I can't believe that they are twice as good.
Hey all,
I don't think I can add anything that the informed consumers haven't already added regarding the bins and specifications proper. However, I hear comments similar to the above all of the time and I would like to add a tangent here that is worthy of consideration (I will qualify to say that I'm not picking on the optic this was used with but just lesser quality optics in general). As a professional birder of 20+ years (and not a Leica employee) I used to think the same way, however my thinking changed after a few valuable real life experiences.
Back in the mid 1980's, I was working as research biologist for anyone that would offer me floor space and a bit of a stipend. The term "meager stipend" was VERY real in my world. For example I made a whopping $150 a month to band hawks in Cape May, NJ (less than I spent in beer let alone food, gas, and other non essentials). At any rate, I can safely say no one was on a tighter budget than I in those days, and when selecting optics (which I used every day, all day) I made these same justifications. Looking at the ~$250 I selected I felt these were near as bright and crisp as anything out there (at least fresh out of the box)!... Certainly not 4x less than the top end models which were a bit over $1000 at this point.
The problem... I was and still am a birder and I use and abuse optics. They are a tool I count on to identify birds and wildlife I see daily and offer pleasing views of those I do. As a birder, when it rained I put on a rain coat and continued to bird. When it was cold and snowy I dressed warmly and birded. However, my (barely) waterproof optics would fog internally and they didn't bounce gracefully. There was no one who could truly mean, "I can not afford high end optics" more than I in those days, but as I prepared to buy my third pair of bins in 5 years time, I realized the $$ I was saving really was no bargain at all.
Are premium optics twice as good as an optic that is built to lower standards or with lower grade materials and weaker seals? In direct comparison, fresh out of the box in a showroom somewhere, perhaps not. But if you buy two or three of these "lesser binocs" to one of the higher grade optics that hold up better and last longer without degradation of image then the answer is a resounding "YES!" Particularly, if you have a notably better image in all real life conditions throughout your time with said optic and are spared undue eye strain over long usage. For example, brilliant views in the dim light of a tropical rain forest understory, or fog free performance in drizzle/snow/fog say in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
There is nothing worse than having your "bargain" optic fail on you in the middle of a once in a lifetime trip. I've seen this on multiple ocassions as a professional guide in Alaska. Individuals with hopelessly fogged optics clamoring for the use of some good samaritan's bins so they could at least get a fleeting glimpse of the subject at hand once others had gotten their fill.
All of these experiences as a birder led me to believe that anyone truly interested in birding should always buy the BEST optics their budget will allow and perhaps a bit more. My premium optics I purchased in the late 1980's set me back nearly half a years pay but I used them without fail for the next 14 years in the worst of conditions and the memories of birds and wildlife seen were as sharp and vivid as possible. It was these experiences that shaped my opinion on the need and value of a high end optic long before I ever considered becoming a Leica employee. The latter just allows me to continue birding in the same manner for more money and with the coolest toys around! ;P
Sincerely,
Jeff Bouton
Leica Sport Optics, USA
Leica Birding Blog
www.birdwatchersdigest.com/leica
