Brunton Epoch Zoom Binoculars

[MacDaddy]

I am looking for a high end binoc - what are folks' experience and opinion of the Brunton Epoch 8-15X42 zoom binocs for general birding?

[CHenry]

I am looking for a high end binoc - what are folks' experience and opinion of the Brunton Epoch 8-15X42 zoom binocs for general birding?

Can't say for the zooms, but the fixed mag Epoch units came out to great fanfare three or four years ago, high-end pricing, novel design and fully accessorized with cases, covers, tripod mounts, straps and monocular converters to use as a spotting scope. They never really seemed to take off in popularity despite some desirable features like being the closest focusing of all high-end glasses. As a newcomer to the elite binocular class they had the disadvantage of not having a well-established name (in binoculars, not precision instrumentation, where they do have a well-established reputation), which seems important to buyers in that market.

Zoom units as a rule don't get a lot of interest, the exception being Leica's, which even those don't do as well compared to their own fixed mag units.

[J. Moore]

I am looking for a high end binoc - what are folks' experience and opinion of the Brunton Epoch 8-15X42 zoom binocs for general birding?

Looking on the Internet, I could only find 8-15 x 35 Epoch binoculars listed, none with 42 mm objectives. Looking at the specifications (http://www.rockynational.com/2499_F-XZ815_Brunton_Epoch_Zoom_8X-15X35.html), the drawbacks on paper look to be a quite narrow field of view (273 feet at 8 power) and weight somewhat on the heavy side (32 ounces). I think the narrow field of view would make them a poor choice for general birding.

However, if you are intrigued by the idea of variable magnification binoculars (as I am), you might want to keep an eye out for the Leupold switch power binoculars. The release date for these keeps on being put off, but I believe next month is the latest estimate I am aware of. The 7/12 x32 have a projected field of view of about 375 feet at 7 power, weigh only around 20 ounces, and also cost less.


Zoom units as a rule don't get a lot of interest, the exception being Leica's, which even those don't do as well compared to their own fixed mag units.

I am not aware of any Leica zoom units, but they do have some switch power binoculars which are both quite heavy and costly--they are the most expensive general-purpose binoculars Eagle Optics offers for sale.

Best,
Jim