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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

In Search of the Perfect Compact Binoculars for Active Woods Adventures (2 Viewers)

OrionEyes said:
Hey everyone,

I'm new around here and really excited to join this knowledgeable community! I've spent some time digging through old posts and threads but couldn't quite find the specific info I'm looking for. You all seem like the go-to experts for all things binoculars, so I’m hopeful you can help me out.

I’m primarily a turkey hunter and love to keep things light and minimal when I'm out in the woods. My current pair, the Maven B1.2, has been great but they’re just too cumbersome for running and gunning. I’m on the lookout for a compact, lightweight pair of binoculars that won’t slow me down.

I’ve narrowed it down to the Maven B7 and the Swarovski Curio. I’m curious about the differences between these models, especially since they both use similar prisms. What really sets the Swaros apart from the Mavens in terms of performance and usability?

Also, I’ve looked at the Maven B3, but I’m not sure if they might still be too large for my needs. Any thoughts or experiences with these or any other models would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks so much in advance for your insights and advice!
Click to expand...
I'm curious about the Maven B7 as well but I find the price prohibitive. Their description says its's the same glass as their $525 B3 binoculars which are 30mm. In other words, you're getting less glass/aperture yet the compacts cost more.

I tried the zeiss VP pockets recently quickly at a store and the view was nice enough but I couldn't get along with the one-sided hinge (I have small/short hands). The curio's are nice optically and seriously feels like you have a a much larger instrument in your pockets but I wasn't crazy about the small eyecups in such an optically-good binocular. I tried the 8x20 ultravids when I tried the zeiss vp, the view was rather nice and soothing and warm but maybe too warm. I'm not sure how I would get along with them moving between more neutral binoculars to the warmer ones. Also the leica's in 25mm only come in 10x. They still might be worth it.

I'm curious which binoculars you get and particularly interested to hear in user reports about the B7. Part of me is tempted to demo them but I know I probably won't buy them considering I have to pay sales tax at the end and at that high price point I might as well get leicas.

Also I feel like I see lots of user reports that say maven binoculars tend to be excellent in center but fall off towards the edge -- I've seen this said across several models. So I'm wondering if it's more of the same with the B7 and if the 8x extra fov will go to "waste".
 
Last edited:
OrionEyes said:
I'm starting to lean towards the Curios. More compact and the larger FOV seems to be the bet.
Click to expand...
I'm a big supporter of the Curio and immediately became my favorite small binocular when it first arrived. Still very high on my list but the Ultravid 8x20 took over and remains to this day my single favorite binocular and the only one I have in multiples. Give one a try if you get the chance.
That said, the Curio is still going to be easier to bring into immediate focus and is a joy to use.
 
OrionEyes said:
Hey everyone,

I'm new around here and really excited to join this knowledgeable community! I've spent some time digging through old posts and threads but couldn't quite find the specific info I'm looking for. You all seem like the go-to experts for all things binoculars, so I’m hopeful you can help me out.

I love to keep things light and minimal when I'm out in the woods. My current pair, the Maven B1.2, has been great but they’re just too cumbersome for my needs. I’m on the lookout for a compact, lightweight pair of binoculars that won’t slow me down.

I’ve narrowed it down to the Maven B7 and the Swarovski Curio. I’m curious about the differences between these models, especially since they both use similar prisms. What really sets the Swaros apart from the Mavens in terms of performance and usability?

Also, I’ve looked at the Maven B3, but I’m not sure if they might still be too large for my needs. Any thoughts or experiences with these or any other models would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks so much in advance for your insights and advice!
Click to expand...
I may be too late to help, but I have had the Maven B3 in 8x30 for several months and love them. A bit smaller than most mid sized
and very comfortable handling. You have the B1.2 so you know already that the glass is Good!
 
iseegeorgesstar said:
I'm curious about the Maven B7 as well but I find the price prohibitive. Their description says its's the same glass as their $525 B3 binoculars which are 30mm. In other words, you're getting less glass/aperture yet the compacts cost more.

I tried the zeiss VP pockets recently quickly at a store and the view was nice enough but I couldn't get along with the one-sided hinge (I have small/short hands). The curio's are nice optically and seriously feels like you have a a much larger instrument in your pockets but I wasn't crazy about the small eyecups in such an optically-good binocular. I tried the 8x20 ultravids when I tried the zeiss vp, the view was rather nice and soothing and warm but maybe too warm. I'm not sure how I would get along with them moving between more neutral binoculars to the warmer ones. Also the leica's in 25mm only come in 10x. They still might be worth it.

I'm curious which binoculars you get and particularly interested to hear in user reports about the B7. Part of me is tempted to demo them but I know I probably won't buy them considering I have to pay sales tax at the end and at that high price point I might as well get leicas.

Also I feel like I see lots of user reports that say maven binoculars tend to be excellent in center but fall off towards the edge -- I've seen this said across several models. So I'm wondering if it's more of the same with the B7 and if the 8x extra fov will go to "waste".
Click to expand...
I've been considering both the Maven B7 and the Curio. Both seem to be some of the smallest of the high quality options. I ordered a Curio from Amazon and it arrived from Euro Optics. It looked great but had a small defect. The edge of one of the hinges had a very sharp corner and edge, unlike the other side, so returned it.Only reading about the Maven 7, but noted its optics are not the same as the B3. Fewer elements on the B7. Very tempting, but hard to spend so much money without trying.
 
Make sure you try compacts before you buy. For me they never been in the same class as 30-32 mm and I’ve never tried one that had easy eye placement and an immersive view. Emphasis on for me. Might be the perfect binos for you. Nice thing about Maven is they have the demo program. You can also buy Mavens through Amazon and then the return is super ex.
Good luck!
 
edwincjones said:
"to Cabela's or Bass Pro"

One can analyze that stats for days on end, read hundreds of opinions;
but you can only find the "perfect binocular" for you
by seeing the binos, holding in your hands, viewing through

edj
Click to expand...
It took me probably a dozen binos to come to this realization. Every expert on this or any other forum is different and with different priorities. And at the end of the day, specs are just numbers.
 

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