HoosierGuy
Well-known member
This is my short basic review of the Zen-Ed 10x compared to my Nikon Monarchs 8x and my new Pentax DCF HRc 10x42 Binoculars. I'm not an expert on optics so no fancy stuff in my review.
First off, my first real good pair of binos was the Nikon Monarchs 8x. I was blown away with how clear they were with a nice field of few and clear optics. All the other pair of binos I have tried have been my brother’s cheap binos all with poor eye relief or low field of view.
So, after a month or so with those nice 8x I wanted a 10x. Reading these forums I found out about those Zen-Rays. I saved up the money and bought a pair about a month or so.
To add to this - a few weeks ago my brother got a nice deal on a pair of Pentax DCF HRc 10x42 Binoculars.
So, for the last week I've been comparing the Pentax, Zen-Ray ED, and Nikon Monarchs.
1. I still love the 8x Monarchs because there is very little shaky image. With the 10x Zen's I do notice more hand shake/unsteadiness.
2. The Zen-Ed's are sharper for sure. My brother even notices this. When I got the Zen-ED's we both compared the Zen-Ed's to the Monarchs. The Monarchs do have a nice wide view. But the Zen-Ed's are sharper. You can just tell.
3. The last week I've been comparing the Ed's to the Pentax. Both are 10 power. Again, the Zen-Ed's are sharper. It must be the ED glass in the Zen's. My brother and I went to some wetlands area yesterday and he was comparing them. He said the Zen-Ed's are clearly the superior bino. As for myself - I can tell a difference too. The Pentax seems duller. I was looking at a bird today, Gray Catbird, with the Pentax. The overall view was just duller than the Zen-Ed's.
4. The Pentax and the Nikon seem to be in the same category - solid, nice optics. Both equal, one 8x and the other 10x. But a few steps behind in image quality compared to the Zen-ED 10x.
5. The 10x Zen Ed's are heavier than the 8x Monarchs and 10x Pentax. It would be nice if they were a tad lighter.
6. The Monarch and Pentax does have the Zen Ed's beat on eye relief. I do wish the 10x Zen Ed's had a little more eye relief.
7. The Pentax is a nice binocular for sure. Nice clear image. But when you look thru the Zen-Ed's, the Ed's are more sharp. The Pentax are not junk. They are nice.
8. I think I'm done buying 10x binos. The Zen-Ed 10x is all I need for a 10x bino. Now I want a wider field of view with a steady image. If I get another pair of binos it will be another 8x or 7x with a super wide field of view. Maybe those Zen-ED 7x?
9. I like the eye cups on the Monarchs and the caps on the bottoms. All binos should be like that - loose fitting eye cup on top and two caps on the bottom that always stays connected to the body so you will not lose them.
So, I am satisfied with my 10x Zen Ed’s. But now having a bino with ED glass, I don’t really want to buy another pair that does not have ED glass in them. And I’m wondering – if my Zen-ED’s are noticeably better than my Monarchs and Pentax, are the Alpha binos like Swarovski and Zeiss noticeably better than my Zen-Ed’s?
First off, my first real good pair of binos was the Nikon Monarchs 8x. I was blown away with how clear they were with a nice field of few and clear optics. All the other pair of binos I have tried have been my brother’s cheap binos all with poor eye relief or low field of view.
So, after a month or so with those nice 8x I wanted a 10x. Reading these forums I found out about those Zen-Rays. I saved up the money and bought a pair about a month or so.
To add to this - a few weeks ago my brother got a nice deal on a pair of Pentax DCF HRc 10x42 Binoculars.
So, for the last week I've been comparing the Pentax, Zen-Ray ED, and Nikon Monarchs.
1. I still love the 8x Monarchs because there is very little shaky image. With the 10x Zen's I do notice more hand shake/unsteadiness.
2. The Zen-Ed's are sharper for sure. My brother even notices this. When I got the Zen-ED's we both compared the Zen-Ed's to the Monarchs. The Monarchs do have a nice wide view. But the Zen-Ed's are sharper. You can just tell.
3. The last week I've been comparing the Ed's to the Pentax. Both are 10 power. Again, the Zen-Ed's are sharper. It must be the ED glass in the Zen's. My brother and I went to some wetlands area yesterday and he was comparing them. He said the Zen-Ed's are clearly the superior bino. As for myself - I can tell a difference too. The Pentax seems duller. I was looking at a bird today, Gray Catbird, with the Pentax. The overall view was just duller than the Zen-Ed's.
4. The Pentax and the Nikon seem to be in the same category - solid, nice optics. Both equal, one 8x and the other 10x. But a few steps behind in image quality compared to the Zen-ED 10x.
5. The 10x Zen Ed's are heavier than the 8x Monarchs and 10x Pentax. It would be nice if they were a tad lighter.
6. The Monarch and Pentax does have the Zen Ed's beat on eye relief. I do wish the 10x Zen Ed's had a little more eye relief.
7. The Pentax is a nice binocular for sure. Nice clear image. But when you look thru the Zen-Ed's, the Ed's are more sharp. The Pentax are not junk. They are nice.
8. I think I'm done buying 10x binos. The Zen-Ed 10x is all I need for a 10x bino. Now I want a wider field of view with a steady image. If I get another pair of binos it will be another 8x or 7x with a super wide field of view. Maybe those Zen-ED 7x?
9. I like the eye cups on the Monarchs and the caps on the bottoms. All binos should be like that - loose fitting eye cup on top and two caps on the bottom that always stays connected to the body so you will not lose them.
So, I am satisfied with my 10x Zen Ed’s. But now having a bino with ED glass, I don’t really want to buy another pair that does not have ED glass in them. And I’m wondering – if my Zen-ED’s are noticeably better than my Monarchs and Pentax, are the Alpha binos like Swarovski and Zeiss noticeably better than my Zen-Ed’s?