The very best.

[Gray C]

This question has probably been asked many times before, but nevertheless here it is again. I am prepared to pay up to £950 for a pair of binoculars and I would like to know which are the best bins available within this price range. I know that this question is difficult to answer because personal preference comes into it, but I would be interested to hear your views as to which are the best overall.

It has been said that the main contenders are Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica, but which?? On the other hand people have mentioned Opticron and Nikon as serious contenders. I intend to try out each pair so the ultimate decision will probably be dictated by my own preference in testing, but I need a bit of guidance towards which ones to put to the test.

To help you answer this, here are a few factors to consider to meet my circumstances.

The bins will be used mainly for birding on short trips, therefore weight is not that critical, as I have a pair of compact Leica 8x20 Ultravids for walking and extended days out.

I am a spectacle wearer, so eye relief, black out etc are important points to consider.

Low light observation is quite important as I expect to use them in the late evenings

I prefer 8x magnification

The badge is not that important, just the overall quality

Close up magnification is not that important

Waterproofness (if that is a real word) is not that important but desirable.

Build quality is important as I expect them to last a lifetime

I look forward to hearing your comments

Regards

Graham

[Nigel G]

Hi Graham

I doubt there's any such thing as best at this price range - just personal preference. You've picked all the right names to look at and then its down to choice.

I would suggest you go somewhere you can try them all outdoors and under the same conditions, like a birding fair, and make up your own mind. Then once you have parted with your hard earned cash forget all about the others and enjoy 'em

[dipped]

The very best? In the end it will come down to personal preference. However despite your bias to 8x I would suggest you also look at the new Canon 10x42 IS which should be available in your budget on import from USA.

[Keith Reeder]

To echo the advice from Nigel and Dipped, there isn't one definitive "best of the bunch" out there - it is entirely a personal thing.

For what it's worth, I love my Leica 8x32s and have no inclination to change, even though I've owned them for about 6 years: but I can't deny that my friend's Swarovski 8.5x42 ELs are wonderful to look through.

I still prefer mine though.

So there are two personal recommendations, but nobody can tell you what's best for you...

[salty]

hmmmm....nightmare choice.

£950, will get you a waterproof, close focussing and very bright top-end bino. but what to choose?

if mainly used on small trips, and the fact you prefer 8x mag, you might as well get a 42mm objective, just to make sure things are very bright.

as for what name, the top 3 - ziess, leica and swarovski are all going to perform near-indentically. it's down to personal choice really, so a testing session is in order. get down to your dealer and see what they are like in the flesh, get them round your neck and feel the different weights. do you use specs?, if so see if they are comfortable to use.

then it's down to looks. the least important factor, but some people can choose on this alone. what about the over-all design or colour?

happy choosing, from a ultravid fan ;)

[AlanFrench]

I went through this type of search several years ago, and have been keeping abreast of the new ones since then. As others have said, you can hardly go wrong with any of the binoculars in that price range, and it is best to try them yourself. Indeed, you may find something that suits you perfectly for a bit less money.

I recommend checking the Swarovski ELs and SLCs, Nikon Venturers (Nikon HG to many), Leica Ultravid, and the Zeiss FL and Victory II. I'd also give pretty much anyone's top-of-the-line pair a try.

Have fun!

Alan

[Rich N]

The Swarovski 8.5x42 EL weighs a little more than the Zeiss FL and Leica Ultravid. I find the Zeiss 10x42FL easy on my neck.

See which one gives you that comfortable "picture window" view. I would to with the one you enjoy most looking through. Some binoculars give you a big, sharp image and you are hardly aware you are looking through something.

Rich

[matt green]

what a wonderfull predicament,if it was me i would opt for either leica trinovids or ultravids.i recently tried most of all the top end bins myself.as i could'nt be bothered to wait another two months for either i purchased a pair of secondhand 8,32 ba's which the dealer said were about ten years old,i recken they look more like ten minutes old.they stay in good nick for ages and i have no regrets,still going for ultravids next year though.matt

[Gray C]

what a wonderfull predicament,if it was me i would opt for either leica trinovids or ultravids.i recently tried most of all the top end bins myself.as i could'nt be bothered to wait another two months for either i purchased a pair of secondhand 8,32 ba's which the dealer said were about ten years old,i recken they look more like ten minutes old.they stay in good nick for ages and i have no regrets,still going for ultravids next year though.matt

Thanks everyone for your replies, they have been very helpful.

[Tim Allwood]

Zeiss 7 x 42 ClassiC dialyts

almost everyone who's ever had em swears by em

Tim

[Stewart J.]

Yo Graham went through same quest for nearly 2 months, spectacle wearer myself and finally settled for the Nikon 8 x 42 HGL's, field of view is outstanding as is quality, clarity & brightness etc. The Golden Rule, try them all and make your own choice.

Have fun

Stewart

:bounce:

[Gray C]

Yo Graham went through same quest for nearly 2 months, spectacle wearer myself and finally settled for the Nikon 8 x 42 HGL's, field of view is outstanding as is quality, clarity & brightness etc. The Golden Rule, try them all and make your own choice.

Have fun

Stewart

:bounce:

Hi Stewart

Have been reading about the Nikon HGL's, but can you tell me whether the HG's are the same bin, but a bit heavier, or are they completely different spec and quality. I have noticed that the HG's are half price at the moment.

[Stewart J.]

Hi Stewart

Have been reading about the Nikon HGL's, but can you tell me whether the HG's are the same bin, but a bit heavier, or are they completely different spec and quality. I have noticed that the HG's are half price at the moment.

Yo Gray, pal has the HG's albeit the 10's and they are near enough identical to look at, I'm told optically they are so similar as to be impossible to tell apart.

You've been looking at Warehouse Express offers I take it? considering buying my wife the 8 x 32's looked through a pair at optics demo and they are stunning.

All the best

Stewart

[Stewart J.]

Yo again Gray, when I was looking I posted a query in the Bino's section under the Opticron heading after testing the new Oasis models and received some good advice from members, it may be of interest to you also.

Stewart

:bounce:

[Buster]

Gray C,

I'm a big Zeiss fan and I love 10x binos, so if I were in your shoes, the choice for me would be easy......I'd be sport'n' a brand new pair of Zeiss 10x42 FL's...

I love the view through my Nikon 10x42 Venturer/LX/HG's, but those Zeiss are the cat's meow when it comes to weight and clarity......

[Tim Allwood]

for the requirements you posted you wont get a much better spec than the ziess classics. They are THE bins for spec wearers and mega bright in the dark and wonderfully constructed. I used them for two years solid in the tropics and they held up perfectly. My Nikon HGs look a bit worse for wear after just a few months of junge use. Leica used to be well known for 'bubbling' in the heat but i dont know about the ultravids... and i've heard of too many Swarovs fogging up.

For UK you'll get away with any of the top buns and enjoy them immensely. If you want to take it further at a later date and maybe go somewhere exotic I'd stick with a tried and tested 'oldish' model.

Perversely i take my Nikons abroad now and leave my Zeiss at home cos i'm too worried about em as they have so much sentimental value, having been with me so many places

Tim

[Gray C]

for the requirements you posted you wont get a much better spec than the ziess classics. They are THE bins for spec wearers and mega bright in the dark and wonderfully constructed. I used them for two years solid in the tropics and they held up perfectly. My Nikon HGs look a bit worse for wear after just a few months of junge use. Leica used to be well known for 'bubbling' in the heat but i dont know about the ultravids... and i've heard of too many Swarovs fogging up.

For UK you'll get away with any of the top buns and enjoy them immensely. If you want to take it further at a later date and maybe go somewhere exotic I'd stick with a tried and tested 'oldish' model.

Perversely i take my Nikons abroad now and leave my Zeiss at home cos i'm too worried about em as they have so much sentimental value, having been with me so many places

Tim

Tim

Thanks for your advice. Just to let you know, we are hoping to move to Canada in the not too distant future, so -30c temperatures in the winter and maybe sub tropical in the summer may be the norm. How do you consider the Zeiss to perform in the cold temperatures?

[AlanFrench]

Zeiss 7 x 42 ClassiC dialyts

almost everyone who's ever had em swears by em

Tim

They are my poster child for "try before you buy." I had so many people recommend them I almost bought a pair sight unseen. I'm gald I didn't, because when I tried a pair I decided they weren't for me. They were not a good fit for my hands, the focus was extremely stiff, and I really disliked the stiff rubber eye-cups.

Obviously, they make a lot of folks happy, so anyone looking for a high end binocular should give them a try.

Clear skies, Alan

[iporali]

... and i've heard of too many Swarovs fogging up.
Tim,

With all respect I think the proportion of fogging Swarovskis may be unacceptably high in your sample, but I can't believe the sample is representative enough to make general conclusions. I still think that any nitrogen purged, internally focusing binos are safer against fogging up than non-airtight binos which pump air (and moisture) in and out every time you focus (moving eyepieces).

Finnish climate - although relatively dry - is very demanding for sealings of binoculars. Rapid and frequent temperature changes from +20 to -20°C (=taking the binos out in cold winter) should reveal any tendency to fog up. The Swaros are *very* popular here and I have never seen or heard of them fogging-up. Maybe professionals like Antony Kay, who see "representative numbers" of binoculars (with problems) could comment on this. :t:

Best wishes,

Ilkka


ps. Graham, I'll vote for the Zeiss 8x42FLs...

[faramir]

I'm a happy user of Swarovski 8x50 SLCs. They fit in your target price range, have highly adjustable eye relief, big objective lens (= work well in dim light conditions). I haven't tried any of the other two brands but I definitely recommend these SLCs. Like others before me I'd advise you to pay a visit to multiple shops and try out various models that fit your selection criteria; only then pick those that you like the most. You're getting very high quality wares for that kind of money so other factors ('look and feel', weight, etc.) should tip the scale for you.

[postcardcv]

As others have said it's a very subjective thing but....

When faced with a simialr choice a couple of years back I went for the Leica Duovids 8+12x42s - they are cracking bins, fantasticly bright and sharp at both mags. The only downside would be the weight of them (not that it bothers me - although they're heavy they are v. well balanced), so if that's an issue I'd recommend 8x42 Ultravids.

Optically all the top brands are excellent, so try them all, it may well be the feel in the hand that decides you.

[Gray C]

As others have said it's a very subjective thing but....

When faced with a simialr choice a couple of years back I went for the Leica Duovids 8+12x42s - they are cracking bins, fantasticly bright and sharp at both mags. The only downside would be the weight of them (not that it bothers me - although they're heavy they are v. well balanced), so if that's an issue I'd recommend 8x42 Ultravids.

Optically all the top brands are excellent, so try them all, it may well be the feel in the hand that decides you.


Just to update you all. Last week I tried the Swaro 8.5x42 EL's and they were very clear optically, handled well and overall were very good. A tick for them.

Today I tried the Leica Ultravid 8x42 and also found them to be very good optically with a bright image and also felt good in my hands. However, when my wife tried them (does not wear glasses) she suffered quite severe blackouts when viewing. I also suffered blackout to a lesser degree when viewing without specs and less again when wearing specs So not quite so sure about them yet. No tick at this time but will try a different pair.

Hoping to try the Zeiss 8x42 FL soon, so will make my decision then.

Can anyone explain why my wife sees the blackouts. Is there a technique to resolve this? Would the 8x32 be a better option to resolve this problem.

Please bear in mind that we are all still rather new to birding and buying a decent pair of bins, so any advice would be gratefully received.

Comments appreciated

[marcus]

Today I tried the Leica Ultravid 8x42 and also found them to be very good optically with a bright image and also felt good in my hands. However, when my wife tried them (does not wear glasses) she suffered quite severe blackouts when viewing. I also suffered blackout to a lesser degree when viewing without specs and less again when wearing specs So not quite so sure about them yet. No tick at this time but will try a different pair.

Can anyone explain why my wife sees the blackouts. Is there a technique to resolve this? Would the 8x32 be a better option to resolve this problem.

Please bear in mind that we are all still rather new to birding and buying a decent pair of bins, so any advice would be gratefully received.

Comments appreciated
This really sounds dumb, but I have to ask.
Did your wife and you have the eyecups all the way down? Did you twist them back?

[Gray C]

This really sounds dumb, but I have to ask.
Did your wife and you have the eyecups all the way down? Did you twist them back?


When I tried them with my specs I twisted the eye cups all the way down and then out again for my wife to look through as a non spectacle wearer. I even tried various settings in between for her. As I said, I also tried them without my glasses and also saw some blackout.

[Atomic Chicken]

This question has probably been asked many times before, but nevertheless here it is again. I am prepared to pay up to £950 for a pair of binoculars and I would like to know which are the best bins available within this price range. I know that this question is difficult to answer because personal preference comes into it, but I would be interested to hear your views as to which are the best overall.

It has been said that the main contenders are Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica, but which?? On the other hand people have mentioned Opticron and Nikon as serious contenders. I intend to try out each pair so the ultimate decision will probably be dictated by my own preference in testing, but I need a bit of guidance towards which ones to put to the test.

To help you answer this, here are a few factors to consider to meet my circumstances.

The bins will be used mainly for birding on short trips, therefore weight is not that critical, as I have a pair of compact Leica 8x20 Ultravids for walking and extended days out.

I am a spectacle wearer, so eye relief, black out etc are important points to consider.

Low light observation is quite important as I expect to use them in the late evenings

I prefer 8x magnification

The badge is not that important, just the overall quality

Close up magnification is not that important

Waterproofness (if that is a real word) is not that important but desirable.

Build quality is important as I expect them to last a lifetime

I look forward to hearing your comments

Regards

Graham


Graham,

This question is one that would normally be answered on this forum exactly as the first few replies to your post answered - i.e. "they all have their strengths and weaknesses - it is all based on your preference... etc.". However, I believe that you have given enough criterion that your question can be answered with a bit more specific and definitive reply.

I personally believe, after reviewing your post, that there are only 2 binoculars that you should seriously consider. These are: (1) Leica Ultravid 8x42 and (2) Swarovski SLC 8x50 - not necessarily in that order. These 2 binoculars both meet your requirements of (a) reliability, (b) good low-light performance, (c) 8x power, and (d) decent eye relief. I would normally recommend the Leica Trinovid 8x42 as a 3rd option, but the Trinovid does not do as well under low light conditions as the Ultravid does. However, if your main requirement is low-light, I would highly recommend that you reconsider your 8x magnification requirement and instead look for a 10x50 or larger configuration - no 7x?, 8x?, or ?x42 binoculars I have ever evaluated have proven to be truly satisfactory under low-light conditions.

In terms of sheer ruggedness and reliability, I don't believe that ANYTHING beats a pair of Leica Trinovids, although the Zeiss Classic 7x42 comes VERY close (although they are a lower power than you are requesting).

I hope all this helps... what you are asking is not an easy question to answer, but it is easier than a general "what is the best binocular ever..." type question because you HAVE listed so many definite requirements to try and meet.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[marcus]

When I tried them with my specs I twisted the eye cups all the way down and then out again for my wife to look through as a non spectacle wearer. I even tried various settings in between for her. As I said, I also tried them without my glasses and also saw some blackout.
Ok, I'm sorry.
Yes, that's right, I didn't pay enough attention to what you said about you're trying them with and without your eyeglasses.