I am looking for a new pair of 8x binoculars to replace my 8x40 Nikon Action. Now I have narrowed my option down to Alpen Wings ED 8x42 ($350), ZEN ED 8x43 ($250 with their demo version), and Vortex Talon 8x42 ($450). It seems Alpen is more compact than either ZEN or Talon. Do I expect to see any huge difference among those binoculars considering how vastly different their prices are?
[QUOTE=gainsbeen;2123939]I am looking for a new pair of 8x binoculars to replace my 8x40 Nikon Action. Now I have narrowed my option down to Alpen Wings ED 8x42 ($350), ZEN ED 8x43 ($250 with their demo version), and Vortex Talon 8x42 ($450). It seems Alpen is more compact than either ZEN or Talon. Do I expect to see any huge difference among those binoculars considering how vastly different their prices are?[/QUOTE]
I haven't see the Alpen Wings, so can't comment. However, I have had the ZEN ED 2 and a Talon side by side. As I have posted before it is obvious they are the same thing. The Talon has thicker barrels, whether from a slight housing tweak or thicker armor I don't know.