The Rangefinding Binocular Battle | Swarovski VS Leupold VS SIG VS Leica VS Vortex

[Chad Dembinski]

For those that have asked about the Revic BLR10, we have a written review one of our guys did here for Western Hunter.

Revic Acura BR10 Review

Uncover the enhancements in the Revic Acura BR10 Review, including improved optical performance and usability for shooters.

westernhunter.net

 

[Chad Dembinski]

I definitely enjoyed the review, I do wish there was the Revic RF Bino in it. The leupold was a surprise, but so was the Price @ $4K...

We appreciate that! I can be honest with you and when Leupold first rolled out that price point to us, I personally was shocked as well. After getting some time behind them, I can also honestly say that they hold their own in that price point with some of the "big hitters" in the glass world. IMO, The glass quality combined with the display and tech options provided with them might be the best overall combo on a rangefinding bino so far. They really are that good. Its a big step for Leupold in the right direction as far as their binoculars go.

 

[JGRaider]

Great questions! To be honest we just do not sell the Tract so thats why it is not in our video, but I have heard some decent things about them. I guess I am a little confused on the first part of the Leupold question, but these binoculars are a HUGE step up in glass quality from any of their other binos they have produced that I have looked through.
I mean its a big step for them, I am not saying these are Swarovski type glass, but they are extremely comfortable to sit behind, and really clear edge to edge glass.

One of the best parts I think about them is that, if needed, They are warrantied and repaired right here in Oregon at their HQ! That is huge IMO, Swaro has great customer service but Electronics are sent back to Austria and can take months to get back. Leica has okay customer service, but I have seen repairs take way too long honestly. That is a huge step for Leupold in their binocular line and hopefully something they can build on in the future.

Thanks, but you didn't answer the question.....where are they made? By whom?

 

[Chad Dembinski]

Thanks, but you didn't answer the question.....where are they made? By whom?

Leupold is working with a partner in Japan to make the binoculars.

 

[JGRaider]

Leupold is working with a partner in Japan to make the binoculars.

Thank you for the info. No offense intended to you or anyone else, but paying almost $4k for a 5 yr electronics warranty is baffling to me. It's not a matter of "if" you'll need service, but "when". Too many good products with much better warranties for way less money, IMO of course.

 

[stratofisher]

I was really surprised that no one mentioned the weight of the Leupolds. Having walked around the Western Hunt expo and holding all the brands those Leupolds felt like a brick in my hand. Pretty heavy.

 

[Treelineasassin]

Would have liked to saw how the Vector X fit into the lineup. Have had a set for near a year, and they're pretty dang good. Surprising to hear all the Leupold chatter, they priced em high, there must be some solid performance included.

 

[JGRaider]

I was really surprised that no one mentioned the weight of the Leupolds. Having walked around the Western Hunt expo and holding all the brands those Leupolds felt like a brick in my hand. Pretty heavy.

A $4000 optic made by "who knows" teamed with Hornady ballistics and a very mediocre warranty is a real loser if you ask me. I doubt most of the Leupold CS team knows any more about them than what they've read. I've aske this question at least a dozen times to everyone who mentions this glass.......who in fact does make these for Leupold? Previous versions were Meopta. Anybody?

 

[Ramem7mm]

For last 4 years I have been using the Zeiss Victory RF 10x42 and last weekend I had the opportunity to compare against some 2 year old Swaro RF 10x42. It was mid morning and quite a bit of mirage had already started to build. I spent quite a bit of time adjusting the Swaro to my eyes best as I could and with the mirage I felt the Zeiss were actually better with regards to center clarity and being able to see through the mirage. Edge to edge clarity definitely went to the Swaro however usually when I am glassing I tend to focus more on the center anyways.

With this very little comparison does it make sense that the Swaro mirage is worse and if so why?
Is it worse in mirage but that much better when there is better atmospheric conditions?
Has anyone else felt like there are better options that the Swaros?

I was considering selling my Zeiss and upgrading but now I am not sure if it would really be worth it.

In no way was the comparison I did very analytical just an observation I had when doing some real world comparison in one environment.

 

[Weldor]

Been using Zeiss for about the same amount of time, no compliant's. Early morning or late evening very clear and good light gathering. I had Geovid's B and Sig and swaro's. For the prices today it Pays to choose what works for you.

 

[Chad Dembinski]

A $4000 optic made by "who knows" teamed with Hornady ballistics and a very mediocre warranty is a real loser if you ask me. I doubt most of the Leupold CS team knows any more about them than what they've read. I've aske this question at least a dozen times to everyone who mentions this glass.......who in fact does make these for Leupold? Previous versions were Meopta. Anybody?

They have partnered with company in Japan on the glass for those and service or warranty them here out of Oregon.
So far thats all they have said about the glass. With this review, all we are saying is the glass is a huge step in the right direction from what they have had in the past. Yes, they are a bit heavier and you cannot mount our stud system on them, so really that would be a downfall for us here.

The reason most of us here, that have used them, are talking highly of them is that its really hard to find a good glass and display options combo. Yes, the Vextronics fit that bill for a lot of guys but not everyone likes the etched glass and while the Swaro, Leica, or Zeiss glass is better IMO still the display options are very basic, I think the Leupold BX-6 is one of the better "best of both worlds" options out there. Maybe not for you, and that is perfectly fine. We just like to note their big improvements.

 

[Chad Dembinski]

Would have liked to saw how the Vector X fit into the lineup. Have had a set for near a year, and they're pretty dang good. Surprising to hear all the Leupold chatter, they priced em high, there must be some solid performance included.

This has been brought up a lot and too be honest the only reason they aren't in this go around is we just do not have a pair haha. We are not a dealer for them, but we have reached out and they are getting one for us to review. I have taken a look through them and they are pretty damn cool! I'll be honest and I was a bit skeptical, but I got a chance to look through a pair and they are really impressive. took a couple min to get used to the etched glass, but after that I liked having it.

Long story short we will be doing a review on those soon and from what I've seen in the short time is they fit the bill in this category nicely!

 

[Chad Dembinski]

I was really surprised that no one mentioned the weight of the Leupolds. Having walked around the Western Hunt expo and holding all the brands those Leupolds felt like a brick in my hand. Pretty heavy.

Yeah, and you're right there. The downsides for me with them was just that, they feel dense lol but still just heavy, and of course the tripod mounting system. The Leupold one worked just fine, but it is just something extra I would have to carry which isn't ideal.

 

[Chad Dembinski]

Thank you for the info. No offense intended to you or anyone else, but paying almost $4k for a 5 yr electronics warranty is baffling to me. It's not a matter of "if" you'll need service, but "when". Too many good products with much better warranties for way less money, IMO of course.

Curious, Which products out there that are comparable have a better Product warranty? 5 years on the Electronics is pretty industry standard. Even on the higher end for most. They do offer their gold ring lifetime warranty on the lens/optical system.

 

[JGRaider]

Curious, Which products out there that are comparable have a better Product warranty? 5 years on the Electronics is pretty industry standard. Even on the higher end for most. They do offer their gold ring lifetime warranty on the lens/optical system.

Vortex Talon and the new Tract Toric Eagle bino/rf easily have optics as good as the Leupold, lifetime warranty on electronics as well. The "edge to edge" clarity on a bino/rf is vastly overrated IMO/IME.

 

[WRO]

Vortex Talon and the new Tract Toric Eagle bino/rf easily have optics as good as the Leupold, lifetime warranty on electronics as well. The "edge to edge" clarity on a bino/rf is vastly overrated IMO/IME.

Really? The worse the edge to edge clarity is, more eye fatigue and headaches you’ll end up with not to mention that you lose the fov.


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[JGRaider]

Really? The worse the edge to edge clarity is, more eye fatigue and headaches you’ll end up with not to mention that you lose the fov.


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I was specifically referring to the Talon 10k, in which the edge clarity digression is miniscule and a non factor. If you get headaches with this glass you have an eye problem.