Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binocular Review

Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars were introduced back in January 2012. Though the Zeiss Conquest series came into existence more than 10 years back, the Conquest HD models were introduced only six years back. This binocular line lets you discover the smallest details. Whether you want to explore the beauty of birds, insects, wildlife, or nature, the HD lens lets you watch the finest details comfortably. With Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars, you’ll get premium experience of watching birds as well as nature at all light conditions (daylight, dawn, and dusk) every day. These binoculars feature HD lens system, amazing ergonomics, an extra-wide field of view, innovative lens coating, robust construction, and precision at close quarters (as close as 6.5 feet). You can use Zeiss 10×42 Conquest HD Binoculars for birdwatching, nature observation, traveling, outdoor activities, hunting, and events.

Now, let’s have a closer look at the different aspects of this binocular series –

Optical Quality, Coatings, and Field of View

Excellent Optics

Keeping up to the reputation of their optical quality, Carl Zeiss has incorporated the Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars with excellent optics. Zeiss Conquest HD Binocular series comes with an anti-reflection T* coating, which enables bird watchers and nature lovers to view clear, crisp, and contrasted image. In addition, Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars incorporates Schmidt-Pechan prisms, providing total light transmission of 90%. That’s why you get bright images while viewing through Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars. Besides providing sharp and bright images, this binocular doesn’t have any chromatic aberration. There areis hardly any other binocular in the same price range that comes with comparable optics.

Coatings

Roof style binoculars are popular but have some problems with passage of light. When lights enter a binocular through the lens, some of them don’t reach your eyes because they get lost during the journey through the tube. That’s why you don’t always get a clear and bright image. This is where lens coatings become so important. They ensure that maximum light reaches your eyes, giving you a clear and bright image.

Carl Zeiss also uses a phase correction coating, which is especially used on roof prism design. This in turn helps to get full clarity as well as image sharpness.

Carl Zeiss T* multi-layer coating is one such important coating that ensures maximum light reaches your eyes. When this coating is applied on the lens, you get the best, brilliant, and high contrast images in all light conditions.

Field of View

This is one of the most important features of a binocular that you should check before buying. This is where the Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars score highest because it comes with 345 feet per 1000 yards field of view, thereby helping you to view a wider visible area. Therefore, you are now in a better position to track your subject, be it hunting or bird/nature watching.

Close Focus & Eye Relief

Close Up Focus

It’s absolutely possible that you get quite close to the birds, especially if it’s the hummingbirds. Watching these wonderful creatures up and close is a heavenly experience, especially their vibrant feature colors. When the birds carry small insects in their beaks, you can have a closer look. That’s why you need a close focus feature in your binocular. Keeping this aspect in mind, Carl Zeiss has incorporated this binocular with close focus mechanism, which lets the birdwatchers view as close as 6.5 feet. With this bino in your hand, you can look at the beauty of butterflies, moths, and other small animals closely.

Eye Relief

Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars can be used by eyeglass wearers easily as the manufacturer has incorporated it with an eye relief of 17mm. For use without glasses, the provided eyecups offer the correct eye relief.

Design, Ergonomics, & Knobs

Design and Ergonomics

Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars are designed in such a manner that they fit the hands very well. As these binos are perfect for long-term viewing (be it hunting or bird watching), Carl Zeiss has provided them with secure grips. In fact, the compact design makes it sure that your index finger sits on the focusing wheel directly and perfectly. The slim and sleek design helps users to carry them around for bird watching throughout the day.

Knobs

Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars come with a comfortable central wheel, which you can turn smoothly. However, it comes with a little resistance so that you can get the perfect focus with ease.

Zeiss Conquest HD vs Vortex Razor HD
Both Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 and Vortex Razor HD 10×42 Binoculars have created benchmark in their category. These elite-class binos have a compact size and are lightweight, making them easy to carry throughout the day for birding and hunting. Among these two, Vortex Razor HD 10×42 binocular is bit smaller and at the same time lighter (by 4 oz) than the Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42. If you are looking for a lighter weight binocular, this is meant for you. In case, you have a larger pair of hands, you may find holding it a bit problematic because of the smaller size.

Ergonomically speaking, Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars have better designeda better-designed body that you’ll feel comfortable to hold. The focus wheels at Conquest HD are too smooth. This is where Vortex Razor HD scores more. Eyecups at the Zeiss binoculars are definitely one of the best, which remain at the same position even after hiking a mile. However, eyecups at Vortex Razor HD don’t hold the 3-click stops.

When it comes to color, Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 binoculars provide users with a neutral color. However, when it comes to Vortex Razor HD 10×42, it provides you with a slightly brighter color. When using these binos in daylight with excess sun glare, the color neutral Zeiss Conquest provides you with a better outcome than Vortex Razor HD.

While most binoculars in the same range provide maximum 315-330 feet / 100 yards field of view.However, Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 and Vortex Razor HD 10×42 binoculars come with 345 feet and 362 feet / 1000 yards respectively.

Choosing a winner is not possible among these two leading binoculars. However, Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binocular comes at a more affordable price, giving you a budget-edge over its competitor.

Conclusion

Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars offers much more than what other binos provide at higher price ranges. This Zeiss binocular definitely provides comparable features to higher-end products such as Swarovski SLC, Leica Ultravid HD Plus, and Zeiss Victory HT binos but at a lesser price point. You may argue that the correction of chromatic aberrations is better managed at Leica or Victor HT binoculars. However, you can’t belittle the crystal clear image quality provided by Zeiss Conquest HD and that’s too at a lower price. Most beneficial aspects that we found at Zeiss Conquest HD binoculars are high light transmission (for brighter image), solid housing (for use in all kinds of weather and field conditions), significantly wide field of view, laudable color rendering, effective anti-reflection coatings, and many more. You get all these features and beneficial aspects at a price under $1000. Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars definitely provide you with the best price/quality ratio.