I have been going through binoculars like a kid goes through socks. I have had Alpen Shasta Ridge Not bad at all for the price good quality and life time no hassale warranty 10x42 a bit heavy poor eye cups but over all nice for under $200 Then I had a pair of Alpen Rainier HD ED Alpens Top of the Line Now this is Alpha Class all the way competes with any glass in the $1000-$1500 range all day long. I paid $650 as a Demo pair really like them but I need the cash to fund my 68 Mustang restore project so I sold them and borke even but had the pleasure to really try thme out. Again these were top notch glass not perfect but close to it. About 85% edge to edge clearity very bright and the sweet spot was crystal clear and had a great FOV 341 at 1000 yards for a 10x43. I will miss them. During my quest of getting some Binoculars I stumbled across a deal on a older pair of Bausch & Lomb 7x42 discoverer and picked them up for $110 really a nice fun pair to use I would rate this in the middle the perform very well easy to handle with the lower power not as bright as the newer glass but still very nice glass. My wife really likes them as she can use them with her glasses on better than any other pair we have tried. So by far not the best optics but the ones that she can use with the most easy and comfort. In my book that makes them a perfect pair because they will get used.
I bought a new pair of Zen Ray Ed3 for $395 OTD and these were to try and replace the Alpen Rainier loved the brightness and they were really clear in the sweet spot. However after 2 days of use I had to return them. I really had trouble with black outs and I seemed to struggle to find them easy to use. I was always trying to get them positioned where I had a good view through them. It was really hard to enjoy them. The focus was a bit touchy also. The other thing I noticed was higher than normal eye strain while using. I think that was because of the higher than normal strain to find a good view through them. Needless to say they went back. Well yesterday on Craigslist I found a pair of Zen Ray ZRS 10x42 for $140 ith binocular harness. I was interested but also very concerned that I would have the same issue with these as the ED3 I just returned. I must say I am very pleased with them they are lighter have a better focus system not as bright but with out a doubt bright enough and they really are clearer than I expected. I really feel I scored this time I have a pair I can use with ease they look very nice optically and the price was fantastic. So I now have $250 invesed into my two pair of optics and he best part is they will get used all the time. Will these be the last two pairs I ever buy heck no, but it will be hard to find something that is so well priced to value that it will make the next purchase that much harder.
Two thumbs up for Zen ray and 1 1/2 for the Buasch & Lomb.
I bought a new pair of Zen Ray Ed3 for $395 OTD and these were to try and replace the Alpen Rainier loved the brightness and they were really clear in the sweet spot. However after 2 days of use I had to return them. I really had trouble with black outs and I seemed to struggle to find them easy to use. I was always trying to get them positioned where I had a good view through them. It was really hard to enjoy them. The focus was a bit touchy also. The other thing I noticed was higher than normal eye strain while using. I think that was because of the higher than normal strain to find a good view through them. Needless to say they went back. Well yesterday on Craigslist I found a pair of Zen Ray ZRS 10x42 for $140 ith binocular harness. I was interested but also very concerned that I would have the same issue with these as the ED3 I just returned. I must say I am very pleased with them they are lighter have a better focus system not as bright but with out a doubt bright enough and they really are clearer than I expected. I really feel I scored this time I have a pair I can use with ease they look very nice optically and the price was fantastic. So I now have $250 invesed into my two pair of optics and he best part is they will get used all the time. Will these be the last two pairs I ever buy heck no, but it will be hard to find something that is so well priced to value that it will make the next purchase that much harder.
Two thumbs up for Zen ray and 1 1/2 for the Buasch & Lomb.