Hi,
I am going to buy an alpha 7x42.
I have compared specs and read reviews and comments (especially here) and will soon go to a shop to try them out. But the trouble with testing at shops is that you can only compare things for a short while and in whatever lighting conditions the day provides.
So I am asking you all a question:
Has any one here directly compared the Leica Ultravid HDs, Zeiss Victory FLs and Nikon EDGs and what did you think of them?
On paper the Zeiss Victory FLs look best to me but I was wondering how they compare with the others in use.
By the way, I have not included the Swarovski SLCs because of their weight.
Thanks in advance for your help and also for providing such a brilliant place to research binoculars.
All the best
Boogieshrew.
I think as a birding binocular, the Zeiss is hard to beat with its very wide field of view, good control of CA and very high transmission. Also, the focus is very fast (although you obviously need that less with 7x).
The other contenders I have looked through (Swaro, Leica) are good, but the Swaro is the SLC thus quite heavy, and the Leica and Swaro have a narrower FOV (and because it is narrower, it is 'cleaner').
So all in all, if you are a birdwatcher, I can recommend the Zeiss (I use it as my only binocular these days), but I can also recommend the Leica. The Swaro is just too heavy as main birding bin for me.
If you like to watch stars or use it for other reasons, you can't go wrong with any of the alphas.
I own three 7x42 binoculars. They are my favourite configuration.
Zeiss BGat classic 7x42, Leica BN Trinovid 7x42 and Ultravid 7x42 HD.
I also have owned 8x42 Zeiss FL.
The Zeiss Fl were exchanged for the Ultravid HD 7x42. Basically I much preferred the sharpness of the Leica. The diopter on the Zeiss FL was easily displaced by routinely taking the binoculars out of their case. The overall engineering and optical quality of the Zeiss build was inferior to the Leica, and seemed to be made to a less exacting standard. Handling the Ultravid was a joy in comparison to the Zeiss.
The Classic Zeiss 7x42 Bgat remain by favourite binocular, but clearly there are disadvantages, one being it's failure to be completely waterproof, but overall it still triumphs over all it's competitors because of it's stunningly relaxed view and ease of handling.