Review
Zeiss at THIS price? NICE! (October 01, 2005)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: John Todd Overcast - Kalispell, Montana
I looked at quite a few binoculars before deciding on this wonderful pair. There are many good quality, mid-priced roof prism binoculars currently on the market, but these Zeiss are a cut above the rest. I looked through Nikon Monarch, Leupold Wind River, Pentax DCF SP, and just for fun, the Swarovski ELs. The Zeiss were second only to the $1500 Swarovskis, which had better edge-to-edge sharpness and a slightly brighter image, but for the Vanns price on these Zeiss, you would have to be crazy not to snatch up this deal!
One improvement Zeiss has made are the eyecups. Other reviewers have mentioned the push-pull, two position eyecups. The pair I received has twist out eyecups which feel stiff enough to stay in any position you want. This is nice, as I wear glasses, and set the eyecups about 18' from the fully closed position.
My recommendation to anyone looking for a good mid-priced binocular is to try as many as you can get your hands on. In the end, however, my guess is that you will buy the Zeiss Conquest!
Review
Zeiss Conquest 8x30 (February 22, 2005)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: K. G. - St. Louis, Missouri
Superb binoculars particularly at the price. Excellent brightness, color and resolution. Exceptionally light, well handling, and rugged. Strongly recommended. Only downfall is no objective covers but the objective covers for Nikon 8x32 SE's fit perfectly and cost $0.77 each from Nikon.
Review
What's not to like??? (January 13, 2005)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: El L. - Charlotte, NC
The kicker with the Zeiss is that everyone knows Swarovski for it's optics...how is that relevant? It's a little known fact and not a well publicized one that Zeiss grinds Swarovski's glass for them. Like apples? That handy piece of information is what put me into an remarkable, under $400 pair of binoculars you couldn't get for less than $1000 from Swarovski. To boot they are light weight, compact, tough and have a 3.75 mm exit pupil which is extremely important for hunting in low light situations.
I have the Nikon Action Zoom 10x22x50's and prefer my Zeiss Nikon's are very heavy and bulky but when your talking power and long range in the day time they are great. I compare these Zeiss to the Steiner Predator 8x42's...do the math and go to a store to try each type, you'll buy the Zeiss and you'll buy them from Vann's because you will NOT find their prices, customer service and buying experience anywhere else. The only thing I would add to these glasses is a better fitting eye cup that is softer than the one standard issue.
This is the first review I have ever written about any product or company I have ever bought from...honest
Review
Zeiss 8x30 Conquest (December 19, 2004)
| Ease of Use |
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(4/5.0) |
| Value |
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(3/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(1/5.0) |
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(2/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Michael R. - Seattle, Washington
This is a compact elegant pair of binoculars from Zeiss. They're very light weight with fairly good ergonomics. The eyecups have two positions - fully in or out- and twist lock in the out position, a bit limited for a $400 pair of binoculars.
The optics yield a crisp, bright view for the inner 60 percent and gradually deteriorate outward. One notable problem is strong chromatic aberration and flare when viewing bright objects against a dark background.Viewing the moon looks like a 60's poster.
At this price level there a number of better choices available.