Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)These binoculars are just beautiful! I'm an amateur birder, but have been a professional photographer for many years, so I know something about optics and since many of the lenses I used on my Hasselblads and Sinars were, by choice, Zeiss, I totally respect the quality of that company. In fact, I've always been someone who appreciated and spent the extra money for the best of whatever it was I was looking to buy. So I have owned Porsches and Leicas, Mieles (vacuum cleaners :-) and McIntosh Stereo systems to name just a few. I'm a high end junky! So when I went looking to buy my first pair of serious binoculars I was looking at Zeiss, Leica and Swarovsky right off the bat. Of course they are all beautiful pieces of excellent equipment with the most sophisticated build, construction, design, materials and engineering. And looking for a 10x42 (or equivalent)I found much to be appreciated, certainly. But then a very good friend of mine, someone who I greatly respect and who is a serious birder for over 30 years, told me that he has always favored the Bausch and Lomb (now Bushnell) Elites and recommended I give them serious consideration. Now, he paid about $1000 for his pair a few years ago. Since then, Bushnell has taken over their development and has made some improvements every year. A few years ago they created the e2 line of Elites which was good enough to be called an Elite but still a small compromise in some of their techs. It was created to sell at a lower price point which was about $600-$700 and was an addition, not a replacement, to the Elite line. Just this year, they raised the e2 to full sail specs with no compromises at all, and left the MSRP where it was. They are selling on line for $350-$500 in discounted sites. I believe that the new e2 is the present Elite. Period.
After examining a pair I was extremely impressed with the quality of the construction, the ergonomics, and, most important, the brightness, sharpness, clarity, ease of focusing, generous eye relief (I wear glasses), extraordinary color accuracy (actually better than the Zeiss IMHO) and 3 dimensionality. Comparing them to Zeiss I found there to be a very close balance in the attributes of the two glasses; except for one feature. The Zeiss cost over $2200 and these Elites could be obtained for less than $400! Hello? How much of a big name junky am I? The Zeiss were larger than the Elites, came with a skimpy strap unlike the generous comfortable one which Bushnell provides, and has a focus wheel which, while smooth, is not as easy to turn as the Elite's.Also, the Zeiss eye-cups had click stops (and felt a little chunky when moving them), while the Elites just rotated smoothly to where you wanted them and would lock in max position if desired to be there Were the Zeiss Victory's "sharper?" Hard to tell. The Zeiss Victory was really nice, but not any startling difference in sharpness, or brightness from the Elites (maybe just a little . .I was trying hard to see it). I really had to keep changing the two back and forth to see if I could notice a difference . . .any, and certainly one which justified the cost disparity. This was the test. And the Elites are so good that I actually made a rational decision and bought them, I saved over $1700 which I could use to take a trip with my new binoculars if I so chose. And I haven't had any remorse or sense of loss. Every time I grab them and put them to my eyes, I become more addicted to them. They are like a part of you once you start using them.
I could talk about all the specific binocular tech points in detail and give my take on them vs. the other brands mentioned, but that wouldn't add much. Suffice it to say, these Elites are as good as it gets, every bit the player in the top brand parade if all you want is a great pair of binoculars which will not be a compromise in any meaningful way, which will delight you and work for you flawlessly, and will not cause a ruckus at home with your mate once the monthly account is put on the table. Enjoy!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Bushnell Elite E2 10x42 Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular
Proof there's room for two at the top!Born of the original king of the moutnain, our Elite e2 10 x 42mm brings super-premium clarity and brightness within the reach of most avid enthusiasts.Fully multi-coated and featuring our exclusive XTR technology, our new Advanced Fusion Hybrid Lens system delivers an amazing 99.7% light transmission, along with a level of edge-toedge clarity and contrast unrivaled by anything in the price range.Our revolutionary Rainguard coating eliminates lens fogging and scatters ater droplets for an infallibly clear view.Elite e2 binoculars are also 100% waterproof, fogproof and built around a tough, lightweight magnesium chassis.
