Author Topic: SWAROVSKI VS. ???????? (Read 10344 times)

GEARHEAD · « **on:** October 23, 2011, 12:11:26 PM »

Well.....assuming that Swarovski HD spotters and Binos are the best, and i have looked thru both, and agree, any opinions on the second best maker/brand out there.

Knocker of rocks · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2011, 12:20:35 PM »

Swarovski's are very good, and amoung the best. The thing about Swarovski, is that they do not make a consumer grade product, so everything they make is "the best". But top echelon Lieca, Nikon and Cannon is equal to or exceeds Swarovski (as a matter of opinion).

dreamunelk · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2011, 12:38:50 PM »

Basically it is what you can afford. As stated above there are some very good alternatives.

CplRaines · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2011, 12:44:50 PM »

Zeiss
Steiner
Leupold

in that order.... after Swarovski.

Bigtine96 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2011, 12:47:47 PM »

keep in mind hd does not mean much unless you use your spotting scope for taking pictures of wildlife. I have the 65mm Swarovski angled with the 25-50 wide angle lense and I love it, one of the best purchases I have made as far as outdoor equiptment.

When you spend as much time as I do behind the glass buying anything other than the best is a waist of time.

nwwanderer · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2011, 05:20:53 PM »

Spent more than a year comparing, bought the top of the line KOWA. All of the good ones are amazing.

Knocker of rocks · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2011, 06:33:31 PM »

Quote from: nwwanderer on October 23, 2011, 05:20:53 PM

Spent more than a year comparing, bought the top of the line KOWA. All of the good ones are amazing.

And about the same price. All $2000 spotting scopes are going to be really good.

jjhunter · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2011, 06:58:17 PM »

Ask the hard-core guys and MOST will say that Zeiss makes the best spotter and Swarovski Swarovsision are without peer in the bino market.

I am currently packing a pair a Zeiss RF 10x45, a Swaro HD 80 spotter, and a pair of Swaro 15x56s. Since $$ is not an option when it comes to my glass, I obviously feel that this is the best glass for my style of hunting. I am purchasing a pair of 12x50 Swarovision before Colorado and will try them out on a tripod as a possible replacement for my 15s.

If I were to purchase one pair of binoculars, it would probably be the 10x42 Swarovision.

deerslyr · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2011, 01:34:48 PM »

I hear the vortex razor is great and a little bit cheaper

Knocker of rocks · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2011, 01:55:17 PM »

Quote from: jjhunter on October 23, 2011, 06:58:17 PM

I am currently packing a pair a Zeiss RF 10x45, a Swaro HD 80 spotter, and a pair of Swaro 15x56s

Sounds like a ghetto set up

deerslyr · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2011, 06:12:43 PM »

thinkingman · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2011, 10:02:05 AM »

When you get into alpha glass, the old standards are Swaro, Leica, Zeiss....then there are the others.
I love Swarovski...I think their coatings have the best balance between brightness and natural color.
Leica is extremely bright....almost synthetic....loss of color at the expense of brightness.
I do not have enough experience with Zeiss to form an opinion.
Meopta makes excellent glass and I believe their construction is like a tank...and weighs like one, too.
Steiner has a rep as a euro military vendor....I have not been impressed with their glass, but construction is very solid.
Nikon is a very advanced manufacturer and their products have an excellent reputation and their EDG line is competing with the Alphas. Nikon Premier SE's have been around for a while and are still the reference glass in the porro prism market....once you look through them, you're spoiled for life.
There is a pair on CL right now in Kirkland.
I have a pair of Nikon Premier LX's that have the widest field of view I've ever encountered....once you get used to it, it's hard to go to a narrower view.
I have demo'd Vortex Razors and they didn't work for me....can't quite identify why.
I would love to have ZenRays for a month or so..they have a great rep.
I've never been impressed with Leupold glass, nothing compelling there.

jjhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2011, 03:42:34 PM »

Quote from: Knocker of rocks on October 24, 2011, 01:55:17 PM

Quote from: jjhunter on October 23, 2011, 06:58:17 PM
I am currently packing a pair a Zeiss RF 10x45, a Swaro HD 80 spotter, and a pair of Swaro 15x56s

Sounds like a ghetto set up

I know....working on getting those Zeiss out of the line-up.

Got the 12x50 Swarovision on Thursday - AMAZING!

Greg30-06 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2011, 06:12:04 PM »

Any that are less than $200 so I don't have to sell my first born.

deleted BGS · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2011, 06:55:22 PM »

I am really wanting a pair of leica geovids 10x42 bad

got2hunt · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:08:04 PM »

I like the swaro's but for the price they are outrages, I bought a pair of brunton epoch 10.5x43 and love them. One of the things that i love about them is their warranty. I dropped them and they rolled down a hill side and they sent me a new pair no problem. I would recommend them just because the warranty.

predatorpro · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:18:27 PM »

yeh...i cant tell a diferrence from swarovski to my $150 pair of nikons,,,, i actually liked my nikons better than my friends $1500 pair of swarovski

boneaddict · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:45:14 PM »

I'd rather keep my kids in shoes, and continue to use my Zen Rays.

high country · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2011, 11:32:40 AM »

For spotters, kowa tsn deserves a serious look. Probably the best ever made. I tend to prefer Leica binos but carry 15x56 swaros. I have bashed on NIKON for a long time due to blowing up their scopes with alarming regularity, but their edg binos are unreal. I sold off my others and don't feel there is anything better to my eye today. Once a person steps up to alpha optics, it is all opinions anyways. We all see slightly differently.

deerslyr · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2011, 11:49:09 AM »

Quote from: predatorpro on November 22, 2011, 01:18:27 PM

yeh...i cant tell a diferrence from swarovski to my $150 pair of nikons,,,, i actually liked my nikons better than my friends $1500 pair of swarovski

lol

Knocker of rocks · « **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2011, 05:48:27 PM »

Quote from: deerslyr on December 13, 2011, 11:49:09 AM

Quote from: predatorpro on November 22, 2011, 01:18:27 PM
yeh...i cant tell a diferrence from swarovski to my $150 pair of nikons,,,, i actually liked my nikons better than my friends $1500 pair of swarovski

lol

MuleySniper · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2011, 06:07:01 PM »

Quote from: predatorpro on November 22, 2011, 01:18:27 PM

yeh...i cant tell a diferrence from swarovski to my $150 pair of nikons,,,, i actually liked my nikons better than my friends $1500 pair of swarovski

they might look good side by side in a department store but i guarantee that early morning or right at dusk there is no comparison how much better the swarovskis in the field.

columbiaman · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2011, 04:10:36 PM »

For spotting scope, I would get the ZEN ED2 20-60x82 or VortexRazor.

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/spottingscopes/zenspotter82-angled.html

summit creek · « **Reply #23 on:** December 18, 2011, 04:12:17 PM »

i like my swavs but the liecas are just as good!!

coachcw · « **Reply #24 on:** December 18, 2011, 09:31:46 PM »

I have the lieca 10x42 range finding binos and and pleased with them . i think they are better for guiding or riffle hunting since you need your left hand to range with . as a right handed bow shooter its tricky to range with on a stalk.

Big Horn · « **Reply #25 on:** January 06, 2012, 08:57:10 AM »

Quote from: jjhunter on October 23, 2011, 06:58:17 PM

If I were to purchase one pair of binoculars, it would probably be the 10x42 Swarovision.

Are far the best I have used, they fit awesome in the badlands bino case.
The new leupold gold rings in a 10x42 are great, a little cheaper than the swarovski's just my

Bob33 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 06, 2012, 08:53:46 PM »

Quote from: high country on December 13, 2011, 11:32:40 AM

For spotters, kowa tsn deserves a serious look. Probably the best ever made. I tend to prefer Leica binos but carry 15x56 swaros. I have bashed on NIKON for a long time due to blowing up their scopes with alarming regularity, but their edg binos are unreal. I sold off my others and don't feel there is anything better to my eye today. Once a person steps up to alpha optics, it is all opinions anyways. We all see slightly differently.

Stole my thoughts. Many consider the Kowa Prominar scopes to have no equal: better than Swaro, Zeiss, Leica, etc. They dont have the name so you dont hear as much about them. Go read some reviews on birding sites. They aren't cheap: the 88mm with eyepiece is $3000.

When you get into the very best optics, differences are subtle. What looks best to one person may not to another. If you are spending money on alpha glass, compare several. Swaro is good but you may well find something else more pleasing. I have an older pair of Nikon Premier binos that I prefer over my friend's Swaros.

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Author Topic: SWAROVSKI VS. ???????? (Read 10344 times)

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