Trilyte Compact - Any views?

[Perry Grin]

Hi,

Has anyone any experience with the Trilyte Compact (8x25) binoculars. I'm looking for a quality pair of compact bins at a reasonable price and these seem to fit the bill. I can't find anywhere local to try them though. Before I buy mail order I thought I'd canvas opinion from the forum.

Cheers

[ceasar]

Does Swift still make these?

Maybe Ed or Renze could address this?

Bob

[elkcub]

I don't see any compact at all listed in the 2006 Swift Sport Optics catalog. The European lineup may be different, though. Sorry to say, I don't have any experience with the older Trilyte 8x25.

Ed

[Perry Grin]

I don't see any compact at all listed in the 2006 Swift Sport Optics catalog. The European lineup may be different, though. Sorry to say, I don't have any experience with the older Trilyte 8x25.

Ed

Warehouseexpress currently have them on offer so they may be end of line stock. Follow this link (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/specials/binosP.html#binoculars) and then scroll down a bit to find them.

[richt]

Hi

The price is quite good for a phase coated roof in the uk
One thing i would be inclined to check is the field of view as often 10 x compacts have narrow fields
The Swift name is well respected so quality should be ok
I think Warehouse Express will accept returns so maybe the cost of postage is all that would be lost if they are not what you expect

Regards
RichT

[ceasar]

The Warehouse link says they are new from Swift. Single hinge and phase coated too. At the price shown, if I could find them here in the USA, I'd probably buy an 8 x 25. If they are any good, they would be a very handy, carry every where, binocular.
Bob

[ceasar]

While we are on this subject of small Swift binoculars here is another one to mull over. Tero might like it. www.swift-sportoptics.com/products/birding/742. A 9 x 27 single hinge, phase coated roof prism. Anybody know where you can get one?
Bob

[Surveyor]

While we are on this subject of small Swift binoculars here is another one to mull over. Tero might like it. www.swift-sportoptics.com/products/birding/742 (http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/products/birding/742). A 9 x 27 single hinge, phase coated roof prism. Anybody know where you can get one?
Bob

Bob; I think these are the ones you are referring to:

http://www.binoculars.com/binoculars/bird-watching-binoculars/reliantcompact9x27.cfm

[ceasar]

Thanks! It looks like they are not currently in stock. At the asking price one wonders how good they are.
Bob

[elkcub]

Hmmm, I guess they expanded the line in '07. I recently returned an economy 8x25 bin made in China that cost $129. Can't remember the brand, but it looked and handled much like a Nikon. Same idea, I wanted a small utility thing. Anyway, after an hour or so my headache was splitting. Yes, the dealer would replace them, and so would the manufacturer, but they would not spend the effort to collimate the ones I had. Too expensive a repair. The next ones I tried out of a fresh box had a bad eyecup. After that I just got a refund.

Personally, I think it's more cost effective to buy at a high enough price to warrant making such repairs. Below that level it's just bubble pack stuff, regardless of brand.

Ed

[Perry Grin]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. I'm still mulling it over, but if I go for them I'll let you know how I get on.

[Steve C]

Maybe you could find some Leupold Wind River Olympic 8x25. They look just like the Swift and the size and specs are the same. I guess it is possible they might be the same glass.

[Perry Grin]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. I'm still mulling it over, but if I go for them I'll let you know how I get on.

I'm a great advocate of try-before-you-buy and couldn't get my hands on a pair of these. Did get to try out a good selection though at an in-focus field event today ranging from zeiss at the top end and opticron at the other. In the end I went for the opticron taiga's - the cheapest of the ones I tried, but almost equal to all the others. They also felt much more comfortable in the hand and eye-relief was perfect for my eyes. They are not waterproof, but they'll go under my jacket if it rains while I run to find somewhere dry!

Worth a look if you are after some cheapish (£90) compacts.