A few days ago I bought to trial a Viking Kestrel 10x25. These are a new model and rated pretty highly. They have ED glass and dielectric prisms. Compared with my fifteen year old Optician Aspheric 10x25 they are in a different league - as I'd hoped. The focusing is relatively stiff which I don't like but they were £150. Then I read so many rave reviews about the Zeiss 10x25 I ordered one to compare. I'd say the image from the Kestrels is a teeny tiny bit dimmer and less sharp but barely noticeable. However the focusing is also stiff and these cost almost TWICE as much as the Viking Kestrels. The knob on my old Opticrons is very smooth and delightfully light to use. Am I being unreasonable in being disappointed and expecting better of the Zeiss? Are they supposed to be stiff when new and focusing to get lighter with use?
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