Ever THINK you have good optics but then look through mind-blowing better?

[WAB]

Have you tried Schmidt & Bender?

I have, excellent glass.

 

[revturbo9967]

Have you tried Schmidt & Bender?

I have one now on my .375 and love it. I had a PM2 for a while and liked that as well. Once you get past a particular price point, all glass is great quality. Its all about durability and features after that.

 

[WyoBull]

I have 10x42 Swarovski binos as well as the Leica 10x42 HDb range finding binos.
Love them both and to my eye they are equal in clarity. Obviously I am partial to having range finding capability of the Leica but the biggest factor for me between the two is ergonomics. The Leica just feels good in my hands, almost like it is a part of me.
So, the Swarovski sit in the safe unless my wife goes with me and she then uses them.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Buy the best that you can afford
Dont waste money on cheaper things

 

[OldnLazy]

first time i looked through a NF atacr i knew i was in trouble.

 

[robtattoo]

Yeeah......
I usually use cheap Vortex binos. They're honestly good enough for 99% of my hunting. I was in Wyoming in 2019 & for some reason the right eyepiece just wouldn't focus. Hard to spot misty elk on a snowy mountain.
My old buddy who lives up there offered me his binos for the week. Swaro ELs.

Kinda ruined me for cheap glass since then.

 

[Hogpatrol]

"Buy once, cry once".

 

[geoff rath]

I was given this hint by a highly qualified optician/specialist; when we check out a scope in the gunshop, don't look out the door/window at whatever is outside, look into the darkest corner of the shop ...

 

[geoff rath]

another point: the lenses they put in your eyes when you're treated for cataracts are usually Zeiss ...

 

[Hogpatrol]

I was given this hint by a highly qualified optician/specialist; when we check out a scope in the gunshop, don't look out the door/window at whatever is outside, look into the darkest corner of the shop ...

Yep, the riflescope mantra is usually "They're crystal clear". Uh, uh, .after daylight and before sundown.

 

[steve white]

I was given this hint by a highly qualified optician/specialist; when we check out a scope in the gunshop, don't look out the door/window at whatever is outside, look into the darkest corner of the shop ...

IF YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW YOU ARE ACTUALLY SEEING THE OPTICAL QUALITY OF THE WINDOW PANE!!!
Good call on the darkest corner

 

[BeeMaa]

I spent several hours looking through Leupold, Swaro, Leica, Zeiss and S&B scopes and binos as daylight faded into night at Euro Optic on a Satruday afternoon/evening. The Swaro scopes and Leica binos were my choice. Different reasons for each, but I'm very pleased with my decision.

Before that, I'd have been more than happy with Leupold scopes & binos. After seeing what the top quality (tier 1) German Glass has to offer...it's not even close. I opened my wallet without asking any questions.

Thank you @Hogpatrol...Buy once, cry once.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

I was given this hint by a highly qualified optician/specialist; when we check out a scope in the gunshop, don't look out the door/window at whatever is outside, look into the darkest corner of the shop ...

When you take the time to think about it, it makes perfect sense. Its something that I will try next time I'm shopping for optics.

 

[Safari Dave]

I thought I had good binoculars on my first elk hunt (B&L 8-24 x 50),

My guide let me look through his German Military Surplus binos that he thought had Zeiss lenses (8x30).

They seemed to have 100 times better resolution than mine. I saw elk miles away with his, that couldn't even see a blur of with mine.



I bought a Pair of Zeiss 10x40 in 2002 at Cabela's on sale for about $800. They have been wonderful.

 

[mdsalern]

I have Leupold on my rifles. I use the VIP discount and have been quite pleased.

Went shopping for a spotting scope and decided to look through something besides Leupold and was blown away with the Swarovski 20-60x65mm. Was better than the 80mm, but haven’t gotten one yet…

Had the same feeling when I went to Tom Leoni’s event for the Chapuis Iphisi and looked through the Zeiss scope. Amazing clarity.

 

[deewayne2003]

I was happy with my new Leupold spotting scope and binoculars; until my cousin brought out his Swarovski 20-60 scope & Leica 10x40 binoculars.

I agree with the “buy once cry once” mantra…. But there is always the new model coming out; case in point being the range finding versions of binoculars.

 

[Hogpatrol]

The doctor who did my cataracts uses all Zeiss optics in his practice. He's also a Zeiss rifles scope and binocular user. He's told me the same thing judging optics. Look at the darkest spot in the store.

 

[PerH]

When one went from unknown origin claimed to be Japanese,but more linkely C....

Then one came across S&B ,and Leupold. Whole new world. SB won a NATO contract mid 80s,they became the rage then. Zeiss was much used in Nato, Police units and many more.

One store here,which could sell s.o.s ,he raved on his manta " Zos bought up Zeiss,they are that big " , wonder if Zeiss ever heard that .

 

[Hogpatrol]

The doctor who did my cataracts uses all Zeiss optics in his practice. He's also a Zeiss rifles scope and binocular user. He's told me the same thing judging optics. Look at the darkest spot in the store.

 

[JimP]

I've never used the darkest spot in the store but I have had the salesman go outside with me at dusk so that I can get a real feel on what the optic are going to be like.

I've even done this in the bright daylight just to get away from the artificial store lights.

If they say that they can't then I just walk away