[Fireform]

I was quite tempted by these, but in the end did not order a pair because a) they were delayed so long, and b) I realized that the strong field curvature that bothered me so much in the 7x version would only be more prominent at higher magnification because of the shallower depth of field. I'm sure their center field performance is impressive, though. Dazzling would not surprise me.

[mayoayo]

I have used the 7x a lot,and i dont think that has a Strong field curvature ..i mean..IT does NOT have a strong field curvature..It has been mentioned that the Zen 7X has an incredibly well corrected field,FREE of distorsion mostly..for such a wide angle binocular...focus the binocular in a flat wall,and you would agree,..now the Swift Audubon 820..for instance,have a strong field curvature,but not the Zen ED´s 7x or 8X ,that i have owned...

Originally Posted by Fireform

I was quite tempted by these, but in the end did not order a pair because a) they were delayed so long, and b) I realized that the strong field curvature that bothered me so much in the 7x version would only be more prominent at higher magnification because of the shallower depth of field. I'm sure their center field performance is impressive, though. Dazzling would not surprise me.

[Fireform]

If you say so. I do know that in the pair I had the centerfield and the field edge coexisted in very different planes of focus...

[SmithRJ]

Like Larry Barnes, I recently got a pair of Zen ED2 9x36, and I can echo most of his comments. In my case they are a poor man's Leica 10x32 Ultravid HD. Comparing the Zens to the Leicas I found the centre sharpness essentially equal, but noticeable field curvature in the Zens makes the edges quite fuzzy. As Larry pointed out, edge sharpness seems to be an area where only the highest end binoculars excel, particularly in the mid-size models. As has been said here before, if you are concentrating on focusing on a bird, the edges become less important. On the whole I like the Zen 9x36 very much - it is a nice size and weight and feels comfortable in my hands. It is the one I keep in the trunk of the car (and at the price, wouldn't break the bank if it got stolen...).

Roger

[ceasar]

Originally Posted by SmithRJ

Like Larry Barnes, I recently got a pair of Zen ED2 9x36, and I can echo most of his comments. In my case they are a poor man's Leica 10x32 Ultravid HD. Comparing the Zens to the Leicas I found the centre sharpness essentially equal, but noticeable field curvature in the Zens makes the edges quite fuzzy. As Larry pointed out, edge sharpness seems to be an area where only the highest end binoculars excel, particularly in the mid-size models. As has been said here before, if you are concentrating on focusing on a bird, the edges become less important. On the whole I like the Zen 9x36 very much - it is a nice size and weight and feels comfortable in my hands. It is the one I keep in the trunk of the car (and at the price, wouldn't break the bank if it got stolen...).

Roger

What happened to them?

I notice Zen Ray doesn't list them any more. Did they just make one small speculative run of them and then drop them?

The perils of being a small company in a big business I guess. Hope they stay in business long enough to keep their guarantee valid.

Bob

[mayoayo]

I just opened their web page and the 9x36 is there....menu,binoculars,ZEN ED2,7x8x9x10x...390$.....I hope bussines stays in bussines...

[Tero]

I was a 9x fan for a while, and the favorite may have been 9x reverse porros.

But actually, I had some relucatence to go for 10x, as most small 10x have been poor. Changed my mind. Now I am leaning more toward 10x36 and 8x36 as the sizes I find more convenient. So I am not leaning much toward 9x anymore. I will take an 8.5x over an 8x if it gives fantastic views and 400f t fov.

[ZEN-RAY]

Originally Posted by ceasar

What happened to them?

I notice Zen Ray doesn't list them any more. Did they just make one small speculative run of them and then drop them?

The perils of being a small company in a big business I guess. Hope they stay in business long enough to keep their guarantee valid.

Bob

Bob, it has always been listed on our site

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened2.html

Thanks

[ceasar]

Originally Posted by ZEN-RAY

Bob, it has always been listed on our site

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened2.html

Thanks

I clicked on your advertisement on the top of the Binocular Sub-Forum page and did not see them there in the associated links so I assumed they had been dropped. The ad shows 14 binoculars listed.

Nice to know they are still available.

Bob

[Tero]

It does look quite attractive, but as I mentioned, I did not have 400 to spend. I ended up with my 10x36 in a bit of a complicated way, so I am using them. Cost me 200.

[ZEN-RAY]

Originally Posted by ceasar

I clicked on your advertisement on the top of the Binocular Sub-Forum page and did not see them there in the associated links so I assumed they had been dropped. The ad shows 14 binoculars listed.

Nice to know they are still available.

Bob

ah.. that's our legacy site that's going to be sunset. We are still supporting it. Our new and improved site is http://www.zen-ray.com to enhance shopping experience for our customers.

Looks like I need to do my diligence to notify our BF webmaster sooner. lol Thanks a lot.

[Nomatic]

I got my Zen Ray ED2's 9x36 in the mail two days ago. So far I am loving them!!!!

PROS: CLEAR AND BRIGHT! Oh my lord, these are so much better than my old swifts. I can actually see birds. Ridiculously awesome! I like the magnification, the 9x is perfect. Totally worth the price I got em for!

Build quality is awesome, I feel like I could run a hummer over these babies, and they'd be fine (Not recommended).

They are still light though, I don't even notice them around my neck.

As for the strap, it's not too long at all, and pretty nice for an included strap. (Some people had been complaining about that on this forum).

CONS:
1. The focus wheel is super stiff, and makes a noise when turning. (Only when its completely quiet outside do I notice the noise).
This is kinda a bummer, because my old swift's focus wheel is like butter, figuratively of course.

2. When I am looking in the direction of the sun, I get a white lens flare type thing, dunno what its called, since I'm not an optical expert. But its pretty noticable even when 30 degrees away from directly into the sun. I had heard something about the Zen-Rays having this problem, but I heard it had been fixed with baffles or something.

3. Theres a little white speck in one of the lenses, not visible when looking through the binocs, but when you turn em around you can see it.

My old swifts have none of this problem. At all.

Oh, and a neutral point: When I got the binocs the label on the focus wheel came off without me even touching it, just fell off. I actually like it better without the ZEN ED2 text and all that on it, I've included a picture of it.

Overall, an AWESOME pair of binocs, just wish the looking towards the sun thing and the focus wheel stiffness would be a bit better.

Does anyone know if cons 1 and 2 are inherent to the ED2, or are an exception for my pair?

Thanks all, and THANKS SO MUCH ZEN RAY!

I'm off to add to my life list now, with a pair of binocs that actually let me see birds, as opposed to colored dots flitting around in the trees!

[bearclawthedonut]

Nomatic:

Send them back. Either you have really, really, really good hearing or something is binding when your turning the focus knob; thus creating the very stiff focusing and the noise. Call and describe your problems to Charles and he will probably send you another pair. Certainly Zen-Ray wants their badging on your binoculars and not off of your binoculars. They want everyone to know who made your excellent optics.

All the Zen-Ray binoculars that I've handled have had appropriate ease of focusing. If an o-ring is caught/binding, then when it breaks your focusing may be a lot easier, but you may no longer have waterproof binoculars. Zen-Ray has excellent customer service. Send them back.

bearclawthedonut

[ehrodz]

You might also want to ask Zen Ray about the glare problem you are getting. They supposedly fixed the problem with the 7x36s. I am curious to know if they also tried to fix the problem in the other models like the 9x36 and the 8x43. Thanks.

[Nomatic]

Hmm yeah, It does sound like something is scraping. Hopefully thats why the focus is so stiff. I'll call in the morning.

EDIT: Or maybe email, since their number isn't posted on their site. Will Charles get the email if I mail it to support@zenray? Or does he have an email addy?

[ZEN-RAY]

Originally Posted by ehrodz

You might also want to ask Zen Ray about the glare problem you are getting. They supposedly fixed the problem with the 7x36s. I am curious to know if they also tried to fix the problem in the other models like the 9x36 and the 8x43. Thanks.

Yes, the glare issue has been fixed for all ED2 binoculars, including 8x43, 10x43 and 7 and 9x36. The glare is caused by reflection by internal housing. We have addressed this issue with improved baffle design. However, if you point the binoculars in the general direction of sunbeam, a lot of the "glare" is no longer caused by the internal reflection. Instead, the bright sun beam may travel directly inside the optical cone and greatly reduce the contrast of the image. Unless you step down the aperture size or move away from direct light source, you cannot avoid that type of glare by design improvement.

thanks

Charles

[bearclawthedonut]

Nomatic:

I believe ZR's tel # is 503-360-5352? That's the tel # listed at the bottom of their home page on their website. Seems to me that they changed their number or added a new number at some point? Charles will respond to emails, but it might take a day or two? And remember that there is three hours time difference between Long Island and Oregon.

[etudiant]

Funny how each new producer recognizes early that direct customer interaction and service is essential to achieve market success. So why do they forget as they get better established?
Most binocs last for many years without ever needing service. That is the basis for the long term guarantees that the alpha glass makers offer. It also supports a very generous customer care policy. The profit is not in the service, but in the customer and her longer term commitment to the brand, for herself, her family and friends. Even in the US, fewer than 10% of the people buy a decent binocular each year. An existing customer is your best prospect for another purchase. So it is crucial to keep them happy, or at least to keep them from getting unhappy.. This is marketing 101.
ZenRay gets it. Why do some others not?

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by etudiant

Funny how each new producer recognizes early that direct customer interaction and service is essential to achieve market success. So why do they forget as they get better established?
Most binocs last for many years without ever needing service. That is the basis for the long term guarantees that the alpha glass makers offer. It also supports a very generous customer care policy. The profit is not in the service, but in the customer and her longer term commitment to the brand, for herself, her family and friends. Even in the US, fewer than 10% of the people buy a decent binocular each year. An existing customer is your best prospect for another purchase. So it is crucial to keep them happy, or at least to keep them from getting unhappy.. This is marketing 101.
ZenRay gets it. Why do some others not?

Even more puzzling is why it took, Leica, an "alpha" company, so long to offer the generous repair policies and good customer support (jury's still out on that last one) that even the New Kids On The Block offer?

They lost my business several times in the past because of their repair policy on "pre-owned" models did not match Nikon's.

As far as that stat about fewer than 10% of Americans buy a "decent" binocular each year (how decent is "decent" in $s?), binocoholics who buy binoculars like I buy veggie burgers probably make up the 90% difference. :-)

Brock

[ronh]

Brock,
The Leica Goodwill policy began in Jan., 2008. Several new kids have arrived since then. It does seem like Zen might predate that a little bit.

It extends back through the full sized Trinovid BA, and even further, back to 1983, for their compact binoculars.

The Leica policy, on their website, was the first hit when I googled "Leica Goodwill Policy".
Ron

[airgee]

It seems the ED² 9x36 disappeared from Zen-Ray website ...
Does it mean that the current batch sold out and we're waiting for another one or does it mean this model is getting phased-out ?

Rémi (still waiting for his 10x43 ED² stuck in the customs ... )

[ZEN-RAY]

It's just temporarily out of stock. We should have them back in stock early next month. Thanks

[Red Horn]

Any new impressions on the 9x36?

[ceasar]

Originally Posted by Red Horn

Any new impressions on the 9x36?

No one has reviewed them or even asked a question about them.

You could be the first. See link:

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened2-9x36.html

Bob

[ZEN-RAY]

Originally Posted by ceasar

No one has reviewed them or even asked a question about them.

You could be the first. See link:

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened2-9x36.html

Bob

8x is still the most popular format, as you can tell from the volume of customer reviews on our website. The 9x36 is a well balanced format, especially for users who are torn between 8x vs 10x debate.