Sunday, December 22, 2024
Zeiss Victory T*RF 10x45 Review
Best Feature:
Laser rangefinding technology & ballistic information system
Best Uses:
High performance binoculars for serious hunters
Pricing:
$2800 (Limited lifetime warranty)
Overview
Zeiss's Victory 10x45 T* RF Rangefinding Binoculars are perfect for hunting. They are relatively compact but offer an impressive 10x magnification property. They maximize your experience in the field with crisp image quality and feature advanced ergonomics and ideal balance for added comfort during prolonged viewing. They also feature an impressive laser rangefinder and an integrated ballistic information system for accurate holdover information. Because they are so portable, you'll want to take them everywhere, which is probably why Zeiss gave them a special protective coating to ward off water, dirt, and grease. They'll keep water tight and clean off easily no matter what conditions you find yourself in, well almost!
Product Report Card Grade
We give Zeiss's Victory 10x45 T* RF Rangefinding Binoculars an A- because they are excellent, compact binoculars for serious hunting enthusiasts. Waterproof and durable, these binoculars are designed with high quality optical technology to deliver clear, vivid images. More importantly for hunters, they feature a laser rangefinder and an integrated ballistic information system, which provides accurate holdover information based on the distance. We had to deduct just a few points because of how heavy and expensive they are, but they are exceptional binoculars if you can afford them.
Date Reviewed
May 2012
March 2013
December 2013
Pros
Powerful, high quality optics; integrated laser rangefinder and ballistic information system; waterproof and fog proof; good performance in low-light conditions; fully multi-coated lenses; wide interpupillary range
25-year no-fault warranty; powerful optics deliver crisp, clear images even in lower light; waterproof and fog proof; detachable and adjustable eyecups are shaped to block light and enhance comfort; features ED glass; fully multi-coated lenses; open bridge design makes them comfortable to hold
Great value with limited lifetime warranty; good optics; relatively compact and lightweight; fog proof and waterproof down to 50 m; made with materials typically found in higher priced binoculars; available in camouflage; fully multi-coated lenses
Cons
Expensive and warranty doesn't protect against accidents; heavy
Expensive; relatively heavy; some complaints about adjustable rain guard being more difficult to use than a one-size-fits-all model
Flimsy strap; detached lens cover is easy to lose; focus dial is stiff; eye relief somewhat short
Price
$2,799.99
$2,499.95
$259.95
Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
25-Year Full Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Best Use
They are ideal for hunting, but they can also be used for other general outdoor activities like nature viewing, bird watching, etc.
They are well suited for general outdoor activities including wildlife viewing, hunting, bird watching, etc.
They are excellent binoculars for general outdoor activities like hunting, wildlife viewing, bird watching, etc.
Binocular Type
Full-Size
Full-Size
Full-Size
Binocular Size
The binoculars are 6.6" x 5.3" (L x W) and weigh 35.1 oz.
The binoculars are 5.9" x 5.6" (L x W) and weigh 27.9 oz.
The binoculars are 5.5" x 5" (L x W) and weigh 24.7 oz.
Field of View at 1,000 yds
Angular Field of View (Real)
5.7°
6.5°
(not available from customer service)
Angular Field of View (Apparent)
(not available from customer service)
59.2°
(not available from customer service)
Close Focusing Distance (ft)
Focus System
They have a central focusing knob.
They have a central focusing knob that is integrated with the diopter adjustment.
They have a central focusing knob.
Diopter Adjustment
± 3.5 dpt
± 4 dpt (locking)
± 2 dpt (locking)
Interpupillary Distance
54 - 76 mm
56 - 72 mm
57 - 76 mm
Prism Type
They have a type of roof prism system known as Abbe-König and feature BaK-4 glass.
They have a roof prism system with BaK-4 glass.
They have a roof prism system with BaK-4 glass.
Lens / Coating
They feature fully multi-coated achromatic lenses with Zeiss' T* and LotuTec® coatings.
They feature fully multi-coated ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lenses designed with Nikon's field-flattener lens system.
They feature fully multi-coated ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Prime Glass lenses and an ultra wide-band custom coating that helps to maximize available light.
Water / Fog Proof
Yes, they are nitrogen-filled and are fog proof and waterproof.
Yes, they are nitrogen-filled and are fog proof and waterproof down to 9.8 ft for 10 minutes (confirmed with customer service).
Yes, they feature RainGuardHD, Bushnell's patented permanent water-repellant coating, and are fog proof and waterproof up to 50 meters (according to customer service).
Rangefinder
Yes, they are engineered with an integrated laser rangefinder (class 1) and Ballistic Information System (BIS™) for quick and accurate targeting information. In about 1.5 seconds, they can measure any distance between 10 - 1300 yards with an accuracy of about 0.5%. The rangefinder is powered by a CR 2 (Lithium 3V) battery, which should last for about 10,000 measurements.
N/A
N/A
Exterior
They have a lightweight magnesium construction with a rubber armor that provides durability, shock resistance and a comfortable, secure grip. They are only available in a matte black finish.
They have a magnesium-alloy, rubber-armored body that is lightweight, durable, shock-resistant and comfortable to hold. They are only available in a matte black finish.
They are made from a lightweight magnesium and are rubber-armored for durability, shock-resistance and comfort. They are available in a matte black or camouflage finish.
Eyecups
They have twist-up (and detachable) eyecups with 4 detents.
They have horn-shaped adjustable and detachable eyecups with detents.
They have twist-up eyecups.
Tripod Adaptable
Yes, they are tripod adaptable.
Yes, they are tripod adaptable.
Yes, they are tripod adaptable.
Accessories
They come with a leather carrying case, a neck strap, an eyepiece cap, protective lens covers and an optics cleaning cloth.
They come with a travel case, an adjustable soft touch neck strap and rubberized objective frames.
They come with a carrying case, neck strap, microfiber lens cleaning cloth and a harness.
ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review
Pros And Cons
Pros
- A laser rangefinder and an integrated ballistic information system
- High quality optics
- Good performance in low-light conditions
- Powerful and relatively compact
- Wide field of view
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Small focus wheel
Key Features
Product Design
These rangefinding binoculars are comfortable in your hands for years to come with glass fiber reinforced housing and secure rubber armor.
Size
The binoculars measure 6.6" x 5.3" (H x W) and weigh 35 oz.
Waterproofing
These binoculars are nitrogen-filled and waterproof for use no matter what kind of weather you encounter in the field.
Added Benefits
They are unique in that they are foldable for even more compact storage. They include a neck strap and leather carrying case.
Warranty
All Zeiss binoculars carry a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Optics
- Magnification: 10x magnification makes these binoculars powerful for their size.
- Objective Lens (mm): A 45 mm objective lens size helps keep these binoculars compact.
- Exit Pupil (mm): 4.5 mm lets in a fair amount of light.
- Eye Relief (mm): At 15.5 mm, these binoculars will fit more snuggly on your face.
- Field of View (ft/1000y): 330 ft for a wide field of view.
- Close Focusing Distance: 18 ft keeps you a bit further away from the action than a larger pair of binoculars.
- Diopter: Compensation of plus or minus 3.5 dpt is a good range.
- Interpupillary Range: 54-76 mm is good for people with wider set eyes.
- Twilight Factor: 21.2 performs well in low light conditions.
- Prisms: The roof prism system is coated for phase correction to increase color quality for things like bird watching.
- Lens Elements: An Achromat lens type (4 lens) reduces aberration for crisper viewing.
- Coating: Specially coated with T* multi-coating to enhance light transmission and reduce flare. These binoculars also shed water, dirt, and grease because of their LotuTec protective coating. The roof prism system also has dielectric mirror coatings for enhanced light transmission.
Reputation
For more than 100 years, Zeiss has been a trusted name in sports optics. They expertly engineer sophisticated optics that are ergonomically designed and quality crafted. These binoculars feature an award-winning offset hinge design that allows them to fold up for even easier storage, just another example of how Zeiss always has the user in mind when designing its optics. While there aren't a lot of reviews online, the ones that exist are generally positive and only cite very minor drawbacks. What came up most in the reviews is the high portability of the binoculars that doesn't detract from their superior viewing quality. One reviewer said it best; "the greatest binoculars are the ones you have with you because those are the ones you are going to use the most." And, you will definitely have these binoculars with you.
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