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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steve C" data-source="post: 1429055" data-attributes="member: 56622">Well, I figured the subject matter of this thread would come up sooner or later.  Frankly, I figured it would have come up sooner than this.I was faced with somewhat of a quandary when I bought my Promaster Infinity Elite ELX ED and it began to dawn on me just how good of a binocular it is.  Trust me, the Promaster is up for all of the same accolades as the ZEN ED.  You can barely separate the difference between those two with a very sharp razor blade, or if you prefer, with a very expensive surgical scalpel.  The quandary was “how do I go about this without raising howls of derision and blackening the skies with clouds of suspicion”?  I figured the alpha backers would spring forward immediately with sharpened retorts.  So, I figured the only way possible was to report what I saw the way I saw it and to try and be honest with the approach I took. As to the slow focus, I have pointed that out from my first post onwards.  So as to drinking the Chinese cool-aid, or blatant promotion, I have never promoted these as a purely Chinese product.  What I have tried to do, both here and at other forums is to give an evaluation of the optics as they appear to me in use in the field.  My comments would have been the same regardless of the place of manufacture.  I have purposely maintained that they are a 99% of alpha quality for 33% (or even less) than what you pay for an alpha.  If you wish to push that down a point or two, fine.  The point is optical quality (or at least image quality) as the sole domain of the alpha is no longer completely valid.   The point is we now have an inexpensive alternative to the alpha class. Just where was this optic supposed to come from?  Europe, yeah right, Swarovski, is real likely to produce a $400 challenge to their EL or SLC.  Made in the USA?  Nice idea but that capability is long gone.  Made in Japan?  Not likely.  Zen Ray had to go to China because they couldn’t get the quality they wanted or flexibility they needed from Japanese manufacturers.  They tried, just to avoid the made in China syndrome, and Japanese inflexibility and quality control isues forced them to China.    Right now, I have to say I am pretty much in complete agreement with Alexis Powell in post #38, and with Henry Link in post # 52.  If you are used to the alpha class and your interest is in only new purchases that will better what you have, these will serve you no useful purpose beyond satisfaction of some curiosity.  What they might do for the alpha user is to provide an inexpensive backup for some purposes.  If you have an extensive expertise in testing optics such as Henry Link, than I have no doubt he can take one of these to his bench and point out inferiorities that exist as compared to the alpha class.  I have already conceded the silver coated vs dielectric coated prism technology, the fact that the alpha broadband coatings are likely superior, and that they have better overall glass quality is very likely a given.  Add in superior optical design, workmanship, and company history if you want.I have always thought that the best reason for having an alpha class binocular is to eliminate any vestige of doubt that might exist in one’s mind.  If you are going someplace on the trip of a lifetime, or use your binocular extensively, or simply want the best instrument you can get, then the alpha class is the only place for you to be.  The idea of “I’d made that ID if I’d not have been cheap and got a better glass” is not something you will have to contend with.But, when we get down to just what is seen from use in the field, I think a number somewhere north of 90% of regular binocular users will not be able to separate differences in image between the ZEN class and the alpha class.  I happen to be completely confident that if I miss the ID, it’s because I just wasn’t able to make it, not because of need of a better binocular.  Nor do I have any particular fear they will self destruct in the field.  My peresonal desire for an expensive alpha glass is now gone.</blockquote>

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