Leica vs. Zeiss vs. Swarovski Binoculars: Full Comparison & Verdict 2024

Best Binoculars Brands In 2024

Binoculars are an indispensable tool on almost any nature trip. Whether hunting, hiking, or bird watching, binoculars are used almost any time you need to see something in the distance.

There are many reasons to buy binoculars, and different models serve different purposes. More powerful devices have stronger magnifications for stargazing or observing distant wildlife. Powerful binoculars are also useful at sea, for viewing ships or distant land. However, less powerful models also have a niche - bird watching and theater viewing.

Many models are designed to resist abuse and vandalism. Some are waterproof, while others are additionally filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging.

Binoculars are manufactured by many different brands, and while some are known for making quality products, others are new to the market and have yet to make a name for themselves. Swarovski, Celestron, Steiner, Bushnell, Canon, Carl Zeiss, Nikon, Hawke, Pentax Eddy and many more are some of the most widely known binocular brands.

Users keep pushing companies to make improvements, and competition drives those improvements down the market. While one can find affordable binoculars for bird watching, the European optical triumvirate - Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss - are the leaders in innovation and always do.

• Swarovski

This giant Austrian brand tends to be the favorite of anyone seeking the highest possible performance from their optics. This brand puts a great emphasis on both the functional and aesthetic designs of their products. 

Similar to Leupold, Swarovski was founded in the late 1800s and has been family owned and operated since. It is a producer of all types of glass and crystals, and its business is enormous in scope. Their premium optics products tend to be targeted towards bird watchers. They have a reputation for being one of, if not the, most expensive brand of optics in the world. Of course, with those heavy price tags comes unparalleled performance and technology. 

You can find out more about them here.

• Zeiss

This brand’s strength is in optics. The German rival of Swarovski, Zeiss is a massive conglomerate that has its hands in almost every piece of the optics world. From medical lenses to cinema cameras to of course binoculars, they do it all. Like the other large companies on this list, their size and breadth of business gives them the unique benefits of being able to draw on all the technology they have created and developed over the years.

Their binocular offerings are a bit more limited than some of their competitors, but they are definitely of very high quality. They are targeted often towards the hunting marketing, though you might be fooled by their sleek and clean branding. They are great option if you want super high quality European glass and have the depth of pockets to pay for it. 

Check them out here.

• Leica

Based in Germany, the binocular section of the company actually comes under Leica Camera AG who also have another base in Portugal. Leica Camera AG manufacture products for photography and binoculars that are mostly aimed at bird watchers, nature observation and hunting.

This brand makes lenses that are practical, compact, and ergonomic. 

Leica binoculars are divided into a number of main categories, each of which contain a few different sizes of binoculars. There is also a subcategory of Leica compact binoculars that feature Ultravid and Trinovid Binoculars.

Their products like the Trinvoid-HD are made with reliability, durability, and sustainability in mind.

Check them out here.

Money Saving Tip:

No matter which of the three brands is best for you, you can get one of the best top-of-the-line binoculars on the market. Don’t forget to Sign up at Extrabux first before buying, (What is Extrabux?), then you can enjoy up to 45+% cashback on your purchase!

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Best Binoculars of Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss In 2024

• Best Swarovski Binoculars

Swarovski pioneered the first double bridge, and its EL series enjoyed cult status for a decade and a half. The EL 8.5×42 and 10×42 ($2,169, $2,199) are still superb choices. In 2019, Swarovski announced a successor. The NL Pure series launched in fall 2020 with 8×42, 10×42, and 12×42 models, joined by the 8×32 and 10×32 models in spring 2021. The NL Pure ($2,499-$3,099) immerses you in the view. Generous eye relief and multi-step eyecups provide the full field of view with or without eyeglasses. Actual and apparent FOVs set new class limits. The constricted barrel is easy to hold, even one-handed. An unexpected optional accessory is the FRP forehead rest, which adds stability to the view, especially when glassing with one hand; it’s great for the 12×42. 

Swarovski 10x42 NL Pure Binoculars

• Best Zeiss Binoculars

Zeiss is one of the oldest, most reputable optics and imaging companies in the world, and it makes very high quality binoculars. Not only does it deal in sporting optics like Bushnell, but it also makes optic devices for medical use and even space telescopes. It was founded in Germany in 1846, and it has become a leader in the industry since then. One of the most popular binoculars it has on the market right now are the Zeiss 10X42 Victory HT binoculars.

Zeiss’s Victory SF Series (8×32 for $2,249.99 to 10×42 for $2,749.99) is also a delicious handful, with design features such as ergo-balance and Smart Focus (SF), shifting the notion of tracking street-level swallows from an effort in futility into the realm of possibility. 

ZEISS 10x42 Victory SF Binoculars

• Best Leica Binoculars

The Leica binoculars fit into various categories, and each of these contains a few binoculars of different sizes. Some of these categories include the Leica Noctivid Binoculars, Leica Duovid Binoculars, Leica Ultravid HD Binoculars, Leica Trinovid HD Binoculars, Leica Compact Binoculars, and Leica Geovid Binoculars.

Leica binoculars are best known for their durability, lightweight, balance, small size, and high optical performance.

All Leica binocular models feature fully multicoated optics, BAK4 prisms and are fully waterproof. Their large lenses offer wonderful light transmission and give them more advantages in low light conditions. They also come with various magnification options like 8x, 10x, and 12x.

Leica has two high-end lines. The Ultravid HD+ series (8×32 for $2,099 to 10×42 for $2,299) is the last to provide a premium 7×42. All are compact and among the most durable binoculars available. With Schott HT glass, its flagship Noctivids ($2,749-$2,849) offer bright, sharp, wide-field views and deserve consideration among the best of the best. 

Leica 10x42 Noctivid Binoculars

Leica vs. Zeiss vs. Swarovski Binoculars

Most people agree that the "Big Three" in the optical world are Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski, and their representative products are Zeiss Victory SF, Leica Noctivid, and Swarovski NL Pure.

These 3 binoculars are not only the best binoculars in the world, they can be used for hunting, bird watching, astronomy and almost any other activity.

But how do you know which one will meet your specific needs? What are the main differences between these great binoculars, and which one is the one you need the most?

So, we've put together some comparisons of these three products to help you determine the differences between these three incredible pairs of binoculars.  All three of these were in the 10×42 variety to keep things fair across the board.

Where to buy Binoculars?

• B&H Photo Video

The original B&H store opened in 1973, and today it has grown into one of the largest stores of its kind in the United States.

When it comes to optics, B&H has a wide range, and they are priced on par with Amazon and generally cheaper. Don't forget you can also get up to 1.5% cash back with B&H Photo Video.

If you need to ask a question or make a return, you can get a better customer experience.

In addition to its New York-based hypermarket, B&H ships globally and offers a range of different delivery options in the United States.

Free shipping is available on most orders over $49, or if you're in the Big Apple, your order will be ready for pickup within 45 minutes.

• Adorama

Adorama is not just a camera and electronics store, they also stock a huge selection of optics including binoculars, scopes, telescopes, spotting scopes, night vision equipment and accessories.

They carry most major optical brands including Bushnell, Canon, Celestron, Kowa, Leica, Leupold, Minox, Nikon, Pentax, Steiner, Swarovski, Vanguard Zeiss and Zen-Ray Optics. Their prices are very competitive and in many cases cheaper than Amazon.

Unlike Amazon, you can get a better personal customer experience if you need to seek advice or return or exchange an item.

Adorama ships in the US, Canada and more than 200 countries worldwide. Don't forget you can also get up to 2% cash back with Adorama.

• eBay

eBay now has many brand new binoculars that you can "buy now" without auction, they are sold by trusted sellers. eBay also offers up to 5% cash back.

Where they’re made？

It’s worth noting that for some brands and models, the manufacturing country is not always the same as the country of origin.

Binoculars from Swarovski come from Austria, and the ones from Leica and Zeiss come from Germany. However, the Zeiss Terra ED is manufactured in China.

Swarovski NL Pure vs Zeiss Victory SF vs Leica Noctivid

• Comparison of Size And Weight 

Here are the specs of these 3 best binoculars:

The Leica Noctivid is the smallest and most compact of the group. Strangely, it's the heaviest at 30.4 ounces.

Swarovski NL Pure is slightly larger than Noctivid but slightly lighter at 30 oz.

The ZEISS Victory SF is the largest collection to date, but ZEISS somehow gets the incredible performance the Victory gives you in a 27.8 oz package, albeit in a larger package than others.

Winner: Leica Noctivid

• Comparison of Tripod Adaptability

If you're looking for the best binoculars for your hunting situation, you may need a tripod adapter.

This is where things get interesting, and almost unbelievably, none of these binoculars have the standard 1/4 x 20 thread for a binocular adapter.

However, I would recommend adapters for these three best binoculars here.

For Zeiss Victory SF and Leica Noctivid, the Stuff Cinch I found really suitable is a dynamite adapter. It has a built-in Arca-Swiss base that fits all kinds of vinos, but is not bulky. This RSS Cinch is a quick release or you can put it on your binoculars and it's a lifesaver for those binoculars.

For the Swarovski NL Pure, there are two excellent options, depending on which brand of adapter you prefer to use. Epic Outdoors makes an excellent NL stud designed to work with your Swarovski SLC-TA adapter, so if you already own an SLC-TA adapter, this is the one for you.

If you have an Outdoorsmans adapter, they also make Outdoorsmans earrings for Swarovski NL Pure that work with their adapter. Here's another top pick from NL Pure.

Winner: Swarovski NL Pure

• Comparison of Eye Pieces

While all of these have great eye masks, there are some very noticeable differences.

The Swarovski NL Pure binoculars have an incredible 18mm eye distance and 7 positions within their adjustment range, which is insane. That's more than any other binoculars I've tested. They're silky smooth, provide a nice, clear click, and have enough resistance so they don't accidentally move on you.

Leica Noctivid gives you an unprecedented 19mm eye distance, and the Leica Noctivid eye patch is the least likely to move on you in the long run. Once you have them set, they are almost difficult to move. They move in a weird way and are not smooth at all, but they lock in place and stay there.

Zeiss Victory SF binoculars give you an astonishing 18mm eye distance and fairly typical 4 stops of adjustment. They're very comfortable and probably the smoothest of the group, only slightly less than the Swarovski NL Pure. They also have the thickest rubber, so if that's your usual style, you'll love the Zeiss Victory SF eye mask.

Winner: Swarovski NL Pure

• Comparison of Edge-To-Edge Clarity

Edge-to-edge sharpness is definitely one of the most important factors in judging the best binoculars on the market. Good optics usually have excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, so we expect all three to perform well.

The Leica Noctivid has some noticeable loss of edge-to-edge sharpness in the outer 10% of the image (still very, very good), while the Zeiss Victory SF only seems to lose sharpness in the outermost 5% of the image. That's pretty incredible, given that Victory SF has a much larger field of view than Noctivid.

Without a doubt, the Swarovski NL Pure stole the show in the edge-to-edge sharpness test. It's very clear throughout the visual picture. You can't ask for any better optics. There is no noticeable loss of clarity at all. It was an effortless victory for the Swarovski NL Pure.

Winner: Swarovski NL Pure

• Comparison of Low Light Performance

Low light is when hunters use binoculars most often and really need them to work properly. These three incredible binoculars change what "low light" means. When the others had long since vanished, these three were still strong.

Putting these side-by-side on a tripod at the end of the evening's test, Leica Noctivid dropped first, followed by Zeiss Victory SF, while Swarovski NL Pure emerged as the winner. Again, it gets really dark before we call it, but NL Pure is better able to parse the image in those dark hours.

Winner: Swarovski NL Pure

• Comparison of Field Of View

If you're going to find the best binoculars in the world, you also need to consider the field of view.

When you get a wide field of view with the Leica Noctivid and an incredible 360 feet at 1,000 yards with the Zeiss Victory SF, the Swarovski NL Pure easily wins the comparison with its INSANE 399 feet at 1,000 yards victory. The most important thing is perfect edge-to-edge sharpness, and the NL Pure wins in this category.

Winner: Swarovski NL Pure

• Comparison of Focus Mechanisms

It stands to reason that the focusing mechanisms of these three binoculars are all top-notch in the industry. But they still have some differences.

Among the different focusing mechanisms is the ZEISS Victory SF.

The Leica Noctivids are the smoothest, but there is a small amount of play before starting, which can be disappointing.

Swarovski NL Pure is very good but feels a little different. At first it seems nice and free, but sometimes it grabs a little and has a little extra resistance. The NL Pure also has the grainiest feel, which is a little disappointing for the most expensive binoculars in the group.

In terms of graininess, the Zeiss Victory SF is only marginally inferior to the Leica Noctivid, but with absolutely zero play, perfect resistance at one end of the focus range that is consistent with the other, and perfect positioning for your hand.

Winner: Zeiss Victory SF

• Comparison of Diopters

All three of the best binoculars on the market have very different diopters. Both the Zeiss Victory SF and Leica Noctivid have locking diopter, while the Swarovski NL Pure does not.

Having said that, after using the NL Pure and actually seeing the design Swarovski put into it, I'm now 100% sure it won't move. The mechanism is very rigid and requires very deliberate effort to move. The protrusions you use to make adjustments are also very small, so accidental bumps won't happen at all. I really like that the NL Pure refractometer has an indent at the "zero" position of the diopter, so you know exactly where to start if you need to make any adjustments.

Both Zeiss Victory SF and Leica Noctivid refractometers lock in place nicely. To adjust, just pull towards you, make the adjustment, and push the diopter to lock it back into place.

However, for those who need to make adjustments, the Noctivid diopter reading does not determine which is positive or negative.

Winner: Zeiss Victory SF

• Comparison of In Hand Feel

The Leica Noctivid feels most like a standard pair of open binoculars. Nothing unique or amazing, just a pair of Binos that feel really good.

On the other hand, the Zeiss Victory SF is longer in design, leaving more room for your hands in the open bridge design. Plus, the Victory SF is better balanced in the hand than the North. Not only is it balanced, but the positioning of the focus wheel is absolutely perfect.

The Swarovski NL Pure has a very unique barrel design that tapers towards the front of the barrel (the part close to your face). This is designed to give you an amazing feel and incredible comfort.

The Swarovski NL Pure is more compact than the Zeiss Victory SF, but as such, I find them less comfortable.

Winner: Zeiss Victory SF

• Comparison of Image Resolution, Color And Contrast

All three binoculars resolve the image perfectly, leaving nothing to be desired. Just a little difference in image quality and color.

The Leica offers the most bouncy colors (just a tad), and the Swarovski NL Pure and Zeiss Victory SF edge out the Leica Noctivids in resolution.

In terms of image contrast, the NL Pure brings such a slight advantage, while the Victory SF comes last.

The differences are nearly impossible to pull out, but when you place them side by side and spend some time behind them looking at the same object in the distance, they're there.

Image Color Contrast Winner: Leica Noctivid

Image Resolution Winner: Swarovski NL Pure

Overall Most Delightful Image Winner: Zeiss Victory SF

Which are the best binoculars?

It was a very difficult decision as they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Which strengths you are attracted to and which weaknesses you cannot tolerate will be the decision for you.

Personally, the Swarovski NL Pure caught my eye the most, followed by the Zeiss Victory SF, followed by the Leica Noctivid.

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