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Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC nuguy#385180403/02/10 | |
J JGRaider Campfire Ranger | |
OP JGRaider Campfire Ranger J Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,490 Likes: 37 | To me, increased weight = "built like a tank". I never, ever notice the weight when using a bino harness. I'll take heavier and tough over light and fragile any day. It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH. |
| GB1 |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC JGRaider#385190303/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 X Xlr8n Campfire Member | |
 Xlr8n Campfire Member X Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 | Originally Posted by JGRaider To me, increased weight = "built like a tank". I never, ever notice the weight when using a bino harness. I'll take heavier and tough over light and fragile any day. We are fortunate there are so many offerings in the optics market today. The method in which one person may hunt and scout/glass in their locale is likely much different than that of other folks in other parts of the country. For some a heavy glass is ideal. For scouting alone I would prefer a heavier glass for stability, but when actually hunting I like a lightweight glass as I'm usually on the move with lots of gear and often glass one handed. There are some very lightweight glasses on the market today but I wouldn't want to lump them into the classification of 'fragile' based on weight alone. You can fashion a product out of steel that may seem to be "built like a tank", but a similar product made of alloy or carbon composite may be half the weight with twice the actual strength. I'd bet with a little further R&D, the Leupold GR's could actually shave some weight without losing much if any durability. But as pointed out, many like them just the way they are. Last edited by scottryan; 03/02/10. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Xlr8n#385202003/02/10 | |
J JGRaider Campfire Ranger | |
| OP JGRaider Campfire Ranger J Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,490 Likes: 37 | I'd bet Leupold designed it exactly like they intended, TOUGH. I can tell you from first hand experience the heavy Trinovid is much tougher than the lighter EL. It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC JGRaider#385204303/02/10 | |
C cfran Campfire Tracker | |
cfran Campfire Tracker C Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 3,228 Likes: 9 | Does Leupold actually make their own binos? Just curious as I know some of their older models (Pinnacles perhaps) were made by some other company. Agree with others that these are nice glass for the dollars (especially what Cabelas is blowing them out for). |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC JGRaider#385205003/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 X Xlr8n Campfire Member | |
Xlr8n Campfire Member X Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 | Originally Posted by JGRaider I'd bet Leupold designed it exactly like they intended, TOUGH. I can tell you from first hand experience the heavy Trinovid is much tougher than the lighter EL. Agree. The rubber armor on the GR's looks and feels like you could beat it with a big rock and it would just laugh at you. |
| IC B2 |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC cfran#385205903/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 X Xlr8n Campfire Member | |
Xlr8n Campfire Member X Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 | Originally Posted by cfran Does Leupold actually make their own binos? Just curious as I know some of their older models (Pinnacles perhaps) were made by some other company. Agree with others that these are nice glass for the dollars (especially what Cabelas is blowing them out for). The Gold Rings, yes. All others are designed by Leupold, but made in either Japan, China, or the Philipines depending on model. Last edited by scottryan; 03/02/10. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC nuguy#385214703/02/10 | |
E Eremicus Campfire Ranger | |
Eremicus Campfire Ranger E Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 18,881 | A couple of things I have noticed. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Eremicus#385225303/02/10 | |
nsaqam Campfire Ranger | |
nsaqam Campfire Ranger Joined: May 2008 Posts: 16,540 | Not quite so easy to sling your BOW while hunting. We bowhunters are often compelled to glass with one hand. The Chosin Few November to December 1950, Korea. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC nsaqam#385232903/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 X Xlr8n Campfire Member | |
Xlr8n Campfire Member X Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 | Originally Posted by nsaqam Not quite so easy to sling your BOW while hunting. We bowhunters are often compelled to glass with one hand. If it's not the bow, it's the grunt tube or can call in my other hand while glassing to see if I'm getting a response before continuing. A little calling can become too much in the blink of an eye. I've never thougth about it, but I'd suppose I glass one-handed for less than a minute at any time, but when I do it needs to be steady. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Xlr8n#385258303/02/10 | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 18,453 | Originally Posted by scottryan Originally Posted by cfran Does Leupold actually make their own binos? Just curious as I know some of their older models (Pinnacles perhaps) were made by some other company. Agree with others that these are nice glass for the dollars (especially what Cabelas is blowing them out for). The Gold Rings, yes. All others are designed by Leupold, but made in either Japan, China, or the Philipines depending on model. Gold Rings are not made in the USA anymore. The Pinnacles (roof madels) are made by Light Optical Works in Japan. |
| IC B3 |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC RDFinn#385278403/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 254 F Fireform Campfire Member | |
Fireform Campfire Member F Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 254 | Where does that come from? |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC RDFinn#385281603/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 X Xlr8n Campfire Member | |
Xlr8n Campfire Member X Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 | Originally Posted by RDFinn Originally Posted by scottryan Originally Posted by cfran Does Leupold actually make their own binos? Just curious as I know some of their older models (Pinnacles perhaps) were made by some other company. Agree with others that these are nice glass for the dollars (especially what Cabelas is blowing them out for). The Gold Rings, yes. All others are designed by Leupold, but made in either Japan, China, or the Philipines depending on model. Gold Rings are not made in the USA anymore. The Pinnacles (roof madels) are made by Light Optical Works in Japan. The Northforks, Katmais, Mojaves, and Cascades are also manufactured in Japan. Please share with us the country of origin of the Gold Rings. I wasn't aware they moved production out of their US facility. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Fireform#385282003/02/10 | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 18,453 | The Gold Rings I believe are produced in Japan but where exactly I'm not sure. It was JB who said not that long ago that the GR's were no longer made by Leupold in the states. Regardless of where they are made, they are very good bino's. As you can see from the link, there is a photo of an older model GR spotter as well. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Xlr8n#385283203/02/10 | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 18,453 | The Pinnacle and Katmai roofs are made by Light Optical Works in Japan. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC RDFinn#385289903/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 254 F Fireform Campfire Member | |
Fireform Campfire Member F Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 254 | Some of the early GR binoculars and spotters were made in Japan, but I doubt very much that that's the case any more. As far as I know, Leupold makes all the mechanicals for golden ring products in Beaverton and fits them with Japanese-made lens elements, and it's been that way for a long time. If that's not the case for the current GR binoculars I'd like to know. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Fireform#385291103/02/10 | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 18,453 | Originally Posted by Mule Deer orion, All the Leupold binoculars are imported. They did make some binoculars in the 1990's but discovered they couldn't make them at a price people would pay. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC RDFinn#385303103/02/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 254 F Fireform Campfire Member | |
Fireform Campfire Member F Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 254 | That's interesting. I note that the statement on Leupold's webpage describing manufacture of Golden Ring products in Beaverton refers specifically to scopes. Careful bit of language there, it appears. You learn something new every day. I bet if they did mfg them in Beaverton they wouldn't weigh half a pound more than the competition. Last edited by Fireform; 03/02/10. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC RDFinn#385625403/03/10 | |
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 X Xlr8n Campfire Member | |
Xlr8n Campfire Member X Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 199 | Originally Posted by RDFinn Originally Posted by Mule Deer orion, All the Leupold binoculars are imported. They did make some binoculars in the 1990's but discovered they couldn't make them at a price people would pay. Sometimes it pays to go to the source rather than second hand internet info. According to their technical department, all Gold Ring binos and scopes are manufacturered in Beaverton, Oregon USA. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Xlr8n#385637303/03/10 | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger | |
RDFinn Campfire Ranger Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 18,453 | Believe whatever you want. Barsness is tight with folks at Leupold and is a champion of their products. He has no logical reason to lie. |
Re: Informal (10x) Bino Test: ZenED2, Leup GR HD, Trinovid, SLC Xlr8n#385639303/03/10 | |
S SteveC99 Campfire Regular | |
SteveC99 Campfire Regular S Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,581 | There is some legal sidestepping here. Leupold long ago gave up the ability to mix, cure, cut, grind and polish optical glass, at least to the extent needed to make or MANUFACTURE the whole product. I don't know when this happened, or really to what extent Leupold ever made their own glass, but regardless the sources of strictly US made and manufactured glass has been non existent to very slim for some time. There was a thread on Bird Forum a couple of years ago on the Leupold Gold Ring. One of the participants in the thread was the enginer in charge of the design of the GR binocular. This was also the same fella who was in charge of the Yosemite project. I asked the question point blank if that apparent relationship with the Kowa Genesis was significant. He neither confirmed nor denied, but said simply "yes it is significant". Now take that bit of information and have a good close look at the Kowa Genesis. Last post in the thread below. http:/ I had some PM conversation with this man, so not all is in the thread. I asked once directly to Leupold and they said they assembled them in Beaverton from Japanese glass. Now the box no longer says anything about even assembled in USA. Since Leupold dropped the price, I think assembled in USA went away and we have a very damn good binocular that is a joint Kowa-Leupold project. Who exactly makes the glass and does the assembly, we may well never know. Steve Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can where you are with what you have" |
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