting goods place to compare side by side with Leica and Swarovski. In the end I purchased the Swarovski SLC 10x42 and returned the Zeiss to Cabela's. The reason was that the SLC worked best for me (although nothing beats the comfortable feel of the Zeiss). In the end, that is what it comes down to....what works best for you when you look through them outside in low light conditions. Best of luck with your choice. You won't regret buying high-end glass.
Mark
Mark
You can't go wrong with any of them. I have a pair of 8.5x42 EL and love them. If I had to do it agian today I would seriously consider the ultravids. I purchased my glass at hotbuyelectronics.com for the best price around. Good luck and spend all the cash.
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olgrowth
Guest
What about Steiners?
All they make is bino's,check out their Predator Line.
Just a thought.
All they make is bino's,check out their Predator Line.
Just a thought.
Foreman4x4
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IMHO, Steiner shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Leica, Zeiss or Swarovski. The only thing they have in commom is that they're made in a European country.
You ever been drunk enough to get the bed spins?.....the last pair of Steiners I looked through gave the same effect.
You ever been drunk enough to get the bed spins?.....the last pair of Steiners I looked through gave the same effect.
K
KCR
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I own a pair of Zeiss 10x40s. If I had to do it all over again, no question I would get the Swarovski 10x42s. To me they are the best of the best.
Kevin
Kevin
ridgerunner
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Can't go wrong with any of them, personally I like the Swarovski's and how they felt so that's why I pack around the SLC 10x42's.
eelgrass
Long Time Member
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Has anybody checked out the new Leica Geovid BRF? It's an 8x42 or 10x42 with a built in rangefinder. It ranges out to 1300 yds. They are also waterproof. It's about the same weight as the Trinovid. It seems to me they would eliminate the need to carry both a binocular and a rangefinder.
caelkhnter
Very Active Member
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I am sure you could not go wrong with either brand. However as I mentioned in another recent post, on my last hunt we were glassing at elk over 4 miles away just as it was getting dark. It was so close to dark that we could barely see bushes 200 yards away with the naked eye. Yet we still watched the elk 4 miles out with our 15x56 Swaros. I am toatlly impressed with the light gatering ability of the Swaros. jim
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270longshot
Guest
If you can go into a camera shop or sporting goods store and look through all of them. They feel different. I have 10x42 slc's and I love them.
A
AZbomb
Guest
One consideration is how close set your eyes are. Of the three, Leica's are the only ones that work for me. When you get to large objectives, you can only rotate them so close together before the objective bells touch. Zeiss and Swaro both are too far apart for me. Even if your eyes are further apart and all three work for you, don't forget about others, like your kids, who you may want to have use your binos. My daughters hunt with me sometimes and they are both smaller and can't use wide-set binos either.
As it is, with my Leica 12x50's, the objective bells touch when set for my eyes.
As it is, with my Leica 12x50's, the objective bells touch when set for my eyes.
AZ bomb, that was a good post about the kids using them. I have had Swaros in the past and they are great. I own Leicas now and they too are great. he only diff I found with them personally is the Leicas seem to fit better in my hands and seem really rugged with all the armor coating on them. Either one and you wont lose.
Bugler
Bugler
