ZEN-RAY ED Binocular Review
I’m going to deviate from normal review protocol on this a bit since both Steve and John have given quite in depth reviews of the same instrument that is the subject of my missive.
I will give some stats not listed by either to begin however. The binocular under review here is the Zen-Ray 10x43 ED their top of the line product. From the box mine came in I’ll list the pertinent stats on it.
Dimension in inches is 6.5x5x2
Weight is 27 ounces.
Close focus distance is 6’.
Exit pupil is 4.3mm.
Eye relief is 15.2mm.
FOV at 1000 yards is 340 feet.
Light transmission is rated at 99.5% per air to glass surface.
I asked Charles to send me a binocular to use at the 2009 Fifth Annual GBO Prairie Dog shoot held out in OK Panhandle so I could get a feel for the instrument and be in a position to comment on it when GBO Members ask me for binocular recommendations as they so often do. He sent it along in time for me to use it here at home both early and late to get a feel for it prior to the trip.
I sit out on my front porch most mornings and many evenings to watch the day begin and end. Being an old retired fellow does have some perks and being able to watch the day begin and end without worrying about what I should be doing is certainly one of those perks. As a result I get in a LOT of time glassing with binoculars on an almost daily basis as we sit and watch the wild life that makes their home around our home. As a result I’d say I likely spend as much time behind the lens of a binocular as most anyone unless they make a living at it like professional guides do.
Many years ago in the early days of my Federal Civil Service career I spent about three years rebuilding binoculars for use by US Army at the local depot where I worked. I spend 8 hours a day five days a week taking apart and rebuilding binoculars so you might say I have a huge amount of experience knowing what it takes to make a binocular perform as one is supposed to. I know what to look for and how to tell if the instrument is or is not a quality instrument worthy of my time. As a result I have become quite hard on my evaluation of binoculars and seldom will a low dollar instrument meet my high standards.
I will say that the Zen-Ray ED 10x43 I have do meet that standard. I’m not really sure what you can purchase this instrument over the counter for today and even if I did it wouldn’t be applicable for folks who read this in the future as prices change with time and this post will be here many years from now for folks to still read and gain information relative to purchasing them. I see that one of our members posted that he used his GBO Member discount to buy them for $360 so we can use that for now as a basis for comparison in pricing. I believe the MSRP is a bit more than $500 if I recall correctly but Zen-Ray does offer special pricing for GBO Members if you mention you are a GBO member when buying.
My standard for comparison for a good many years now has been a Bushnell Legend 8x43 and that instrument has seen countless hours of use by me. It fits my hands like an old well worn glove and when you use a binocular as much as I do ergonomics is a very important part of the over all evaluation. To that end I must say the Zen-Ray that is the subject of this review feels very much like my old Legend and definitely passes my ergonomic test. Of course feel is a personal thing and each person must make the decision for them self what is right and what isn’t. For me this binocular is right in the feel.
I’ve sold off many binoculars I’ve had over the years to keep the old Legend and keep on using it. A Bushnell Elite was sold off because while it was superior optically to the Legend ergonomically it was HORRIBLE in my hands. I hated to let it go due to the super optics it had but it felt terrible to me and just wasn’t being used. I had a Leica that cost perhaps double what the Elite did but to my eyes at least was optically inferior to it and at best no better than my Legend. I’d rate the current Zen-Ray instrument at least the equal of that $1500 Leica of a few years back. That’s saying a lot for what optical companies are doing these days to be able to produce and sell an instrument for under $500 that matches the optical quality of high dollar European instruments.
I asked specifically for the 10x43 though I must admit that in reflection I wish I had requested an 8x43. As I’ve aged my hands have become far less steady than they were when I was younger. Once I was able to hand hold a 10X and shake wasn’t the issue it is for me these days. I find 8X about the limit of what I can reasonably hand hold without shake becoming a negative issue for me. In my daily use of this 10x43 it definitely becomes an issue and for my daily use sitting in my rocking chair catching quick views of wild life 8X is clearly superior to more magnification for me and my shaking hands.
Still you DO SEE MORE and MORE CLEARLY with more magnification IF you can hold it steady so that shake doesn’t degrade the optical quality. On the PD hunt I was able to rest both elbows on the shooting bench to take the shake out something I can’t do sitting in my rocking chair on the front porch. There for the first time it became clear to me just how much more I was able to see with the Zen-Ray as compared to my old time favorite Legend 8x43. With the shakes gone the image quality was superior to the Legend and I’d say compared very favorably to the Elite I had and to my eyes is fully the equal of the $1500 Leica instrument I sold off as not worth the price I had put into it to me. That’s pretty high praise when you think about what I’m comparing this binocular to.
The Elite I believe sold for slightly less than $1000 at the time and the Leica another $500 or so over that. That is a completely different price class yet I have to say that as far as clarity and brightness are concerned the Zen-Ray holds its own with them. If you’re looking for a binocular n the under $500 but over $300 price range I highly recommend you give these binoculars a close look. There is a LOT of quality for the price in them.
I passed them around at the PD shoot and most everyone in attendance this year got a chance to look them over. All were impressed at the value for price and commented favorably on them. They are the first binocular I’ve had in quite a number of years that could replace my old time favorite for an all round binocular for my use. Had I gotten the 8X they no doubt would see even more use as my old shaky hands have a hard time dealing with 10X magnification for standing or sitting unsupported use. For times though when I can get my elbows rested to take advantage of the extra magnification it is quite nice to be able to reach out better to see the image closer up.
Each person buying a binocular should take heed of shaky hands and decide for them self if 8X or 10X is the way to go. If like me you’re on the high side of 60 you might find 8X more user friendly. But if you are steady enough to hold them my but those 10X can pull in the image and show detail you’ll never know is there with a lesser power. You must decide which is best for you. Zen-Ray offers both so just take your pick. Be sure to tell them ya heard about them on GBO.
Bill
