Zeiss Victory Binoculars

[GDMorgan]

Good evening all....

Im currently using some Zeiss terra 8x42 binos, I bought them as I didn't have any binos at the time and they were cheap enough. They've been great for the money ( think I paid about £340 for them )

However I've got a Victory HT scope on my .243 and, as warned, I've realised the limitations in the cheaper binos, I loose all light through the them ages before the scope and its the same story with the Conquest I have on my .223

Now as you can probably guess from my scope choices, I like Zeiss glass quite a lot, so naturally I'm looking at a decent pair of Zeiss binoculars. Its probably between the Victory HT and the SF.

As for magnification and objective lens, I feel happy with the 8x42 I currently use, but if theres any great advantage with a 10x or a bigger lens, Im not ruling that out.

Just after opinions on the difference between the HT and the SF, if any at all that is!

Thanks

George

 

[tuck1]

In the absence of any educated replies I’m afraid it looks like you will have to make do with mine! I believe that the HT is geared towards hunting, low light transmission is paramount and this model allows for maximum light transfer. The SF, I believe is more geared towards the birdwatching fraternity. However, I tried them side by side at Harrogate a couple of years ago, and I have to say the field of view on the SF absolutely blew me away. It’s stunning and makes for very easy viewing. You may not get much in the way of other responses here, Swarovski find great favour along with Minox and some others, and everyone sees things differently. I was viewing in bright daylight too. I don’t generally find that Swarovski bins suit me very well for some reason, possibly the depth of my eye sockets or something, and I generally prefer the Zeiss, you however may disagree. I strongly recommend that, if you are looking at spending that amount of cash, that you find somewhere to try a pair out in varying light conditions. I think Zeiss we’re doing some kind of “test drive “ arrangement recently. There is a Zeiss representative who posts on here occasionally (mak)? it may we worth sending him a message?

If I had the money (I don’t) I’d be looking very hard at the SF’s, purely because I love to spend hours sitting and scanning, but I certainly wouldn’t turn my nose up at the HT’s. Some of the older Victories are lovely too.

Keep us posted won’t you?

 

[novice]

I don't know how much use this will be to you, but I had a pair of the victory binos on loan from Zeiss while my rf model were in for service. Very disappointed with the choice of material on the barrels. They don't have the rubber 'armour that the rf model comes with and even after a couple of stalks they were showing scuffs and marks. I'd been taking extra care of them too as I was mindful I had to return them. If I'd have paid the asking price myself I'd not have been happy.

Novice

 

[Border]

As something in between have you looked at the Conquest HD binos?
I also have HT scope and love it. The Conquests perform well against it. I have the 8x42. The only think that I find negative to comment on them is that the focus can be a bit fussy, a couple of mm difference on the adjustment is noticeable. Having said that haven't tried any of the other top enders so dont know if they are the same.

 

[stubear]

I have the Conquest HD 10x42's and I love them. Great glass, great price and they hold the light as well as my Swaro scope.

I'd definitely recommend them.

 

[Grandhubert]

Good evening all....

Im currently using some Zeiss terra 8x42 binos, I bought them as I didn't have any binos at the time and they were cheap enough. They've been great for the money ( think I paid about £340 for them )

However I've got a Victory HT scope on my .243 and, as warned, I've realised the limitations in the cheaper binos, I loose all light through the them ages before the scope and its the same story with the Conquest I have on my .223

Now as you can probably guess from my scope choices, I like Zeiss glass quite a lot, so naturally I'm looking at a decent pair of Zeiss binoculars. Its probably between the Victory HT and the SF.

As for magnification and objective lens, I feel happy with the 8x42 I currently use, but if theres any great advantage with a 10x or a bigger lens, Im not ruling that out.

Just after opinions on the difference between the HT and the SF, if any at all that is!

Thanks

George

Choosing between the two is likely to be a matter of preference at that level, see if you can look through both.

Personally, I prefer the field of view and the depth of field of the classic B/GAT models for example, having looked through the best roof prism binos.

Marine nautical binoculars from ZEISS - steady seafaring binoculars | ZEISS United States

I find the stereo effect helps me spot deer and the lack of a need to focus the binoculars ( you just set the eyepieces for your vision and look through them) really helps at absolute last knockings.


Just something to consider.

 

[Mackensen]

I am old, so my eyes no longer benefit from the larger exit pupil (i.e. 5+) provided by 8x42 and greater. When I was looking at some new bins three years ago, I was shown the Zeiss Victory T Fl 8x32 and bought them as they are so light and handy. I can see as well through them as anything else I've looked through since but that is probably due to age-limited pupil diameter as already mentioned. But they are lovely and go with me everywhere, field, wood and hill, and I've never regretted the purchase so, if you get the chance, I'd just have look before you decide on bigger, heavier glass.

 

[TH4]

I have a pair of HTs and they are incredible at last light, I prefer them to the Swarovski bins but that is just my opinion.

 

[marrajack]

I have recently changed from HT to Leica 10x42 as my eyes could do with a bit extra
the victory are outstanding glass, however price to performance echo others advice and go for conquest as I feel both out perform Swaro to my eyes

 

[GDMorgan]

I have recently changed from HT to Leica 10x42 as my eyes could do with a bit extra
the victory are outstanding glass, however price to performance echo others advice and go for conquest as I feel both out perform Swaro to my eyes

How do the Leica compare with the Zeiss? They seem about the same money as the Victory but with the added rangefinder

 

[NigelM]

I run the Leica HD-B 10x42 having changed from Swaro 10x42 EL. I have sat in a high seat with a mate running the Swaro 10x42 RF and couldn't tell any difference between the two as the light faded. I have not done the same test with Zeiss, but having looked through their scopes in daylight back to back with Swaro the colours and clarity on the Zeiss seem better. I recently tested a Leica scope and the clarity on that looked as good if not better than Swaro, probably on par with Zeiss, although unless you have them back to back it's really difficult to judge. The three of them are really too close to call.

In real life my Leica bins are matched pretty well with my Swaro scopes at last light. I have never been in the position when a shot in safe light looks reasonable through the bins and not the scope.

 

[marrajack]

I got the Noctovid model - which had an offer on at the shooting show They seem
really good probably a bit better put together Never checked them v the same size Ziess but great glass