zeiss 15x60 vs swaro. 15x56

[the breeze]

in your opinion how do they compare? thx in advance

[John Russell]

AFAIK production of the Zeiss 15x60 has ceased so you'd be lucky to find a new one.

John

[John Finnan]

in your opinion how do they compare? thx in advance
I have a pair of the 15x60s and they are the best high power/large aperture binocular I've ever looked through and that includes the Fujinon 16x70s and Nikon 18x70s. However, I have not looked through the Swarovski 15x56s. Although, I know a fellow who has a pair and he said that he had compared them to the Zeiss 15x60s and felt that the Zeiss was a little better. Nevertheless, he much preferred the Swarovski's because they were much lighter and ergonomically much better designed for hand hold-ability.

I believe it is more trouble than it is worth to hand hold a non-IS 15x binocular so that was never a factor when I made my decision to get the Zeiss 15x60s rather than the Swarovski's or some other model in that power/aperture range.

Just last week I used the 15x60s to watch the Seattle July 4th fireworks show from the top of a 2800 peak 30 miles west of the city on the other side of Puget Sound. The extra aperture and magnification really made a big difference in comparison to the 8.5x42 Swarovski ELs that I also brought along for the occasion.

John Finnan