Having both the prime and the conquest I will say qued nailed it with the clunky description. The binoculars theirself are outstanding and for me the eye cups are a non issue. I usually pull them out to what I need with my glasses and there they stay.
Zen Primes are great in the optics department, really really good. They feel solid and are very comfortable to use. They fall down on the little things, like my serial number tag fell off. Fortunately I found it, and reglued it back in. The focus isnt quite as smooth as the Conquest, and the rubber armor had a slight smell that still lingers but is much less than when I first got them. Eye cups are better on the Prime.
I wouldnt feel badly using either one for the rest of my days.
I wouldnt say the made in Germany is overplayed, it does cost more upfront but if you were to need to sell one down the road, made in Germany commands a bit more respect than made in China. With Zeiss, you can be pretty sure the company will be operating a long time down the road. As for Zen Ray, Vortex, Alpen, Endeavor and many others who market optics, if things go south with China at some point they may well close their doors. At that point the warranty becomes a moot point.
The warranty is only as good as the company who stands behind it. Currently, Zen is excellent from what I hear. But 20 years from now? You pays your money, you takes your chances.
