Zen Ray Vista Binocular Review

[KillBilly]

I used the Vista 8X42 Binos most of the day Saturday. I found them to be a very good Optic and except for the larger field of view, I am not sure there is much difference between them and my Nikon ProStaff ATB's in 12X25. The price is better for the quality with the current discount. Size is a big consideration for me. I like to be able to keep them in a pocket or tucked into my Mad Dog bino pouch next to my chest. The eye relief is as good as my Nikons and since I wear glasses that is a primary consideration. The lens covers, I never use... I don't want anything in my way ever when I need to grab my binos for a quick look. Having said all of that, If I did not have the Nikons and was comparing for a buy, for the money I would definately chose the Vistas. If the price goes back up to the original price, I might give size the edge when price is close.

Thank you for the opportunity to try them out.  I will be sending them to Robodad on Wednesday.

[HawkenBob]

Thanks, been waiting for someone to report. Sure hope the price stays were it is until I hear more reviews. I really want to see thru some. I should just order em. I guess I could always use a second pair.

[demontang]

From the field time I have with them they are worth every penny

[HawkenBob]

Anybody tring the Summits yet? Id pay the 190 for better optics.

[Ray]

The Vista Binoculars are worth the money.

I believe that the neck strap that comes with them appears flimsy but that could just be appearances.

The covers for the objective lenses could be lost as they are just rubber straps around the housing of the binoculars themselves. I believe that a design improvement could be made there.

Compared to the Nikon Monarch ATB I would go with the Vista and save myself a lot of cash. I wish I would have known about them a long time ago.

I am interested in a pocket set of binos in order to add to my hardware. Something like 10x25. It's interesting to see if they have plans for something along those lines. I wonder how the Zen-Ray Spotting scopes are...

[KillBilly]

Ray, I ask Charles about spotting scopes this morning. The ones they sell are not small but are of quality. The Vortec spotting Scope I purchased has very good optics however they are very large on a small base. they tripod they come with is very nice but makes for very touchy viewing. I was hoping Charles had something smaller coming in the future.

[KillBilly]

Anybody tring the Summits yet? Id pay the 190 for better optics.

I don't believe they are making the Summits available to us for Review.

[HawkenBob]

Figured since they were sold out of Summits someone here might have tried them...

[billythekidrock]

Though I only used the Vistas for a short time, I found them to be a good buy at $100.

[ZRS-8x42]

Killbilly, Demontang, Ray and Billythekidrock, Thanks a lot for the review and feedback.

To answer some of the questions.

SUMMIT (ZRS) was very popular and featured in August issue of Outdoor Life Magazine (print issue) as the best Budget Optics Gear. We have subsequently redesigned the whole optics system to make it even better. We expect 2009 ZRS to be available in late December.

SEDONA is our spotting scope. It has variable power of 20x-60x on an 80mm objective. It's probably the lightest 80mm scope on the market with very good optical quality.  All my digiscoping pictures were taken on this scope.

For smaller pocket binoculars, we will be introducing limited edition reverse Porro VISTA 8x26 and 10x26 in December as well.

[catwithboost]

Well gus mine are on there way. I ordered the 10x42 Vista model. Will be going out Sturday to try them out will report back. Thanks Charles.

[KillBilly]

A little more testing last evening. I did some more comparison in waning light and can definately see a difference in the light gathering ability of the Vistas because of the larger objective. Obviously my 25MM objective on the Nikons will not gather light as efficiently as the larger 42MM Vistas. So from a low light situation, the Vistas outshine my Nikons.

[columbiaman]

looks tempting. I have a pair of Monarch ATB for several years. If VISTA is as good as monarch, then it is an incredible deal. I guess I can always use a backup one.

--
man should be allowed to have as many scopes as handbags his wife has 

[wamuledeer]

I just bought a pair for my son so I will report back once I receive them. They sure seem to be worth the price plus a case, strap and a free monocular.

[columbiaman]

I just bought a pair of 8x42 as my backup. I will see how this will stack up against my Nikon. Will let you guys how it goes.

[demontang]

Well I have had the 8X42 vista zen ray binos and have fell in love. When I first got them I was very imprest with the clarity. I have use them for coyote hunting, scouting, and deer hunting.

I used them in low light, midday, etc, and they have preformed flawlessly. In the early morning when looking toward a ridge with the sun behind they had no glare and clarity that was excellent and they never fogged up. I the first hours of the morning during deer season I could see long before sun up. I really like the light weight of these too.

If you are looking for some Binos these deserve a very good look at, for the money they seem to be up with the higher class/price of binos I have looked though (vortex, Nikon, Leupold, etc)

[demontang]

Heres the deer they helped me put down

[bow4elk]

Nice buck!

[ZRS-8x42]

Nice deer! Congratulations!

Thanks a lot for the review. I am glad to hear it does its job as supposed to.

[demontang]

They where great

[robodad]

I put my Nikon 8.5X56 under the seat after trying out the Vista's in 8X42. I picked them up at the post office and like a kid in the candy store tore open the package and left it lying on the floor of the lobby !!! Folks must have thought that the only way I could see was to look through the binos as I walked all the way out to my truck looking through them LOL !! Well not really !! 

Any how when I opened them up my first impression was that these binos are built like a tank, very sturdy and almost armor coated, I took a little bit of time to look them over thoroughly and play with all the twisty things and bendy things and move it all around and I am telling you they are sound, The only improvement I could recomend was to put a positive stop in the twist up eye cups at the half way point and then put like a doughnut shaped piece of neoprene on the top of the eye cups cause they are way too hard to be pressing up against my forhead for extended periods, otherwise they are stout and sound and crystal clear.

I took them to deer camp over last weekend and had each of the others try them out against their Bushnells, and Steiner's and Nikon's and hands down everyone was really impressed with the Vista's, they were clearer and way brighter, and I had a hard time getting them back from those guys !!

I will recomend these to all my contacts, I even bought a set for my brother since he and his son Jamie will be getting more into the outdoors. They are well worth the money and I for one am very impressed with the quality of these binoculars !!!

Nice Work !!! 

[columbiaman]

robodad, nice review. I was like that when postman finally showed up at doorstep after a long weekend.  I have my pair for almost 2 weeks now. It continues impressing me for its overall clarity. There are few nice features I like too: the stay on lens covers come in really handy. I have already lost one of my old monarch's lens covers as I have to drop it in my pocket. The focus is smooth. I can turn precisely with gloves on when I was out in the morning. It does two full turns, as opposed to slightly over one turn for my Monarch. The more turns seem to give me a better control to get the sharpest view.  I pass it around to few buddies of mine last weekend to have them check out. Everyone was very positive about vista after trying it. ZRS-8x42, are you going to do a similar test drive for other higher end ones too? I would like to sign up.

[moreno1]

My son won the drawing for the 8X42 vistas and he thought they were great.  He used them on 19-Oct during the last hour of shooting time to find his 3-point buck.  I took a look through them and liked them right away.  I have used Nikon, Leopold, Steiner, Cabelas and Bushnell and think that they hold there own against them.  The have clear and crisp picture and I would not hesitate to buy pair for myself.  I think great.