Rangefinding Binos
- Thread starter jamross65
- Start date
PointBlank
Well-Known Member
The first time I looked through a pair of the Swaro's I thought the display was awkward to read and brushed them aside but the next time I saw a pair in a shop the salesperson took the time to show me setting up the diopter rings right for my eyes. It seems the aiming mark is on one side display and the readout is on the other so if they are not both set right you won't get a clear display.
Then I went home and ordered a set from the internet...... Uttings 15% sales are too tempting on that expenditure! (sorry salesperson!)
PointBlank
Well-Known Member
Really? I got my advice from someone in a local photography shop and it was bang on!
Looks like Swarovski missed out on a sale.
moses
Well-Known Member
mo
Well-Known Member
im in the same boat now.. i was dead set on the zeiss 10x45rf but after looking through the sworos today Im split between the two. No doubt the sworos produced a sharper image but I thought the zeiss gave a quicker range read out? Was it just me or anyone else found this... keep the info coming lads as I cant decide! 
steveford1
Well-Known Member
+1 for Swarovski
Vipa
Well-Known Member
I had Leica geovid 8x56 HDs and they were nice.. Optically great, electronics a bit 70s and design wise very dated... After trying a pair of Zeiss I sold the Leicas and replaced them with Zeiss 8x45 rfs.. My eyes certainly can't see any difference but one thingthatbis different is the way Zeiss shape the lens.. This actually bends the image at the periphery which stops the sea sick feeling one sometimes gets when panning for long periods.
light gathering of the Zeiss x45 is as good if not a bit better to my eyes than the Leica x56 but that is subjective.
the electronics of the Zeiss is much more up to date offering m or yds.. None of this choosing at the outset! I also prefer the button location under the right index finger rather than the left of the Leicas.
Target acquisition is much more straightforward with the Zeiss. With the Leicas you have to press the button to turn the system on and then centre your target and press again together the range... With the Zeiss as you press the button the system comes on and the targeting reticule appears, releasing the button gives the range so far more intuitive, faster and less prone to error... Also whilst it is not going to matter in the field, (I noticed this target shooting) the Leicas would return no reading quite often beyond 5 or 600 yds, the Zeiss never fal to read up to 1k and beyond. Also, ranging is faster on the Zeiss but I think that comes down to better & more up to date electronics.
ergonomically I much prefer the Zeiss (which was what made me think about switching in the first place) even though they are MARGINALLY heavier than the Leicas BUT i believe Leica are bringing out a new version which looks very similar to the swaros, in which case the ergonomics will be brought bang up to date.
so... There you have my opinion of the 2 I have owned... I would not go back to Leica in their present guise but optically they are great although as I found the Zeiss x45 as bright as the Leica x56 I would assume that transmission is better with the Zeiss.. I also like the spherical lenses, they do make long periods of glassing more comfortable.
as for the swaros, I spent a good half hour playing with them at bisley live and then again at the shooting show and whilst optically they were as good as the leica or Zeiss they were certainly no better and didn't feel as robust as the Zeiss.. Electronics were no better than the Zeiss and they have big lumps coming out of the bottom of each barrel, presumably to accomodate electronics or prisms.. I found that very uncomfortable in the hand. So whilst they are undoubtedly capable bins I couldn't see me holding them for hours on end plus they are much more expensive. Even if they were comfy to hold they certainly weren't (imho) worth any more then the Zeiss or the Leicas... Just bling!
hope that helps
Paul
light gathering of the Zeiss x45 is as good if not a bit better to my eyes than the Leica x56 but that is subjective.
the electronics of the Zeiss is much more up to date offering m or yds.. None of this choosing at the outset! I also prefer the button location under the right index finger rather than the left of the Leicas.
Target acquisition is much more straightforward with the Zeiss. With the Leicas you have to press the button to turn the system on and then centre your target and press again together the range... With the Zeiss as you press the button the system comes on and the targeting reticule appears, releasing the button gives the range so far more intuitive, faster and less prone to error... Also whilst it is not going to matter in the field, (I noticed this target shooting) the Leicas would return no reading quite often beyond 5 or 600 yds, the Zeiss never fal to read up to 1k and beyond. Also, ranging is faster on the Zeiss but I think that comes down to better & more up to date electronics.
ergonomically I much prefer the Zeiss (which was what made me think about switching in the first place) even though they are MARGINALLY heavier than the Leicas BUT i believe Leica are bringing out a new version which looks very similar to the swaros, in which case the ergonomics will be brought bang up to date.
so... There you have my opinion of the 2 I have owned... I would not go back to Leica in their present guise but optically they are great although as I found the Zeiss x45 as bright as the Leica x56 I would assume that transmission is better with the Zeiss.. I also like the spherical lenses, they do make long periods of glassing more comfortable.
as for the swaros, I spent a good half hour playing with them at bisley live and then again at the shooting show and whilst optically they were as good as the leica or Zeiss they were certainly no better and didn't feel as robust as the Zeiss.. Electronics were no better than the Zeiss and they have big lumps coming out of the bottom of each barrel, presumably to accomodate electronics or prisms.. I found that very uncomfortable in the hand. So whilst they are undoubtedly capable bins I couldn't see me holding them for hours on end plus they are much more expensive. Even if they were comfy to hold they certainly weren't (imho) worth any more then the Zeiss or the Leicas... Just bling!
hope that helps
Paul
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I have been on the market for a while for range finding binoculars. I am quite sold on Zeiss, as I really like they way they feel (maybe because I got used to the optics in my scope) and the electronics are just great. I will give myself some more time to try a few though..
Penyard
Well-Known Member
Me too, will follow this one with close interest as this is high on my 2013 shopping list.
Uncle Buck
Well-Known Member
I use Leica Geovid 8x42 which I find fantastic (however not so sure about after market sales ! ),
as for Swarovski the laser return seems to be a bit on the slow side (after market sales is top class).
Zeiss tend to be a bit on the heavy & bulky side. (after market ......?).
as for Swarovski the laser return seems to be a bit on the slow side (after market sales is top class).
Zeiss tend to be a bit on the heavy & bulky side. (after market ......?).
jamross65
Well-Known Member
While this thread has been developing I was checking out some prices, and it appears that currently the Zeiss are a fair bit cheaper from the right places than the Swarovski. several hundred pounds would swing it for me to be honest when we are talking about high end products in the first place. As I said previously, the performance of the glass in low light is of far more importance than the electronic and Rangefinding ability of the Binos to me and from what I am gathering the overall picture is that there is really nothing to choose from in that regard between the Binos referred to on here. It will be interesting to see how the new Leica's fit in to this...
Recently bought Leica Geovid 8 x 42, largely on price (got "seconds" with no apparent defects, from Macleod's in Tain: less than £1500).
Image is superb, RF is a very clear but unobtrusive display, and the scan function is really handy and quick. Solid build.
(Also bought a "Truglo" harness along with them: great for crawling, but bulky and makes a tiny snap noise if you don't close it with care. Where can I get the neat wee bino-guard flap thingie, that just flops back over the eye-piece when you lower the binos?)
Image is superb, RF is a very clear but unobtrusive display, and the scan function is really handy and quick. Solid build.
(Also bought a "Truglo" harness along with them: great for crawling, but bulky and makes a tiny snap noise if you don't close it with care. Where can I get the neat wee bino-guard flap thingie, that just flops back over the eye-piece when you lower the binos?)
Vipa
Well-Known Member
Well... just had a good look on line at the new Leica Geovid HD-B bins.. they look very nice, slightly odd shape which i'm sure is nice in the hand but doesn't appeal to my eye.. The electronics, as I expected have been brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century and now allow you to program ballistics info as you can in the zeiss (never used!) AND gives you angle compensation as in the Swaros... so.. the best of both competitors PLUS it also takes account of current atmospheric conditions which is a neat trick..
So, I'm watching the video thinking... yeah... they could make me switch back from my < £1,800 (at the right outlet) Zeiss RFs... Woahhh there boy! not at over £2,600 they won't... think I'll leave them for those who have more money than brain cells! lol
So, I'm watching the video thinking... yeah... they could make me switch back from my < £1,800 (at the right outlet) Zeiss RFs... Woahhh there boy! not at over £2,600 they won't... think I'll leave them for those who have more money than brain cells! lol
Vipa
Well-Known Member
You are right JamRoss... there isn't anything that the average human eye could discern between all 3 bins other than the deliberate design differences, i.e. the curved periphery image of the Zeiss vs the flat image of the swaros (which actually isn't a good thing unless you are observing static targets such as in birdwatching)... the only thing differentiating the 3 are ergonomics, aesthetics and now the complexity and flexibility of the electronics which, as you say, isn't the prime function... and of course the blinginess (although that's a bit of a paradoxical critiscism coming from an R8 owner! lol)
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