Leupold Bx-4

[2-Stix]

I might have a pair up for sale soon. Waiting on a pair to get shipped then I will make my choice.

 

[skyfreek60]

Leupold accidentally sent me a pair of bx4 10x42 and bx5 12x50 (warranty replacement for an old pair). A couple days later they requested I send one pair back. I made the mistake of looking through the bx4 10x42. They were awesome. I also liked the eye cups and locking diopter on them BETTER than the bx5. However I kept the bx5 12x50 because the Optics on them were great, they were worth more, and i needed 12s. However those bx4s got me thinking.... so I ordered a pair of camo bx4 12x50. I did like the eye cups and diopter better but the 12x50 wasn't as good as the bx5 optically. So I sold them. The eye cups and diopter of bx5 just don't work great for me so they're soon to be replaced by razor uhd 12x50 (brother has a pair and we both agree they r awesome).

So all that to say, brother and I agree you can't really do much better than the pair of bx4 10x42 we looked through. Size/weight, Bridge, diopter, eye cup design, and Optics were on point. We are both watching for a good deal on the 10x42.

The bx4 12x50 just weren't like that for some reason... had some noticeable muddiness.

Only thing I don't like about the 10x42 bx4 (and most leupolds) is the camo options are not more prevalent.

Waiting on my 12x50 uhds and watching for bx4 10x42....

 

[Voyageur]

Leupold accidentally sent me a pair of bx4 10x42 and bx5 12x50 (warranty replacement for an old pair). A couple days later they requested I send one pair back. I made the mistake of looking through the bx4 10x42. They were awesome. I also liked the eye cups and locking diopter on them BETTER than the bx5. However I kept the bx5 12x50 because the Optics on them were great, they were worth more, and i needed 12s. However those bx4s got me thinking.... so I ordered a pair of camo bx4 12x50. I did like the eye cups and diopter better but the 12x50 wasn't as good as the bx5 optically. So I sold them. The eye cups and diopter of bx5 just don't work great for me so they're soon to be replaced by razor uhd 12x50 (brother has a pair and we both agree they r awesome).

So all that to say, brother and I agree you can't really do much better than the pair of bx4 10x42 we looked through. Size/weight, Bridge, diopter, eye cup design, and Optics were on point. We are both watching for a good deal on the 10x42.

The bx4 12x50 just weren't like that for some reason... had some noticeable muddiness.

Only thing I don't like about the 10x42 bx4 (and most leupolds) is the camo options are not more prevalent.

Waiting on my 12x50 uhds and watching for bx4 10x42....

Good info. Thanks for sharing. Curious if you wear glasses?

 

[skyfreek60]

Good info. Thanks for sharing. Curious if you wear glasses?

I do not. My brother doesn't either.

As for the bx5 eye cups, they have a flange that your brow goes against and another inside that I don't like. But the big problem for me is they need adjusted half way out for appropriate relief. This wouldn't be a bad thing but they screw back in easily. So quite often I pick them up and they've been collapsed and need re-adjusted.

The bx4 have eye cups without said lips and pair I tested were stiffer to adjust (good).

For some reason the zeiss cups didn't fit me well even though they are rounded... just couldnt get my eyes in line with the center and have light sealed put well. Swarovski pair i tested felt good and my nikon monarch 10x42 feel good too. Vortex diamondback and razor uhd felt good.

I never would have thought it would make such a big deal but now firmly believe in trying before buying... if you don't want the hassle of reselling or are putting up a huge chunk of $.

Just my experience

 

[JVS]

Wanted to give my take on the bx4. I just switched from the athlon cronus to the bx4. Some feedback. BX4 is lighter and more compact. More comfortable user friendly feel to them with the open bridge. Prefer the leupold eye cups. The diopter design on the leupold is 100% better. They nailed that. I was constantly bumping the diopter out of whack on the cronus. Especially with gloves on. It says locking but being right with the focus wheel makes it prone to rolling off track. Especially when pulling your binos up in a hurry to watch a rutting buck chase a doe for example. So I flat our like the design of the leupold better. But here is the catch. The cronus 100% have slightly better day time clarity however the cronus fall the wagon in a hurry when daylight fades. As a whitetail hunter we live for that 30 mins at first and last light. These leupolds really shine there. The athlon focus knob is smother. Hoping the leupold smooths out a bit with some use. Not terrible just a little bit mushier. Leupold neck strap and case is nicer. Overall I happy I made the switch. I read every old forum I could find when researching these binos. Both great binos. Really cant go wrong with either. Hope this helps someone.

 

[Waterboy]

Wanted to give my take on the bx4. I just switched from the athlon cronus to the bx4. Some feedback. BX4 is lighter and more compact. More comfortable user friendly feel to them with the open bridge. Prefer the leupold eye cups. The diopter design on the leupold is 100% better. They nailed that. I was constantly bumping the diopter out of whack on the cronus. Especially with gloves on. It says locking but being right with the focus wheel makes it prone to rolling off track. Especially when pulling your binos up in a hurry to watch a rutting buck chase a doe for example. So I flat our like the design of the leupold better. But here is the catch. The cronus 100% have slightly better day time clarity however the cronus fall the wagon in a hurry when daylight fades. As a whitetail hunter we live for that 30 mins at first and last light. These leupolds really shine there. The athlon focus knob is smother. Hoping the leupold smooths out a bit with some use. Not terrible just a little bit mushier. Leupold neck strap and case is nicer. Overall I happy I made the switch. I read every old forum I could find when researching these binos. Both great binos. Really cant go wrong with either. Hope this helps someone.

The focus on mine are good to go. I’ve heard the gritty focus is cause by dried glue getting in the wrong spot. Might wanna reach out to leupold on that.

 

[mejresc2]

I had to return a pair of BX 4s to sportsman's due to horrible purple fringing, Got the new pair and liked them until they fogged up, spent 20 to send them to Leupold got a brand new pair with another purple fringing problem, spent 20 dollars to send them back to Leupold,got a new pair liked them till they fogged up, sold them , I also had to send my 15x56 bx5s back because the focus stopped working, that's a total of over 60 dollars I had to spend to send they're mistakes back to them, used my kids pair of BX2s for a bit they fogged up on the same day I was using my sx4 spotter on the same day it fogged up. No joke. I haven't yet sent the latter two optics back I'm wondering it's worth dealing with Leupold. I have a pair of Tract Toric binoculars on the way, I'm hoping they're on par with the razor uhds