Optolyth close focus?

[Tori]

Hi All,
I've just discovered this wonderful website - this is my first posting, so please be patient with me.
Please, I need some help from the members outside of the U.S. market.
Specific Question:
1. Can anybody please tell me what the close focus is on the Optolyth Alpin 8x30, 8x40 and 10x40? Even to, say, 5/10/15/more feet or 2/6/10 meters would be helpful.
2. The Optolyth website says that the field of view for the 8x40s and 10x40s is the same. True?? No answer from them to my e-mail regarding both questions.
After a twenty five year hiatus from birding I'm back, and have also just begun looking at butterflies. Besides all of the changes in optics, I've had a few changes too so I'm replacing my trusty 40 year old 7x35 Bushnell Customs. My changes: A) I've always birded with my eyeglasses on, but my fifty year old eyes need a lot more correction than they used to and hence eye relief is now an issue. B)I have wrist problems so want to cut down noticeably on the weight, at 23-24 ounces/200-250 grams mine are heavy, but I want less weight to hold up, wear around my neck, and carry together with a camera. C) I travel more by plane so want less bulk as well. Less bulk also means less conspicuous. D) Current pair has 7.2 degrees of field - I'm spoiled and know it.
Am am finally down to the "short list": Optolyth Alpin 8x30, 8x40, and 10x40; Zeiss Dialyt Classic 8x30, Kahles 8x32; Leica BN 8x32; Leica Ultravid 8x42; and Steiner Peregrine 10x42. The Opticron DBA 10x42 and Travellers just missed. My problem is that both Optolyth and Opticron have very limited distribution here. The Optolyth distributor here is out of the Alpins, doesn't know the requested specs, and says there will be new ones "soon." Have only found two U.S. dealers - neither of them know the minimum distance either. I know that Optolyth and Opticron had a falling out. Opticrons are distributed through the American Birding Association here, so no chance to handle before mail ordering. If anybody can compare the optical qualities of Optolyth or Opticron to anything I might be able to look at here (e.g. Bausch and Lomb, Bushnell, Swift, Pentax, Nikon, I'd greatly appreciate that too.
Sorry to ramble so, am quite desperate to resolve the close focus matter so I know whether to strike them from my birthday list! I promise to be much shorter next time.
Thanks, Tori

[Grousemore]

Welcome to Bird Forum and I'm sure you'll get answers to all your questions in due course.
I noticed an anomaly in your comment about weight; 23-24 ounces is 652-680 grammes,not 200-250,so be careful if relying on metric figures.

You say your current pair are heavy at 23-24 ounces,but the Leica BN 8x32,s are not much lighter at all at 22 ounces.

[pduxon]

Good point Grousemore. The travellers weigh about 17ozs obviously they aren't going to compare optically to the leicas since they are alot cheaper

Hi Tori and welcome to the forum. Enjoy yourself!

[mak]

Tori
The Optolyth Alpin 8x40 have a close focus of 4m.
The 8x30 have a close focus of 3m (the importer was not sure, neither am I)

You state that eye relief is important, if this is the case make sure that your choice of binoculars has an eye relief of no less than 15mm, otherwise you will not get a full field of view when using spectacles. If you do not want to wear your specs, then you should make sure that the binoculars have sufficient dioptre adjustment from the plus to minus, ideally +/- 3 or more.

[Leif]

Don't Zeiss have a new mid-priced 8x30 roof prism bin? I'm sure someone on this forum knows about 'em. ;)

[Tori]

Thanks all for such rapid responses!
MAK - You confirmed what I had sort of imagined, that the close focus on the Optolyths would be their weakest point for me. Thanks for the reminder about eye relief - that is one of the bigger sticking points for me about the Leica BNs, and probably will be for the Ultravids as well.
Grousemore- Thanks for noticing my error on weight. The fastest way for me to convert to grams is a postage scale, and last night when I went to look it up for the message I was very sloppy, didn't add the 200-250g to the 450g which is the scale's maximum. I had done it correctly when compiling my lists. Good point about the Leicas, one I keep thinking about. Two of the other pairs on the list are also heavier than my current pair, they're there because I keep thinking about their other nice qualities.
pduxon - The thought of the petite 17 ounces of the Travellers keeps traipsing through the thoughts about the virtues of Leica's optical qualities. I know some birders invest in two pairs and put one in their glovebox or briefcase or purse, but I don't think I'm ready for that yet.
Leif- I forgot to mention that Zeiss has withdrawn the 8x30 Classics here, apparently in favor of the 8x30 Diafuns. I've found a pair at an authorized dealer with low volume. They're a neat little binocular, but the close focus is about 16 feet, and they're a cut below the Classics optically, still nice. Haven't heard of other small Zeisses yet. The newly released Victory IIs are a little heavier than I'm hoping for. Are you the Leif who has posted some reviews on epinions? If so, they are very helpful.
Thanks again for your speed and helpfulness, I'm looking forward to helping somebody else out.
Tori

[Leif]

Originally posted by Tori
Are you the Leif who has posted some reviews on epinions?


Yup. I have thus far earnt 10 pence (~15 cents) from these reviews (naked self interest) so I guess I'll have to go on a spending spree soon.

BTW Have you looked at the Nikon 8x32 SE? (This is my current obsession, having recently tried out a pair.) They have outstanding image quality: as bright and almost as sharp as a Swarovski 8.5x42 EL. (Yes I have tried them side by side, at noon and at dusk.) Good eye relief but smallish exit pupils. :t:

Of course they don't have the same kudos as a pair of expensive roofs. 3:-) They are not waterproof either.

[marcus]

Leif, sorry, but what does 'kudo' mean?
Let me just say hello to Tori too.
Hello Tori.

[Leif]

kudos = respect

[pduxon]

Out of interest does anyone have an opinion on the Nikon HG 8*32 and 10*32 they weigh 715g which is about 25ozs. They're cheaper than the Leica's

[Leif]

pduxon: Check out the BVD web site. The reviews there are accurate and well written. The Nikon 8x32 HG are noticeably brighter than the Leica 8x32 BN but are otherwise comparable if a bit heavier and maybe a tad less depth of field. I see more chromatic aberration than I would like through either glass. This is a feature of most roof prism bins and (according to someone who has sources at Zeiss) most of it originates in the prisms.

[mak]

Leif.
I am sure that someone at Zeiss knows about the new mid price binoculars, especially 8x30, 10x30 which are waterproof, nitrogen filled etc. Close focus on the 8x30 is 3m (this range of binoculars are manufactured to standard specifications, and start from £350.
High eyepoint eyepieces, so are suitable for spectacle wearers.
Product should be available in November, they were first shown at the BBWF.

[scampo]

My son, Nick, has the Alpin 10x40s and I have Swarovski 8.5's. He swears by his and he had the chance of a more expensive pair but will not change. Why? They are extraordinarily light, very bright, quite a wide field and amazingly sharp.

The close focus is only rarely a problem with a moth or such like - never a bird. Nick reckons the close-focus is better than spec at about 10-12 feet, whereas the Swaros do go down very close indeed at perhaps six feet, but apparently your own eyes can affect this close focusing distance.

The Alpins are a marvellous glass and would never disappoint.

I like my Swarovski's better - but there you are - personal preference. The Swaros are also water tight - but the Alpins have never yet misted over. The Alpins are also about one-thrid the price of the Swaros. A bargain.