Swarovski or Leica binoculars??

[andykat]

Hi all

after receiving some criticism on the bino's I use, and struggling with low light conditions I'm Torn between the following 2 to replace them with:

swarovski el 8.5x42 swarovision

or

leica ultravid hd 8x42

or an others that you may recommend?

there both around the £1500 mark, so before I hang my self just thought I'd get some opinions...!

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Try looking through both side by side and see what works best for your eyes.

I'm a Swaro fan - but they also suit my eyes. Both are quality glass.

 

[provider]

+1 for the Swarovski's . You also get the excellent customer services thrown into the deal.

 

[bewsher500]

never had to test the customer service but I owned the Leica 8x42's

They fit my hands better than the SL's and coincidentally the guy who sold them to me was replacing them with SL's because the exact same reason.

you need to see which fit you.

I prefer the locking notched eye peice of the Leica's
cant comment if the SL's have this but the SLC's I used recently had an annoying habit of winding back in under any pressure

I am sure the glass in both is beyond what mortal man requires to spot deer

 

[big_dog]

TRY R Macleod & son tain ex demo or used .

 

[A J]

I bought a pair of the Swaro 8.5x42s a couple of weeks ago (EL Range version) after a lot of trying and deliberation. The Swarovski's suited me better than anything else I tried and are brighter than anything else I looked through in low light conditions.

They're not cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for with Swarovski.

 

[gaz6br]

Ive just brought a pair of zeiss 10x45 range finder binnos and must say i like them alot, i looked at swarovski and leica and for me the zeiss come out on top.

Gaz.

 

[tbone]

Northern optics are selling kahles 8x42 for £695. I havent seen or used these but if the bino's are as good as the scopes they could be a good buy? Anybody got any info on these?

EDIT just seen that uttings are doing them for £650, both places have same blurb about exclusive line....whatever that is

 

[Cyres]

Agree you need to try them out before you buy. In this bracket why don't you consider geovids and get a brilliant range finder as well?

D

 

[Krabryn]

Have 8 x 56 Geovids from new and superb product but to replace rubber objective lens caps after my dealer spent 6 fruitless months trying to get replacements, my letter direct to the MD of Leica UK brought a feverishly fast apologetic response! Just hope his After Sales Service Dept. does buck up its ideas.

Svarovski scope after sales service as per others' opinions is second to none. Cheers, K

 

[Vipa]

swaro or leica ????

ummmm... neither...

Zeiss!

 

[6pointer]

When it comes to glass you cannot beat Lieca i have had mine for many years and they are still Christal i have used zeiss and swaro,s and i can honestly say that lieca tip it for me comfort and ease of use. Zeiss would be the last on the list . But like many have said get in a shop try new ones out see how comfortable they are to the eyes you will be using them for many many hours at a time. Also if you have had cheap your in for a treat with both lieca and Swaro,s

 

[andykat]

Thanks all very valid responses, i guess I need to get my lazy back side into a shop rather than be an online merchant!

either way, it seems il be doing a small fortune!

many thanks

 

[User00035]

Thanks all very valid responses, i guess I need to get my lazy back side into a shop rather than be an online merchant!

either way, it seems il be doing a small fortune!

many thanks

Go to the shop late in the day when the light's going and take the bins outside. They all look brilliant in the middle of the day, its dusk that matters. Bins do seem to be a very personal thing. Two people can have opposite responses to the same pair. Definitely get to a shop and try a few out yourself. On a similar topic further down this forum someone recomended Cley Spy in Norfolk, I think, or Suffolk, anyway not a million miles from you. looks like they're more a birding than a shooting shop but they sell the big three Euro glass and a good range of second hand bins and I thought their new prices were as good as anyone's. Might be worth a look.

 

[big ears]

both excellent need to try them to see which fits you better. i didnt get on with leica. then wait for a good second hand pair to come up. just bought a pair of 8.5 x 42 el's for £750 off this site. they are fabulous and at over half the price of new worth every penny.

 

[Dickie]

Its like the rifle make, calibre, boots coat and scope etc etc get out there try various make see which you like which suit your pocket buy them then you too can join in and say they are the best out there and cothing else compares.

 

[Alan .204]

I have the Swar 10-42RF my mate has the Zeiss 10-56RF and my other mate has the Leica 8-42RF and we all agree the Swaro are the best, but have to admit it all depends on what suits you have to look at as in investment so take your time and get it right.

Al.

 

[DCG]

Have 8 x 56 Geovids from new and superb product but to replace rubber objective lens caps after my dealer spent 6 fruitless months trying to get replacements, my letter direct to the MD of Leica UK brought a feverishly fast apologetic response! Just hope his After Sales Service Dept. does buck up its ideas.

Svarovski scope after sales service as per others' opinions is second to none. Cheers, K

Not sure how long ago you needed to utilise the services of Leica customer care, but I have a pair of Geovids which had to go back for repair about nine months ago. Suffice to say that I found the whole experience absolutely exceptional and certainly wouldn't go past Leica products
dcg

 

[shrek1]

Thanks all very valid responses, i guess I need to get my lazy back side into a shop rather than be an online merchant!

either way, it seems il be doing a small fortune!

many thanks

Can't see how you are ever going to buy some with out trying any make out first you must be the first arm chair stalker

 

[Cascade]

Leica Geovid 8 x 56 RF for me, the complete package, Had them since they were first brought into this country never had a problem

Bob