Steiner or Kahles or Zeiss Binos

[BelMali]

Out of those I’d pick the Conquest in a heartbeat - they’re very good. Unless you actually mean the Kahles Helia S - these are rebadged Swaro SLC (in every way - same everything including made at the same Austrian factory. Apart from adding the stupid orange stripe), and would be the pick for sure. The Kahles Helia is a reasonable quality binocular made in the same Japanese factory as the majority of mid range offerings from other manufacturers. Immerse yourself in birdforum if you want to know more. Not sure about the Steiner.

Why don’t you indicate your budget? Then people might stop recommending Geovids (I assume you’re not actually interested in high end range finding binoculars? Even second hand they’ll be more than double the price of new Conquests). In general, I think it’s better buying a second hand pair of alpha binoculars than a new pair of runner ups.

I recently bought a like new pair of 2020 10x42 SLC for less than the price of new Kahles Helia. I find myself glass more than I used to because I love the image so much - the clarity, brightness, lack of CA and even size/weight makes them an absolute joy to use.

No I meant the Kahles Helia, I wouldnt have the budget for the S model. Ive had a glance at birdforum, but I guess I wanted feedback from hunters.

I suppose my budget would be around €1000(around £840), but id happily spend less. You're right, not interested in the high end rf models. Ive no problem buying secondhand at all.

Can I ask did you pick those up online or in an rfd?

 

[harrygrey382]

No I meant the Kahles Helia, I wouldnt have the budget for the S model. Ive had a glance at birdforum, but I guess I wanted feedback from hunters.

I suppose my budget would be around €1000(around £840), but id happily spend less. You're right, not interested in the high end rf models. Ive no problem buying secondhand at all.

Can I ask did you pick those up online or in an rfd?

I bought them off a used gun website - in Australia, where I live. But the principles remain the same. For 840 pounds you should easily be able to pick up a very good pair of used SLCs (they’re bang in the range), possibly even a pair of Zeiss FL? I was in the UK in August and I very almost bought a pair of 10x42 Leica Ultra Vids for 750 pounds plus postage off a bloke on birdforums. They’d just been serviced by Leica, he was a well established member I think they would’ve been a great buy. In the end I think he freaked as soon as I mentioned the money would be coming from an Aussie bank account. I also just missed out on a very nice pair of SLCs on here. If you wait for a while you could even pick up a pair of ELs for that. Either way, my budget was around 800 pounds and I found a few contenders from Leica and Swaro in 10x42 in that price range but my location with no car and time limit let me down. If. Fortunately the used market in Australia is similar and I got this mint pair for $1500 (converts to about 750 pounds). My plan had been to keep saving and get new S - Optics-trade.eu have them at au$1995, not sure if you can save more but it’s worth considering. There is no other new “alpha” bino anywhere near this cheap.

If you’re looking at SLCs, try and get a post 2010 model - they upgraded them optically and they’re a bit (not heaps) better, particularly in CA control (it HD lenses). To date them take the first two numbers of the serial and add 1930.

Places to watch are the classifieds here, birdforum classifieds (many uk listings) and Taines used optics listings.

Other models to consider are Zeiss SFL (used in your budget) and GPO Passion ED - a Conquest competitor that compares favourably and is cheaper

 

[Rutland lad]

You do need to try before you buy really.
I’ve a pair of 8x56 Steiner and they’re great on optical quality but bloody heavy.
Not too much of an issue in a highseat or tower, but a different thing altogether when for slogging/stalking in Scotland !

 

[Heym SR20]

My advice would be to find a really nice clean pair of Zeiss 7x42 BGAT T*P*. They are utterly superb binoculars and even though the youngest are now 15 years old, optically the are brilliant. You pay £500 to £600

The other complete steal in optics are bent tubed Swarovski Habicht binoculars. These are about half the price of their straight tubed models, but optically as good and to my mind feel less like a brick.

Steiners I don’t like - I have a narrow face and just don’t seem to fit them.

Modern zeiss I don’t think are worth the money. They are not as good as their old binoculars. They might optically magnificent, but struggle in build quality abd feel.

I would also consider the Swarovski or Leica 8x30 size binoculars. Again these are significantly cheaper than the 42mm, and really you will loose very little performance at last light, and you have a binoculars that is lighter in weight and volume.

But binoculars are a very personal thing. Try as many as you can. Most binoculars these days are pretty good. The quality is in the build and ruggedness. My zeiss BGATs are 26 years old and well used but not abused. I have absolutely no need to change them.