GREAT GEAR RECOMMENDATION - Binoculars List - Changes In My Set Up
This years Coues deer hunt turned out to be something of a cluster for a number of reasons but I did reach a few important conclusions about my tactics and gear.
One, I need to always store my food bag away from my bivy spot, preferably in a tree where I can see it and the bears have a hard time getting to it (yes there is a story there). Two, although my beloved Leica Duovids have been great glasses, the field of view and exit pupil penalty that comes with them now outweighs their variable power benefit so I am going to go a different direction. Last, The Outdoorsmans Lightweight Tripods are still the very best in the class for what I do but I have decided that I like their Pan Head better than their Pistol Head Grip for my style of hunting. The pan head is just better for nose bumping the glasses left to right so I am switching to it as my primary.
In my search for a replacement of the Duovids I have been spending quite a bit of time looking at the latest and greatest offerings in the world of binoculars and the same old names continue to impress but there was one surprise this time. Without getting into too much detail about weight, magnification, field of view, exit pupil, and objective size, I can tell you unequivocally what I think the new top three are.
The Zeiss FL is the new king of the mountain as far as picture quality but it is not conducive to my tripod mounting system.
Surprise! Second place goes to the Nikon EDG. Somebody please let me know when they come out with a 50mm or better yet a 56mm objective.
The Leica Ultravid HD might be third, a very close third, in over all optical quality but it mounts easily to my tripods and comes in a 12x50 which makes it numero uno in my el bookero.
As I have said before, when you get to this level, it is all about splitting hairs but there are perceptible and important differences in them.
The Zeiss FLs offer absolutely the best picture but they are difficult to mount on my tripods and for now, at least, that knocks them out of the running. Nikon stepped up to the plate and knocked the pee waddin' out of the ball with their new EDG line. I found these while rummaging through the inventory at my favorite gettin' place, The Outdoorsmans in Phoenix. I had a pair of Swaro 10x42 ELs in my hand and Terry asked if I had looked at the Nikons. I said of course I had, I owned a couple pair of Monarchs ATBs and liked them but they didn't compare to the big three. He was talking about the new EDG line. So, I took them and the ELs outside and couldn't believe what I saw. The Nikons were better then the ELs, which up to this point had been the gold standard of sport optics. Yep, that is what I said, the Nikon EDGs were better than the ELs. Heresy you say? Maybe, but the Nikons are that good. They do pose a problem for me though. The biggest objective Nikon offers in the EDG measures 42mm. I have to have at least a 50mm. Sorry Nikon.
Next came the new Leica Ultravid HDs. Now, admittedly, I am a Leica fan so it is not hard to get me to embrace something new from them. Leicas just seem to fit me best and I really like their focus and diopter adjustments. Anyway, the HDs are the latest step in the evolution of the line and they are beautiful. Frankly, I just don't see how optically things can get any better then what is currently being offered by the top manufacturers. Future changes at this level will be in weight and technical features like built in laser range finders, variable magnification and the like.
In my opinion, the Zeiss FLs and Nikon EDGs have a better picture than the Ultravid HDs but only by a hair. However, as I said the Zeiss have the tripod issue and the Nikons EDGs don't come in the size I want so that leaves me with the Leicas HDs which is just fine with me. And...not only do they come in a 10x50, they are also available in 12x50 which is probably what I will end up going with because these will be used on a tripod 99% of the time. Giving credit where it is due, the 12s are an idea that my brother has been pushing for some time.
The last two things I need to address in my optics system are a range finder and a small pair of neck glasses for when I am moving around and the 12s are in my pack. What I really want in this regard is a high quality 6, 7 or 8 power binocular with a built in laser range finder. The problem is that one doesn't exist yet. What does exist is the Swarovski LG 8x30, a very nice monocular with a top notch laser range finder in it. While I really would prefer binoculars, this monocular will do the job because the Swarovski optics are so bright and clear and the field of view is over 400 feet at 1000 yards. The unit only weighs 13 ounces and is shaped like a pair of binoculars so it lays flat against your chest when used with a chest rig.
So here is my new set up.
Outdoorsmans Medium Tripod-2.4 lbs
Outdoorsmans Pan Head-10.2 ozs
Leica Ultravid HDs 12x50-36.7 ozs
Outdoorsmans quick release plates and tripod mounts
Swarovski LG 8x30 Laser Range Finder-13.2 ozs-on a neck/chest strap
Counting the Leupold scope on my rifle, that is three pieces of optics total which makes a lot more sense to me. If I want to get all up close and personal, I can throw in the Leica T-62 Armored APO spotting scope which has variable magnification of 16 to 48 power and a 62mm objective in package that tips the scales at a scant 34.4 ozs.
Oh, and before the emails start pouring in saying that you can't hunt Coues deer with anything less than 15s, that's horseshit. I may not be able to count the ticks on their necks but I can find 'em and decide which ones are worth chasing just as well with 12s or even 10s for that matter as I can with 15s.
The big news in this article is that unless you are looking for 15 power binoculars, Swarovski is no longer on top. In my not so humble opinion, they have been bested by Zeiss, Nikon and Leica.
Regardless of why you won't spend the big bucks, the Pentax DCF ED is a solid alternative at half the price.
One last thing. Your not the type to spend two grand on binos? Been kicked in the nuts by the markets and can't spend two grand on binos? I understand and I can relate. How about a thousand dollars for the 10x50 Pentax DCF EDs. Not as stellar as the divas mentioned above but still pretty damn good glass that won't give you migraines.
Wade Nelson
Editor
One, I need to always store my food bag away from my bivy spot, preferably in a tree where I can see it and the bears have a hard time getting to it (yes there is a story there). Two, although my beloved Leica Duovids have been great glasses, the field of view and exit pupil penalty that comes with them now outweighs their variable power benefit so I am going to go a different direction. Last, The Outdoorsmans Lightweight Tripods are still the very best in the class for what I do but I have decided that I like their Pan Head better than their Pistol Head Grip for my style of hunting. The pan head is just better for nose bumping the glasses left to right so I am switching to it as my primary.
In my search for a replacement of the Duovids I have been spending quite a bit of time looking at the latest and greatest offerings in the world of binoculars and the same old names continue to impress but there was one surprise this time. Without getting into too much detail about weight, magnification, field of view, exit pupil, and objective size, I can tell you unequivocally what I think the new top three are.
The Zeiss FL is the new king of the mountain as far as picture quality but it is not conducive to my tripod mounting system.
Surprise! Second place goes to the Nikon EDG. Somebody please let me know when they come out with a 50mm or better yet a 56mm objective.
The Leica Ultravid HD might be third, a very close third, in over all optical quality but it mounts easily to my tripods and comes in a 12x50 which makes it numero uno in my el bookero.
As I have said before, when you get to this level, it is all about splitting hairs but there are perceptible and important differences in them.
The Zeiss FLs offer absolutely the best picture but they are difficult to mount on my tripods and for now, at least, that knocks them out of the running. Nikon stepped up to the plate and knocked the pee waddin' out of the ball with their new EDG line. I found these while rummaging through the inventory at my favorite gettin' place, The Outdoorsmans in Phoenix. I had a pair of Swaro 10x42 ELs in my hand and Terry asked if I had looked at the Nikons. I said of course I had, I owned a couple pair of Monarchs ATBs and liked them but they didn't compare to the big three. He was talking about the new EDG line. So, I took them and the ELs outside and couldn't believe what I saw. The Nikons were better then the ELs, which up to this point had been the gold standard of sport optics. Yep, that is what I said, the Nikon EDGs were better than the ELs. Heresy you say? Maybe, but the Nikons are that good. They do pose a problem for me though. The biggest objective Nikon offers in the EDG measures 42mm. I have to have at least a 50mm. Sorry Nikon.
Next came the new Leica Ultravid HDs. Now, admittedly, I am a Leica fan so it is not hard to get me to embrace something new from them. Leicas just seem to fit me best and I really like their focus and diopter adjustments. Anyway, the HDs are the latest step in the evolution of the line and they are beautiful. Frankly, I just don't see how optically things can get any better then what is currently being offered by the top manufacturers. Future changes at this level will be in weight and technical features like built in laser range finders, variable magnification and the like.
In my opinion, the Zeiss FLs and Nikon EDGs have a better picture than the Ultravid HDs but only by a hair. However, as I said the Zeiss have the tripod issue and the Nikons EDGs don't come in the size I want so that leaves me with the Leicas HDs which is just fine with me. And...not only do they come in a 10x50, they are also available in 12x50 which is probably what I will end up going with because these will be used on a tripod 99% of the time. Giving credit where it is due, the 12s are an idea that my brother has been pushing for some time.
The last two things I need to address in my optics system are a range finder and a small pair of neck glasses for when I am moving around and the 12s are in my pack. What I really want in this regard is a high quality 6, 7 or 8 power binocular with a built in laser range finder. The problem is that one doesn't exist yet. What does exist is the Swarovski LG 8x30, a very nice monocular with a top notch laser range finder in it. While I really would prefer binoculars, this monocular will do the job because the Swarovski optics are so bright and clear and the field of view is over 400 feet at 1000 yards. The unit only weighs 13 ounces and is shaped like a pair of binoculars so it lays flat against your chest when used with a chest rig.
So here is my new set up.
Outdoorsmans Medium Tripod-2.4 lbs
Outdoorsmans Pan Head-10.2 ozs
Leica Ultravid HDs 12x50-36.7 ozs
Outdoorsmans quick release plates and tripod mounts
Swarovski LG 8x30 Laser Range Finder-13.2 ozs-on a neck/chest strap
Counting the Leupold scope on my rifle, that is three pieces of optics total which makes a lot more sense to me. If I want to get all up close and personal, I can throw in the Leica T-62 Armored APO spotting scope which has variable magnification of 16 to 48 power and a 62mm objective in package that tips the scales at a scant 34.4 ozs.
Oh, and before the emails start pouring in saying that you can't hunt Coues deer with anything less than 15s, that's horseshit. I may not be able to count the ticks on their necks but I can find 'em and decide which ones are worth chasing just as well with 12s or even 10s for that matter as I can with 15s.
The big news in this article is that unless you are looking for 15 power binoculars, Swarovski is no longer on top. In my not so humble opinion, they have been bested by Zeiss, Nikon and Leica.
Regardless of why you won't spend the big bucks, the Pentax DCF ED is a solid alternative at half the price.
One last thing. Your not the type to spend two grand on binos? Been kicked in the nuts by the markets and can't spend two grand on binos? I understand and I can relate. How about a thousand dollars for the 10x50 Pentax DCF EDs. Not as stellar as the divas mentioned above but still pretty damn good glass that won't give you migraines.
Wade Nelson
Editor
Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.
Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.
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