Zeiss Victory 8x25 (1 Viewer)

[Ratal]

To sum it up - Yes, these really are that good that they could be a primary pair of bins for a daytime only birder. Heck, their light transmission is that high that they do not struggle with light dropping off till the sun is all but gone for the day. Staggeringly bright.




I've had a loaner set over the weekend. And it has made me sit back and seriously reconsider what is acceptable for a daytime only birding bin. They are honestly that good.

Focus is buttery smooth, focusing clockwise to infinity.

View is staggeringly beautiful in daylight. If you do your birding in the main of the day, you would not feel hard done by with the Victory 8x25. Far from it. Colours are beautifully rendered with zero cast - what you see with the eye is what you get in the bin. CA is absent in the center, and can be all but ruled out. Even corvids against a grey sky is razor sharp definition.

Field of view was surprisingly wide. I knew the figures, but the view itself has a really nice feel to it. Not as 'swallow me whole' as the Opticron Aurora that I own, but very, very nice indeed for such a diminutive bin.


Ergonomics. I have XXL gloves. And the focus wheel offset to one side actually makes me start to wonder why we have never seen it before. I absolutely adore this about the Victory 8x25. A touch of the unusual but oh so welcome. 10/10 for me.


All in all, if I were to have these as my only binoculars for daytime birding? I'd be a happy birder indeed - and for the price? An absolute steal. Got mine on pre-order, and I'll be sad to hand this set back in the morning to their owner.


* Size. Let us talk about having a bin that can slip in the pocket and give you an alpha-esque view. Miniscule. So light that they slipped into my coat pocket and were forgotten about until it came time to use them around Aviemore.


** Down points. Lack of rain guard and objective covers. That is it. But that 'problem' is solved with a little thought.

 

[Mikewander]

I have these along with the Aurora 10x42 and feel no need to look for anything else. I feel i am set up for all bino situations, and only a scope might get added.

 

[Ratal]

I have these along with the Aurora 10x42 and feel no need to look for anything else. I feel i am set up for all bino situations, and only a scope might get added.

Yep. Agreed. I'm done for binoculars with my Aurora and the Zeiss Victory 8x25.

Food for thought - With the Zeiss Victory and MM4 50 ED with zoom eyepiece, birding optics for a full day out weight less than 1.2kg. A stellar lightweight setup that would leave a daytime birder (who wants to be as lightweight as possible!) wanting nothing.

 

[GrampaTom]

I tend to agree with the idea described here. I have both the little Zeiss and a lovely 1042. Having enjoyed the excitement of those 2 purchases, admitting to wanting another pleasure hit, Ive been pondering what else to buy for months. NL/SF 832 for FOV, ergos, optical advances? UVHD+ for size and weight? Many here have been kind enough to put up with my process. Thank you. Truth is, Im finding it hard to justify another purchase. These 2 binoculars, 825/1042, bracket nicely the utility required for birding, at least the birding I do. Part of the problem is that, the little Zeiss are that good. We tend to look at them as small, compact, pocketable, all things that seem to limit their true utility. I, and I think we, (judging by that much longer thread) discuss them in this way, how good they are for something so small. We then go on to debate in other threads, the latest this or that 42 vs 32, 8 vs 10, relegating the 825 to some sort of special purpose thing. That's a mistake. The size/weight argument for the 825s made them the sensible choice to tag along on my new hip, recovery hikes, this summer. But after several months of that, Im forced to ask what more did I need? I cant think of a viewing situation where they came up short, except of course when the migration is on, the daily choice of what to see expands, and the detail my 10s reveal, makes them the preferred option.

 

[Ratal]

I tend to agree with the idea described here. I have both the little Zeiss and a lovely 1042. Having enjoyed the excitement of those 2 purchases, admitting to wanting another pleasure hit, Ive been pondering what else to buy for months. NL/SF 832 for FOV, ergos, optical advances? UVHD+ for size and weight? Many here have been kind enough to put up with my process. Thank you. Truth is, Im finding it hard to justify another purchase. These 2 binoculars, 825/1042, bracket nicely the utility required for birding, at least the birding I do. Part of the problem is that, the little Zeiss are that good. We tend to look at them as small, compact, pocketable, all things that seem to limit their true utility. I, and I think we, (judging by that much longer thread) discuss them in this way, how good they are for something so small. We then go on to debate in other threads, the latest this or that 42 vs 32, 8 vs 10, relegating the 825 to some sort of special purpose thing. That's a mistake. The size/weight argument for the 825s made them the sensible choice to tag along on my new hip, recovery hikes, this summer. But after several months of that, Im forced to ask what more did I need? I cant think of a viewing situation where they came up short, except of course when the migration is on, the daily choice of what to see expands, and the detail my 10s reveal, makes them the preferred option.

I won't part with mine when they arrive - Zeiss truly has won a fan - the feel, size, form factor - Just absolutely incredible. As for the brightness - Still not sure how they crammed so much light gathering into such a small space. Phenomenal.

 

[mwhogue]

I over accessorize. But talk about "grab and go".

Mike

 

[Ratal]

I over accessorize. But talk about "grab and go".

Mike

That is a stellar rig set up. I cannot find fault with them - they are everything a travel binocular should be.

A solid keeper from me. 10 out of 10