Ken from United States, MI Public Profile

I purchased the Zeiss Conquest HDX 8x42 binoculars to replace an old pair of Bushnell 7x50 binoculars. The main use is Michigan hunting and general purpose / utility. I've had a few weeks to put them to use in the field and have logged about 10 hunts with them so far under various conditions (mid-20's to mid-60's Fahrenheit temps, snow, sun, low light, day light, etc.)

Pros:
*Super crisp and clear!
*Easy to quickly focus and amazing level of crisp detail
*Unlike my Bushnell binocs, I had no problems with lens fogging
*Less weight and bulk than the old 7x50 and fit in my pack easier
*I like the twist-out eye cups, and they provide good eye relief

Cons:
*The dust caps need improvement. They are somewhat difficult to seat properly and keep seated.
*Not quite as bright in low light as a 7x50 but understandably, this is a function of the difference in optics than a fault of Zeiss

In summary, I highly recommend these binoculars. Like everything optics, it's a compromise but I find the 8x42 to be a good fit for Michigan hunting (combination of open fields and wooded or brush settings). I debated about 10x42 however I think I made the correct choice as the 10x42 likely would have compromised low light viewing more and been more difficult for target acquisition especially in wooded areas. Out west hunting, the 10x42 might be a better choice. Also, it's not a fair comparison to the Bushnell 7x50 and a binocular that is a quarter of the price, but I didn't even know w