A Zeiss Conquest HD on steroids. (3 Viewers)

[tenex]

I was looking at a few birds and a couple of deer earlier and couldn’t see too much difference between my Steiner 8x30’s and the Conquest 8x32’s other than a lot less glare looking towards the east and wider FOV with Conquests.

This does raise the question: what improvements are you looking for over your Steiner/Opticrons? They will already have a very decent image. For some reason I've been struck lately by how few of the latest/greatest bins I see in the field, even on experienced birders. (Exactly two NLs and two SFs so far, and otherwise some ELs or Leica BNs on older folks, but mostly midrange glass like Vortex or Opticron.) What are you seeing people use that you covet?

 

[ArchStanton]

I'd like to find a binocular with a brighter, clearer view and eye-strain free. The Steiner 8x30's are a great little binocular that was made specifically for Amazon and only cost $100. The inexpensive 6x35 Opticron Savannas were bought for watching birds close up in our backyard. I've read some positive reviews on the Conquests and Opticron Auroras and thought it would be worth upgrading. Vortex Vipers and Niikon Monarch 7's are what I've mostly seen people using in my area and very few with Conquests or Swarovski's. I paid a little more for the new Conquest 8x32's than what the Vipers and M7's cost; however, that's still the most I've ever spent on a pair of binoculars. Thank you for the reply!

 

[[email protected]]

I'd like to find a binocular with a brighter, clearer view and eye-strain free. The Steiner 8x30's are a great little binocular that was made specifically for Amazon and only cost $100. The inexpensive 6x35 Opticron Savannas were bought for watching birds close up in our backyard. I've read some positive reviews on the Conquests and Opticron Auroras and thought it would be worth upgrading. Vortex Vipers and Niikon Monarch 7's are what I've mostly seen people using in my area and very few with Conquests or Swarovski's. I paid a little more for the new Conquest 8x32's than what the Vipers and M7's cost; however, that's still the most I've ever spent on a pair of binoculars. Thank you for the reply!

The Conquests HD 8x32 should definitely be an upgrade from the Steiner's. Another one you might try is the Nikon HG 8x42. They are a nice lightweight binocular, and you can get them for all around $700.

 

[ArchStanton]

The Conquests HD 8x32 should definitely be an upgrade from the Steiner's. Another one you might try is the Nikon HG 8x42. They are a nice lightweight binocular, and you can get them for all around $700.

The Conquest has less glare and is clearer around the edges than the Steiners. It's definitely better glass. I haven't seen the Nikon HG's that low yet but will keep my eyes peeled for a good deal. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Andy Gan]

Conquest 8x32

Is there really so difficult to make proper eye placement on Conquest 8*32????

 

[chill6x6]

Is there really so difficult to make proper eye placement on Conquest 8*32????

I've never found that to be so. The movement is stiff when new. I worked them up and down several times and have since functioned just fine. Saying this....I don't feel the need to adjust the eyecups on ANY binoculars every time I used them. Most times they are exactly where I left them on any binocular and I pick them up and use them. FWIW...I have and will continue to recommend both the Conquest HD 8X32 and 10X42 without hesitation.

So sometimes I see what I want to when reading a post!

To answer your question...eye placement. I've found the Conquest HD 8X32 to be extremely easy to use where eye placement is concerned. Never been an issue. Others mileage may vary but no issue for me(I do wear glasses)

 

[[email protected]]

Is there really so difficult to make proper eye placement on Conquest 8*32????

I have never had a problem with eye placement on the Conquest 8x32. Usually I install the longer eye cups that Zeiss will send you for free, and they work fine for me without glasses.

 

[ArchStanton]

I have never had a problem with eye placement on the Conquest 8x32. Usually I install the longer eye cups that Zeiss will send you for free, and they work fine for me without glasses.

I received the free extended eyecups from Zeiss, which made eye placement easy; however, they seemed to lose some of FOV when using the extended eye cups. I ended up returning the Conquest 8x32’s.

 

[[email protected]]

I received the free extended eyecups from Zeiss, which made eye placement easy; however, they seemed to lose some of FOV when using the extended eye cups. I ended up returning the Conquest 8x32’s.

That is what can happen when you extend the eye cups too far. It starts reducing your FOV. There is a fine line of adjustment with eye cups. The NL's are awful that way. That is why they have 6 click stops on them.

 

[ArchStanton]

That is what can happen when you extend the eye cups too far. It starts reducing your FOV. There is a fine line of adjustment with eye cups. The NL's are awful that way. That is why they have 6 click stops on them.

That’s something I didn’t take into consideration and thought the more eye relief the better. My Opticron Oregon 8x42’s have 22mm of eye relief, which i thought was a good thing. I’m going to turn the eye cups down a notch to see if it increases the FOV. By the way, I noticed that when I turned down the eye cups on the Kowa BDII 8x42’s, it got rid of the black outs, which is the opposite on every other brand of binoculars I’ve tried in the same power. Thanks for the reply, Dennis!

 

[Grantexus]

Those bigger apertures really do make a difference, especially with contrast and handling glare. Once you see how bright and clear everything looks, it’s tough to go back to anything smaller.

 

[[email protected]]

That’s something I didn’t take into consideration and thought the more eye relief the better. My Opticron Oregon 8x42’s have 22mm of eye relief, which i thought was a good thing. I’m going to turn the eye cups down a notch to see if it increases the FOV. By the way, I noticed that when I turned down the eye cups on the Kowa BDII 8x42’s, it got rid of the black outs, which is the opposite on every other brand of binoculars I’ve tried in the same power. Thanks for the reply, Dennis!

It just depends on the eye relief of the binoculars and the eye cup length and diameter and how they fit your eye sockets, which can vary in depth and diameter on every individual. You're welcome, Arch!

 

[[email protected]]

Those bigger apertures really do make a difference, especially with contrast and handling glare. Once you see how bright and clear everything looks, it’s tough to go back to anything smaller.

The bigger aperture do seem to have better contrast and the glare often times goes past the field stop of the binocular and never reaches your eyes like it does on the smaller apertures. Thanks for your input!