Hi all, I hate to post another 'what should I buy' thread but I just can't make up my mind between these 3 binos...Zeiss Terra ED, Vanguard Endeavor ED and the Carson 3D ED. I have read ALL the reviews and will not be able to inspect any of these prior to purchasing. I can't believe a $300 purchase could cause so much stress! Lol...thanks in advance.
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Can't decide...please help. Zeiss/Vanguard/Carson (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Seawood
- Start date
I can tell you right now the Endeavor ED II are *far* better in the optics category than the Terra ED. I can't comment on the Carson but the Endeavor ED II is a very good buy as long as you don't care about looks/styling.
You didn't say what power/obj size you were considering but the Endeavor II is definitely superior in terms of sharpness and overall image quality.
You didn't say what power/obj size you were considering but the Endeavor II is definitely superior in terms of sharpness and overall image quality.
Stephen Mark
Well-known member
If you like fast focus ( a little over three quarters of a turn ) I would go with the Zeiss. Optics are very good feels great in the hand and has a feel of quality above its price. I have never seen the Carson but I think the Vanguard is one of the ugliest binoculars I have ever seen.
Steve
Steve
8x42 is my preference. I don't really care about looks so much as the optical performance....is there much difference between the Vanguard ED and the new ED II?
Regarding the Terra, I am really torn on this one.....seems to be a love/hate thing going on here with the huge spread in ratings. Optically speaking, some claim this bino is borderline junk while others praise it.....I don't get it.
Regarding the Terra, I am really torn on this one.....seems to be a love/hate thing going on here with the huge spread in ratings. Optically speaking, some claim this bino is borderline junk while others praise it.....I don't get it.
I never owned the original ED series but from what I've read the ED II is a significant upgrade. I own the 8x32 ED II model. The ED II uses Japanese glass. Per Typo, it's Hoya glass which is very high quality glass. The optics are pretty damn good for the value.
I owned the Terra ED 10x42 for a few weeks and while it was good it was not as sharp as the Vortex Viper HD (or the Vanguard Endeavor ED II.) It does have a very quick focus and this is either good or bad depending on your preference.
Remember, the Zeiss Terra ED is made in China by a 3rd party. Even though it "looks" better in terms of styling, the optic performance is average. (It's on-par with the Nikon Monarch series.) After obtaining the Viper HD 10x42 model, I returned the Terra ED.
Since you're interested in a 8x42 model you should read Typo's review of the ED II model here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=290229
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WJC
Well-known member
Nor will you ever. Some people know what they're talking about; others don't. Even those who do may be wrestling with "pride of ownership," (read: snob appeal). Some people will find a certain aberration absolutely unbearable, while others can't even be made to notice it!
We're all different, with different levels of wants, need, and understanding.
Buy from a company that will let YOU return it if it doesn't meet YOUR needs. Many of us are willing to talk you into buying the binocular that WE want. Keep your hand on your wallet and remember that good advertising doesn't have to be accurate, or even meaningful; it has only to be believed.
Just make a reasonably good choice. That purchase will give you a baseline. Relax and enjoy the experience. There will be other binoculars.
Bill
PS Welcome to our little band of misfits; we're not much, but we're all we got. Sad, ain't it? |=(|
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Hello Seawood,
Welcome to Bird Forum!
I notice that you are from New Brunswick, Canada. It will probably be tough for you to find an outdoor store nearby that carries a large selection of binoculars for you to try out.
I don't know if Eagle Optics in Wisconsin sells mail order to Canada but they have a 30-Day Return Policy on binoculars they sell. You can check with them. Read about it here:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/customer-service/shipping-and-returns/return-policy
They carry the Vanguard and Zeiss binoculars you are interested in. Here is a link to the Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 which you are interested in. Note the 29 5 star reviews it has:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/zeiss/zeiss-terra-ed-8x42-binocular
Then you can go to the Vanguard link to review the ones you are interested in:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/vanguard
Bob
Welcome to Bird Forum!
I notice that you are from New Brunswick, Canada. It will probably be tough for you to find an outdoor store nearby that carries a large selection of binoculars for you to try out.
I don't know if Eagle Optics in Wisconsin sells mail order to Canada but they have a 30-Day Return Policy on binoculars they sell. You can check with them. Read about it here:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/customer-service/shipping-and-returns/return-policy
They carry the Vanguard and Zeiss binoculars you are interested in. Here is a link to the Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 which you are interested in. Note the 29 5 star reviews it has:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/zeiss/zeiss-terra-ed-8x42-binocular
Then you can go to the Vanguard link to review the ones you are interested in:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/vanguard
Bob
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I suspect the spread of ratings for the Terra just reflects the sample variability. One out of the five I've tried was optically very sharp, three were typical for the price and one was poor. Curiously a Zeiss employee told me they all started out pretty good and blamed the rough treatment in the Chinese transport system. :eek!:
If you've read my report you'll see that I think the Vanguard Endeavour EDII 8x42 is exceptional optically. I've tried two 8x42s and an 8x32 so far and they were all very good. What I can't promise is that you'll like using them more than a Terra.
The regular Endeavour ED is a fine binocular for the money in my opinion. With the ED II you get lenses made from highly specified Japanese glass, a flattened field of view and, if my sample is anything to go by, one of the sharpest binoculars on the market in my estimation.
David
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Binoseeker
Mostly using spectacles (myopic) with binoculars.
Seawood,
Are you using spectacles, what eye relief do you need?
Do you want your bin focuser to perform well at subzero temperatures, since you are Canadian it gets cold wintertime
?
Anders
Are you using spectacles, what eye relief do you need?
Do you want your bin focuser to perform well at subzero temperatures, since you are Canadian it gets cold wintertime
?Anders
I'm rather perplexed by this comment.....if the Endeavor optics are measurably superior to the Terra then how could I not enjoy them more? Is it the fact that they are the red-headed step child of the sub $500 bino market? What would be more enjoyable about using the Terras?.....other than the fact that I am touting the 'Ferrari' brand of binos......sure sounds like the Terra is a 3 dressed up as a 9!
Seawood,
Are you using spectacles, what eye relief do you need?
Do you want your bin focuser to perform well at subzero temperatures, since you are Canadian it gets cold wintertime
Anders
Not sure on eye relief....never really measured it. I sometimes use binos with specs but not always...kind of a 50/50 thing I guess. Usage will be 4 season but not too much in sub zero temps!
Thanks very much for the replies! Really appreciate all the feedback.:t:
What about the Carson 3D EDs? I don't think I've read a negative comment on them.....just not as popular I guess.
I still can't believe the time and stress involved with this decision......I have made home and new car purchases in less time. Ridiculous......
Well, actually, I think you hit the nail on the head. A lot of people do prefer style versus performance. They really do believe that because you have a sexy red dot or a blue square on your product makes it perfect no matter what others might say. As WJC said, this is just human nature.
Zeiss made a smart move from a marketing stand point. They went after the value-end market segment. By putting their logo on an average product, they would sell a lot of units based upon name recognition alone.
If you see anything Zeiss for a reasonable price then a lot of customers will stop and take a look. Heck, I bit on this too.
FYI, I'm not saying the Zeiss are a "bad" product in any way. They have a place in the market. I think what most of us are saying is that for the same money (or just a bit more) you can now get a better [optically] performing binocular.
BTW, I actually talk more in-depth about [the Terra ED] of this thread:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=289064
Stephen Mark
Well-known member
Eagle Optics has a Canadian office. The info is down at the bottom of the customer service page under contact us. I imagine it has something to do with customs or currency or something but they do business and ship in Canada. Don't know if this would make a difference to those in Europe. I can certainly say they are the best mail order company I have ever dealt with. Now if I could just lose their phone number I might be able to retire.
Steve
Steve
Can't tell you about the Carson, but I can tell you that the Vanguard ED's that I have used provide a sharper view than does the Terra. When you consider that you can usually get an Endeavor ED for less money than a Terra, it is IMO a no-brainer.
That being said -- if you can afford it, I would bet that you would like the Endeavor EDII even better. It will cost more than the Endeavor ED that you mentioned in your first post, but from what others have said here, it would seem that the EDII would be the way to go. It will of course cost more than the original ED.
That being said -- if you can afford it, I would bet that you would like the Endeavor EDII even better. It will cost more than the Endeavor ED that you mentioned in your first post, but from what others have said here, it would seem that the EDII would be the way to go. It will of course cost more than the original ED.
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Interesting that in a recent cost-cutting exercise (marketed as corporate 're-branding') Zeiss removed their logo from the centre column on the Conquest HD. If it wasn't for the blue badge you may not know them from Adam, but then the Conquest isn't an average product by a long stretch.
I think your stress is because they are all great, to some extent.
For me, the fast focus wheel on the Zeiss would toss it out at the start.
Carson is great with their QC, but right now the Endeavors have many
great technical and personal reviews...so that would be your safest bet,
unless you crave fast focus (maybe follow a lot of movement up close).
Seawood, if you have the ability, I would drive down to Scarborough, ME and hit the Cabela's there. They have the Terra ED on display and they *might* have the Endeavor ED II 8x32 or 10x42 on display as well. (I'd call ahead to be sure.) But you can certainly get a good idea of binoculars there.
Looks like there's a planned 2015 opening in Moncton up there in NB.
Looks like there's a planned 2015 opening in Moncton up there in NB.
I think you''ll find the Endeavors are fast-focus too - around 2/3rds of a revolution from close-focus to infinity...... depends whether you see this as a positive or negative though.
Only on the 42mm models though Paddy. The 8x32 is about 1.25 turns.
Just a total guess. I suspect using the same mechanism on a shorter binocular would result in the focus being unacceptably quick. Perhaps the easiest off the shelf solution was to use a screw thread alternative about half the pitch?
David
