Zeiss Terra or Vortex Viper

[kyburley]

Have had Viper HD 10x42 on my brain for quite a while now, then I see Zeiss Terra's on sale for what looks to be a pretty good price. Kinda perked my interest. Are they comparable or should I just stick to my heart and get the Viper's? Anybody have experience with both? Thanks

 

[SHTF]

Yeah those Zeiss Terra's are very tempting from Doug. Hard to believe glass has come so far you can get ED that cheap. I have a great pair of Nikons that Im happy with. cant see upgrading them.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Used both, get the Vipers! The Terra's are terrible IME.

 

[WRO]

What Ryan said, the terras are garbage. .

 

[Shrek]

It's become my opinion that Zeiss has sacrificed quality and service for a quick buck. Their line is on a trajectory to become a Walmart special. They still make some of the finest optics in the world in their high end products but the bottom of the line is in free fall and my experience with their customer service was third rate. Very sad to see such a once proud company whoring out their name for quick cash.

 

[Ryan R]

The Terra's are not garbage. Used them all season with no complaints. Compared them to others of the same $$ and they stood out. At the time I bought the Terra's, the Viper's were $200 more. If I had the extra cash I would have bought Vortex.

 

[7stw]

Used both, get the Vipers! The Terra's are terrible IME.

It's become my opinion that Zeiss has sacrificed quality and service for a quick buck. Their line is on a trajectory to become a Walmart special. They still make some of the finest optics in the world in their high end products but the bottom of the line is in free fall and my experience with their customer service was third rate. Very sad to see such a once proud company whoring out their name for quick cash.

They're not even in the same class as the vortex. Had a friend buy a pair and I wasn't impressed at all. I love my conquest binos and scopes but the terra is a sub par optic. The vortex are nice. Like shrek says sad to see a great company falter and give in to make a quick buck. It won't surprise me if the terra rifle scopes make there way on a rem 783 combo.

 

[Ramshead]

Sorry for muddying the waters, but have you looked at the Nikon Monarch 7's? They have a wider field of view and sharper glass.

Here is a multiple binocular set of reviews from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=2674#topPicks

 

[bobhunts]

Thanks Ramshead! A ton of info if you explore the the link! Bob.

 

[BackcountryMT]

Buy the best you can afford. The Terra's are nice for the money, the Monarch 7's are a step up, and the Viper is above the Monarch... etc. Every dollar more that you spend will get you more quality.

 

[bobhunts]

Actually if you go and look at the Cornell website Nikon scored best and the Viper line was last. Just quoting the study based on their study. They did not include warranty in the study. Trying to make it all equal based on the review not opinion. Both make a good product so I will leave it to what company one wants to purchase from. Both make a solid piece of glass and judging it on this site is so close it makes it hard to decide. Bob.

 

[realunlucky]

Always wonder who found these studies

 

[WRO]

Always wonder who found these studies

People who are objective and anal, unlike us hunters who see it on TV or our buddies have them. So by god there the best.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Buy the best you can afford. The Terra's are nice for the money, the Monarch 7's are a step up, and the Viper is above the Monarch... etc. Every dollar more that you spend will get you more quality.

I strongly disagree in calling the Terra's nice! I look threw a lot of bino's and was VERY disappointed with the Terra's. I would say they are in the same league as the Vortex Crossfires. Couple that with crappy CS, no thanks.

The Monarch 7's are very underrated glass for the money.

 

[Ryan Avery]

The Terra's are not garbage. Used them all season with no complaints. Compared them to others of the same $$ and they stood out. At the time I bought the Terra's, the Viper's were $200 more. If I had the extra cash I would have bought Vortex.

I am really starting to think I was looking threw a really bad pair!

 

[Shrek]

I am really starting to think I was looking threw a really bad pair!

If you did then that's another concern. Quality control , which is common in lower end optics.

 

[Ryan R]

It's funny, after I replied to this thread, I was checking out my Terra's and the Zeiss emblem was missing!! Must of fallen off last time I was out. Emailed CS and they're sending me a new one.

 

[fire652]

Zeiss funded the study. I read forums and look thru glass. I love my vortex optics that I have. I do not trust any study especially ones that use a convenience study which are the most biased and unreliable. That being said go to the store and look thru as many optics as you can and decide from there I just bought a set of razor hd. I wanted the swarovision but not matter how times I looked over the past six months the swaro were not comfortable for me. I had the vipers a close second behind the razors. The Zeus were heavy to me and cumbersome. But I got a list of ten optics and looked through them all eliminating as I went. It took months to decide but I am happy with my decision as you should be when you find that pair that just fits you. Good luck.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Ryan R, as long as you are happy with them, all the rest is just noise!


Fire652, I also have trouble looking thru EL's with swarovision. Feels like I am looking thru a scrolling water bubble. I have talked to many people from Swaro and they tell me that this does happen to some but most peoples eyes will adapted to it. Well my cave man eyes will not adapt to swarovision But I have always been a fan of the SLCs and their newest HD pair is SWEET!

 

[Ryan R]

^^^ Good for now. I'm sure a upgrade is in my future