Ok, you like and use bino's to hunt with.
I am not including Bushnell and the other cheaper brands. I would consider Leupold as the "low end" in this comparison.

PS - I posted this in "African Hunting" as that is where I use bino's. I know there is an Optics forum, but prefer to post this here with the Moderator's blessing.

Question:
Which are your favorites based on your use of them and why?

Choices:
Swarovski
Leica
Zeiss
Leupold
Kahles

 

I have a pair of Swaro SLCs that have always been great. I am really impressed with my new Nikon EDG bino now. It is about a $2000 piece of glass, so I think it should be considered high end. I have a pair of $1200 Nikon Premieres that have been fantastic over the past 3 years. I think either of these are better than any Leupolds that I have used or looked through, and I think the EDG can hang with any of the high end European brands.

I had a pair of Khales once, and I did not like them at all. Bad light transmission and they didn't focus well.

I guess I can't vote because I am using Nikons.

I own a pair of leicas that I use in the US but when I travel to Africa I use my leupolds because they are light and if they get lost its no big deal.

Does the Schmidt Bender Co. make binos?

Leica. Best build quality and optics plus the passport warranty. No matter what you do to them, they will repair or replace them free as long as you send in your warranty.

Why do I use the binos I voted for in the poll?

I have a pair of Zeiss 10X binos and they work fine. And, I haven't had the money laying around for a pair of Leica's. Probably will spring for a pair of Leica or Swaro compacts, or 7 or 8 x 30's soon. Need something smaller and lighter.

My late wife and I were and I still am avid bird watchers. I bought 8x30 Swarovski SLC's when they were first introduced. Prior to that we had used Swifts. I upgraded to 10x42 Swarovski's after my first safari and saw how many birds of extreme beauty Zimbabwe had to offer. After the first trip I went up to 10x50 Swarovski's where I have stayed. My Ph friend of many years used Leicas and was constantly borrowing my 10x50's to check a trophy. They are a little heavy but the light collecting and clarity are worth it. I have found that the current Kahles offerings are also very fine. I have both the 10x42's and the 10x50's and find the 10x42's get used very little any more. I could be happy to just go to Africa to bird watch.

I have owned and used all the above except Leopold and would recommend LEICA.
I do like the top grade Zeiss models.
Have seen problems with five Swarovski Bino's that did not impress me to say the least (might have improved since these models).
Khales, not quite up to the clarity as the others.

quote:

Originally posted by BigFiveJack:
Does the Schmidt Bender Co. make binos?

Unfortunately not.

Leica 10x40 & 8x30.

The 10x40 are too heavy to carry all day, so they have become truck glasses. I got the 8x30 for daily carry. However, while I am a big fan of the Leica, the binos that are always with me on safari are my 40 year old Leupold 9x25 made in Portugal. Sent 'em back for re-finish three years ago - no charge. Leupold told me the owners of these simply won't give 'em up.

I voted for Leica because I used a pair of 10 x 25 trinovids in Namibia last Aug/Sept & found them to be very high quality & could stick them in my shirt pocket without posing a problem while stalking or shooting.

I've owned & used other high quality glasses but the small Leica bino's seem to fit the bill for me.

I love my kahles 8x40s. made before swarovski bought them. light enough to walk all day in (which ive done many times). wonderfully bright and durable. only complaint is that the camo skin is peeling off, but black's not so bad really.

There is some justification for the high end brands, but they are not a lot better than others that cost half as much! I have an old pair of Leicas, and they are great, but I also have a new pair of Luepolds that cost under $500 that are just as good optically, IMO!Of course I'm old, so anything that lets me see at all is better than my eyes!

So I guess it all boils down to what name you want to display in your trophy pictures, because for hunting, anything from the Leupolds up, will get the job done, as long as you get big enough lens so they don't go blind when it starts getting dark! Weight, and size make a lot of difference, when you carry them all day. If they are heavy and/or bulky, I find many times they are left in the truck.

quote:

There is some justification for the high end brands, but they are not a lot better than others that cost half as much! I have an old pair of Leicas, and they are great, but I also have a new pair of Luepolds that cost under $500 that are just as good optically, IMO!Of course I'm old, so anything that lets me see at all is better than my eyes!

Agreed! I know this is the African Hunting Forum, where spending top dollar is the tradition, however, my Canon Image Stabilizer binos are great! I have no desire to spend more money on binos.
Peter.

[QUOTE
as long as you get big enough lens so they don't go blind when it starts getting dark! Weight, and size make a lot of difference, when you carry them all day. If they are heavy and/or bulky, I find many times they are left in the truck.
[/QUOTE]

Both my later model 8x30 Leica's out perform my older Zeiss 10x40s for light gathering ability's , so for twilight use such as waiting over bait etc, it does not necessarily mean a wide angel bino will be better for twilight.

quote:

Originally posted by BigFiveJack:
Does the Schmidt Bender Co. make binos?

Not Yet, but I have heard that they do start soon...

BUT at their scopes: I would prefer a Swarovski over them - so I don´t exspect them to be better then a Swarovski or Leica...!!!

My field was Chemistry and Biology in a prior life. In the labs we fought over the Ziess instruments and I guess that has carried over to my hunting days now. IMO nothing beats them, my latest model is the "Victory" and they are 10X42 and about three years old. They will be in my possession they day I pass on to the happy hunting grounds. My son has a claim on them to replace my older set he now uses. Good shooting.

I have used borrowed Swaro's in the field. Optics are superb but the binos seemed a bit delicate. I really think the best optical quality is Leica.

I bought the best Zeiss binos as they are very, very close in optical quality to the Leica but very much less expensive ... and they are very comfortable to use in the field.

I guess I am hopelessly behind in technology. I am still using a pair of old Zeiss green rubber armored 8x30s. You know the kind with individual focus. They are light and resolution has always been good enough. I remember using them with a cheap spotting scope one one hunt and I could make out animals at long range with the binos better than the spotting scope at 3 and 4 times the power. I also have a set of black rubber armor Zeiss in 8x56 but only use them from a tree stand because they are heavy. I guess I am beind the times.

Swarovski 10*32 EL - my choice. My last two Ph:s had the Swarovski 10*42 and in low light conditions we couldnt se any differences between them.

I used Swarov's 10X42EL's for a number of years and they served me well... great clarity, light transmission etc... Only problem was that they were quite heavy and put strain on my neck when wearing them all day so I sold them when I got a lighter model...

This is something I regret because my "new" 10X32's ended up forming part of the wealth re-distribution program here in SA...

I have every brand imagineable except the Leicas. I have liked the Swaros, Leupolds and Zeiss, and they have served me well. (And still do)

Dont forget about Nikon I have a pair of 10x42 Monarch and the have served well over the last two years. Comparing with clients coming over with leica, Swaros and Zeiss they have never let me down in African conditions.

Before I forget they are very well priced too.

Gosh, I did forget. Yes, my "cheaper" Nikons have also worked as well. I gave them to one of my African PH's.

From your choices, I picked Leupold (i have a pair), but mostly because the others just cost too darn much.

I have a pair of Nikon and Bruton, and both are outstanding along with the Leupold

Have used Swarovski 10x42 for the last 10+ years, they can take a lot of abuse.

One thing to consider in your choice is customer service -- on that issue -- Swarovski has perfomed excedingly well for me on a couple of issues --- I have used their products for something over 25 years and have beat the crap out of them --- they still work like they are suppose to.

I've had only 3 binoculars in the last 31 years. I had some Bushnells that cost me a grand total of $35. I wound up throwing them into a canyon in the Lincoln Nat'l Forest because I couldn't see squat with them. I bought some compact Pentax ones for bowhunting, and gave them away. For the last 30 years, I've been using the same Zeiss 10x40's. They've always done what needed doing and I have no desire to change. I've seen some other makes with slightly clearer glass, but I'm very accustomed to my Zeiss's and can use them for hours without getting fatigued. $0.02

I used a Japanese Nikon 8x40 for several years. They were very good in low light. I finally sprang for a Leica 8x42BN and it is definitely superior. Have tried the Steiner, Zeiss and Kahles, but I still use the Leica and will for the forseable future.