Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43 Binoculars ZEN-ED3-8x43

Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43 Binocular Review

Scroll down for our in-house comparison with similar models

We have heard a lot of great things about the Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43 binocular long before we received our first pair.  The general consensus amongst the die-hard optics freaks is that the ED3 8x42 is a serious contender with alpha-class binoculars at twice the price, which is something that is often said, yet extremely subjective.  Thsi time, it's different.

The Zen ED3 8x43 ships in a nondescript black box, which contains the padded Zen-Ray neck strap, as well as the rubberized binocular carrying case.  The case itself has its own nylon strap as well.  ZEN-RAY is embossed on the carrying case, just so you don't forget.

The first thing we thought when opening up the box was, "Swarovski EL."  The open hinge design and somewhat OD green color bears a striking resemblance to the EL, no doubt this is a deliberate move on the part of Zen-Ray.  The sides of the rubber-armored body have a knurled pattern for better grip, and two ergonomic thumb molds on the bottom of the optical tubes, which are perfectly placed for comfortable grip.  No lie, when you pick these up, it just seems to mold to your hand.  We're seeing a lot more thought go into ergonomics, because manufacturers are finally starting to realize that comfort is just as important as image quality.  If you've never been concerned with the ergonomics of your binocular, you probably aren't using them enough.  Observe wildlife or scan horizons for game for hours on end, and you'll find out pretty quickly that it becomes a lot easier if you're comfortable.  At 28.1 oz, the ED3 8x43 isn't exactly the lightest binocular out there, but its weight is in line with comparable models, and provides a solid feel.  

As far as construction, we're having a very hard time finding any sort of fault with build quality.  The center hinge is just tight enough, the rubber surrounding the body is an absolute perfect fit, and the attached lens caps actually fit.  If you've read any of our other binocular reviews, you know that we're very discriminating when it comes to lens caps.

On the topic of mechanic feel, the ED3 8x43 does not disappoint.  As mentioned previously, the center hinge is just the right tightness - interpupillary distance remains constant once adjusted, and while it doesn't take much force to change that distance, it does not move accidentally.  The diopter adjustment does exhibit some slight audible and tactile feedback.  Now, you may be asking, "What good does that do?"  Well, we'd honestly like to see it on more binoculars, because it does provide some feeling of quality craftsmanship, as well as a practical reference when adjusting the diopter.  

But the absolute best feature of the ED3 8x43 so far is the twist-up eye cups.  They are pretty standard three position eye cups, but they just feel much higher quality.  No excess play whatsoever, and the rubber surrounds are very comfortable when compared to the plastic cups found on a lot of binos.  

Now, let's get down to business.  How well does the Zen-Ray ED3 8x43 actually work as a binocular?  In a word, it's excellent.  The cliarty and sharpness when looking through these binoculars is just stunning.  Edge to edge clarity is excellent, and brightness is superior to just about every model we regularly see in-house.  We took a pair out just before dusk on a cloudy winter evening and found it hard to believe the low-light performance.   There's a reason the ED3 8x43 is so popular, and we think we now know why.

And again, the overall comfort level when using this pair of binoculars is just great.  We'll say it over and over again.  Dare we say it, the overall package has taken the place of the Minox BL 8x33 as our favorite binocular.  Perfect for the discriminating hunter, the optics elitist, and value seeker.  For the price, we question if you can find anything better.

Comparison with Celestron Granite 8x42 ED and Bresser Everest 8x42 ED

Why did we choose to compare the ZEN ED3 with the Granite and the Everest?  A few reasons.  The first reason pertains to the Granite 8x42 ED.  It's the closest competitor in price and quality, being an ED glass binocular with the same magnification and similar objective lens size. 

The Bresser was chosen due to its similarity to the Granite.  It utilizes an identical open hinge design, and we mean that without any embellishment - it is literally the same hinge.  But the Bresser is also priced much lower at around $215, compared to $415 for the ED3 and $440 for the Granite.  It is included in the comparison because it seems (at face value) to be a direct competitor outside of the price range.  

We'll set the Everests aside for a second and begin by comparing the construction and overall build quality of the ZEN ED3 8x43 and the Granite 8x42.  Size and weight are similar, but the ED3 is about three ounces heavier at about 28 ounces, compared to the Granite at around 25 ounces, and the ED3s are about an inch longer with the eye cups in the lowest position.  Both of these are similar open bridge designs, but differ enough that they are obviously from different manufacturers.  Both bridges are exposed metal, and the rubber armor wraps around the optical bodies only.  The armor on the Granite appears to be a simple rubber with a smooth finish (and maybe a little flaking effect) while the ED3 is a rougher, OD-esque green with a raised pattern on the ends for better grip.  The ED3 includes attached lens caps, the type that slip on over the body and hang off.  The Granite's lens caps are attached with a clip on the underside of the body.  It seems like the caps on the Granite would be more likely to stay attached after a lot of use, and we prefer thieir design.  

Movement of the central hinge on both of these models is similar, but the Granite is a little bit tighter.  The ED3's hinge is still tight, but adjusts without as much effort, and we find this more desirable.  Since we're on the topic of mechanics now, we'll move down the list, starting with eye cups.  Both binoculars have three position eye cups, and the cups on the Granites seem to be a little more "loose" than the cups on the ED3s.  Both pairs of binoculars exhibit a lot of tactile feedback, and the Granites seem to be a litlte more audible.  We presume this is because it's easier to click them into place.  That being said, we do prefer the cups on the ED3s, but that's more due to the ergonomic design of the cups themselves.  

The focusing mechanisms have almost the exact same feel to them, and can be easily adusted with a single finger.  The Celestron Granite's focusing mechanism goes a full two turns from close to far, while the ZEN ED3 8x43 goes only one full turn.  Mechanically, this doesn't really make a difference.  But it does affect the focusing speed, and there have been some people reporting that it's very easily to overcorrect focus on the ED3s.  It's a matter of preference, but take it for what you will.

The diopter adjustment on these models are your standard binocular diopter adjustment, but the ED3 mechanism provides some slight tactile feedback when adjusting, and seems to fall into a detent as it's turned.  The Granite's diopter adjustment is slighty more stiff, and does not have the detents.  

As far as accessories, the two packages are comparable.  Both binoculars come with a carrying case (with included strap).  The Granite's soft case is identical to the case included with the Trailseeker line of binoculars.  The ED3, however, includes a harder carrying case.  Both binoculars include a regular binocular neck strap, but the Granite does have an edge with the inclusion of a legitimate binocular harness.  We prefer the hard case over the soft case, but some birders and hunters will find a better deal with the harness, so it's sort of a wash here.  

Of course, the biggest part of the overall package has to be optics performance.  The ED3 and the Granites perform very similarly, with clarity and sharpness being about dead even in our eyes.  There are some slight differences in color - the Granites seem slightly warmer, while the ED3s are a little cooler.  But it's a very small difference, and some may not be able to tell.  The only seriously noticeable difference is in the area of chromatic aberration, and while the Granites don't have a problem with CA (it's barely visible), the ED3 does do a slightly better job in this department.  Both binoculars have an identical 8.1 degree field of view (426 feet @ 1000 yards).

Where do the Bressers come in?

Well, the Bresser Everest 8x42 has a lot more in common with the Celestron Granite 8x42 than the Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43.  It shares the identical body and hinge design, magnification, and objective size.  The less informed shopper would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two.  Sure, there are some aesthetic differences, such as the metal trim, metal focusing wheel, and some differences in rubber armor, but they appear to be siblings.  The best way to compare these two would be to look at them as a Ford and a Lincoln, or a Nissan and an Infinity.  Essentially, they are as similar as they can be, with different trim.

But the reason we included them is because, in spite of this, the Bressers are half the price of the Granites.  They are a perfect example of the downward price trend of ED binoculars, which is putting a lot of higher priced models on the hot seat.

A closer look:

The Bressers, despite similarities, do have some functional differences from the Granites, and this is where they have some similarities to the Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43.  They have the same type of lens caps as the ZEN ED3, and the diopter adjustment has the same type of detents when adjusting, but the adjustment on the Bresser is more audible.  The focusing mechanism goes about one full turn from close to far, very similar in feel to the ED3.  The eye cups are also three position, and the feel when adjusting is somewhere between the loose Granite eye cups and the tighter ED3 eye cups.  Body hinge tightness is more on par with the ED3.  The Bresser also includes a molded carrying case like the ED3.  

In a side-by-side optical comparison, the Bressers are a carbon copy of the Granites, with the same color bias and slightly less controlled CA (albeit still very good).  Field ofview is similar, if not identical, and clarity and sharpness is still good.

The Final Say

The Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 stands well on its own.  It has some great mechanical and quality control improvements over the similarly priced Granite, while providing some excellent optical performance.  The overall fit and finish is what puts the ED3 at the top, because it takes the idea of a long-term investment in a binocular to a slightly higher level.  The price is not only justified, it's a great value.

Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 Owner's Manual

The Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43 Binocular is the third generation of the ZEN ED series binoculars, retooled to the specifications received from thousands of happy Zen-Ray customers.  The ZEN ED3 8x33 binoculars combine 8x magnification, ample 43mm objectives, ED Glass, and an extra-wide 63 degree apparent field of view, all in an ergonomic form factor under two pounds.  Perfect for hunting, birdwatching, or general observation, this is one of the best pair of ED binoculars you'll find under $1,000.

The extra low dispersion (ED) glass found in the ZEN ED3 8x43 is fully multi-coated, and the prisms utilize Zen-Ray's proprietary second generation VividBrite dielectic prism coating for ultra high reflectivity, contributing to 99.7% light transmission on each optic.  In addition, exterior glass surfaces are coated in CrystalView repellant coatings, protecting ocular and objective lenses from water, oil, dirt, and abrasion.  

The body of the Zen-Ray ZEN ED3 8x43 is an open bridge design constructed of magnesium alloy, which contributes to extremely light weight and extended comfort during long hours of observation or hunting.  Specialized tripod sockets allow multiple points of tripod mounting, making the ZEN ED3 8x43 suitable for amateur stargazing.  Waterproofing and fogproof argon-purging is standard, and the entire body is encased in a durable rubber armor for a lifetime of protection from accidental damage.

So it seems the like Zen ED3 8x43 is a pretty robust binocular.  In fact, all Zen ED3 binoculars are tested to Japanese Industrial Standard Level 7 (JIS 7) testing prior to being released.  Each ZEN ED3 is immersed to five feet for three minutes, and only binoculars that pass the test are released for sale.