porros or monarchs

[nctexasbirder]

i guess porros would be better for a lower budget, eh? vs the nikon monarchs that is...

Leupold Wind River Mesa 8x42 $180.00 25 oz
Nikon Action EX 8x42 arent these a bit on the heavy side?
Steiner Predator 8x30s?
Wind River Cascades....etc.


these are all mostly under $300, might be better than monarch roofs....

[Tero]

Well, the Monarch 8x are pretty good, I guess with more money you could find wider FOV. The Action EX are heavier than regular Action. So if you want waterproof, Monarch is lighter.

I never found any Steiners I liked, but have not seen them all.

Bushnell has some good 8x42 roof prisms. Discoverer and some others, not the under $100 models.

[elkcub]

i guess porros would be better for a lower budget, eh? vs the nikon monarchs that is...

Leupold Wind River Mesa 8x42 $180.00 25 oz
Nikon Action EX 8x42 arent these a bit on the heavy side?
Steiner Predator 8x30s?
Wind River Cascades....etc.


these are all mostly under $300, might be better than monarch roofs....

The 8.5x44 Swift 828 HHS Audubon, made in Japan, can be purchased for about $300. It's a great roof for the money: waterproof, 19mm eye relief, very light, and great optics.

Ed

[FrankD]

I have no experience with the Swifts but would offer that the Leupold Cascade Porros have noticeably better image quality than the Monarchs and they are waterproof. However, I had other issues with them. Definitely compare them side by side.

[elkcub]

I have no experience with the Swifts but would offer that the Leupold Cascade Porros have noticeably better image quality than the Monarchs and they are waterproof. However, I had other issues with them. Definitely compare them side by side.

Frank,

If you have a chance, give the Swift HHS Audubon a try. There have been other BVD reviews since this one by Steve Ingraham — for the recently improved model that has an integrated diopter control.

http://www.betterviewdesired.com/march02/index.html

I'll bet that when Swift discontinues the model sometime soon the bino mavens will say they were the best since sliced bread —just like the 8x30 Nikon E2. :eek!:

Ed

[kmiernik]

I had a pair of Nikon Action EX 8x40. Although their optical performance seemed to be quite nice I was bored with their weight and bulkiness. Few months ago I've bought Swift 828 HHS and I'm in love with them. Not only because of their smaller size and handiness but mainly because optics quality. Compared to 'top three' they lack of FOV and brightness but resolution in the center of image is incredible good.

After using Swift for some time I was suprised how bad is image in Nikon Action EX. It was diffused and misty like I was watching birds through bottle's bottom. At 150$ those binoculars might be best you can get but if you can afford it Swift is far better choice.

I had an opportunity to compare Swift with Nikon Monarch 8x42. My main objection to Monarch was that image isn't so sharp as Swift's. Also their mechanical quality seemed rather poor compared to Swift.

[FrankD]

Thanks for the suggestion Ed. I would love to get my hands on one. I think I saw Bob mention that one of the local bird watching locales sells them but that may have been a pair of roofs. I will have to check as we are headed up there this weekend.

Oh, and I decided to give the Meoptas another whirl though in the 8x42 configuration this time. I will reserve my comments for now until I have them a few days to experiment with. ;)

[Tero]

I have stayed away from the Swifts so far. Had two people that liked them last weekend, one was birding with reverse porros because he dropped the Swifts, I presume the porros, and they broke. He was having them repaired. But I keep hearing about Swift problems, repairs etc. Optics probably good, I have looked through the porros.

After using Swift for some time I was suprised how bad is image in Nikon Action EX. It was diffused and misty like I was watching birds through bottle's bottom.
Yes there is some of that. Though not as bad as bottle bottoms, the difference in brightness to say good roof prisms is noticeable. This may be why many people love roof prims, when they first see them. As far as birding goes, it does not harm the view that much. But stick to 7x and 8x if the thing bothers you.

[matt green]

The 8.5x44 Swift 828 HHS Audubon, made in Japan, can be purchased for about $300. It's a great roof for the money: waterproof, 19mm eye relief, very light, and great optics.

Ed

Anyone compared these with swifts other budget roof,the ultra light 8x42.

I previously owned a binocular that had a very similar intergrated diopter setting as those 8.4x44 and they proved quite difficult to get on with.

The problem being with the lift up cap preventing me from using two fingers on the focus wheel,this combined with a slow focus speed just added to the problem,despite the stunning optics.

The ultra lights have the diopter setting set on the left barrel,which is exactly where it should be in my opinion.The better view site also states
they have a fast focus.

Matt

[elkcub]

Anyone compared these with swifts other budget roof,the ultra light 8x42.

I previously owned a binocular that had a very similar intergrated diopter setting as those 8.4x44 and they proved quite difficult to get on with.

The problem being with the lift up cap preventing me from using two fingers on the focus wheel,this combined with a slow focus speed just added to the problem,despite the stunning optics.

The ultra lights have the diopter setting set on the left barrel,which is exactly where it should be in my opinion.The better view site also states
they have a fast focus.

Matt

Hey Matt,

Funny you should bring that up. On the newest model the integrated diopter control works better than any binocular I've ever used, including Swarovski SLCs. I kid you not, it's outstanding!

Focus the binoculars using the left eye only. Stap up the diopter control wheel, which is at the end of the focusing wheel, and use it to focus with the right eye only. Snap the diopter wheel down. Finis.

Whatever bino you're comparing it with can't be the same. There is no problem using the focusing wheel, because the diopter wheel is snapped down and doesn't move at all in normal operations.

I did briefly compare the Model 828 8.5x44 HHS Audubon with the 8x42 Ultralite. Let's put it this way, — the 828 is simply Swift's best roof Audubon to date. Since it carries the initials of her father, Humphrey H. Swift, the current President, Alison Swift, takes a lot of pride in it.

As mentioned above, I've got a feeling this may be the last of Swift's Japan made products, which always had the best quality control.

Enjoy the view,
Ed

[FrankD]

Ed,

Since we are on the subject of Swift and you seem fairly knowledgable with them, I thought I saw mentioned somewhere that ownership of the company has changed. Did you hear any rumors to that effect?

[elkcub]

Ed,

Since we are on the subject of Swift and you seem fairly knowledgable with them, I thought I saw mentioned somewhere that ownership of the company has changed. Did you hear any rumors to that effect?

Frank,

All that I've heard is that they consolidated the business to San Jose, CA and are no longer located in Boston, MA. I visited them a few months ago and they were busy as one armed paper hangers. That's when I compared the 828 HHS with the new Ultralite. On their website they post recent BVD articles here:
http://www.swift-optics.com/news/ultralite_hhs_betterviewd.

As to company ownership, my understanding is that it's still family owned and Alison Swift is the President. I certainly hope it remains that way.

Ed
P.S. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Kowa 8.5x44 ED. :scribe:

[FrankD]

Thanks Ed for the info.

P.S. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Kowa 8.5x44 ED.

I am as well.