BruceH
Avatar: Harris Hawk
Vanguard Endeavor ED II - The new Alpha! :t:
Buy one now before the end of December, 2016 and get a $100 rebate from Vanguard USA.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fNBsUor44IbXlrUDZPSUxFU2c/view
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Death Of The Alpha? (1 Viewer)
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Vanguard Endeavor ED II - The new Alpha! :t:
Buy one now before the end of December, 2016 and get a $100 rebate from Vanguard USA.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fNBsUor44IbXlrUDZPSUxFU2c/view
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
Vanguard Endeavor ED II - The new Alpha! :t:
Buy one now before the end of December, 2016 and get a $100 rebate from Vanguard USA.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fNBsUor44IbXlrUDZPSUxFU2c/view
I guess this means the Tract will soon be pushing up daisies....
BruceH
Avatar: Harris Hawk
The Endeavor II sure works for his (Dennis) new persona, "More Alpha for less money"!
Dennis, you have my ok to use that as your signature if you so desire. :t:
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Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
Now let's not be too hasty with these declarations when other contenders haven't even been given a chance. Seriously, has anyone tested the Bushnell 8x42 Legend L-series and M-series binoculars? Bushnell's buying power has made its bins hard to beat for superb specs (check FOV, weight, size) and performance at a low price. If these bins are optically as good as their predecessor (Bushnell 8x42 Legend Ultra HD--discontinued, but still available) with better unit-to-unit consistency and mechanical integrity, they'll be my pick for the new alpha (sensu denco).
--AP
Iceberg slim
You ent sin me roit.....
Another very good make which is optically very very good in Minox....
I had a couple Nikon EDG's and they never really did it for me. They just lacked brightness and contrast in my opinion. Comparing them to other alpha's I had at the time they just didn't WOW me. They depreciate something awful also. I had to unload my brand new Nikon EDG II 8x32 for $1000.00 just to get rid of it. People won't pay any money for a high end Nikon because they have the low end stigma. Nikon is done in the high end binocular market. They are the first alpha that is going to die. I had a Vanguard Endeavor ED II and as far as I am concerned it is not near the binocular the Tract or Maven is optically or build quality wise. It is a Chinese made binocular and although for the money it a good binocular it is not in the same class as the Japanese made Kamakura binoculars. Not having a case is a small issue with me and I would rather not have a totally flat field because you get more RB and less 3D. But we are all entitled to our own opinions so I respect Chill4x4's but I respectfully disagree with him.
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I have never used a Chinese built binocular that APPROACHED the quality of the Japanese binoculars like the Tract and the Maven. The Bushnell Legend L series and M series which are Chinese have a lot of quality problems. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole.The Vanguard Endeavor ED II is a good Chinese binocular but it shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence as either the Tract or the Maven. No Chinese POS is going to be the new alpha I assure you.
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Never met a Minox that I liked. They just seemed like they were never as good as the top dogs and I have tried several over the years.
BruceH
Avatar: Harris Hawk
I thought you had the original Vanguard Endeavor ED rather than the subsequent II model. I remember purchasing my original ED 8X42 about the same time as you. If you later got a II model, then sorry, I missed that.
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2942641&postcount=10
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
It's really lame to do comparisons between binoculars owned years apart. Sorry, that will never cut it here.
Direct A to B is the only way to see meaningful differences. All the bluster here amounts to nothing more than some sort of concerted effort to hype a flavour-of-the-month.
Direct A to B is the only way to see meaningful differences. All the bluster here amounts to nothing more than some sort of concerted effort to hype a flavour-of-the-month.
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Nice little red dot. Don't it make you feel good. Makes me feel I have arrived. 7x42 ultravid HDs owner :t:
All I can say is try the Tract or the Maven yourself and make up your own mind. Chinese binoculars like the Vanguard's can have pretty good glass. Even some of the Zen Ray's had pretty good glass but their build quality is nowhere near a Japanese built binocular. That is what is unusual about the Tract's and Maven's. They have finally matched the alpha's optically AND mechanically. Put a Maven or Tract next to a Zeiss and really there is not much difference in the look and feel of the binocular. Put a Vanguard next to a Zeiss and it is easy to tell which one is Chinese. The Maven's and Tract's look high dollar.
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I had a Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8x42 for a short period of time. It had good glass(Hoya I believe) and good optics but it was still CHINESE. Build quality is not like the Tract's or Maven's I assure you.
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Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
Dennis, I have again today looked through and tested my Zen-Ray ED3 8x43 stopped down from its original luxurious 426ft Fov to a more Tract like 377ft.
Holy Carp! WOW! :king:
This now leaves Alphas in the dust! I could see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from up in the Mountains. The view is sharp to the edge, whereas you said the sweet spot in the Tract was only 70% of the field. That's an extra 30%, over 111ft extra sharp. There is an awesome 3-Dness to the view, I don't think even the new NoctiVids could beat this. It's got the perfect open frame ergonomics. It's lighter than the much hyped Zeiss SF. Eye relief is good enough for me to see the entire Fov with my glasses on. The CA handling is top shelf - it's as good as any Alpha I have seen. The focus direction is absolutely perfect. The large knurled aluminium focusing wheel allows room for two fingers in a push-pull arrangement. There is absolutely no slop or movement between my fingers and the focus wheel - it just grips instantaneously - not deforming like a lesser rubber wheel. The smoothness is the equal of any Zeiss Alpha I have ever used. The hinges and diopter have perfect tension and no freeplay - the whole thing just feels solid, but light - total quality. Brightness is at least on par with Swaro's SV, but the 5.3mm exit pupil puts it in front at dusk. The colour rendition is very neutral thanks to the dielectric prism coatings and ED glass - the equal of the SV and better than the SLC imho. I would rate Micro Contrast as better than the Zeiss HT. The glare performance is improved by restricting the Fov too - but it is so sharp to the edge that you don't notice it is only 377ft. The resolution is every bit the equal of the porro prism Swift Audubon 8.5x44 ED that I had. I could easily see the four moons of Jupiter with it. The quality of the armour is top notch - no loose bits that move, or bubbling - this is clearly better than early Zeiss SF's, and there was even mention of looseness on the Tract thread. This is Alpha leading performance for ~$400, you might even be able to get a better deal with the arrival of the new ED4 model on the scene. You would have to be crazy to spend $650 or more. :cat:
I know you've only had the ED2, but the ED3 is so much better. You really should try the these for yourself. You will thank me. :t: The Tract is dead as Chuck said. o
Chosun :gh:
Holy Carp! WOW! :king:
This now leaves Alphas in the dust! I could see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from up in the Mountains. The view is sharp to the edge, whereas you said the sweet spot in the Tract was only 70% of the field. That's an extra 30%, over 111ft extra sharp. There is an awesome 3-Dness to the view, I don't think even the new NoctiVids could beat this. It's got the perfect open frame ergonomics. It's lighter than the much hyped Zeiss SF. Eye relief is good enough for me to see the entire Fov with my glasses on. The CA handling is top shelf - it's as good as any Alpha I have seen. The focus direction is absolutely perfect. The large knurled aluminium focusing wheel allows room for two fingers in a push-pull arrangement. There is absolutely no slop or movement between my fingers and the focus wheel - it just grips instantaneously - not deforming like a lesser rubber wheel. The smoothness is the equal of any Zeiss Alpha I have ever used. The hinges and diopter have perfect tension and no freeplay - the whole thing just feels solid, but light - total quality. Brightness is at least on par with Swaro's SV, but the 5.3mm exit pupil puts it in front at dusk. The colour rendition is very neutral thanks to the dielectric prism coatings and ED glass - the equal of the SV and better than the SLC imho. I would rate Micro Contrast as better than the Zeiss HT. The glare performance is improved by restricting the Fov too - but it is so sharp to the edge that you don't notice it is only 377ft. The resolution is every bit the equal of the porro prism Swift Audubon 8.5x44 ED that I had. I could easily see the four moons of Jupiter with it. The quality of the armour is top notch - no loose bits that move, or bubbling - this is clearly better than early Zeiss SF's, and there was even mention of looseness on the Tract thread. This is Alpha leading performance for ~$400, you might even be able to get a better deal with the arrival of the new ED4 model on the scene. You would have to be crazy to spend $650 or more. :cat:
I know you've only had the ED2, but the ED3 is so much better. You really should try the these for yourself. You will thank me. :t: The Tract is dead as Chuck said. o
Chosun :gh:
Zen-Rays are junk.:-ODennis, I have again today looked through and tested my Zen-Ray ED3 8x43 stopped down from its original luxurious 426ft Fov to a more Tract like 377ft.
Holy Carp! WOW! :king:
This now leaves Alphas in the dust! I could see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from up in the Mountains. The view is sharp to the edge, whereas you said the sweet spot in the Tract was only 70% of the field. That's an extra 30%, over 111ft extra sharp. There is an awesome 3-Dness to the view, I don't think even the new NoctiVids could beat this. It's got the perfect open frame ergonomics. It's lighter than the much hyped Zeiss SF. Eye relief is good enough for me to see the entire Fov with my glasses on. The CA handling is top shelf - it's as good as any Alpha I have seen. The focus direction is absolutely perfect. The large knurled aluminium focusing wheel allows room for two fingers in a push-pull arrangement. There is absolutely no slop or movement between my fingers and the focus wheel - it just grips instantaneously - not deforming like a lesser rubber wheel. The smoothness is the equal of any Zeiss Alpha I have ever used. The hinges and diopter have perfect tension and no freeplay - the whole thing just feels solid, but light - total quality. Brightness is at least on par with Swaro's SV, but the 5.3mm exit pupil puts it in front at dusk. The colour rendition is very neutral thanks to the dielectric prism coatings and ED glass - the equal of the SV and better than the SLC imho. I would rate Micro Contrast as better than the Zeiss HT. The glare performance is improved by restricting the Fov too - but it is so sharp to the edge that you don't notice it is only 377ft. The resolution is every bit the equal of the porro prism Swift Audubon 8.5x44 ED that I had. I could easily see the four moons of Jupiter with it. The quality of the armour is top notch - no loose bits that move, or bubbling - this is clearly better than early Zeiss SF's, and there was even mention of looseness on the Tract thread. This is Alpha leading performance for ~$400, you might even be able to get a better deal with the arrival of the new ED4 model on the scene. You would have to be crazy to spend $650 or more. :cat:
I know you've only had the ED2, but the ED3 is so much better. You really should try the these for yourself. You will thank me. :t: The Tract is dead as Chuck said. o
Chosun :gh:
Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
No they're not. You're only going by your memory of the ED2 .... The ED3 is sooooo much better - it's Alpha class. Try it. Stop down the Fov - it's 30% better than the Tract. You will be blown away! Only the Made in Japan and Made in Germany Minox High Grades have the same Aluminium focus wheel (I think Maven might have recently copied it too).
The stopped down ED3 will absolutely blow the Tract away - for just over half the price too! Mortimer has got a $1 riding on it. Safe bet.
It absolutely smokes the Alphas which means it will blow the Tract into the weeds .... It beats everything - Canon IS, Leica NoctiVid. It is the new King! What are you going to do with the extra $250+ ???
Chosun :gh:
The stopped down ED3 will absolutely blow the Tract away - for just over half the price too! Mortimer has got a $1 riding on it. Safe bet.
It absolutely smokes the Alphas which means it will blow the Tract into the weeds .... It beats everything - Canon IS, Leica NoctiVid. It is the new King! What are you going to do with the extra $250+ ???
Chosun :gh:
The-Wanderer
Well-known member
CJ
Would you please explain what you mean by stopping down, and how you measure it in FOV or AFOV terms. Are you meaning that you blank off the aperture of the objective or that somehow you fiddle with the eyepiece? How do you effect this?
Would you please explain what you mean by stopping down, and how you measure it in FOV or AFOV terms. Are you meaning that you blank off the aperture of the objective or that somehow you fiddle with the eyepiece? How do you effect this?
Dennis, I have again today looked through and tested my Zen-Ray ED3 8x43 stopped down from its original luxurious 426ft Fov to a more Tract like 377ft.
Holy Carp! WOW! :king:
This now leaves Alphas in the dust! I could see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from up in the Mountains. The view is sharp to the edge, whereas you said the sweet spot in the Tract was only 70% of the field. That's an extra 30%, over 111ft extra sharp. There is an awesome 3-Dness to the view, I don't think even the new NoctiVids could beat this. It's got the perfect open frame ergonomics. It's lighter than the much hyped Zeiss SF. Eye relief is good enough for me to see the entire Fov with my glasses on. The CA handling is top shelf - it's as good as any Alpha I have seen. The focus direction is absolutely perfect. The large knurled aluminium focusing wheel allows room for two fingers in a push-pull arrangement. There is absolutely no slop or movement between my fingers and the focus wheel - it just grips instantaneously - not deforming like a lesser rubber wheel. The smoothness is the equal of any Zeiss Alpha I have ever used. The hinges and diopter have perfect tension and no freeplay - the whole thing just feels solid, but light - total quality. Brightness is at least on par with Swaro's SV, but the 5.3mm exit pupil puts it in front at dusk. The colour rendition is very neutral thanks to the dielectric prism coatings and ED glass - the equal of the SV and better than the SLC imho. I would rate Micro Contrast as better than the Zeiss HT. The glare performance is improved by restricting the Fov too - but it is so sharp to the edge that you don't notice it is only 377ft. The resolution is every bit the equal of the porro prism Swift Audubon 8.5x44 ED that I had. I could easily see the four moons of Jupiter with it. The quality of the armour is top notch - no loose bits that move, or bubbling - this is clearly better than early Zeiss SF's, and there was even mention of looseness on the Tract thread. This is Alpha leading performance for ~$400, you might even be able to get a better deal with the arrival of the new ED4 model on the scene. You would have to be crazy to spend $650 or more. :cat:
I know you've only had the ED2, but the ED3 is so much better. You really should try the these for yourself. You will thank me. :t: The Tract is dead as Chuck said. o
Chosun :gh:
I thought it was way better than this.:t:
Lee
Kowa Genesis have ally focus wheels too.
But its so good that someone at last recognises Zen-Ray for their achievements.
Please tell us more CJ.
Lee
