I have been pinching my pennies for quite a while now and decided to take the plunge. I just got tired of looking through my buddies binoculars that did a better job than mine. Please let me know your thoughts/opinions on Swarovski SLC, Leica ultravid, or Zeiss victory binoculars. I have decided I will buy one of these three brands/models. I am not interested in vortex or the Swaro EL's just so you know. thanks.

Drew

I will say you cannot go wrong with either brand. I've owned all 3 over the years and been happy with them. I currently have the Swaro EL, but sure liked the SLC as well. My buddy has the Leica and would not get rid of them for anything. You would be happy with of the 3 IMO.

I've owned all three and they're all top-notch, as expected. The Zeiss 'might' be a little brighter due to the prism system they employ which doesn't require a mirrored surface.

However, I think the Swarovski's are the nicest when it comes to ergonomics, fit&finish, and their warranty service.

When you hold an SLC, it just oozes quality.

Can't go wrong with any of them.

I bought a pair of 8x30 Swarovski SLC in 1999 after a number of cheaper ones. That ended my need for binoculars and I would buy them again if I had to.

Buy the one you can afford and feels best in your hand. All three have great optics. 7 or 8x30 is what I recommend for most bowhunting situations. I have a pair of 10x40 Zeiss that I love but will more often then not take my 8x30 Zeiss when I head into the field with bow in hand. Have fun and shoot straight.

Both very nice both very pricey Swarovski probably had the leg up but not by much. Just as a heads up check out Steiner bino's you can get some very nice glass very nice for a lot less money. Just a tip but if ya gotta have zeiss or Swarovski I say go swarovski

Justino

First....you need to try them yourself. All the Bino's you mentioned are excellent. HOWEVER, bino's fit different people's faces differently and these are going to be yours.

Where ever you go, make them let you take them outside. Preferably in lo light (dusk or dawn) conditions. As well as looking through them on bright and dim days.

Swarovski SLC

I have zeiss 8x30. I wouldn't buy that size again. I'd get 10x40. After about 5 or 6 years of hunting with them the strap broke and I dropped them out of a tree. 25ft to the hard gravely yet leaf covered hillside. Everything still looked good to me but the strap is one that goes into the body and attaches inside. That's where it broke. I called up Zeiss and they said send them in. I think it took about a month. They said they "refurbished" my binocs. I say they gave me some new ones. Can't beat that service.

I agree with fdp, you need to try them yourself. If you wear glasses the eye relief may be different on each pair. Some will feel better than others. Some may be heavier or lighter.

Magnification will depend on where you hunt. Having 10x binocs will not work in the east but may be fine for glass and stalk in the west. My experience is that 8x is as high as I want to use because of weight, size and field of view. I have Zeiss 8x30 independent focus that I bout in 1990 that are still excellent.

You would have to have excellent eyes to tell any difference in optical quality between the top brands.

You can save money, increase light transmission over even ELs and have a lifetime binocular by going with good Pentax roof prisms. Mine are as good as new after 12 years and current models are even better. I was once viewing loons on a rainy day, when a gentleman walked over and handed me his Swarovski Els. I noticed a missing eyecup and also that they were not quite as bright as my Pentax. He looked through my Pentax and walked away without comment. The next week, he came over and told me he bought a pair of Pentax for his wife. I checked out a chart on binocular brightness, and sure enough, Pentax were the brightest. The Zeis Victory now claims to be the brightest.

Joe

Here is a good source of info for choosing your optics no matter what brand. http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/binoculars.html

I mean I would say the Swo I've had all 3 and I couldn't say that one's glass was better than another they are all top notch

Swarovski. I have a pair of the little CL 8X20's and other than in extremely low light, they rival the clarity of much larger higher magnification bino's that I've tried. Plus they are pocket size.

Correction to above they are 8X25, not 8X20's.

As others have said, you can't go wrong with any of them. Birders have very high standards for their optics, and their reviews over the last few years generally rank the Zeiss Victory #1, and either the Lieca Utravid or the Swarovski Swarovision EL as #2 or #3.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=2674#

If the Swarovisions don't appeal to you, either try the Zeiss and Leicas side by side one more time purely for "feel", or simply buy the Zeiss and never look back.

I have a pair of leica's that have the rangefinder in them and they are nice.

Andrew..( Montanan hunter I presume)

First question is WHAT do you want to look at with the binoculars? HOW long do you want to spend behind the binocs?( eye fatigue)

What distances?

What magnification?... What ocular size? Fast focus?

You get those simple questions answered for your self and needs..and you can find the right optics for your needs and eyes without succumbing to peer pressure on the highests dollar binocs.

I have a pair of Steiner 8x30 that'll do anything I need them to do in the field hunting..

Have a Swedish made monocular that works fine also..

All my rifles sport 4X or 2X scopes tho..:) I have good eyes at 67 years..

I evaluated and tested all three when I bought my 8x32 Leica Ultravids. If memory serves the Zeiss Victory is not the top of its line. I think the SLC has been replaced by another model as well. Regaardless, all top quality glass, of course, and all stand behind their product.

The Leicas were the smallest, by a fraction of an inch, and lightest, by about an ounce or two, of the three. I don't have the specs for all of them in front of me, but it seems the Leicas offered a slightly larger field of view in that size glass as well. Resolution and clarity are outstanding. I give the edge to Leica in terms of sharpness. They're all so bright, I couldn't really distinguish a difference among them on that characteristic. Can't go wrong with any of them. If possible, go to a store that carries all three and compare before you buy. Good luck.

Not that it answers your question ( I own all of the 3). A good friend of mine had a pair of Swarovski EL 10X He was out checking trail cameras one day and the catalitic converter of his jeep set the grass on fire. Destroyed the jeep and all it's contents including the binoculars. He sent a note and the binoculars back to Swarovski, they sent him a new set with their condolences.

As I write this I wondered what Chryslers position would have been if he returned the Jeep!!!???

Best of the Season to all, Dan

It probably comes down to ergonomics more than any significant optical performance difference between the premium brands. I thought the image through the Swarovski and Leica was slightly, and I mean slightly, better than the Zeiss, but it could have just been the individual examples I tried out.

I spent a lot of time looking through them and plunked down my cash for the Swarovski 8x42ELs. I know you said you aren't interested in them but I found the contrast of the image, sharpness out to the edge of the field, and the comfort for one handed use (bow in other hand) unsurpassed.

Zeiss

I had 10x42 El's, they were just to shaky while looking through. I sold them and bought 7x42slc. Great glass with awesome field of view, don't think they make them any more in 7x42....

Anyways I chose them for the type of hunting I do. I live and hunt in Ohio.

Zeiss, Steiner and even Nikon --have em all

Go to a Bass Pro, Cabela's or similar and try them all... side by side... look at something across the store... look at the edges of the field of view... how heavy are they... how they feel in your hand... how comfortable are they when against your eyes...

Know what you are going to use them for so you get the correct physical size and magnification... Whitetails in the East or mountain hunting out West... makes a BIG difference.

I saved my pennies too, did the side-by-side comparison 10 years ago and came home with the a set of 10x42 Swarovski SLC's.

CD

I agree w/ CD. Sometimes I fall in love with a product based on what I read about it opposed to trying it myself. One of may favorite tricks is to have my hunting buddies look through my Brunton 12x42 binos and guess the price. Most of them overshoot it pretty good because they are not familiar w/ the brand and are guessing on appearance and picture quality alone.

I have only owned that Swaros. I have a pair of 8x30 Swarovskis I bought it 1991. I did break the strap clib that goes into the body about 2007. Sent them in and came back with all new body. If I lost them I would scrimp till I could buy another pair. These go with me every hunt in the woods. 2nd in importance to my bow.

Save your money and get a pair of Vortex. Great glass. Great warranty. Compare them with the $$$ bino's side by side. You will be surprised.

On an elk hunt at 10,000 feet in Colorado my Swaros fell out of my hip holster. We were tracking a hit elk so I didn't notice the missing binocs until,back at camp with the quartered elk. After hiking out the quarters down to the road end at 7000 feet there was no time to go look for them.

I was broken-hearted because I loved those binocs. The next year we went back and found the Swaros - after a year in the open, under a winters worth of snow and the change of seasons they were and still are in perfect condition. I still use them now!

I used to use the popular models of binos but since I was introduced to a pair of 15 x 56 swarovski everything else is crap. If I could afford a pair nothing else would even be considerd. Since my budget is much smaller I asked for the oculus (vortex) 15 x 56. I have used my buddy's swarovskis several times in the field and ruined me all I can hope is to get close to the same performance.

I bought Leica 10X42s about 25 years ago. Sold my 9.9 Johnson Boat motor to get them. One of my best investments yet. Steve

Go to the store and be there just before dusk and look through each and pick what feels right, they are all high quality and you can't make a bad choice.

Swaros since you have determined not to get Vortex.

God bless, Steve

Looked through a lot several years ago and settled on my 10x42 Swarovski's and have never had a regret, love them is all I can say, I was worried with going to 10power because on the cheaper ones I have had over the years they were hard to hold steady, they would make things bigger but not so clear because of holding them steady, no problem with the Swarovski's ,they are easy to hold steady and clear as a bell. I am sure most of the high end ones are very good but if I had it to do over I would buy them again. Hope I don't have to because they have gone up quite a bit since I bought mine.LOL Pappy

Another brand to compare are Meopta I couldn't tell them apart from the slc a little heavier but half the price

I did the bino thing w/ the 3 big euro companies and after spending too much money on Zeiss, Swarov, and Leica, I have a 6x32 set of Minox I use the most. The Minox line is half the cost and they have the same glass as the big 3. For me a bino must have Scotts glass(german). Vortex, Bushnell, luepold, Nikkon, ect, have Jap glass.

Of the 3 top euro binos, I preferred the Zeiss. The function of the Zeiss seem to be more user friendly and accurate. I own the 10x40 classic.

I picked up new pair of Leica's 8x32 for $600 from a sporting goods guy that are the perfect size for a Bowhunter. Incredible. I'd say the Swaro would be just as good but I'm thinking the Swaro guarantee is easier as it transfers to multiple owners. Maybe Leica too but from what I read it's not clear. I think there are more Swaro's out there than any because they seem to market better. Can't go wrong with either.

Wish I would have spent more time comparing before spending $1000! Several years ago I bought high end 10x40s. For me they have not proven significantly superior to warrant paying >5x the price of other fine optics. Also the added weight limits my glassing.

"Birders have very high standards for their optics.."

Yep, which is exactly why I went with VORTEX! (oops, sorry!)

One thing to keep in mind is your eyesight...doesn't do much good to drop a ton of money on glass if your eyes can't keep up.

I have a great pair --- but my dog chewed the rubber eyepiece that fits to your face (eyes) to block light between your eye and the actual eyepiece.

WHERE CAN I GET REPLACEMENTS ?

Orion's message is right on. I also compared all 3 and chose the Leica Ultravids over the others for the same reasons. They have performed very well on several different hunts, Moose, Caribou and Elk.

oso, send them to the manufacturer. They will clean and adjust them plus add new eye cups for a reasonable charge.

ADB you can't go wrong with any of the three you are considering. Something to consider is the field of view. They are all close but each of their FOV will differ slightly. A larger field of view is usually better. The optics in all three are so equal that you, me and likely not many on this forum could tell the difference. The warranty and customer service is what sets them apart. Swarovski has an outstanding reputation for replacing binos that are damaged even after years of use. I am a competitive shooter as well as a hunter and use binos and spotting scopes year around indoors and outdoors in all kinds of light conditions. Mine get lots of abuse. At the price point you are at you are past the point where the optics are giving a return on investment and now buying reputation and the confidence that if anything ever happens to you binos they will be replaced.

I compared the top European glasses for years and it was hard for me to justify the cost. Between the big three I decided on Leica's and started watching the big auction site for a pair. Over the years I acquired a pair of 7x42 Trinovids and a pair of 8x32 Trinovids. With that being said my favorite pair to throw in my pack is an old pair of Steiner 6x30 Whitetails that a friend of mine sold me. Great little glasses with superb optics for thick cover. A lot of people don't like the Steiners but nothing better for quickly identifying stuff moving through thick cover. With traditional glasses, by the time you get them up and in focus what your trying to find is gone.

I think a 6x is about the optimal choice for hunting thick cover. Unfortunately, the big three don't make one. They all make 8x30 or 32. Leica makes a 7x35 that I really like,but I went with the 8x32 because it is smaller and lighter. I believe Zeiss makes a similar size, but I don't think Swaro makes a 7x35.

ADB, as others have pointed out, where you hunt and how you intend to use your optics should determine the power you choose. Good luck.

I sold a pair of older Zeiss Victory 8x40 plus a couple cheap pairs and bought myself a second hand set of Swarovski 8x30 CL. I couldn't be happier with them. I guess it's second or third tier glass for them but it's still beyond outstanding, and the size and weight were exactly what I was looking for. Give them a look if you get a chance.

I've been real happy with my Zeiss 8x40..never tried the others though.

SLC...no question ...I have 2 pairs and they make hunting even more fun :)

Been using Leica 8x32's for 15 years and my hunting buddies have the Swaro and the Zeiss so we've compared side by side numerous times. I love the size and weight perfect for a bowhunter and I think the clarity is outstanding. Dropped them out of a tree stand at 25 feet and wiped off the mud and kept hunting. Customer service with all 3 is top notch, ya get what ya pay for!

I just picked up some Zen Ray ED3 10x42 and am excited to get them. They get great reviews from the birdwatchers and hunters. I just can't justify the high end euros at this time but technology has really cut the difference. These normally go for $440 and I got them for $300 with shipping. Lifetime warranty.

A couple of years back I bought a pair of Zeiss Victories, the best at the time. I then compared them to a pair of Minox Hg. In my eyes, the Minox were much better binos so I sent the zeiss back. I currently have a set of Minox APO HG's and they are every bit as good as a friends Swaro's especially when you consider that I got em for half the price. Never looked thru Leica's so I have no suggestions there.

Have owned different versions of all 3 you listed. I'd pick the Ultravids. You need to look at all 3 at the same time and buy a THAT pair.

Ive got leica 10 x 50 Good glass Dont think they as good as swarovski and they are a lot heavier!

"when a gentleman walked over and handed me his Swarovski Els. I noticed a missing eyecup and also that they were not quite as bright as my Pentax."

BS.

Good quality glass is one of the best investments a hunter can make I have used Swarovskis for the last 18 years.

Try them all but glass is one thing I would never skimp on as far as money. Living in Alaska I need the best I can afford to saver miles of walking and for when I'm in Illinois it can be the difference between a shrub and a antler. I personally use Vortex Optics and they are guaranteed against anything and it's my company of choice.

South farm made a very good point..... Your bino's will only be as good as your eyes allow.

Frisky .... funny you posted about the pentax as i was reading down over the post, i remembered looking through a pair of pentax and being impressed with the brightness. Then i came to your post, and there it was. agreed.

I like:

10x because it's bigger than 8x.

German brands because they've corrupted my buying lobe.

32mm because 40mm is too heavy for my 6' x 200# frame to carry.

Green because black and gray are boring colors.

Rubber because I'm clumsy.

Compromises, because most hunts are a compromise.

Zeiss because I can both say and spell it correctly.

Victory because it sounds like a winner.

Everyone has their own methods, right?

High end for me was the Leopold Hawthorne series. Bought them on a close-out because I am cheap. They look better than I can see, that's all that matters to me.

The real disadvantage to hi-end binos:.................

Went to a 3D with one of my runnin' buddies and after we finished the course, we hung up our rigs and had a bite to eat. While we were eating somebody lifted his Lexcia Binos along with my favorite shooting glove.

I've got a set of Zeiss Classic's and a set of Zeiss Victory's. I've not looked thru any I thought was better.

I invested in a pair of Zeiss 10X40's about 35 years ago and it's the best investment I ever made. I stillhunt and I glass all aound me constantly. Good quality glass is expensive, but it's expensive for a REASON. At that time the dollar/mark rate favored the dollar, so I got them for about $650.00. Like I said, it's the best investment I ever made, as I'll never need to buy another pair of binoculars again, ever.

Other than footwear, high end optics are the one hunting item that you should never skimp on. Get the best you can afford, and if you can't afford the best then save until you can. DO NOT get cheap optics. It'll only prolong the time until you can get good quality optics.

Consider Zen-Ray binoculars. The price is moderate. Their specifications are completive with the top name brands.

Zeiss is what i Use

I'm an old artillery forward observer and had the opportunity to use some really good glass and swore one day when I could afford a good set of glass, I'd do so. Several years back I found a $1000+ Nikon 10x32 reduced down to $900. Nikon makes fine glass and I've sampled most at one time or another. I'm not sure there are any comparable glasses out there I'd trade even up for.

The first thing you do with any glass is learn the proper way to use them. If you don't you just wasting your money.

the use of binos can be summarized into two categories. one is to confirm what the naked eye is seeing and two, is to see things the naked eye cannot. the later is where better glass has advantages.

if you are glassing for short periods of time, under 500 yards, in relatively good daylight to confirm what your eye is seeing, you do not need high end binos.

on the other hand, if you are glassing for long periods, at long distances, with minimal daylight, and trying to judge or locate game, the high end glass is worth every penny.

for me, I like 8x32 because they are easier to carry and therefore I am more likely to use them.

ADB I am very satisfied with my SLC 8x30 Swarovski's When I stand on my deck and look at a posted sign about 100 yards away, I can READ it. With my other pairs of bino's. even the 10X ones I can not read the words. Although the other pairs were all under $100.00,probably has something to do with it. I just wish I would stop losing the winged eye cups! They are absolutely worth the price to have them, but they pop off so easily, I have had to purchase several over the years.

For the more budget-minded…

Field and Stream recently did a comparison of about four pairs of binoculars all under 100 bucks. Looks like there are a few good choices out there, including some Leupolds, 6 x 30, I think, which can be had on Amazon for about 80 bucks and would be just the ticket for hardwood whitetails. There were some larger Bush Nell's in there too, which got a better overall rating and cost 70 bucks, but they are a noticeably bigger pair of glasses.

We are talking about knocking a zero off of the price tag here, so no, not strictly comparable glasses by any stretch. On the other hand if you've been telling yourself that binoculars are not worth using unless you've got 400 or 500 bucks to spend, these might be your ticket in.

Snoozed,

I almost pulled the trigger on the 8X42 Zeiss Conquest HD this fall. They had a demo special for $749 with a additional $100 rebate if purchased before Nov. 31st. I was only able to look at the 10X42 model at a local store that had them listed at the retal price over $900. They were very sharp, light at only about 22 oz. and quite impressive when compared to the elite HD models discribed on this thread. I don't know how durable they are, or if I would only regret that I didn't "poney up" and go all they way with the top of the line glass. I got busy and didn't get to it. Not to steal the thread, has anyone have a review of the HD conquest in either 8X42 or 10x42?

LaGriz

I use to hang out with a bunch of guys that could afford anything they wanted. I got to look through a lot of high end optics and they are all great no doubt but I really feel you would have to have them side by side going back and forth between them and some that will only run you about $300 or less and even then it's splitting hairs and can you justify splitting hairs over a $1000+ cost difference?

Alpen Optics is one of them...outstanding glass for the money.

LaGriz, - from Birdwatcher's Digest: "The new Zeiss Conquest HD earned the top resolution score in our second tier. The Conquest HD gives birders the opportunity to enjoy full-sized, German-manufactured, Zeiss binoculars for less than $1,000. This model is more compact and a bit lighter than the Zeiss Victory FL. With 18mm of eye relief, it's good with eyeglasses. It has the same Zeiss LotuTec water-repellent coatings as the Victory FL. A difference between the Conquest and the Victory FL is the diopter adjustment, which is on an eyepiece and has neither scale nor lock. The focus knob is excellent but is only wide enough for one finger. A best buy! Caveat: Some users not wearing eyeglasses find the eyecups do not extend far enough to let them brace the binoculars against their face."

my Zen Ray ED3 10x43 just arrived an I sure am happy with them.

I understand times change, but I cannot get over the price of optics now days. I have Swarovski 10x42 ELs, and Swarovski 8x30 SLC, and a Leica spotting scope, but if I didn't already own them there is no way I would pay today's prices for my optics. They are great and I'm glad I have them, but I got them for nearly half the price that they go for today.

Honestly, I would look at other products.

I've had my Leica 8x32's for nearly 20 years, I don't leave home for hunting without them. When I purchased them I had the opportunity to also try the Swarovs and Zeiss, for me these worked the best, however everyone's vision is a little different. Never regretted spending the money.

Leica 8x32 for whitetails & 10x42's (wish I bought 10x50's) for out West, best investment you'll make

I have vortex razor hd's. there nice. I have owned slc and ultravids. I think the depth of field on Leica are the best. At least for my eyes.

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