Vanguard Endeavour IV 10x 42-thoughts? (1 Viewer)

[StephenHampshire]

Has anyone experience of this binocular? Seems to be available sub £300, ED glass that looks like it owrks well, although no Dielectric coating.
Looks nice to me, but any thoughts from owners out there?

 

[jremmons]

I've got a pair of the 8x42. Optically they are quite good if not as bright and color neutral as the best. I have few complaints aside from the fact that the focus knob no longer works correctly and the right (I believe) eyepiece no longer focuses. I need to send them in for warranty work but it is kind of a pain.

Justin

 

[PhilR.]

I’ve had three Vanguard Endeavor binos over the years, and two of them did not function correctly right out of the shipping box. I don’t see myself purchasing a Vanguard product in the future.

Of course the above does not mean that you will have a problem with one, but I would recommend that if you go with a Vanguard, that you purchase from a place that makes it easy to return it.

 

[Ries]

I've got a pair of the 8x42. Optically they are quite good if not as bright and color neutral as the best. I have few complaints aside from the fact that the focus knob no longer works correctly and the right (I believe) eyepiece no longer focuses. I need to send them in for warranty work but it is kind of a pain.

Justin

The IV has that too? I had it with the II, seems to need readjusting of the focus system, not too expensive but after a few years 400e bins needing 80-100e in repairs... Optics are really great (lenses Japan), build not so much (China...). I had to send back the first specimen too.

 

[paddy7]

I've had an EDII for about 7 years - never had a problem with it, although re-adjusting to the super-fast focus and the fact the focus works opposite to any of my other bins takes a while. The glass is very good (Hoya) and it has a reasonably flat field. Colour-wise, it tends towards the Leica end of the spectrum, being fairly rich in yellow/red. I tried a IV at BirdFair when they came out, and thought i preferred the II. Might be worth a look if they're still available?
Not sure if they're Chinese-made - had a feeling it was Philippines or Thailand?

 

[Rob from Texas]

Hi, I have the ED IV in 10x42. It is a pleasant binocular to use. The edge sharpness is impressive for the $. They are a bit heavy, but a snap to get a great view. Reasonably sharp and clear. The warranty is well honored. It wouldn't be my go-to pair for serious hiking, but it's great casual pair. Very dependable and instant great view.

 

[StephenHampshire]

I've had an EDII for about 7 years - never had a problem with it, although re-adjusting to the super-fast focus and the fact the focus works opposite to any of my other bins takes a while. The glass is very good (Hoya) and it has a reasonably flat field. Colour-wise, it tends towards the Leica end of the spectrum, being fairly rich in yellow/red. I tried a IV at BirdFair when they came out, and thought i preferred the II. Might be worth a look if they're still available?
Not sure if they're Chinese-made - had a feeling it was Philippines or Thailand?

Thanks. Apparently the IV is slower to focus. No problem with the warm view

 

[chill6x6]

Has anyone experience of this binocular? Seems to be available sub £300, ED glass that looks like it owrks well, although no Dielectric coating.
Looks nice to me, but any thoughts from owners out there?

I don't have the 10X42 but DO have both the Endeavor ED II and IV in 8X42. I'll be the first to admit my ED IV has had an easy life and it's not my primary binocular BUT....it's been an excellent binocular as has the MUCH more used ED II. I really like my two Vanguard examples...

OPTICALLY...IMO it's about the most bang for the buck I've found, especially the ED II.

Phil...Are yours 8X32s?

 

[paddy7]

Thanks. Apparently the IV is slower to focus. No problem with the warm view

The EDII was quite ground-breaking i thought; reasonable price for very good optics, a flat field, good very close to the edge of the FoV, excellent resolution and a fast but accurate focus. I'd had the original ED beforehand and the reduction in CA in the EDII was very noticeable.
I expected the EDIV to develop these themes, but was quite surprised when - with the brief encounter i had with it at BirdFair - it actually didn't and seemed a much more average product for the money. Really, the things that had made the EDII stand out seemed to have been abandoned. I never really understood this, as the EDII had received several notable plaudits on its launch. I was hoping the IV would have a slightly wider FoV and be a little brighter.

I have no problem with the colour reproduction either. If you're in a mixed environment with close-by and distant activity and have the patience to get used to the speed of the focus (which was slowed in the EDIV as Stephen said) the EDII is a very useful binocular indeed. I'm slightly surprised at reports of problems with them, as both the original ED and EDII have served me very well in a range of uses.

 

[Ian Byrnes]

I don't have the 10X42 but DO have both the Endeavor ED II and IV in 8X42. I'll be the first to admit my ED IV has had an easy life and it's not my primary binocular BUT....it's been an excellent binocular as has the MUCH more used ED II. I really like my two Vanguard examples...

OPTICALLY...IMO it's about the most bang for the buck I've found, especially the ED II.

Phil...Are yours 8X32s?

I agree with Chuck....excellent value for the money.

 

[StephenHampshire]

I agree with Chuck....excellent value for the money.

Thank you everyone for your feedback, plenty to cogitate on. Interestingly, the Endeavour II seem to be dearer than the mark IV!?

 

[PhilR.]

Phil...Are yours 8X32s?

The first was an 8x42 Endeavor ED, which worked just fine. I ended up giving it to a guide that was part of the crew on the 40 cabin boat Alaskan cruise.

The second was a 10x42 ED2, and the third was an 8x32 ED2. Both had issues with the focus system not maintaining the diopter setting. They were essentially IF binos.

 

[jremmons]

OPTICALLY...IMO it's about the most bang for the buck I've found, especially the ED II.

I would agree. I did not own my ED IV for long before the issue with the focus appeared, but before that I had no problems and the view punched far above its cost. I need to send it in for warranty work but am just lazy I guess.

Justin

 

[gunut]

I have a 10.5 X 45 Endeavor ED...like it a lot just don't use it a lot....they also made a 8.5 X 45....but dropped those sizes when they went to the II models....decent bins.....

 

[paddy7]

I have a 10.5 X 45 Endeavor ED...like it a lot just don't use it a lot....they also made a 8.5 X 45....but dropped those sizes when they went to the II models....decent bins.....

Yeah - my first one was the 8.5x45 ED - would have kept it except for the amount of CA, which is the aberration i cannot put up with for long. Didn't really get a chance to check the IV for CA, but it was much better controlled in the EDII 8x42 - not non-existent, but certainly less obvious.

 

[StephenHampshire]

In the end, I've plumped for a set of Viking Peregrine ED 10X42's. Spent a pleasant half an hour this morning watching a young Osprey trying to catch something to eat, didn't seem very successful. Binoculars are fine, apart from the eye cups being to easy to slide in! Having to wear a face mask in the hides meant that I was definitely using the binos with glasses off.

 

[John knowlittle]

I've had a pair of 10x42 Vanguard endeavour ed mk 4 for the past 2 years. Purchased as back up to my Swarovski 10x42 SLC.
The SLC have recently been sent in for a service, so the vanguard are being thoroughly tested in the field.
I'm really not missing my SLC that much the vanguard are almost as bright, just as sharp all the way to the edge, good FOV and have a very relaxed view.
Ergonomics are great for me.
I'd definitely recommend them if you're after a great 10x42.

 

[Bentley03]

I purchased a pair of 10x42 IV's, after accidentally ordering some 8x42's by mistake because they were the same price. The 8x42's appeared mechanically and optically spot on, a good example, and better than I had anticipated, but when I finally received the 10x42's in exchange, I felt the focus 'snap' was unimpressive, and the focus wheel has a millimetre or two of play and makes a squelchy/tacky noise due to (I assume) an excessive amount of grease. They're ok for the price, but I really can't get excited about them. Overall, I feel my 10x42's don't really live up to all the hype, BUT, they do fit me very well, and that is the most important factor when I buy binoculars.

They were bought as a stop gap pair while I was searching for my 'go to' pair. They fulfill that criteria, but nothing more.

 

[Rob from Texas]

I had a pair of Vanguard Endeavor ED IV 10x42 for a bit. They were a very comfortable with a bright image. What I liked for the money was the near edge-to-edge sharpness. Very open view. Seemed to be built quite well. I finally moved on to higher contrast pair, but, in truth, I miss the pair a bit.

 

[tiankong]

我有一个Vanguard Endeavor ED II 10x42，除了亮度暗，其他都非常好。CA 有，但很少。