I was in a bino shop yesterday, with a binoholic behind the desk. He offered me coffee trice, while I was able to test all binoculars of Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Meopta and Nikon, except for the SE and EDG which he did not have in the shop.
I also tested the Zeiss classic 7x42, Leica Ultravid non-HD, Zeiss Dialyt 8x30 without and with T* and T*P* coating and last but not least 2 versions of the Zeiss 8x56 Nightowl.
I even had a chance to test the Leica Geovid, Zeiss rangefinder, Fujinon 10x70, New Nikon Monarch and a Nikon 8x30 which looked a lot like the SE 8x32 on the outside.
About warranty:
-Swaro gives 25 years on the Swarovision, he said (when I asked about it).
-(his words): Swaro 'includes' the price of the warranty in their bins. They maybe get 2 promille of bins back in warranty which are faulty by bad usage, but they repair them anyway, as it is still cheaper and they feel that it is a good selling point (which it obviously is!). Zeiss and Leica told my binoholic that, even though he insisted they follow Swaro in the warranty service, they don't want to do that, as they feel it would be selling 2 products at the same time.
-Leica gives lifetime warranty on all bins with serial numbers after 1990. So you don't have to be first owner etc. I did not ask what happens after 2020 with your 1990 bin, as I plan on living longer.
-Zeiss gives 10 years, but the Dutch importer adds another 20 years. If the importer is not longer in business, those extra 20 years are lost.
The shopowner reckons he sells about 60% Swaro, 25% Zeiss and 15% Leica. He said bin turnovers are about 700 million a year for Swarovksi, while the crystal counts for around 3.7 billion a year (euro).
While I was there, a representative of Schott was also in the store. He did not say a lot, except that they also deliver to Leica and Swaro. He showed me a cilinder of Schott glass which he claimed has 100% transmission for all visible wavelengths.
About the bino's:
I just tested them in low light conditions on the small print of something in the shop, about 7-8 meters away.
I could read the letters best with one bino: Zeiss 10x56 T*FL
In reference to that one, all others where notably less bright/sharp, but OK, most were still very good for their specifications.
general observations:
1. 10-powered bins were better to read the small print than 8x and 7x. 12x where also fine, even 15x but already quite dark.
2. x32 bins were notably worse, and I think I convinced myself there not to buy a x32 anytime soon for my birding, as I don't mind the extra weight.
3. Almost all Zeiss had quite hard focusknob, while Swaro (a bit surprising for me) and especially Nikon (not surprising) had smooth focus. I guess the shop had a lot of sub-optimal or not-yet-smooth focusing binoculars.
About the 'big' three:
- For the most common configuration in Europe, i.e. 10x42, I tested Leica HD, Zeiss FL and Swarovision side by side, and no surprise here: the Swarovision was the best. It was as sharp and as bright as Zeiss but with better edges and a slight wider FOV and slightly easier view. The Leica was a bit dimmer, but still in the same league. They put a price on the Swarovision about 10% higher than on Leica/Zeiss.
When comparing (even) the Swarovision with the mighty Zeiss 10x56T*FL, the differences were still clear. I think I have something to save money for!
- About the old 8x30 dialyt: nice ergonomics, but the optics are dated. Not worth it anymore for me, to dim and not brilliantly sharp as new ones. I did not see a huge difference between the different coatings. The non-coated was made before 1978 and was as good as the T* (1978-1988) and the T*P* (>1988).
- the Nightowls were sharp and very good, but they are really too heavy to carry around, and the balance is not good (top heavy). The focusing ring turned heavy, and I would not recommend them for quick birding. I would suggest a 8x56 Classic if it does not have to be waterproof.
- The 7x42 Zeiss, Leica and Swaro each have their own fans, but optically, the Zeiss has (unsurprising for me as I own one) the most fascinating view with that wide FOV.
- A pleasant surprise was an SE-like Nikon porro 8x30 for 219€. I almost bought it (but I bought something else!). Everything people rave about in the 8x32 SE, I could see in this example: wide and flat view, very sharp, lightweight and comfortable in the hand (and bad eyecups).
- The meopta were nice, but a little heavy and with (again) a heavy focusring.
- 8x32: The Nikon HG-L 8x32 has nice features (smooth focusing, comfortable to hold), but looked a little dim compared to the big three. The Leica was too small for my hands. The Zeiss had that heavy focusing (again!). I think the Swarovski is the best because it has the best ergonomics and the view is still very good. If there will be a Swarovision 8x32 (in two years, the binoholic said), it will be a winner.
