Yesterday, I had the good fortune to spend about a half hour trying out a variety of binoculars.
I have not had any experience with the Zeiss models, but here are first impressions. First off these are only indoors only impressions that I have had,
so it is very hard to gain a perspective. I do find the Zeiss Victory and Conquest
do have a plastic type feel to the armor, and I do prefer the more textured and
grippy feel of the Swarovski and the Nikons, even the Action all the way up. And in a premium bin like this, any Swaro. or Nikon really offer the feel I desire.
I have read good reviews on the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, and this was my first chance to look through one, and found them very compact and a good view. It seems not every sporting goods outlet has them in stock, as the recent visit to Cabelas, they were not there. As far as Bushnell goes, they must have over a dozen choices in the lineup, and so some retailers, probably don't know what to carry.
I am thinking most of the binoculars are priced fairly, as in some of the cheaper
Chinese roofs, as I guess most of them are, the quality, the armor, the focuser slack and touch, you wonder how it will perform the next day, and the eyecup adjustments are sometimes a free for all.
I am a conservative type, and so, I do come back to the entry level Nikon porros, both Action and Action EX, nice armor, and very dependable, from what I have seen, day to day, you just know how they will perform.
I was able to visit with the college aged man in charge of the optics counter, and they had some of them all, including some of the Alphas, I tried to give him a short lesson on porro vs. roof, also 8x vs 10x and especially, that under $100 the porro may give the best value. It seems for many the Nikon Monarch has been a great seller, and so that is common knowledge as one of the birders best choices.
Here are a couple of things I will recommend, on the lower end, the Bushnell Legacy 8x40, and the Nikon Action 8x40, both porros, seemed both quite good to me, now these are for the under $100 value area.
Jerry
I too have been searching for another binoc - either to replace my Leica 8x20 which is a bit short on eye relief (I really hate the thought of giving these little gems up), or just to have an extra pair to carry in my truck.
Earlier this spring I sold my Swarovski 8x32 ELs that I've had for 7 years because they too was a bit short on eye relief for me. Since it was my main binoc, I wanted something that was easier to see the entire view. I wound up getting a bargain on a new Zeiss Victory 8x42 FL and these are amazing. Actually I feel the opposite - I thought the EL had a much "smoother" finish and the Zeiss has more grip to it's surface - different strokes for different folks.
After reveiwing the Chuck Adams edition of the Excursion EX at the local Cabelas store, I wound up getting a like new green birding version of the Bushnell Excursion EX 7x36 from a guy on this forum. For $125 shipped, this is a decent binoc to keep in my truck.
I had the 6x30 Leupold Yosemeti home for awhile but I really didn't like seeing those ocular tubes moving up and down when I focus them. It's really hard to believe they don't move without touching the focus.
Hi Jerry, Thanks for your thoughts on the Zeiss and Nikons. I found the view through the Zeiss 8x42 & 8x32 FL excellent the feel of the binoculars was alright BT I didn't compare them to any other while at the Amish shoe shop. I love the feel of my Swaro 8x30 SLC neu . I have used some binoculars in the past that felt like they would slip out of your hand and didn't like that one bit. I agree about the Nikon porro binoculars being bargains, but I like the AE series and I have a Nikon 7x35 Action series as a fridge binocular and it is a bargain as well. I am more of a conservative type person in every way myself.:-)
I have the Leupold 6x30 Yosemite and have had no problem with the tubes moving under normal eye to eyepiece pressure.
Regards,Steve