John M Robinson
Well-known member
I just returned from a trip to Washington State where I was running my Golden retrievers in a field trial, trained over there for three days in advance of the trial. Since DBH lives very close to where I was training, I brought all of my binos in case we were able to get together for some viewing and comparing. Unfortunately Dave was busy with work but I had a whole group of dog training buddies who are also general outdoorsmen and hunters.
Shortly prior to my leaving on this trip, another BF member generously sent his latest model Zeiss 8x32 FLTs to me to try out for a while. I also had a pair of demo 7x36 Zen Ray ED IIs on hand. So here I was out in a beautiful country setting by a marsh full of migrating birds, myself and five guys who are would appreciate looking through high quality optics, but knew next to nothing about them. I had on hand the 7x36 ZRs, the Zeiss 8x32 FLT, my two Nikon SEs, 8x32 and 10x42 and my 8x42 Ultravid BR.
Just going by name and having perused Cabella's catalogs over the years, they all recognized the Leica name and were prepared to be impressed. As for the Nikon SEs, one guy owned a low end 10x42 Nikon porro, and assumed the SEs were going to be comparable to that. There were no preconcieved notions regarding the Zeiss or Zen Ray. I really didn't educate them on any nuances other than help them set diopters and try to get them to notice colors, sharpness and field of view. They were obviously very wowed by each and every one of them, but after just a little viewing they each had their favorites.
For most it came down to the Zeiss or the Leica, one or the other. I think the larger SE was too much like a lower end Nikon porro for them to appreciate it, though they were impressed by the detail of birds in the field. Everyone asked how much each bin cost, I told them actual retail cost on all bins except the Zen Rays which I said cost $1,500.00. Nobody batted an eye at that and thought that was appropriate as to their eye the ZR was right up there with the Leica, though the Leica seemed more relaxing. When I told them later that the ZRs actually cost around $400.00, two guys wanted to buy a pair right now. One guy, a doctor was very impressed with the 8x32 Zeiss. So in general, everyone loved the Zeiss, Leica and ZR, once they knew the cost of the ZR they kept wanting to look through it. The only guy who could afford a true alpha prefered the Zeiss over the leica. One guy liked the 8x32 SE best, but was put off by it not being waterproof, his second choice was the ZR.
This is the only 8x32 Zeiss I have looked through. I love the package and view, but there is a coolish cast to it compared with my SEs and Leica. Perhaps my bins are unnaturally warm, but in direct comparison I prefered the Leica color over the Zeiss. I don't recall the larger Zeiss having a blue cast to it, maybe in just using it alone without comparison you don't notice it.
I was very impressed with the Zen Ray ED IIs. They were very sharp and brightest of all bins tested. I think my pair might have been slightly out of collimation as they weren't relaxing. None of the other guys noticed this, but everytime I switched back to my leicas or SEs, I felt my eyes relax a bit. Of course we are comparing a $400.00 bino to bins costing at least four times that amount, to even be in the same ball park is amazing.
Having been on this forum for a few years now, and having read many threads by most expert afficiandos, I belive that due to differences in our eyes, glasses or not, brain perception and what our individual values are, there are folks who just prefer a certain look over another. I have come to realize that there is a certain mix of attributes that makes the Leica view more appealing to me, whereas Steve the doctor really liked that Zeiss view. I know there are people here whom I greatly respect that prefer Zeiss or Swaro over Leica or Nikon. So take this story for what it's worth, just a group of guys trying out something new to them and giving their unbiased if uninformed opinions.
John
Shortly prior to my leaving on this trip, another BF member generously sent his latest model Zeiss 8x32 FLTs to me to try out for a while. I also had a pair of demo 7x36 Zen Ray ED IIs on hand. So here I was out in a beautiful country setting by a marsh full of migrating birds, myself and five guys who are would appreciate looking through high quality optics, but knew next to nothing about them. I had on hand the 7x36 ZRs, the Zeiss 8x32 FLT, my two Nikon SEs, 8x32 and 10x42 and my 8x42 Ultravid BR.
Just going by name and having perused Cabella's catalogs over the years, they all recognized the Leica name and were prepared to be impressed. As for the Nikon SEs, one guy owned a low end 10x42 Nikon porro, and assumed the SEs were going to be comparable to that. There were no preconcieved notions regarding the Zeiss or Zen Ray. I really didn't educate them on any nuances other than help them set diopters and try to get them to notice colors, sharpness and field of view. They were obviously very wowed by each and every one of them, but after just a little viewing they each had their favorites.
For most it came down to the Zeiss or the Leica, one or the other. I think the larger SE was too much like a lower end Nikon porro for them to appreciate it, though they were impressed by the detail of birds in the field. Everyone asked how much each bin cost, I told them actual retail cost on all bins except the Zen Rays which I said cost $1,500.00. Nobody batted an eye at that and thought that was appropriate as to their eye the ZR was right up there with the Leica, though the Leica seemed more relaxing. When I told them later that the ZRs actually cost around $400.00, two guys wanted to buy a pair right now. One guy, a doctor was very impressed with the 8x32 Zeiss. So in general, everyone loved the Zeiss, Leica and ZR, once they knew the cost of the ZR they kept wanting to look through it. The only guy who could afford a true alpha prefered the Zeiss over the leica. One guy liked the 8x32 SE best, but was put off by it not being waterproof, his second choice was the ZR.
This is the only 8x32 Zeiss I have looked through. I love the package and view, but there is a coolish cast to it compared with my SEs and Leica. Perhaps my bins are unnaturally warm, but in direct comparison I prefered the Leica color over the Zeiss. I don't recall the larger Zeiss having a blue cast to it, maybe in just using it alone without comparison you don't notice it.
I was very impressed with the Zen Ray ED IIs. They were very sharp and brightest of all bins tested. I think my pair might have been slightly out of collimation as they weren't relaxing. None of the other guys noticed this, but everytime I switched back to my leicas or SEs, I felt my eyes relax a bit. Of course we are comparing a $400.00 bino to bins costing at least four times that amount, to even be in the same ball park is amazing.
Having been on this forum for a few years now, and having read many threads by most expert afficiandos, I belive that due to differences in our eyes, glasses or not, brain perception and what our individual values are, there are folks who just prefer a certain look over another. I have come to realize that there is a certain mix of attributes that makes the Leica view more appealing to me, whereas Steve the doctor really liked that Zeiss view. I know there are people here whom I greatly respect that prefer Zeiss or Swaro over Leica or Nikon. So take this story for what it's worth, just a group of guys trying out something new to them and giving their unbiased if uninformed opinions.
John
