One of my friends who is new to birding has asked me for input relative to binocs since he knows I've been doing some research on the subject. However, he is willing to spend top dollar to get a top of the line pair, an area I have not studied. From reviews I've seen on Allbino and one other site, top marks seem to go to the Zeiss Victory with close rankings going to SLC and EL swarovski models.
My sense is, both of these brands are top of the line and several models from Nikon too. However, I'm wondering if there is a pretty strong consensus that suggests the Zeiss Victory 8x42's Fl are generally considered the best. I suspect like most things, there is a lot of personal bias and folks may not agree on this but thought I'd ask nonetheless.
Frankly, having never looked through a pair, I'm not sure what they will do that a pair of Zen Ray ED2's or my new Legend Ultras won't do. For $2000, it's hard to imagine how they can be muliples better but maybe i'll learn something here on that point.
Hi rdfish1,
You will surely get lots of spirited responses to your question. There are articulate and well informed proponents for each of the leading brands. In truth, however, your final comment is spot on. The performance difference is a modest percentage, the price difference is in multiples, so unless you derive big psychic income from the ownership of a top tier glass, it is not a rational purchase.
Imo, the best choice for a premium binocular buyer would be the image stabilized Canon 10x42ISL. Image stabilization really is a binoculars breakthrough, you get better views of birds in flight or at some distance than possible to any other glass not on a tripod. They are big and ugly, but they perform wonderfully. They are half the price of the Zeiss 8x42FL.
I would wait a little while to see what the Allbinos site has to say, as I know they are about to test some of the new ones on the market. I do know they are testing some of the latest models coming on the market, and that is the new Swaro. Swarovisions, and the Nikon EDG.
So I feel that when the new results are coming, the Zeiss will not be in first place, years have
passed, and there are newer and better ones that they have not tested.
They show in their tests the 10x42, and I hope they will include the 8x42, as it is popular here.
I have tried the 8x42 Zeiss FL, and while quite good, they would not be my choice.
Make sure your friend, tries some of the top makes, as they are all good, and it is often a
personal choice.
For many, these newer choices of a ZR and the Bushnell, may be a nice choice also.
Jerry