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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lbarnes" data-source="post: 1948333" data-attributes="member: 38411">I received Zen Ray 9 x 36 ED2 binoculars on 10/6/10 and am pleased.  They are a "poor man's Swarovskis."  Here are some impressions:They have a solid, well-built feel in most regards.  The screw-down eye cups are sturdy and seem unlikely to get off track and jammed as I've seen happen with Nikon Monarch and Eagle Optics Platinum Rangers.  However, when you thump the focus mechanism with a finger the faceplate, which appears to be plastic, makes a rattling sound and makes me wonder how long it will last.  Also, the screw-on cap over the hinge at the objective lens side of the binoculars appears to be plastic and is likely to be lost should it come loose, as I've seen happen with Platinum Rangers.The case that the binoculars come in are sturdy and functional, however, who uses a case for their high end binoculars?  It appears that Zen Ray has cut corners slightly with the neck strap and associated plastics parts.  They're not obviously cheesy; they just contrast with otherwise solid feel and smooth focussing of the binoculars themselves.  The rain guards provided for the eye pieces and objective lenses are similarly shy of top quality.The focus is smooth and precise and the clarity is excellent.  Compared to my 20+ year old Zeiss Classic 10 x 40, the Zen Ray's have better contrast.  However, the Zeiss win on sharpness at the very edge of the field of view.  Edge sharpness must be a particularly vexing problem for binocular manufacturers because it seems best achieved by only the highest end binoculars.  The right eyepiece adjuster turns too easily, making me wonder if it will drift from where I set it from rubbing against my shirt as I walk.  Also, the mark on the ring used as a reference is very difficult to see, especially if light is poor.The biggest difference between the Zen Ray 9 x 36 ED2 and Swarovski EL binoculars is, of course, the price.  The Swarovskis are clearly better, but are they worth an additional $1,500 to $1,900 for edge to edge sharpness (differences within the central 80-90% of the FOV are subtle to non detectable) compared to these $400 ZR binoculars? Perhaps the most significant difference between Swarovski and Zen Ray, the one that is hardest for me to reconcile, is that Austria would celebrate any one of its citizens for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, not keep them in prison for disagreeing with their government.Larry BarnesHailey, ID</blockquote>

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