A hypothetical question...

[Miles S]

Say that you won a sweepstakes that gave you your choice of binocular from the "top four" makers. Playing on each manufacturer's strengths, which models would you choose to best compliment each other in your birding?

Oh, if this question has been asked before I must apologize as I haven't been to these forums since registering a while back and I could not find it , at least easily, by searching. Cheers!

[matt green]

easy,buy all four,then trash the ones you dont like,or better still give them to a destitute birder like me 3:-)

seriously though,i'd buy leica ultravids 8+42[in green rubber,quorrrrr].
i was going to purchase these but home improvements gobbled all my savings,i've promised myself a pair by next spring!.

rumour has it that they have recently been made with greased/smooth focusing.

matt

[lucznik]

Tough choice, when money isn't at all part of the equation. I think I would be most tempted by a 10&15X42 Leica Duovid.

[Wehr]

Say that you won a sweepstakes that gave you your choice of binocular from the "top four" makers. Playing on each manufacturer's strengths, which models would you choose to best compliment each other in your birding?

Oh, if this question has been asked before I must apologize as I haven't been to these forums since registering a while back and I could not find it , at least easily, by searching. Cheers!


Very easy for me:

First a Leica Geovid 8x56, second a Zeiss FL 7x42 and third a Nikon HGL 8x32. Then perhaps in addition a Svarowsky 10x50 SLC.

Walter

[postcardcv]

Taking one from each manufacturer, I'd have...

Leica ultravid 7x42 - lovely wide FOV and bright image (this is what I do own and they are a joy to use). A good general binocular, esp good for dawn and dusk.
Zeiss FL 8x32 - 8x32 is a great set up, I like the chunky feel of the Zeiss and even though it's only a 32 it's still very bright.
Nikon HGL 8x20 - great little compacts, could carry them everywhere and never be caught without bins.
Swarovski EL 10x42 - for when I wanted just a bit more power...

[xenophobe]

I would get a Nikon SE, Zeiss FL and Swarovski EL all in 10x42, although the 15x56 SLC has me really curious, and I'd take a pair of Ultravids and trade for the 15x56.

I currently own a 10x42 Ultravid BL, 12x50 BN and 10x40b Classic.