Leupold Gold Ring vs Steiner Peregrine

fly_fish_boy · Guest

I have a pair of Burris Signature Select 10x50 binoculars. I am hunting later this year with my brother (a new hunter) and I want to take this opportunity to get a second pair of binoculars so that he can use one.

I want something better than the Burris Binos I have. My budget is about 800 dollars. I have been leaning towards the Leupold gold ring binoculars. I like the idea of the switch / power model. I know that you should generally avoid binoculars with zoom, but isn't switch power better (example: Leica Duovid)? I have also noticed that the regular gold ring binoculars are called "HD" and the switch / power models are not called "HD." Do the two have different glass?

To complicate the issue, I am able to get a closeout Steiner Peregrine 10x42 for 800 dollars. This seems like a very good price. Should I take the Steiner over the Leupold?

Please provide me with your professional opinions.

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5621

Hi

Yes, the Switchpower is better than a zoom, but not identical to the Duovid in terms of the mechanism used. The Switchpower I tested was a long, long way from Leica Duovid in terms of either optics or constructionand, in fact, was not even up to the the fixed power Gold Ring HD on either count . Forget the Switchpower. Get the Leupold HD or the Peregrine. Both much better built binos with significantly better optics than the Switchpower.

Close call on the Peregrine and the HD. I'd give an edge to the HD for optics, but the HD is quite heavy for an 10x42 and ergonomics are not that great. I'd give an edge to the Peregrine on the handling.
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