It seems strange that I would go counter to the consensus and even claim that a relatively cheap and heavy set of Binoculars could be the best in the world. I would really like to know if I am wrong here. I mean who would want to carry 33.7 oz around with them anyway? For Birding? Maybe I am just biased because I was born in the USA and so were these glasses. After-all, I do own a Subaru Forester, an Omega watch, and US currency is in my pocket. What could be more American than that?
So I walk up to the counter casually and ask . . . “Do you have any Swarovski 10X42 EL models?”
“Sure” he says and hands me an absolutely brilliant set. I set them down on the counter without looking through them. The guy has a knowing look on his face.
“The Zeiss 10X42 FL?” Yep . . . “The Leica Ultra” . . . Yep. Okay, now I was ready.
“You may want to look at these too,” he says obviously biased.
“Oh?” I ask with a superior I already know everything tone.
“They’re LEE UH POOLDS,” he says.
“Okay,” I say not wanting to offend him as I roll my eyes. Just what I need . . . Two rifle scopes glued together. I grab them from him and almost fall to the floor. Lead is a Great choice of materials to make a Binoc! I set them down next to the others quickly, trying to conserve my strength.
I aim each binoc at a resolution chart, which took a little work, not really wanting to mess with 4 tripods, and studied the images. Swarovski is amazing, Leica is awe-inspiring, Zeiss is pretty good, and much to my horror and disappointment, the LEE UH POOLDS are pretty good too. “Huh,” I state dumbly and reevaluate all four. The Zeiss and POOLDS were on par. This was very surprising. The Swaro and Leica were on par but a little higher par. This was getting interesting. I pick them up and study the image through each. I find the Leupolds have a steadier image (because of the weight??? weird) and the apparent field of view very wide. I was able to resolve better with them than with the other three, hand-held. Brightness was up there. Color-excellent. So . . . did I buy them? Nope, I got a generation one Leupold Golden Ring 8X32 instead. Why? It was closeout and . . . the FOV is really narrow. Huh? You might ask. Yep, it feels like I can see as much as a 10X without any shake. Okay, Okay, I feel like I’m in a tunnel but birds really fill the entire view. Nuff said . . . so flame me. Seriously, my first post so be kind.
So I walk up to the counter casually and ask . . . “Do you have any Swarovski 10X42 EL models?”
“Sure” he says and hands me an absolutely brilliant set. I set them down on the counter without looking through them. The guy has a knowing look on his face.
“The Zeiss 10X42 FL?” Yep . . . “The Leica Ultra” . . . Yep. Okay, now I was ready.
“You may want to look at these too,” he says obviously biased.
“Oh?” I ask with a superior I already know everything tone.
“They’re LEE UH POOLDS,” he says.
“Okay,” I say not wanting to offend him as I roll my eyes. Just what I need . . . Two rifle scopes glued together. I grab them from him and almost fall to the floor. Lead is a Great choice of materials to make a Binoc! I set them down next to the others quickly, trying to conserve my strength.
I aim each binoc at a resolution chart, which took a little work, not really wanting to mess with 4 tripods, and studied the images. Swarovski is amazing, Leica is awe-inspiring, Zeiss is pretty good, and much to my horror and disappointment, the LEE UH POOLDS are pretty good too. “Huh,” I state dumbly and reevaluate all four. The Zeiss and POOLDS were on par. This was very surprising. The Swaro and Leica were on par but a little higher par. This was getting interesting. I pick them up and study the image through each. I find the Leupolds have a steadier image (because of the weight??? weird) and the apparent field of view very wide. I was able to resolve better with them than with the other three, hand-held. Brightness was up there. Color-excellent. So . . . did I buy them? Nope, I got a generation one Leupold Golden Ring 8X32 instead. Why? It was closeout and . . . the FOV is really narrow. Huh? You might ask. Yep, it feels like I can see as much as a 10X without any shake. Okay, Okay, I feel like I’m in a tunnel but birds really fill the entire view. Nuff said . . . so flame me. Seriously, my first post so be kind.