The Leica's are a bit cheaper than the Razors - depending on where you are looking. In my opinion they are punching above their weight. very nice bino's. they have a 30 year warranty - but I haven't heard stories of warranty experiences. Zeiss - I have - on the scope side - after 10 years they aren't helping much in about 4-5 anecdotes I have read. Vortex - well they will help you regardless - but have heard you will definitely need it at some point.
Leica, Zeiss or Vortex binos?
- Thread starter freddyfour
- Start date
I use binoculars and other optics a lot, both as a hunter and even more as a birder. Got a bunch of them from various makers. My two favourites are Zeiss and Leica; hard to pick one over the other. Every one I have ever looked through has been magnificent.
There are other brands, like Pentax, Steiner, Bushnell, etc. that can be outstanding...or not so much. Mid-range optics in general seem to show a bit more variation from one piece to the next even within the same model. I bought my wife a pair of Swift binoculars that were excellent; she uses them for birding only, doesn't hunt. I liked that binocular so much that I picked up another pair for myself, and found that second pair noticeably inferior optically; so much so that I took them back to the Toronto shop where I got them and replaced them with another identical pair. I looked through several while doing so and could easily see individual variation.
Vortex? Hmmm...I have heard that top-line Vortex optics like the Razor line are wonderful. I wouldn't know, and likely never will; my Vortex experience, with a number of mid-range riflescopes, has been abysmal. I've only bought a couple, but have owned several times that many when you count the replacements that they kept sending me. So, a Vortex optic priced at $X dollars has built into that price the cost of honouring an admittedly excellent warranty...and that warranty gets a workout. Sure, I know that if a Vortex fails me in the field...and it's never happened, they have always sh1t the bed before progressing beyond range use...then I know they will replace it...but I also know that will do me diddly-squat while out on the prairie or in a treestand or whatever. My confidence in them is zero, and confidence is priceless.
There are other brands, like Pentax, Steiner, Bushnell, etc. that can be outstanding...or not so much. Mid-range optics in general seem to show a bit more variation from one piece to the next even within the same model. I bought my wife a pair of Swift binoculars that were excellent; she uses them for birding only, doesn't hunt. I liked that binocular so much that I picked up another pair for myself, and found that second pair noticeably inferior optically; so much so that I took them back to the Toronto shop where I got them and replaced them with another identical pair. I looked through several while doing so and could easily see individual variation.
Vortex? Hmmm...I have heard that top-line Vortex optics like the Razor line are wonderful. I wouldn't know, and likely never will; my Vortex experience, with a number of mid-range riflescopes, has been abysmal. I've only bought a couple, but have owned several times that many when you count the replacements that they kept sending me. So, a Vortex optic priced at $X dollars has built into that price the cost of honouring an admittedly excellent warranty...and that warranty gets a workout. Sure, I know that if a Vortex fails me in the field...and it's never happened, they have always sh1t the bed before progressing beyond range use...then I know they will replace it...but I also know that will do me diddly-squat while out on the prairie or in a treestand or whatever. My confidence in them is zero, and confidence is priceless.
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freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Basspro has them on right now for $1399, seems pretty reasonable.
I don't disagree with you. Chinese made is hard to get away from sometimes.
When I was young, items made in Japan were considered cheap and inferior and look where they are now. The Chinese are making great strides to improve quality, but in the end it will still be Made in China and they are not a friend to the west.
From Mr Google:
Vortex Razor binoculars are made in Japan for high-end models like the Razor UHD and certain Razor HD configurations, while some Razor HD and other Razor models are manufactured in China or the Philippines. The specific country of origin depends on the model and its configuration, so it's best to check the product details or packaging for your specific binoculars.
Japan: Models in the Razor UHD series (like the 8x42, 10x42, 12x50, and 18x56) and some older/specific Razor HD models are manufactured in Japan.
China: Some Razor HD binoculars, such as the 10x42, are made in China.
Philippines: The Razor HD series also includes models manufactured in the Philippines.
So in a nutshell they're made all over AeM sia. Glass is sourced at best on "highest end" models from Japan. Possibly LOW. The rest are a crapshoot but safe to say Vortex binos are pretty much all sourced. When you read the "yes but they built to our standards its a bit of a minomer. You contract your product out and when the Asian OEM companies offer them a range of products and prices ,THEY decide which to contract to meet their price points.
Vortex Diamondback binoculars are manufactured in China. While Vortex is an American company, its budget-friendly binoculars like the Diamondback series are produced in Chinese factories under the supervision of Japanese optics experts to ensure quality.
- Manufacturing location: The Diamondback line is produced in China, along with other entry-level binoculars.
- Quality control: To maintain high standards, Vortex uses Japanese experts to supervise the manufacturing process in China.
- Company origin: Vortex Optics is a US-based company with its headquarters in Wisconsin, but it sources and assembles its products globally.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Seems like ther Germans are winning the race!
Predators have forward facing eyes, prey has their eyes on the side of their head. I’m 100% predator.
That’s a self flattering way of saying I have close set eyes, not all Binos accommodate this so I have to have them in hand to find out.
I like the leica geovids. If spending more than about a grand on Binos you should really add ranging capabilities, the glass itself quickly slides into the realm of diminishing returns imo.
That’s a self flattering way of saying I have close set eyes, not all Binos accommodate this so I have to have them in hand to find out.
I like the leica geovids. If spending more than about a grand on Binos you should really add ranging capabilities, the glass itself quickly slides into the realm of diminishing returns imo.
I've been using a pair of 8X32 Leica Trinovids for over 25 years, they are a nice pair of binoculars for the money. A good piece of advice that I was given when researching binoculars is to check out some of the bird watching boards.
I’ve told the story here before but it’s worth repeating. My geovids spent a week or so at the bottom of a lake. I wiped some mud off them and looked through, still clear as day. Pushed the button and they ranged the far shoreline.
Yes Zeiss is tops. Leicas can be very good, but they're just not Zeiss. Conquests are a half step down from the perfection of Zeiss Victories and I don't say the top Leica I've never seen won't beat them, but not for anything like the same price. I spent 5 decades as a birder and birders know.
Check this place for bino prices: https://w ww.peleewings.ca/store/sport-optics/1/
I own or have owned two of the ops choices. Still have the Voretx razor hd 10x42(not made in China) and have used and abused them for years. Anytime anyone looks thru them, the comment is always the same. Wow these things are clear!! The Trinovids I had for a few years and they are very fine binos. Nice weight and extremely comfortable. I sold them to a very nice member on here who also owns the higher end Geovids and he said he was having a hard time noticing any difference. The Trinovid are lighter than the Razors but either are great binos.
If budget is an issue, look for a pair of used Swarovski SLCs in 10x42.
Should be able to find a pair for about $1200. Great glass!
I've had mine for over 25 years now. I also believe that they are more robust than the ELs.
Another great optic overlooked by many is Minox. Their top of the line glass is very good for the money.
I am using my Leica Geovids more now, as they have the rangefinder built into them, and are also top notch glass, but at a much higher price point. (And I bought a pair of demos and saved over $1500 versus the EL RF glass at the time.)
You'll use your binos almost as much as your boots, so buy the best you can afford on this item. You'll be glad you did in the long run.
Should be able to find a pair for about $1200. Great glass!
I've had mine for over 25 years now. I also believe that they are more robust than the ELs.
Another great optic overlooked by many is Minox. Their top of the line glass is very good for the money.
I am using my Leica Geovids more now, as they have the rangefinder built into them, and are also top notch glass, but at a much higher price point. (And I bought a pair of demos and saved over $1500 versus the EL RF glass at the time.)
You'll use your binos almost as much as your boots, so buy the best you can afford on this item. You'll be glad you did in the long run.
And neither is the USA these days
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I can't agree with this, for the simple reason that optics do not undergo technological advancement at anywhere near the same pace as electronics. A top-tier binocular today will still be exceptional a decade or two decades from now; it might not be quite as close to the top of the optical heap but it will be close. I have both Zeiss and Leica full-size binoculars that I have owned for over 30 years. They are still great optics.
But rangefinding? Hell, electronics evolve so quickly that most of them are obsolete within only a couple years. How often do we change our phones, our laptops, our tablets? A 5-year old device in any of those categories is a curiosity, a dinosaur that can't begin to match the performance of newer models. Rangefinders are the same.
I will never begrudge spending the bucks on optics; as a hunter, and a birder, I use them constantly and I want the best I can afford. So if I spend those bucks, I don't want some aspect of the unit to be laughably obsolete a few seasons down the road. I want a separate rangefinding device which will be easily and relatively inexpensively upgraded from time to time.
Yeah, it's convenient to have them together in one unit; so what? I use the rangefinder maybe 1% as often as I use the optic; I can live with the inconvenience of picking it up when I need it.
I absolutely agree that Minox and Meopta are definitely worth looking at as well, both have optics which offer excellent quality and also value per dollar. I believe that Meopta manufactured the riflescopes that Leica offered recently; they wouldn't have been chosen lightly for that contract.
