Best alpha binoculars 10 x in 2024 (1 Viewer)

[Hillclocks]

I do not feel this thread needs to continue. I would share this concern. Let's not scare away up and coming birders, young or older by too much talk which is the "best" $2500.00 binocular to use for birding. There are many birders out there who are enjoying the day with there twenty some year old binos with good "made in Japan" glass without any worry of what a high Alpha purchase will do to their bank account. Get the best you feel you can afford and learn how yes, "learn" how to enjoy them. Happy birding! My twenty year Leupold 8x42 Wind Rivers are always under my work van seat.

 

[Dennis Mau]

I do not feel this thread needs to continue. I would share this concern. Let's not scare away up and coming birders, young or older by too much talk which is the "best" $2500.00 binocular to use for birding. There are many birders out there who are enjoying the day with there twenty some year old binos with good "made in Japan" glass without any worry of what a high Alpha purchase will do to their bank account. Get the best you feel you can afford and learn how yes, "learn" how to enjoy them. Happy birding! My twenty year Leupold 8x42 Wind Rivers are always under my work van seat.

Just because discussing what is the best alpha 10x doesn't interest you doesn't mean it doesn't interest a lot of other birders on Bird Forum. There are many birders on Bird Forum that buy alpha level binoculars all the time and the price is not even a concern, but they are interested in what other birders opinions are concerning their choices. I find what makes somebody choose a certain binocular very interesting, be it a $500 or $2500 binocular. What you have to realize is there are two bests. Number one is the best for you, and number two is what binoculars are generally considered the bests by the public, and they are usually the most expensive. If you are talking about what alpha level 10x binoculars are generally considered the best, the answer is easy. A 10x42 Swarovski NL, Zeiss SF or Leica Noctivid. Of those three, you have to decide what works the best for you. These reviews are for hunting, but it still applies to birding.

Swarovski NL Pure vs Zeiss Victory SF vs Leica Noctivid

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26 Best Binoculars For Hunting | Backwoods Pursuit

Looking for the best binoculars on the market and aren't quite sure which ones to purchase? Maybe you are looking for the best binoculars for hunting or the

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[Hillclocks]

Hi Den . Wondering if you may have miss my point in my thread or I might not have been as clear in my wording that someone would assumed I don't appreciate this thread on Alpha 10 x binos. Hmmmm, way am I following this thread anyway..... I did appreciate your comments. High end optics have been in my work for over 55 years. Some photo Leica tele-lenses retail for more than 5 times the best Swaros. In viewing optics, both binos and spotting scopes that I use, buy, sell, collect and do repairs on are mostly high end binoculars. Also am promoting bird watching with young people. Who knows, they may end up being a user of the "best" three in your list. I have and use Swaros, Zeiss and Leicas , yes, mostly in that order. At my age I do favor the 32s. For the hunter, with gloves on and long periods of one hand viewing, the Zeiss 8x32 Victory SF , with the longer size, open hinge , good balance, 465' FOV and large focas wheel makes this one great binocular for both hunting and birding. Are they best? Use them several month and an oppinion might be just a bit more accurate. P.S. also use 10x32 SF

 

[Maljunulo]

Where is Post #42?

 

[tenex]

Post #42 is between 41 and 43. Anyone who can't even see that it exists must have its author on Ignore. (This happens with entire threads too, which is why I've implemented my own Ignore feature instead with css in Firefox, which merely blocks the content unless I insist on viewing it.)

 

[Maljunulo]

Oh, okay. Thanks.

I guess they only show up when someone quotes him, and reading is optional.

 

[Paultricounty]

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of comparing a few of the top alphas together. A small group of buddies put together the Swarovski 8x42 and 10x42 NL’s, the Leica Noctivids in the same configuration, a Zeiss 10x42 and 8x32 SF. I just wanted to add some thoughts and a few opinions about the best, not the measured 'stat' best, but the users' opinions of what was best subjectively using the equipment in the field throughout the day. We just wanted to get an idea of how our small group would respond to having the three best bins to swap back and forth for the day. We concentrated on feel, color, sharpness, eye box comfort, how they handled, and how they felt in the hands.

I’m just going to share a general consensus of the group and not break down all the minutiae and details. All agreed, all are made very well. The Leica and Swaros feel more dense and have the feeling they’re more rugged than the Zeiss, which feels a little delicate. As far as best (subjectively), to me and a few others (not the consensus), we liked the image of the Leica’s the most. That being said, the NL’s checked the most boxes from all the participants, myself included. Between the FOV, the image sharpness, brightness, edge performance, and natural color feel, they excel in every optical category for a binocular. I might choose and enjoy the Noctivids more, but there is no denying that the NL’s are the best (subjectively), they’ve broken all the previous records.

 

[lmans66]

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of comparing a few of the top alphas together. A small group of buddies put together the Swarovski 8x42 and 10x42 NL’s, the Leica Noctivids in the same configuration, a Zeiss 10x42 and 8x32 SF. I just wanted to add some thoughts and a few opinions about the best, not the measured 'stat' best, but the users' opinions of what was best subjectively using the equipment in the field throughout the day. We just wanted to get an idea of how our small group would respond to having the three best bins to swap back and forth for the day. We concentrated on feel, color, sharpness, eye box comfort, how they handled, and how they felt in the hands.

I’m just going to share a general consensus of the group and not break down all the minutiae and details. All agreed, all are made very well. The Leica and Swaros feel more dense and have the feeling they’re more rugged than the Zeiss, which feels a little delicate. As far as best (subjectively), to me and a few others (not the consensus), we liked the image of the Leica’s the most. That being said, the NL’s checked the most boxes from all the participants, myself included. Between the FOV, the image sharpness, brightness, edge performance, and natural color feel, they excel in every optical category for a binocular. I might choose and enjoy the Noctivids more, but there is no denying that the NL’s are the best (subjectively), they’ve broken all the previous records.

I think this is the way to evaluate a binocular, especially ones that go for thousands of dollars. It is one thing purchasing a $400 binocular and taking your chances without viewing ahead of time but for a alpha one, take your time. Try them out....compare them

 

[Paultricounty]

Why did you like the image of the Noctivid the best? The better color saturation and sharper on-axis view? I just bought a Noctivid 8x42 and it is impressive. I had forgotten how sharp the edges were. They are almost as sharp as an SF and the colors are off the chart. It is very sharp on-axis also. I have a Swarovski SL 8x42 coming, so I am going to compare the two and see which one I like the best. Have you ever had an SLC 8x42?

Yes, to me and a few others the saturated enhanced color makes the image have a warm (in a good way) and candy to the eyes kind of feeling, but not overdone, or in an artificial way. The on axis sharpness is off the charts in all of them, as was a Sworo 8.5x42 we also had with us. It’s very difficult to say which is sharper, it’s so close it’s like splitting hairs, one might perceive the NL’s to be the sharpest because of a more neutral color hue. The SF is also extremely sharp , maybe more so than the Nocs, but because of the slight artificial image quality from the greenish hue, it’s less apparent.

Those who picked the Nocs did so because of that central image, and preferred that to the other better optical benefits of the NL’s and SF’s as discussed, FOV, edges and to some, a more true to real life neutral image characteristic. Overall, that consensus was the NL‘s were the best of the best, but certainly not necessarily the most enjoyable to the consensus. As far as the handling, I left out in my last post, it went back and forth between the group, and even between each member going back and forth on which they liked best. For ergonomics, the SF’s got the nod, with the NL’s a close second. But all agreed the Leica was the gem in fit, finish and quality of material feel. But as a tool ergonomics won out. I’d like to ad, just about all the participants had to spend a little time learning the eye box to get perfect eyecup position and IPD with the Nocs and NL’s, but no nobody seemed to have this learning curve with the 10x42 and 8x32 SF’s. Same with the EL’s.

For me if it came down the 8x I’d go with the Nocs, if I had to choose the 10x, I’d go with the NL’s. It’s a good thing I own both, because if I had to choose one, that would be a very difficult choice. With the SF’s, it wouldn’t make a difference, 8x, 10, 42 or 32, they’re all the same good 😄.

I don’t feel the SLC is in the same genre category, imo.

 

[Paultricounty]

Thanks. Good analysis of the alpha's. I think the colors in the Nocitvid are just very accurate, if that means anything, and maybe just slightly enhanced. The build quality of the Noctivid is off the charts. Easily the best build quality of any binocular I have seen, from the armor to the eye cups to the objective covers to the case. Everything is just perfect and well engineered. They are beautiful binoculars to look at.

I think that’s a great way to describe the Nocs, accurate with slight color enhancement. Not as accurate as the NL’s or EL’s, but definitely more accurate than Ultravids and all the Nikons. The Ultravids are off the charts with color saturation , imo the best or the most, Nikons are good as well in that area , but they’re not as bright and sharp as the UV’s. Leica makes tools that are like rugged jewelry.

 

[JJacq]

I think that’s a great way to describe the Nocs, accurate with slight color enhancement. Not as accurate as the NL’s or EL’s, but definitely more accurate than Ultravids and all the Nikons. The Ultravids are off the charts with color saturation , imo the best or the most, Nikons are good as well in that area , but they’re not as bright and sharp as the UV’s. Leica makes tools that are like rugged jewelry.

I couldn't have said it any better. But thats Leica for you, they have cameras that cost as much as down-payments for a mortgage. In some states at least, down state NY not so much. And even if I had the money I still couldn't justify it but then I'm not a professional photographer. And yes there is definitely a certain kind of snobbery that goes along with people buying them and then never really using them. But thats what keeps the after market thriving. I have grey marketeers and these very same status seekers to thank, after they discard their binoculars after one safari, for most if not all of my acquisitions. I'm just lower on the chum line. 😎

P.S. The kind of safari where they physically bring the animals to them. Dangling from a crane while they sip sundowners on the verandas of their twelve room, luxury tents. Don't act like it don't happen!

Jim

 

[lmans66]

I have grey marketeers and these very same status seekers to thank, after they discard their binoculars after one safari, for most if not all of my acquisitions. I'm just lower on the chum line. 😎

Cool....where might be a site that directs us to these people who so easily have little difference about $?