Zeiss Victory 10x54 RF Binoculars?

[StephenJD]

I’m considering buying a pair of Zeiss Victory 10x54 RF binos. Does anyone have any real world experience of using them?

I’m possibly making the classic mistake of trying to use one bit of kit to do too many things rather than several items that are better suited to their individual roles but my thought process is as follows:

- I absolutely don’t need the ability to simultaneously combine range finding and relatively high magnification with light gathering ability, but…

- I would like the ability to range find accurately in daytime (eg on the hill in Scotland, plains game in Africa) and…

- The majority of my stalking is on rides in dense woodland in the south of England so light gathering at dawn / dusk is important but I don’t typically need an LRF to help me judge distance at these sorts of ranges

In terms of why Zeiss vs other brands: I have a Zeiss scope with ballistic turrets that I get on very well with so it seems to make sense to use binos from the same manufacturer to unlock the full features of the ballistic solutions

Thoughts welcome!

 

[StephenJD]

Anyone using these?

 

[Steff]

I used to have them. But sold them about three years ago. Just in time. Hardly anyone buys the big ones nowadays any more.
You want a maximum of light gathering? Get one w/o the RF built in or a NV unit.

I‘m not using any of the electronic NV or thermal stuff myself. I simply disagree with their use for stalking purposes. But a 54/56mm bino won‘t help me either at my age. Useless weight for me. 42mm top quality binos and a separate RF are my choice for high seat hunting. When I‘m walking I use a 10x32 with a built in RF simply for ease of use. Here I don‘t care about the last half hour of twilight.

 

[FISH BOY]

Had some 8x45 Zeiss RFs a few years back - superb optics as you would imagine, but jeez they were bulky and heavy round your neck.

Bino caddy’s weren’t really available back then, so I do now kind of regret selling them.

Unless you really want top glass - have a look at the 640 Habrok - will do everything you want plus more.

 

[scotch_egg]

I used to have them. But sold them about three years ago. Just in time. Hardly anyone buys the big ones nowadays any more.
You want a maximum of light gathering? Get one w/o the RF built in or a NV unit.

I‘m not using any of the electronic NV or thermal stuff myself. I simply disagree with their use for stalking purposes. But a 54/56mm bino won‘t help me either at my age. Useless weight for me. 42mm top quality binos and a separate RF are my choice for high seat hunting. When I‘m walking I use a 10x32 with a built in RF simply for ease of use. Here I don‘t care about the last half hour of twilight.

What 8x32 are you using? I’m tempted to go with a 10x32 RF and only use for daylight hours. My woodland stalking doesn’t need RF so use my lightweight 8X42 Leica’s.

 

[Steff]

What 8x32 are you using? I’m tempted to go with a 10x32 RF and only use for daylight hours. My woodland stalking doesn’t need RF so use my lightweight 8X42 Leica’s.

I use a 10x32 Rangeguide by GPO. Optically this is certainly not top of the pops but plenty good enough for the purpose.
The other day I read a test on a new GPO Rangeguide model, the 10x40. It‘s the same height as the 32mm and only marginally wider and +12 grams heavier. This could also be worth considering.

 

[Rural Management Services]

The 54’s are massive. The extra light gathering ability isn’t worth the weight and more importantly bulk.

Also because they don’t fit in many bino harness you end up looking like a U boat captain.

For reference I have owned both 8x54 and 8x42 RF’s.

 

[VSS]

10×54 is not suited to the majority of your stalking (dense woodland). Their use would be limited to open hill. For lowland / woodland stalking 8×42 would be a far better choice.
I can't comment on the range finder aspect, as I've never felt the need for one.

 

[StephenJD]

Thank you all for the replies here. Plenty to think about!

Very conscious, as per my initial message, that I might be trying to ask too much of one piece of kit when multiple might be better for each individual (and very different) task.

Hoping to get a chance to have a look at a few options in person at the Game Fair so will make a call after that.

Thanks again for the input, much appreciated!

 

[JockStalk]

I have a set of the victory 10x42 and very happy with them

 

[JockStalk]

10x54 is a bit of a niche choice I’d say. The Victory’s are excellent.
Would personally recommend for woodland a thermal spotter and 8x32 as a great combination. Almost never need to range in woodland. Open hill the 10x is much more use as is a rangefinder on unfamiliar ground. 10x and rangefinder also good for plinking, though at distance a spotting scope and tripod at 20x or 30x + probably a better solution.

 

[StephenJD]

10x54 is a bit of a niche choice I’d say. The Victory’s are excellent.
Would personally recommend for woodland a thermal spotter and 8x32 as a great combination. Almost never need to range in woodland. Open hill the 10x is much more use as is a rangefinder on unfamiliar ground. 10x and rangefinder also good for plinking, though at distance a spotting scope and tripod at 20x or 30x + probably a better solution.

Yes, that’s my thought process really: 10x RF for the hill / plains and x54 for light gathering in woodland (I occasionally have to wrap up 30-45mins before sunset when the winter nights draw in if I’m in thick woodland (obviously the leaves have gone by then but it can still be pretty gloomy!) so the 10x54s are really an attempt to find a “jack of all trades…” bit of kit that works in both scenarios. Although, as I say, I’m very aware that this likely means that it’s the “…master of none”!

Perhaps the 10x42 RFs are a more sensible compromise rather than lugging the 54s around on my chest in the woods (which is where, after all, 90% of my stalking is).