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Briggz · Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:06

and I am looking for my first nice set of bins. I have read through MANY post, searched the internet, asked opiniopns from those I know who may know optics so now I am down to asking you nice people.

Basically I am torn between the 8 x 42 2009 DB and the same size ZRS. I really like the warrenty from Vortex but heard lots of great things about the ZRs. I don't have the $ to buy both and compare. Any last thought to swing me one way or the other?

My thanks in advance

Kevin Purcell · Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:22

Some of us don't like the color bias in the ZRS that would bias me to the new DBs (though I've not seen them though I did have a pair of the old DBs).

The field flattener in the ZRS is nice. But the DB has a wider overall field but not sharp to the edge.

I recommend trying them both because deciding between both of these features is a rather personal issue. Even though you say you can't. Perhaps one months credit card interest (if you can't cover it) and shipping back the unwanted bin is perhaps worth getting the right bin.

Steve C · Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:51

Well Zen Ray offers a 30 day money back trial period. Same deal with Eagle Optics where you could get a Diamondback. So I would suggest you pick one and try it. Frankly, if that one (whichever one you get first) suited you, I would be tempted to tell you to keep it. You will find it hard to send that one back and get the other one, because you really need them side by side.

What I try to do in your shoes is to time the binocular deal so that I can get the credit back for the one I don't keep in time to pay whatever else I might have to pay. It is a bit of a pain to have all of the obligation on the card at once, but it is offset by a higher assurance of getting the one you like the best.

Here's the thing. While I happen to like the ZRS, as Kevin points out there is a reddish color bias he doesn't like. Now are you more like Kevin or Me in that regard?

FrankD · Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:58

I agree with both Kevin and Steve. Steve did a nice job of hitting the high and low points of each model. I think you would probably be genuinely happy with either model and like the idea of ordering both and then returning one.

May I also suggest you consider the Leupold Cascade porro and the new Bushnell Legend Ultra HD as well? Both are in your price range. The former has been fairly heavily reviewed here while the latter has just now hit the market.

Kevin Purcell · Thursday 25th June 2009, 21:11

Another possibility is to order the ZRS and to find a local VOrtex dealer and do a compare at the store. Then return the ZRS if you decide to keep the DB.

Not even an overlap in billing with that. Just wait for the refund for the ZRS before you by the DB if you decide to go that route.

Steve C · Friday 26th June 2009, 02:29

One other binocular you might consider is the Leupold Acadia. I have not used them in the field at all, but those I have looked at seem like pretty decent binoculars. Leupold has dealers all over the place, so it may be reasonably easy to find one in a store to at least look at.

FrankD · Friday 26th June 2009, 03:35

Good suggestion Steve. I had forgotten about the Leupold Acadia. I had a chance to finally look through a pair at the local Cabelas a week or two ago and was reasonably impressed with the performance vs. price comparison.

falcondude · Friday 26th June 2009, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Purcell

Another possibility is to order the ZRS and to find a local VOrtex dealer and do a compare at the store. Then return the ZRS if you decide to keep the DB.

Not even an overlap in billing with that. Just wait for the refund for the ZRS before you by the DB if you decide to go that route.

maybe even compare ZRS with vortex Viper. On another thread, someone had some favorable comment on ZRS in that comparison.

Kevin Purcell · Friday 26th June 2009, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcondude

maybe even compare ZRS with vortex Viper. On another thread, someone had some favorable comment on ZRS in that comparison.

That was SteveC ... who doesn't have a problem with the color bias of the ZRS. Not an issue for Steve. But issue for me.

The problem isn't in the sharpness or contrast between these two bins (I suspect they're in the same ballpark) it's other features that only the end user can really make a decision about.

Briggz · Friday 26th June 2009, 20:29

Well I ordered the ZRS and will compare them to the Diamondbacks. Unfortunatly the only place around here that carries them is WBU and they do not have the 09 models. Do the best I can. I appreciate the comments from everyone.

Out of curiosity are the older (2008) DB a good deal at $159? I was think that route as well maybe .....

Kevin Purcell · Friday 26th June 2009, 21:36

The older DB were OK but I think $160 is a bit high. I resold mine for $140. Still it's a decent bin. If you like it and the price is good then go for it. You could do a lot worse

Briggz · Monday 29th June 2009, 23:13

well I got eh ZRS this afternoon and I have to say I am inpressed, not that this means much since I really have no base for comparison but they are very clear, bright and there does not appear to be any red tint to them

Steve C · Monday 29th June 2009, 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briggz

well I got eh ZRS this afternoon and I have to say I am inpressed, not that this means much since I really have no base for comparison but they are very clear, bright and there does not appear to be any red tint to them

The thing about color bias is that different people are affected by it differently. I was not/am not bothered by it, but some are. Put the ocular up close to a white sheet of paper and look back through the objective and you should be able to see a slight red cast when comparing the visible image against the paper to the background color of the paper.

Or... just don't worry about it.

Kevin Purcell · Tuesday 30th June 2009, 07:02

Color biases are like stray light or chromatic aberration or subtle distortions ... don't go looking for them. Yet.

That way madness lies

FrankD · Tuesday 30th June 2009, 15:26

I agree. I will never be able to pick up another pair of binoculars again and not see some CA in them. Don't go looking for problems if you cannot find them initially.

spyglass2 · Friday 3rd July 2009, 14:22

I would say b4 u buy anything new, hit ebay.....there are a lot of bargains on really good quality glass there.

FrankD · Friday 3rd July 2009, 15:28

Quote:

I would say b4 u buy anything new, hit ebay.....there are a lot of bargains on really good quality glass there

Good advice but that can become a very expensive proposition.

derekg · Friday 3rd July 2009, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankD

Good advice but that can become a very expensive proposition.

I bought A pair of Pentax XCF off ebay. I know they're not high end bins but they're okay and I was very happy to pay 20 of my Great British pounds for them when they retail at over £100.

Derek

FrankD · Friday 3rd July 2009, 19:33

Nice deal. In that case you definitely saved a nice bit of change.

Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:06	#1
Briggz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 47	OK so I got ~ $200 (maybe $250) and I am looking for my first nice set of bins. I have read through MANY post, searched the internet, asked opiniopns from those I know who may know optics so now I am down to asking you nice people. Basically I am torn between the 8 x 42 2009 DB and the same size ZRS. I really like the warrenty from Vortex but heard lots of great things about the ZRs. I don't have the $ to buy both and compare. Any last thought to swing me one way or the other? My thanks in advance

Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:51	#3
Steve C Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Klamath Basin, Oregon Posts: 1,422	Well Zen Ray offers a 30 day money back trial period. Same deal with Eagle Optics where you could get a Diamondback. So I would suggest you pick one and try it. Frankly, if that one (whichever one you get first) suited you, I would be tempted to tell you to keep it. You will find it hard to send that one back and get the other one, because you really need them side by side. What I try to do in your shoes is to time the binocular deal so that I can get the credit back for the one I don't keep in time to pay whatever else I might have to pay. It is a bit of a pain to have all of the obligation on the card at once, but it is offset by a higher assurance of getting the one you like the best. Here's the thing. While I happen to like the ZRS, as Kevin points out there is a reddish color bias he doesn't like. Now are you more like Kevin or Me in that regard? __________________ Steve "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have" Teddy Roosevelt.
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Friday 26th June 2009, 02:29	#6
Steve C Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Klamath Basin, Oregon Posts: 1,422	One other binocular you might consider is the Leupold Acadia. I have not used them in the field at all, but those I have looked at seem like pretty decent binoculars. Leupold has dealers all over the place, so it may be reasonably easy to find one in a store to at least look at. __________________ Steve "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have" Teddy Roosevelt.
	Click here to Support BirdForum

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Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:22	#2
Kevin Purcell Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,120	Some of us don't like the color bias in the ZRS that would bias me to the new DBs (though I've not seen them though I did have a pair of the old DBs). The field flattener in the ZRS is nice. But the DB has a wider overall field but not sharp to the edge. I recommend trying them both because deciding between both of these features is a rather personal issue. Even though you say you can't. Perhaps one months credit card interest (if you can't cover it) and shipping back the unwanted bin is perhaps worth getting the right bin.

Thursday 25th June 2009, 18:58	#4
FrankD Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 3,528	I agree with both Kevin and Steve. Steve did a nice job of hitting the high and low points of each model. I think you would probably be genuinely happy with either model and like the idea of ordering both and then returning one. May I also suggest you consider the Leupold Cascade porro and the new Bushnell Legend Ultra HD as well? Both are in your price range. The former has been fairly heavily reviewed here while the latter has just now hit the market.

Thursday 25th June 2009, 21:11	#5
Kevin Purcell Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,120	Another possibility is to order the ZRS and to find a local VOrtex dealer and do a compare at the store. Then return the ZRS if you decide to keep the DB. Not even an overlap in billing with that. Just wait for the refund for the ZRS before you by the DB if you decide to go that route.

Friday 26th June 2009, 03:35	#7
FrankD Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 3,528	Good suggestion Steve. I had forgotten about the Leupold Acadia. I had a chance to finally look through a pair at the local Cabelas a week or two ago and was reasonably impressed with the performance vs. price comparison.

Friday 26th June 2009, 20:29	#10
Briggz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 47	Well I ordered the ZRS and will compare them to the Diamondbacks. Unfortunatly the only place around here that carries them is WBU and they do not have the 09 models. Do the best I can. I appreciate the comments from everyone. Out of curiosity are the older (2008) DB a good deal at $159? I was think that route as well maybe .....

Friday 26th June 2009, 21:36	#11
Kevin Purcell Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,120	The older DB were OK but I think $160 is a bit high. I resold mine for $140. Still it's a decent bin. If you like it and the price is good then go for it. You could do a lot worse

Monday 29th June 2009, 23:13	#12
Briggz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 47	well I got eh ZRS this afternoon and I have to say I am inpressed, not that this means much since I really have no base for comparison but they are very clear, bright and there does not appear to be any red tint to them

Tuesday 30th June 2009, 07:02	#14
Kevin Purcell Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,120	Color biases are like stray light or chromatic aberration or subtle distortions ... don't go looking for them. Yet. That way madness lies

Tuesday 30th June 2009, 15:26	#15
FrankD Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 3,528	I agree. I will never be able to pick up another pair of binoculars again and not see some CA in them. Don't go looking for problems if you cannot find them initially.

Friday 3rd July 2009, 14:22	#16
spyglass2 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: OKC Posts: 53	I would say b4 u buy anything new, hit ebay.....there are a lot of bargains on really good quality glass there.

Friday 3rd July 2009, 19:33	#19
FrankD Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 3,528	Nice deal. In that case you definitely saved a nice bit of change.

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