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New Leupold BX-4 McKinley HD Binoculars
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote motts Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2013 at 11:23
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New, from SHOT 2013, Leupold BX-4 McKinley HD Binoculars. Not a lot of information yet. Looks like a solid build. Haven't heard if it has their index-matched lense system yet. I was hoping for a new set of Gold Ring HD binos. Judging from the price point of these, they could still release a higher end line in the future.

 
 
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Edited by Roy Finn - January/15/2013 at 23:53
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2013 at 14:07
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motts, I was told by some Leupy reps at the DSC show there would not be a GR HD replacement this year, but they mentioned the McKinley that they said (obviously they're biased) they would compete with binos costing 3 times more.  HD/ED glass with a "flat field of view" is promised.  I'm looking forward to looking through a pair.
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote motts Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2013 at 14:19
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Thanks JG, that's good info. No doubt these will be a great bino for under a grand. I watched the preview video from SHOT. The oculars do seem a little wide, so I wonder if that will bother some people. I'd be interested to see how these compare with the Zeiss Conquest HD, Vortex Viper HD, and Meopta Meostar HD. Things are definitely getting very interesting now in the upper segment, under $1000.
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wood Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2013 at 23:47
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Anyone know if they plan to sell a 10X as well as the 8?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote motts Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 09:15
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Originally posted by Wood Wood wrote:

Anyone know if they plan to sell a 10X as well as the 8?

Yes, they have both the 10x42 and 8x42 offerings.
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 11:09
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http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/binoculars/bx-4-mckinley-hd-binoculars/bx-4-mckinley-hd-8x42mm/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MR_wopAuAs

Look real close at the McKinley...real close.

Guys, go with Leupold here.

The new Gold Ring project is on hold for awhile.  Likely too expensive to advance the McKinley features.
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". Albert Einstein
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote motts Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 11:44
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That's the bad thing about buying a product at the end of December...because the new stuff is announced a couple weeks later at SHOT. I just purchased the Conquest HD before the end of the year to take advantage of the rebate. I'm very happy with them. But, I've always been a fan of Leupold, and I think they've priced these really well. Can't wait to have a look see at them.
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 12:36
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Leupold should have these ready pretty quickly.  You should have them way in time to watch bucks develop antlers Smile.

I am pretty seriously considering a Zeiss Conquest HD myself, but an 8x32.  I would bet the McKinley and Conquest HD optics are a wash, but the ergonomics will be pretty different due to what looks like two dis-similar designs.
Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote motts Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 13:14
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I don't understand where the Leupold Hawthorne fits into their lineup and why it doesn't start with the BX-something designation. I suppose it was their top end model before the McKinley?

Edited by motts - January/16/2013 at 13:31
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 13:23
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Originally posted by motts motts wrote:

I don't understand where the Leupold Hawthorne fits into their lineup aqnd why it doesn't start with the BX-something designation. I suppose it was their top end model before the McKinley?

As to that one, I have absolutely no idea Big Smile.  The 7x Hawthorne intrigues me, but at 7x it needs to have another 2* field of view.  I've never looked through a Hawthorne.

A major gripe I have always had with the Leupold Green Ring stuff is a really narrow field of view.

Looks like they may be changing that with the McKinley. 
Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2013 at 14:22
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Originally posted by Klamath Klamath wrote:

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/binoculars/bx-4-mckinley-hd-binoculars/bx-4-mckinley-hd-8x42mm/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MR_wopAuAs

Look real close at the McKinley...real close.

Guys, go with Leupold here.

The new Gold Ring project is on hold for awhile.  Likely too expensive to advance the McKinley features.

Klamath, I believe you've hit the nail on the head.  Those Leupy guys in their booth, when I asked about the GR HD (which I loved), told me it was a bino that was designed and produced 100% in house.  Obviously they bought the glass somewhere, shipped it in house and put their own coatings on it.  They said it was just too expensive to produce and come in at the price point they wanted, under $1000, so they went the McKinley direction.  I'm anticipating really, really good things with this prodiuct. 
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote timberbuck Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/17/2013 at 00:09
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This binocular appears to simply be a Zen Ray Prime under different armor. Same weight,FOV and physical size. Flat field ect.
 
Correct me if I am wrong.
 
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wood Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/17/2013 at 21:13
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Where are they made? Anyone know?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply     Back to Top Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/17/2013 at 22:47
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Originally posted by Wood Wood wrote:

Where are they made? Anyone know?

Well I guess that one had to come up.  I'm not surprised it came up sooner rather than later.  I am waiting to see how Leupold handles this.  Will they tell us or will they not.  The main thing is that Leupold has long experience in importing optics and we have their stellar service to fall back on, and they are unlikely to have specced out a dud.  

I have no idea of their source, but if timberbuck is right, and I agree the two LOOK a lot alike, then they Chinese.  That does not necessarily follow they are the same inside.  

Whether or not we like it, the plain truth is that even the Japanese optics firms are outsourcing a lot of stuff to China sources, sometimes even Japanese company owned Chinese resources.  So at the level of quality hinted at in the video link and the $750 price the chances are good they are a Chinese product.  

Foreign labels of "made in..." are not of much use either.  For now German companies can legally use the "made in Germany" stamp even if 90% comes from outside Germany.  For example there is some question as to whether or not the new Conquest HD is actually made in Japan by Kamakura, instead of "Made in Germany".  Now the thing is, Kamakura is now sourcing as much as 80% of their work to China.

So the short blasted answer is...unless Leupold comes clean...is you may never know.
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". Albert Einstein
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