Unusual for 10-power binoculars, it has excellent eye relief and works well with glasses. However, its successor, the Zeiss Victory SF, is in our opinion even better than the revered FL. NOTE: The 8x42 Zeiss Victory FL has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
However, the scores allow you to compare any binocular to all the rest in the study. We show each group separately on the chart, as it seems only fair. They fell naturally into two groups: those costing over $1500 and those costing around $1000. We tested and evaluated twelve high-end binoculars for this review. The overall score weights resolution more heavily than the other scores. Except for the lock-to-lock measurement, the specs are from the manufacturers.
We penalized binoculars whose strap lugs poked the hands.įor each binocular, the chart shows the manufacturer’s specifications, the lock-to-lock focus knob measurement, the interpupillary distance range, the five individual scores from our tests, and an overall score. The Leicas got dinged for the prominent thumb ridges that some judges complained about. The Zeiss Victory got the top score because of overall ergonomic excellence and extra credit for how well the barrels fit the palm of the hand. Hand-friendly, grippy-textured armoring characterizes all of these binoculars. The Leicas scored the highest because of their large, easy-to-see dial on the focus knob, which made it tops for confirming the diopter setting at a glance. We deducted from binoculars lacking a diopter scale or lock. In the chart we note the diopter location. We did not reduce scores for this, but we noted it as a caveat in the individual reviews. On a few binoculars, the eyecups didn’t extend far enough for some of the judges if they were not wearing glasses. Those few without detents got a lower score. Most had detents that help to hold a partial extension. However, because we consider focus speed to be a matter of personal preference, it did not affect the score.Īll the binoculars had good twist-out eyecups to adjust for proper eye relief.
#Leitz binoculars reviews full#
We also measured how many turns the full focus range took and included the results in the chart. These might be more glove friendly in winter, and we gave them a bump in their focus knob scores. Some offered the advantage of being wide enough to fit two fingers. However, they inevitably, and perhaps unfairly, suffer when being compared to the best optics in the world.Īs one would expect of binoculars in this price range, all had great focus knobs, smooth, precise, and without slack or jerkiness. The lower scoring binoculars in our survey are not necessarily bad optically. The Resolution Score column in the accompanying chart shows the binoculars' relative performances at 32x. Even then, the top five binoculars tied in their resolution scores, showing no consistent, repeatable differences over multiple trials. However, when we magnified the images to 32x, using two stacked doublers, differences in resolution became clearer. The binoculars in our survey showed similar resolution at 8x. We kept testing until we agreed upon a consistent relative score. We compared each binocular to a reference binocular to confirm that what we were seeing was not influenced by eye fatigue or other temporary issues. We controlled the lighting conditions carefully. We mounted binoculars side by side on a stable, vibration-free platform.
We quantified each binocular's ability to resolve fine detail, using an USAF-1951 optics resolution chart. People come in all sizes, and many hands are needed when evaluating binoculars. Their impressions were especially valuable for ergonomic issues. We invited local birders for a test day to broaden our perspective. We tested and rated them on resolution, focus knob, eyecups, diopter adjustment, and fit and feel. They split naturally into two groups: models priced $1500 and up and another group priced around $1000. Even if one of these babies is not in one's budget right now, it's likely to be in one's sights. A binocular that incorporates the pinnacle of human technology has a special ambience about it. Zeiss, Swarowski, and Leica now offer high-quality binoculars priced a notch below their top-end models, and we especially wanted a chance to compare them. This time, we asked manufacturers to send us their high-end models, selling for $600 and up. In our previous review, we tested 8x42 binoculars in the $200 to $600 price range. The following review also appears in the May, 2012, Bird Watcher's Digest. Binoculars Review For Bird Watcher's Digest, May, 2012