Zen ED2

[bucklucky]

Tell you what, these are some pretty nice Bino's. Very well built, I really only have a couple small issues with them , but the good far outweighs the bad! These thing really bring in the light. Compared to my wife's Vortex Razors in 10x42 versus the Zen ED2 10x43 there is no comparison in low light. I was truly amazed. Glass versus glass I will give the nod to the Zen ED2s, at first glance I didn't see much but side by side comparison and there is a difference. The Zens were more crisp, better color enhancement, just better. One thing I did not like was the play in the adjuster wheel, you could move it about 1/4 inch before it would focus, now I have a pair of 8 x 43 Zen ED2s also to compare and they did not have the play like the 10x43 so I'm not sure if it was a faulty knob or what. And the only other negative was the caps on the end. They come off the bell way too easy.Not the cap itself but the secondary ring that holds the caps on when you are looking though them. I had to find them a couple times last night after driving around spotting deer and elk. Not bad for the negatives  

 Now for the 8x43 ed2s, you cant even compare them to the 10x43s, so much more clarity and crispness, light gathering is better than the 10x43s. They focused better and crisper. Only problem I have with them is again, the caps on the bell just are not tight enough and fall off easily.

 You cannot beat the price on these Bino's, they are some of the better I have looked through. I highly recommend buying a set and trying them out. I wish I had enough money , I would buy both pairs, but I will have to choose one  .

 Thanks Charles on a great product!

[thinkingman]

Good review, Thanks.
I had Razors and couldn't 'see' what the excitement was about.
returned them

[ZRS-8x42]

I am glad you like it. Thanks a lot for the feedback

[Maligator]

Received my Zen Ray ED2 8x43 binos today. I placed the order yesterday and they already arrived at my door!      Also got a personal PM here from Charles letting me know they had already been shipped and I could expect them in a day or two. Lucky me it was only a days wait!     I thought that was a very nice touch!

Well, let me start off by saying that I am very pleased with these binos! Super crisp image and I swear the colors jump out at you! I was very impressed. As Bucklucky alluded to earlier: the covers are just a tad more loose than I would have them but other than that I have nothing but good things to think and say about these binos! I highly recommend that you get your hands on a pair and SEE for yourself!

[Tony 270WSM]

Why do you feel the 8x is so much better than the 10x?

[bucklucky]

Clarity, focus's better, better light gathering. Crisper clearer, just better. You'll find that with any Bino pretty much , lower power the better the clarity and crispness.

[Steve C]

Yes, I have looked at all three.  I own the ZRS and ZEN ED.  The Vista is a simple, entry level, non-phase corrected binocular.  It is OK for the price, but all $100 non-phase corrected binoculars are best left unpurchased.  The ZRS is one of the very best sub $200 binoculars out there.  It is ,in my opinion, superior to some more expensive roof prism binoculars, notably the Nikon Monarch.

The ZEN ED is pretty well in a small and unique class of binoculars.  That also includes the Promaster Infinity Elite ELX ED, the Hawke Frontier ED, and the Atlas Intrepid ED.  It is better than the ZRS, if you can swing the difference, the ZEN ED is worth it over the ZRS.  If not the ZRS will give quite good service.

I am still waiting for the obsolescent USPS "priority mail" to deliver my ZEN ED 2's (7x36 and 8x43) to Sunnyside WA from Portland, OR (about 200 mi).  They got the shipment three days ago.  Next time, I drive to Portland myself.  Not a knock on Zen Ray, but it is a knock on USPS, as this has happened multiple times.  So I will have a better idea about the improvements to the ED2 sometime(I hope).

[Armadillo]

Looks like an excellent glass now I just need to collect the $  from what ive read on here it sounds like you would be hard pressed to find a better binocular for the price?

[Tony 270WSM]

I have the ZRS and like it a lot. However, after hearing so much praise about the ED2 I'm looking to upgrade. Service has been top notch so far.

[bucklucky]

I have the ZRS and like it a lot. However, after hearing so much praise about the ED2 I'm looking to upgrade. Service has been top notch so far.

I think you will be very happy with the ED2. I really am. Not sure how they would stand up to say a Swaro 8.5 x 42 el or a Leica Ultra vid (since I cant afford a pair) but they are definately nice . Cant complain for a fourth of the cost. Bout the nicest low buck Bino I have looked through. Actually they are the best I have looked for under a grand I would say but I have not looked through all binos on the market.

[Maligator]

I looked through most every pair of binos from just over $1000 and below as serious contenders for purchase. I do not have a single regret about getting the Zen Ed2s. They really are a great set of very crisp, sharp and color true binos. Also looked through a couple of the upper end binos as I spoke of earlier and I gotta tell ya that as far as I was concerned I am definately getting more for my money with the Zen ED2s.

I am a TRUE believer in the saying of "buy the best glass you can afford"! To put it into perspective, my new scope cost me almost 2x more than my new rifle did. It just happens to be a real bonus when the glass that stands out from the crowd happens to be the best deal as well!