Zen EDs - Just how good? (1 Viewer)

[kristoffer]

I just discovered these Zen EDs, and you guys here on bf seem to love them. Got two questions. I wonder how good they are. Can their performance be compared with some other bin? I have no chance to try them before buying here in northern Sweden.

I have vortex vipers now, that I really like. But I dont like the CA in them, and now I wonder if zen eds 8x43 handles CA (and everything else better).

 

[Steve C]

I just discovered these Zen EDs, and you guys here on bf seem to love them. Got two questions. I wonder how good they are. Can their performance be compared with some other bin? I have no chance to try them before buying here in northern Sweden.

I have vortex vipers now, that I really like. But I don't like the CA in them, and now I wonder if zen eds 8x43 handles CA (and everything else better).

My Vipers did not survive the arrival of the ZEN ED. Yes the CA control is FAR better in the ZEN. I almost can not make mine show any CA. To me on a side by side the ZEN is a lot like the Swarovski EL in image, or perhaps a lot like the Meopta, but without the yellow color bias. The image is exceptional.

The very similar Hawke Frontier ED is likely a lot easier to get in Europe, but I suppose Zen Ray will ship overseas.

Just use the search function. There is more already posted here than you will want to read.

 

[kristoffer]

My Vipers did not survive the arrival of the ZEN ED. Yes the CA control is FAR better in the ZEN. I almost can not make mine show any CA. To me on a side by side the ZEN is a lot like the Swarovski EL in image, or perhaps a lot like the Meopta, but without the yellow color bias. The image is exceptional.

The very similar Hawke Frontier ED is likely a lot easier to get in Europe, but I suppose Zen Ray will ship overseas.

Just use the search function. There is more already posted here than you will want to read.

Thanks, that´s all I needed to know. I read a lot about then with the search button but i struggled to find anyone comparing em with some alpha-bin. YOu can actually compare them to the swarovskis.. amazing.

 

[Steve C]

Well, the alpha comparisons are there, but there is a lot of stuff to go through if you are just now coming into this long running discussion. Without knowing which of a bunch of top end glass was which and if you threw in some Promaster, Hawke, and Zen as well, and if the viewer had only exposed eyecups to look through, 98% of the population could probably not pick out the ZEN, Hawke, and Promaster.

Durability, construction and other such questions are up in the air, but the quality of the image is entirely self explanatory.

 

[kristoffer]

Well, the alpha comparisons are there, but there is a lot of stuff to go through if you are just now coming into this long running discussion. Without knowing which of a bunch of top end glass was which and if you threw in some Promaster, Hawke, and Zen as well, and if the viewer had only exposed eyecups to look through, 98% of the population could probably not pick out the ZEN, Hawke, and Promaster.

Durability, construction and other such questions are up in the air, but the quality of the image is entirely self explanatory.

Ok,
unfortunately promaster, hawke and zen hardly exist in Sweden. The bins I have tried all belong to the same company's. Swaro, leica, zeiss, kowa, nikon and the vipers I ordered overseas. That´s why this comparison was helpful. Naturally I understand it´s hard to say how the quality etc is over five year timespan.

 

[MarTay6]

I just got my Zen Ray ED's this week, and haven't had a chance to fully test them out- but I did compare them to my Swift Model 804 HR5's and Celestron Regal LX's- and the quality of the views are similar- the two most noticeable traits I've noticed so far is that the Zen Ray's have a wider FOV than the other two- and that the Swift's have more of a depth characteristic to them- in other words- a more 3-D view through them... I would have to attribute that to the fact they're the only porro's in the group of 3? I very much like the Zen's- I sold the Regal's, someone was looking for a pair at just the right time! I noticed no CA issues, but haven't really looked for it. And, I'd have to say that the Zen's were probably the brightest of the three. I'm certainly happy with them- especially for the price I paid through Agena Astro.
The negatives-the objective covers are worthless, as is the strap (unless you like your binoculars hanging down around your thigh's). Thing is, it has a cheesy quick-disconnect that makes it even difficult to cut the strap down and use it.
Wes

 

[kristoffer]

The negatives-the objective covers are worthless, as is the strap (unless you like your binoculars hanging down around your thigh's). Thing is, it has a cheesy quick-disconnect that makes it even difficult to cut the strap down and use it.
Wes

Thanks for the input! I do love the strap on my vipers, but i assume you can swap to a better strap on the zens?
Btw, you order them from the official homepage?
http://www.zen-ray.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_66&products_id=240

 

[falcondude]

Btw, you order them from the official homepage?
http://www.zen-ray.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_66&products_id=240

That's where I got mine.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Thanks for the input! I do love the strap on my vipers, but i assume you can swap to a better strap on the zens?

Yes, the Zens have standard 3/8 inch lugs for a standard strap so its easy to swap for another strap or a harness.

 

[kristoffer]

Yes, the Zens have standard 3/8 inch lugs for a standard strap so its easy to swap for another strap or a harness.

Thanks. Do they hang good? I like the way my viper hangs.

 

[Fireform]

The Zen-Rays are very well-hung.

 

[kristoffer]

The Zen-Rays are very well-hung.

That´s what I expect from such alphas.

 

[FrankD]

You can tell this is a male-dominated forum....

...where is that head-shakin' smiley face when I need it?.....



I agree with Steve. Separating the Zen EDs from any but the newest Alphas is a hard thing to do. In my opinion they actually better the older Alphas in several key areas....CA control and field of view being two of them.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Thanks. Do they hang good? I like the way my viper hangs.

They hang as well as any bin I've used. Including the alphas. And they beat the Nikon SE 8x32 in this category. Clearly beating the best.

In fact with roofs, which are pretty "thin", the strap lugs are at the side so they all hang rather well. It's just porros with a "thick" prism enclosure hump so if the lugs are on the bottom/inside of the prism enclosure then the position of the COG will force a objectives into the body. Not all porros suffer from this e.g. those with mounting points at the sides of the prism enclosure (usually built-in so they don't dig into the hands like the Leupold Yosemite).

Though I must say the times I've worn my 8x32 SE I haven't actually noticed the objective into the body tilt as a big problem.

 

[ceasar]

Nikon LX L's, due to the positioning of their strap lugs, also hang with a tilt downward into the stomach.

Maybe this design was intended to make them more efficient as Naval binoculars?:h?:

Bob

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Interesting, Bob. Is this a general Nikon quirk? The 10x42 SE hang more straight.

Perhaps they actually want the top to lean out for a better grasp?

 

[kristoffer]

You can tell this is a male-dominated forum....

...where is that head-shakin' smiley face when I need it?.....



I agree with Steve. Separating the Zen EDs from any but the newest Alphas is a hard thing to do. In my opinion they actually better the older Alphas in several key areas....CA control and field of view being two of them.

Well hung AND beat the axis binocular optical dominance. Impressive bins

 

[marcus]

I just got my Zen Ray ED's this week,... through Agena Astro.
The negatives-the objective covers are worthless, as is the strap (unless you like your binoculars hanging down around your thigh's). Thing is, it has a cheesy quick-disconnect that makes it even difficult to cut the strap down and use it.
Wes

I ordered mine though Agena Astro too, and I got an email from them today that they have been shipped. How long did it for that Zen Ray to get to you from them?
I'm glad that I've read about the 'worthless' caps and strap. I know what I'll be getting.

 

[ceasar]

Interesting, Bob. Is this a general Nikon quirk? The 10x42 SE hang more straight.

Perhaps they actually want the top to lean out for a better grasp?

That may be the case. It could well be a deliberate Nikon design for that reason. But it is clear, from comments in the past on the subject, that some people don't like their outward tilt.
Bob

 

[Kevin Purcell]

That may be the case. It could well be a deliberate Nikon design for that reason. But it is clear, from comments in the past on the subject, that some people don't like their outward tilt.
Bob

I'm sure they don't. But the flip side is it clearly doesn't bother some picky folks (like me).

Does it depend on the height that it's worn? I like my neck hung bins to "end" before they get below my ribs otherwise I find them uncomfortable.