Thanks for the update. Can you provide some commentary on the others you tried? Especially the Vortex Razor HD and Monarch 7, which are relatively new and under reviewed. I'm curious how you felt the Razor HD stacked up to the alphas.
I don't try to nitpick too much, but really trust that first instinct I had and judge part of it too on my thoughts after I have left the shop. Do I want to go back and look again? Do I wish I had it when I am out? I am pretty new to birding, but have been going out everyday for the past 7 weeks (even if its 15 minutes in my front yard). I'm a professional photographer and only shoot with top Nikon glass--so I can be a bit picky--but I try to recognize all my gear for what it is--a tool. That said, I want the best dang tool I can get within my financial comfort zone.
Below are my layman's thoughts.
I really liked both the Vortex and the Monarch 7. They each had visible chromatic aberration just looking at the lights in the store and came off my final list. But they are not bad at all and both feel great in hand.
I was really looking for an 8x32 and would have really liked to look at the Vortex Viper 8x32 HD. (Note: I bought the Nikon Monarch 5 last month and returned them after 2 days due to the CA. My wife loved them and didn't notice CA until I pointed it out to her.)
The Leica 10x32 BN was awesome. Hard to find a fault there. Substantial little sucker. I was really wanting an 8 though.
Swarovski 8x32 EL Swarovision was just amazing and I feel the best of the bunch that I looked through. It felt great in the hand, and was sharp all the way through. If I had tried to find a fault in it, I am sure I could have, but it is pretty awesome. Just don't want to spend that much right now or be the guy with the nicest bins on the block that can't even tell my sparrows apart. I like the idea of growing into a hobby.
Swaro CL was really nice, but I wanted something with a bit more weight and when compared to the Conquest, it was an easy choice for me. Saving money was nice as well.
The Leica Ultravid 8x32 was top notch, but the Leica feels almost too pretty to me. I did notice some CA when I tried to induce it. Regardless, this is the pair that I kept looking at and was a bit afraid that when my Conquests came in, I would have to send them back because I had fallen in love. When I took the Conquest out of the box that feeling quickly went away. I do like the locking diopter better on the Leica obviously, but wouldn't pay a grand more to have it.
The Conquest was it for me and I am really happy with it. No problem with my diopter. The focus is a bit quick, but I really like it. Reminds me of a good manual focus camera lens. They have a good weight to them-not too heavy, not too light. Case is nice but nothing to write home about and strap feels good. I wish there was a quick release contraption on the strap of some kind as I don't like to always have straps on things and despise feeding the ends in and out of buckles.
As I mentioned above, these my layman's thoughts and opinions. As so many have said on these forums--try before you buy. I'm so glad I did. And if a 8x32 BN comes up for sale in my neighborhood, I'll be mighty tempted to get it. What I saw was incredible, but just not the right timing I guess.
added: Also, I picked up a demo of the Conquests so the price was right and they look brand new.
