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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Zeiss Victory SF V2 - 8x or 10x? (1 Viewer)

The Kingfisher

Well-known member
I have had a numbers of different binoculars from Nikon, Swarovski and Kowa and tried Leica Noctivid and others for longer periods..but I always keep coming back to my old Nikon stuff that I have owned since 2005-2011. Today I have a Nikon 8x32 SE and a Nikon EDG 8x42 as my binoculars. Like them very much, but with the EDG I have always had issues with both the focus wheel and the diopter. Otherwise the optical performance is perfect for me.

Now I will try/order and maybe also buy a Zeiss Victory SF V2, but I do not know if I will order a Victory with 8x42 or a 10x42 mag. Maybe I will try the 10x first?! I am thinking that I already have a couple of optical good binoculars at home, but no 10x..so that is one reason to order the 10x first. It would also be nice with a 10x when only birding with a binocular and no scope in the field. Sometimes I just take a binocular for a walk in different environments (both thru open water/ocean and in a forest in the same day). So it is tempting to order the Victory 10x42, but the 8x42 has some very strong points over the 10 (better FOV for instance).
 
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You don't say if you're considering the 10x32 or 10x42 SF?

There are many (myself included) who find the 10x32 SF to be very tricky for eye placement, it has an unfriendly eyebox, so if it's the x32 format you're considering, be sure to test it thoroughly, if you can, to make sure it works for you. You should obviously test the 10x42 too, if that's the one you're considering, but in general, it's a far more friendly binocular with a much more forgiving eyebox.

All in my opinion...
 
You don't say if you're considering the 10x32 or 10x42 SF?

There are many (myself included) who find the 10x32 SF to be very tricky for eye placement, it has an unfriendly eyebox, so if it's the x32 format you're considering, be sure to test it thoroughly, if you can, to make sure it works for you. You should obviously test the 10x42 too, if that's the one you're considering, but in general, it's a far more friendly binocular with a much more forgiving eyebox.

All in my opinion...
Sorry, I ment 8x42 and 10x42. I changed that in the original post above! 🙂
 
For what it's worth when I first purchased a pair of binoculars ( mid 1960s ) and for decades after, most birdwatchers I knew favoured a x 10. Personally I changed down magnification when the 8.5 EL was introduced and have found x8 my preferred choice - particularly with Zeiss. However, all my birding mates have stuck with a 10, even when out in woodland or forest.....one of them with his beloved SF.
 
The diopter sometimes change settings (a small amount) when using the focus wheel. Mostly when pointing the EDG against the sky, high up in a tree or something like that.
This is a well-known problem with binoculars and should be repairable. Is there some reason you haven't sent it in for service?
 
This is a well-known problem with binoculars and should be repairable. Is there some reason you haven't sent it in for service?
I have done that once for some years ago. But I will do it again. Not just because of the diopter, but also because the rubber armoring is loose right under the focus wheel.
 
Thanks for the response.

Annoying, to say the least.
Yes, it is annoying. Not only when the diopter moves when focusing it is annoying, but also when the diopter does NOT move it is annoying..because one always wonder if it has moved or not when using the binocular. Sometimes I can see/feel that the diopter has changed and sometimes I can't, but then I have to check if it has moved instead... 🥴
 
I have done that once for some years ago. But I will do it again. Not just because of the diopter, but also because the rubber armoring is loose right under the focus wheel.
From what I've read the first year or two of EDG had the drifting diopter problem and the mechanism was upgraded, similar to what happened with Zeiss SF focuser trouble in the initial grey version. Some people had success by sticking a piece of a paper clip into the tiny slot - there are pictures on here somewhere if you search.....seems like it pays to wait a year or two after new binoculars come out :)
 
From what I've read the first year or two of EDG had the drifting diopter problem and the mechanism was upgraded, similar to what happened with Zeiss SF focuser trouble in the initial grey version. Some people had success by sticking a piece of a paper clip into the tiny slot - there are pictures on here somewhere if you search.....seems like it pays to wait a year or two after new binoculars come out :)
I will try that, but I need to send it to Nikon anyway because the rubber is loose (especially under the focus wheel where the focus wheel sometimes "hit" the loose rubber when focusing).
 
I have now made my decision.. 🙂 It will not be a Victory SF 8x and it will not b a Victory SF 10x. Instead I ordered a new Nikon EDG 8x42 (the same binocular that I already own). I like this model very much, but have problems with the diopter and focus wheel on my unit. It also has a loose rubber armoring right now. Hopefully the issue with the diopter and the focus wheel is gone on the new EDG-unit so I can use it as my primary birding binocular. The old EDG will be sent to Nikon for service. The new unit of EDG was sold out for 70% of the original price and that is half the price of a Zeiss Victory SF 8x42. I think that the Nikon EDG 8x42 is the right decision and binocular for me! 🙂
 
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You ordered a new one AND sent the old one for service? This is the same model and configuration? Why not see how the serviced bin comes back before buying a replacement? I must be missing something…
 
You ordered a new one AND sent the old one for service? This is the same model and configuration? Why not see how the serviced bin comes back before buying a replacement? I must be missing something…
You missed a few things, I think. I like the Nikon EDG very much, but have some issues with the diopter snd the focus wheel. I have had my binocular for service twice, but Nikon has not solved the issues completely. I ordered the same binocular (EDG 8x42) because I hoped that that speciman would not have those issues. Then I have had a very good Nikon EDG 8x42 to use daily and one (my old one) as a second pair if needed. It is still usable even if it has some issues with the diopter. It was a very good price on the Nikon EDG 8x42 also..70% of the ordinary price. And that store who sold them was already $300-400 cheaper than the other stores who sells them. But in the end I did not buy the EDG because I talked to Nikon and they could not guarantee that they can solve the issue with the diopter..or that they could fix other issues on the Nikon EDG these days. They may just give me a Nikon Monarch HG instead of fixing the issues my EDG has. I will not have a Monarch HG, so I decided to buy a Leica Noctivid 8x42 instead.
 
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Looks like you already decided. But if an „alpha“ 10x in 42, because you covered already 8x, then it would be a nobrainer for me to choose the SF 10x42.
 

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