GPO Binoculars

German Precision Optics was founded in 2015 by former optics-industry executives. It does its design, development and quality control in Germany, sells in about 60 countries, and has a strong presence in the US. Its binoculars are all branded Passion, with the steps in between running ED, then SD, then HD. The three GPO models compared here come from the ED and HD ends.

The Passion ED 8x42 ($501) and 10x42 ($630) are what many buyers start with. Owners, many of them hunters who compared Vortex, Leupold and Meopta in the shop before choosing, single out the fit and finish: precise armour, well-made eyecups and a sharp, bright center. The same owners are clear about the limits. There is no field flattener, so the edges soften, and the focus wheel is so light that brushing it against a jacket moves it. The 8x42 is the friendlier of the two, with a 426 ft field and 18mm of eye relief.

The Passion HD 10x42 at $844 is the model the brand's reputation rests on. Owners compare it with the Zeiss Conquest HD and Nikon Monarch HG and often keep the GPO for its focus wheel, its eyecups and comfort over hours of glassing. Their complaints are its 29.6 oz weight and the lack of a field flattener here too. GPO USA's lifetime warranty is fully transferable, which matters for a binocular that may be sold on.