Posted: 7/26/2012 1:20:42 PM EDT
| Are the Swarovski EL's worth the investment? I'm looking for a quality set of binoculars for hunting that will last. |
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I like the EL's a lot, but for this kind of money, you need to hold them before you choose between these and the Zeiss Victory FL. I have not held/used the Victory HT, so I cannot add anything about these. A notch below are the Meopta Meostar and Kowa Genesis. These, at least to my mind, offer ~90% of the EL and Victory FL at less than half the cost. How much can you afford? I say this because optics are tools and sometimes tools get dropped. Will you cringe at the thought of dropping a $2,000+ pair of binoculars? |
| I have spent a few very long days spotting and glassing for prairie dogs using my Swaros' , they are one piece of equipment that I would not be with out . I don't have any others to compare them to , but I believe you would be hard pressed to find anything substantially better . I really love mine and have seen them get pulled out the pickup onto concrete without any ill effects - although my heart did stop for just an instant . Had them several years . |
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While the Swars and the Leicias are excellent glass, you should try the Vortex. They have a lifetime warranty, and the glass is excellent. They are trying to break into the market, so the price is really good. I would recommend checking them out before dropping 2-3 times the price for the glass posted above. Many of my friends now have Vortex glass, and they won't buy anything else now... |
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Quoted: If you hold a set of Leicas to your eyes, it will cost you a lot of money or you will be forever disappointed in anything calling itself a binocular. They better be the newer HD's or you, IMO, over paid. Still, they are better than almost anything else on the market. |