Hunting Washington Forum
Washington State Hunting Forum and Northwest Resource Site
Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
News:
Free:
Contests & Raffles
.
Home
Help
Calendar
Advertise
Login
Register
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Equipment & Gear
»
Scopes and Optics
»
ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
Advertisement
Advertise Here
« previous
next »
Print
Pages:
1
[
2
]
3
All
Go Down
Author
Topic: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review. (Read 21698 times)
whacker1
Trade Count:
(
+3
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5816
Location: Spokane
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #15 on:
March 01, 2009, 10:53:22 PM »
Very good posts and reviews. I will be keeping these in mind over the next year.
Logged
Advertise Here
whacker1
Trade Count:
(
+3
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5816
Location: Spokane
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #16 on:
March 16, 2009, 02:06:49 PM »
Charles sent me a pair of the 10x over the weekend to try out and they arrived this afternoon. What a great opportunity to down-shift from NCAA tournament research to looking out of the office building with a different set of binoculars.
They come with a very nice travel case. In initial comparison they are smaller in size, but about the same weight as my 9 x 40 Steiner Big Horn's. The balance is very nice, and they bear a very ergonomic feel in the hands based on the way the binoculars were designed. The comments others have made about the lots of movement on the focus knob are accurate, but they also make very fine adjustments, which I have had problems with in some of the Nikon's and Bushnells I have tried in the past.
I am very impressed so far. More too report over the next couple of days when I get to play with these side by side with the Steiners.
Logged
columbiaman
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Hunter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 199
Location: Astoria
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #17 on:
March 17, 2009, 09:07:38 AM »
How much better is ZEN, comparing to ZRS? I have a set of ZRS and I am quite happy with it. Not in the market immediately another pair, but always good to know what to expect.
Logged
boneaddict
Site Sponsor
Administrator
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Legend
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 50471
Location: Selah, Washington
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #18 on:
March 17, 2009, 09:13:27 AM »
I'll let you know shortly. I usd one all last fall and just got the new pair.
Logged
My BOOK Volume ONE
https://www.blurb.com/b/11881998-muley-madness-the-collection-volume-i
Volume TWO
https://www.blurb.com/b/11882571-muley-madness-the-collection
Steve C
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Hunter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 112
Location: Yakima Valley, WA/Klamath Basin, OR
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #19 on:
March 17, 2009, 10:51:52 AM »
The ZEN is noticeably brighter than the ZRS. The ZRS has a noticeable reddish color bias and the ZEN is more neutral. The resolution on the ZEN is better, particularly at longer distances. The ZEN also has a noticeably wider FOV. The ZEN is clearly an image quality competitor to far more expensive binoculars. The ED glass on the ZEN also noticeably reduces color fringing on high contrast targets. I have both types and like both, but the ZRS is the second place prize winner.
Logged
Steve
Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can where you are with what you have."
ZRS-8x42
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Scout
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 291
Location: Portland
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #20 on:
March 17, 2009, 01:28:33 PM »
Thanks everyone for sharing your experience with our product. There is always room for us to do a better job to serve the members in this great community.
Just slightly off topic, I just got an email from Grant McOmie, who is the host on Grant's Gateway on KGW Channel 8 in Portland. He took his ZEN ED for his outdoor adventures too. Here is one segment aired last week. Check them out.
http://www.kgw.com/video/getaways-index.html?nvid=341713&shu=1
or you can watch it in HD mode here
g=embed&sec=&hd=1
Logged
Charles
http://www.zen-ray.com
We are on
Facebook
Jekemi
JEKEMI2005
Washington For Wildlife
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Longhunter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 688
Location: Shoreline, WA
Deer beside me
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #21 on:
March 18, 2009, 07:57:16 AM »
I have become a big fan of Zen Ray bonoculars. I received a pair of Vista's and used them throughout the recent duck and geese season. About to use them for the Turkey season as well. Now I'm turning my attention to the ED Zen's. As you know ED generically stands for Extra Low Dispersion Glass. This refers to optical glass that is made using rare earth sand that when melted and formulated has the characteristic of allowing a tremendous amount of light through without flare or distortion. Generally ED glass is only found on the super-premium optics, such as Swarovski. As has been mentioned by those testing the Zen ED's they are 1/3rd the cost of comparable Swarovski binoculars with incredible performance. Saving up my pennies.
Logged
Warning! Do not elect politicians who don't support the 2nd Amendment as the Constitutional framers intended - There are no Collective Rights in the Bill of Rights. America is about Individual Freedoms, not collectivism!
whacker1
Trade Count:
(
+3
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5816
Location: Spokane
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #22 on:
March 31, 2009, 10:23:11 PM »
Well, I have had the Zen Ray ED 10 x 43 for two weeks. I wasn't planning on buying binoculars and neither was my wife, but the talk and reviews around the ED's was so good, I just had to demo. So here is my two cents about them.
I took them out Saturday just before daylight. I took my Steiner Big Horn 9 x 40 and my Leica range finder to compare with Zen Ray's. I dropped over the hill and took a look at some birds at 100 yards. With it being so early in the morning, my Steiners pulled in enough light to see, but difficult to make out the finer aspects of the bird. With the ED's I began playing with the focus and as others have said - you really need to turn the knob to find the right focal point. But after playing with a the focus for a second or two I really got a much crisper image than my steiners could provide. I was able to make out significantly more detail than with the steiners.
I hiked a 1/2 mile or so checking at different distances and comparing back and forth. i got to looking at some grasses and downed trees at 280 yards. Still not fully light yet, but starting to providing enough light to shoot had it been hunting season. I noticed that when I pull up my steiners that it is a little difficult to discern the down log in the grass. When I pulled up the ED's, I was able to move back and forth on the focus picking up the grass and then the downed log - back and forth looking at the grass and then the log. This really allowed me to focus on one then the other - not capable of doing this with my steiners.
one of the things that surprised me - Magnification. I am comparing a 9x to 10x. As most know with scopes - you can notice some difference between a 9 and 10, but it isn't usually earth shattering. When I look through the 10 power ED's after looking through 9 power steiners - I feel like I went from a 9 to a 12 power or more. The ED's seemed to be stronger than what I expected out of 10x magnification.
The high points for the quick reviews:
Pros - clarity is phenomenal, magnification is strong, field of view is great, ergonomically very comfortable, ability to manage focus is fantastic, performance at low light was very strong, travel case is awesome, pricing is fantastic
Cons - like others said - lens covers are cheesy
Against my wife's will - I bought the demo's Charles sent me.
I used to swear that the Steiner - base model - Bighorn edition (back in the day) and now the Predator were the best binocular for under $500 ( I think I paid $329 for mine 6 years ago). I still think they are a great binocular, however I will now be using the ED's as my primary binocular - Far better glass for the same general price range. I will just be keeping the steiners in the pickup all year and not care any more if they get beat up.
Thank You Charles for letting me demo the binos-and better yet letting me purchase the demos. Nice not to have to see them go when shipping them back to you.
Logged
ZRS-8x42
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Scout
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 291
Location: Portland
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #23 on:
April 01, 2009, 09:02:42 AM »
whacker1, thanks a lot for the great comparative review. I am glad it serves up to your expectation.
Logged
Charles
http://www.zen-ray.com
We are on
Facebook
ZRS-8x42
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Scout
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 291
Location: Portland
ZEN ED 8x43 is temporarily out of stock
«
Reply #24 on:
May 28, 2009, 03:15:39 PM »
I want to apologize to a few members here who wish to have an immediate access to the ZEN ED 8x43. Because of its popularity, we were not able to keep up with the demand. Now the 8x43 ZEN ED is currently out of stock. But 10x43 is still available with limited supply. Now, we are taking pre-order for 8x43 for second half of June delivery. We have been working very hard to get them back in stock and meet the demand. Thank you very much for support and patience.
Logged
Charles
http://www.zen-ray.com
We are on
Facebook
Jekemi
JEKEMI2005
Washington For Wildlife
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Longhunter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 688
Location: Shoreline, WA
Deer beside me
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #25 on:
May 28, 2009, 03:46:31 PM »
Charles: when are you guys going to come out with a rifle scope? I know you guys will provide value; great price and great optics. We are all waiting. The money is burning a hole in my pocket! Any plans?
Logged
Warning! Do not elect politicians who don't support the 2nd Amendment as the Constitutional framers intended - There are no Collective Rights in the Bill of Rights. America is about Individual Freedoms, not collectivism!
whacker1
Trade Count:
(
+3
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5816
Location: Spokane
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #26 on:
May 28, 2009, 04:25:04 PM »
I feel the same way as Dave does about a Spotting Scope in the ED line. Charles let us know when you have an update on your ED spotting scope project
Logged
ZRS-8x42
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Scout
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 291
Location: Portland
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #27 on:
May 28, 2009, 08:08:41 PM »
We are constantly looking for opportunity to expand our product offerings. I will sure let you know when or if there is anything on the horizon. Thank you for your patience.
Logged
Charles
http://www.zen-ray.com
We are on
Facebook
yelloweyenw
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Pilgrim
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #28 on:
June 22, 2009, 06:11:55 PM »
Can anyone attest to the durability of the Zen-Rays? How long have you had them and have they held up ok? Just to be clear, I don't consider 1 or 2 years a good test of durability. Thanks guys!
«
Last Edit: June 22, 2009, 09:50:17 PM by yelloweyenw
»
Logged
whacker1
Trade Count:
(
+3
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5816
Location: Spokane
Re: ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
«
Reply #29 on:
June 22, 2009, 07:45:14 PM »
can't attest to durability - only had them for a few months. But they feel more solid than my steiners that I have had for 7 years or so.
Logged
Advertise Here
Print
Pages:
1
[
2
]
3
All
Go Up
« previous
next »
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Equipment & Gear
»
Scopes and Optics
»
ZEN ED binoculars 8x and 10x, a review.
Advertisement
Advertise Here
Quick Links
Front Page
Donate To Forum
Advertise on H-W
Recent Posts
Articles
Forum Rules
Recent Topics
DIY Ucluelet trip
by
metlhead
[
Today
at 09:40:00 PM]
Survey in ?
by
metlhead
[
Today
at 09:35:57 PM]
Alaska Fishing Guide and Lodge Recommendations
by
Tbar
[
Today
at 09:31:49 PM]
Anybody breeding meat rabbit?
by
HighlandLofts
[
Today
at 08:36:13 PM]
Colorado Results
by
cem3434
[
Today
at 08:35:51 PM]
NEED ADVICE: LATE after JUNE 15th IDAHO BEAR
by
Sliverslinger
[
Today
at 08:31:23 PM]
New York deer
by
HighlandLofts
[
Today
at 08:17:24 PM]
Resetting dash warning lights
by
Sandberm
[
Today
at 08:13:27 PM]
Please Report Problems & Bugs Here
by
Mossy
[
Today
at 06:17:02 PM]
What's flatbed pickup life like?
by
Special T
[
Today
at 05:52:28 PM]
Oregon spring bear
by
Fidelk
[
Today
at 04:58:27 PM]
Idaho General Season Going to Draw for Nonresidents
by
idahohuntr
[
Today
at 01:51:40 PM]
Seekins PH2 & Element sale
by
BigJs Outdoor Store
[
Today
at 12:40:26 PM]
Kokanee Fishing Tournament!! 🎣 June 13-14, Joseph OR
by
WRKG4GD
[
Today
at 11:42:02 AM]
wings wings and more wings!
by
birddogdad
[
Today
at 11:00:11 AM]
Jim Horn's elk calling, instructional audio CD's.
by
WapitiTalk1
[
Today
at 09:46:03 AM]
Wyoming elk who's in?
by
link
[
Today
at 07:00:33 AM]
CVA Optima V2 durasight rail mod
by
craigapphunt
[
Today
at 05:56:00 AM]
Last year putting in…
by
wa.hunter
[
Yesterday
at 11:02:00 PM]
HUNTNNW 2025 trail cam thread and photos
by
huntnnw
[
Yesterday
at 10:34:36 PM]
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal