Bino debate

mtncowboy · Jun 8, 2018

Hello,

Can anyone who has used these binos chime in on recommendations please. I am looking at Swarovski SLC HD, Vortex Razor, and Leica Trinovids all in 10x42. I will be using these mainly for backpacking hunting elk, deer, sheep, etc. I am looking at pros and cons for all of them, and am seeking advice. The Razors and Trinovids are about $1000, and the Swaros are $1800 from the prices that I checked. Thanks.

3blade · Jun 9, 2018

Not much to debate. If you want the best that will hold its value for years to come, buy the Swaro. If you just can't stomach the 1800 buy the Trinovid HD's. Prefer cheap glass from China, buy the razor.

HGHCOUNTRY · Jun 10, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Jun-10-18 AT 08:56AM (MST)[p]Throw in the Meopta Meostars as well as the Zeiss conquest HDs if you really want to complicate the field. I am going through the same process in upgrading my binos currently. I had all that glass minus the razors out at Cabelas yesterday. Swaro to my eyes is the clear winner. I owned the original Lecia trinovids 15 years ago- loved that glass, not really impressed with the eyecups on the newer version. At the end of the day, I am not sure you could go wrong with any of those binos...but if you want to buy one time and forget for the rest of your hunting life- my money is on the Swaros.

Anaconda · Jun 10, 2018

If it's an important decision and a lot of money to you, please consider this;

There are two pieces of information that should drive your choice, and the only way to get this information is to look through each potential choice, side by side.

Optics. Once you get in to high end glass, differences in peoples eyes will cause different people to prefer different optics. Swaro might look better to you, Leica to me, someone else might prefer Zeiss.
It's your call, nobody else can make it for you.
Ergonomics. Same deal, nobody else can tell you what feels best to you.

Hunterturbo · Jun 10, 2018

Zeiss HT 10x42 or 10x54
Go look through them at dusk and early morning, when the critters are out.

mmwb · Jun 12, 2018

Ergonomics and how they compare when you look through them weigh in. Unless you can borrow those models from someone, what you don't know is how your eyes will feel after looking through each for a couple of hours. A few years ago I went to the store with the intent of buying a pair of Leicas. Swaro SLCs were my probable second choice. Ended up buying the ELs. The others couldn't compete, in my hands and with my eyes.

mtncowboy · Jun 12, 2018

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate the opinions and am excited to get some new binoculars, just trying to do my research and get the best glass for my hard earned money. Thanks.

BPKHunter · Jun 14, 2018

Logically,

If you want to be different, don't get the Swaro's.

If you want to get glass that every owner loves, and who has great customer service, get the Swaro's. PS The resale is great, for a reason.

You can't try and put optics on some linear value scale. You pay over 2x more for optics not 2x better.

PS Bunch of my buddies have bough the various Vortex, including the high end, and none like as much as the Swaro's. BTW, I prefer Vortex riflescopes as I don't rely on the optics as much.

SLIVER · Jun 15, 2018

I bought the Swaro EL 10x42 swarovision HD's, and some days I still regret not geting the SLC HD's in 10x42. Those are a sweet little package for sure! Of the ones you listed, those would be my pick.

}}-SLIVER-->

Desertdeer · Jun 19, 2018

If you can look through them all at dusk you will get a better idea of what's going to work for you. Most expensive may not be the best for your eyes. If you go with vortex look into the 50mm razors. The bigger objective can make up for a slightly lower quality glass. I was impressed with the new nikons too. They really stepped their game up with the edg. I ended up with slc's and have no regrets. But I may get 12x50 razors in the future. I love Leica but even the noctovid didn't match my eyes as well as the swaros

Damer · Jun 23, 2018

Sent you a pm

Damer · Jun 23, 2018

Pm sent

inarcher · Jun 25, 2018

I just went through the exact same process you describe. Came down to the big three (Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski. Wound up buying the Swaros...with Leica Ultravids coming in a very close second.

Based on my research, I'm not convinced Zeiss is not the best glass, but also read more than one complaint about newer Zeiss bino housing construction. For the money, was not willing to take the chance those reviews were accurate.

The Swaro over Leica decision was primarily based on popularity among the hunting community...which equates to better resale value.

deadibob · Jun 27, 2018

>I just went through the exact
>same process you describe. Came
>down to the big three
>(Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski. Wound
>up buying the Swaros...with Leica
>Ultravids coming in a very
>close second.
>
>Based on my research, I'm not
>convinced Zeiss is not the
>best glass, but also read
>more than one complaint about
>newer Zeiss bino housing construction.
>For the money, was not
>willing to take the chance
>those reviews were accurate.
>
>The Swaro over Leica decision was
>primarily based on popularity among
>the hunting community...which equates to
>better resale value.

I think 20 years ago Leica and Swarovski were neck and neck. The gap has widened since then and Swarovski has definitely gained the lead. Not just optical quality, but durability and customer service as well.

It's as though Leica woke up one day and decided to just ##### the bed ;-)

deadibob · Jun 27, 2018

>>I just went through the exact
>>same process you describe. Came
>>down to the big three
>>(Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski. Wound
>>up buying the Swaros...with Leica
>>Ultravids coming in a very
>>close second.
>>
>>Based on my research, I'm not
>>convinced Zeiss is not the
>>best glass, but also read
>>more than one complaint about
>>newer Zeiss bino housing construction.
>>For the money, was not
>>willing to take the chance
>>those reviews were accurate.
>>
>>The Swaro over Leica decision was
>>primarily based on popularity among
>>the hunting community...which equates to
>>better resale value.
>
>I think 20 years ago Leica
>and Swarovski were neck and
>neck. The gap has widened
>since then and Swarovski has
>definitely gained the lead. Not
>just optical quality, but durability
>and customer service as well.
>
>
>It's as though Leica woke up
>one day and decided to
>just ##### the bed ;-)
>

WTF? can't even say ##### the bed on here now?

BUGLEnmIN · Jul 19, 2018

I'm going to be devil's advocate here. No arguing Swarovski is the top of the food chain when it comes to glass imo. I would spend the money on razor 12?50 . The glass thats made wherever is good quality and vortex Warranty knocks swaro in the nuts.

fullthrottle · Jul 19, 2018

Vortex warranty is great, the glass not so much. Swarovski warranty is also very good. I guarantee you if you buy the Swarovski?s you won't regret it, and they will likely be the last binos you will purchase for a long time. If you buy the vortex you'll probably be on here asking for opinions again in 5 years or so asking the same question. Buy once, cry once.

BUCKWILD · Jul 31, 2018

I have leica and swaro both binocs and spotters. I prefer my Leicas over my swaros. Image quality is no different and I've never had to use warranty on either but have sent them in for cleanings and both customer service have been great for me. Vortex does not compare.

deadibob · Jul 31, 2018

I've been thinking about getting a pair of 10x32's to replace my 8x32's. I have been wanting to check out the Zeiss 10x32 Conquest HD's because of the reviews they get. I was in Cabelas, Sportsmans Warehouse and Scheel's today. Nobody had those particular binos in stock so I checked out some others. I looked at the 10x30 cl companion Swarovski's and just as they reviews I read, they were pretty disappointing.

What surprised me was that side by side, I preferred the Cabelas(meopta) 10x32's over the Swarovski 10x32 el's. Possibly something was wrong with that particular pair of Swarovskis. Granted this was trying them indoors in good light, but I wasn't prepared to like them over the EL's, SLC's yes but not the EL's.

tracker12 · Aug 5, 2018

Meopta makes a lot of the Zeiss optics. I have a couple of there scopes that are the same as the Conquest and have been very happy with them.

I am also looking for a 10x42 glass. I had an older pair of Zeiss Conquest 8x32's and they have been great for what I use them for. Just looking for a little more power for my western trips.