black crow
Well-known member
I'll sell you some bins I've got way too many.
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Sightron "Blue Sky" II 8x32 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter FrankD
- Start date
black crow
Well-known member
you'll like the sightrons well enough most likely. I've become a Zen Ray man myself and want to use no others really. I keep others as spares but am really not using anything else now. I have about 13 pair and eventually they will mostly be sold off or given as gifts. They are cluttering up my house.
eitanaltman
Well-known member
so I joined the club -- found a pair of SIIBL 8x32 on Amazon Warehouse for a great price and decided to jump.
they showed up today.... have barely had time to use them and compare to the Fury 6.5x32 already sitting in my car, but there's a lot to like. I LOVE the ergonomics of the light compact, open bridge design. Really fits my hand well and feels significantly less bulky than the Fury, and of course the are also several ounces lighter as well.
the eyecups on the Fury though are WAY better, but the Fury eyecups are among the most comfortable I've ever used. The Sightron's little, hard flat edged eyecups aren't my favorite, but livable. As others have noted the objective covers are fairly flimsy (probably best used only for storage, I would never trust them actually wearing the bins) and the rainguard is a freaking joke. If you could take the Sightron but use the Fury eyecups and add a better rainguard, the ergonomics would be near ideal.
My focus knob is buttery smooth -- a little heavier on the tension than the Fury's wonderfully smooth knob, but I sense not a lick of stiffness or play. Of course it's 70 degrees in San Diego today
but the focus knob is lovely to me.
Optically haven't had much time to look critically, but the optics are clear and bright with obviously better contrast than the Fury. Narrower FOV of course, but very nice, sharp and contrasty. Me likey. Considering they are more compact and significantly lighter they could definitely become my main on-the-go bin, I'm getting a little more attached to compact formats for general use. My ZR ED3 8x43 are in for service right now but I am seriously considering selling them, as for a combined total of well under $300 the Fury and Sightron could cover everything I need and are much more compact to boot.
they showed up today.... have barely had time to use them and compare to the Fury 6.5x32 already sitting in my car, but there's a lot to like. I LOVE the ergonomics of the light compact, open bridge design. Really fits my hand well and feels significantly less bulky than the Fury, and of course the are also several ounces lighter as well.
the eyecups on the Fury though are WAY better, but the Fury eyecups are among the most comfortable I've ever used. The Sightron's little, hard flat edged eyecups aren't my favorite, but livable. As others have noted the objective covers are fairly flimsy (probably best used only for storage, I would never trust them actually wearing the bins) and the rainguard is a freaking joke. If you could take the Sightron but use the Fury eyecups and add a better rainguard, the ergonomics would be near ideal.
My focus knob is buttery smooth -- a little heavier on the tension than the Fury's wonderfully smooth knob, but I sense not a lick of stiffness or play. Of course it's 70 degrees in San Diego today
but the focus knob is lovely to me.Optically haven't had much time to look critically, but the optics are clear and bright with obviously better contrast than the Fury. Narrower FOV of course, but very nice, sharp and contrasty. Me likey. Considering they are more compact and significantly lighter they could definitely become my main on-the-go bin, I'm getting a little more attached to compact formats for general use. My ZR ED3 8x43 are in for service right now but I am seriously considering selling them, as for a combined total of well under $300 the Fury and Sightron could cover everything I need and are much more compact to boot.
Steve C
Well-known member
Well just to stir the pot a little...that describes the Theron Wapiti LT 8x32, right down to the smooth focus too.
That's mostly why I like the ergonomics of the Theron better.BrightIdea
Well-known member
It really is remarkable that one can buy TWO binos, a 6.5x32 and an 8 or 10x32, cover about all you'd need to, and get away fro UNDER 300 new.
eitanaltman
Well-known member
after giving them some more use I continue to be impressed with the optics of the Sightron. The view is very similar to that of the Fury but the Sightrons are a wee bit brighter and there is that "something" about them that Frank likes to talk about, contrast or sharpness or whatever. The view just seems exceptionally clear, neutral, and vivid. They don't have the dazzling brightness of the ZR ED3 but (from memory since the ED3 aren't here now) they are pretty close.
the Fury's have an "easier" view with the lower mag and big exit pupils, and build quality seems to be superior. They feel more rugged and robust (although I'm not a fan of the diopter adjustment) with softer armor, that silky focus knob, and of course the eyecups are a million times better. But the Sightron build is definitely fine for the money.
That said, the weight/bulk difference is significant, the Sightrons feel MUCH lighter and when wearing them with my padded neoprene strap they practically feel weightless. They are basically the perfect hiking bins, ultra light with wonderful optics and none of the compromises of the super compact (sub 30mm objective) models. With a harness or a bandolier-style neoprene strap I feel like I could carry them all day without noticing the weight. Although I will say that the are SO light that it makes it a bit harder to hold steady than a heavier bin.
Optically again (other than the advance in contrast/pop) they are very, very similar. I think Frank said once about the Sightrons that they aren't superlative in any specific area but they just do so many things very well. Very nice sweet spot (60-70%) for the money, decent enough edge performance, not a ton of pincushion (less than the Fury and definitely less than the ED3 which has too much IMO), not the brightest or sharpest but plenty of each, not the widest FOV in an 8x but again it's plenty sufficient.
I did some test today on a white sign with black lettering, and the Sightron has slightly better CA handling than the Fury; both show moderate color fringing outside of the center but it's minimal, and the extent of the fringe is a bit thinner on the Sightron. I also noticed that the Fury renders the white sign a little "dingier" than it looks naked eye (perhaps a bit of warm/yellow bias?), whereas with the Sightron the sign renders a little brighter and whiter. Again, neither equal the superb brightness + whiteness of the Zen ED3 but the Sightron appears to be pretty darn close.
One point that I don't think has been made is that these may be the perfect budget-bins for WOMEN. With the ultra light weight, and compact, thin-barreled open bridge design they are great for small hands. My wife is very petite, she has small hands and most bins don't have sufficient minimum IPD for her. Even the Fury's with their huge oculars (much larger eyepiece than the Sightron) and extra 5-6oz are too bulky for her, but she tried the Sightrons and really loved them. You get close-to-alpha optics with a thin barreled open-bridge body style that is very easy to use for someone with a small face and small, delicate hands.
the Fury's have an "easier" view with the lower mag and big exit pupils, and build quality seems to be superior. They feel more rugged and robust (although I'm not a fan of the diopter adjustment) with softer armor, that silky focus knob, and of course the eyecups are a million times better. But the Sightron build is definitely fine for the money.
That said, the weight/bulk difference is significant, the Sightrons feel MUCH lighter and when wearing them with my padded neoprene strap they practically feel weightless. They are basically the perfect hiking bins, ultra light with wonderful optics and none of the compromises of the super compact (sub 30mm objective) models. With a harness or a bandolier-style neoprene strap I feel like I could carry them all day without noticing the weight. Although I will say that the are SO light that it makes it a bit harder to hold steady than a heavier bin.
Optically again (other than the advance in contrast/pop) they are very, very similar. I think Frank said once about the Sightrons that they aren't superlative in any specific area but they just do so many things very well. Very nice sweet spot (60-70%) for the money, decent enough edge performance, not a ton of pincushion (less than the Fury and definitely less than the ED3 which has too much IMO), not the brightest or sharpest but plenty of each, not the widest FOV in an 8x but again it's plenty sufficient.
I did some test today on a white sign with black lettering, and the Sightron has slightly better CA handling than the Fury; both show moderate color fringing outside of the center but it's minimal, and the extent of the fringe is a bit thinner on the Sightron. I also noticed that the Fury renders the white sign a little "dingier" than it looks naked eye (perhaps a bit of warm/yellow bias?), whereas with the Sightron the sign renders a little brighter and whiter. Again, neither equal the superb brightness + whiteness of the Zen ED3 but the Sightron appears to be pretty darn close.
One point that I don't think has been made is that these may be the perfect budget-bins for WOMEN. With the ultra light weight, and compact, thin-barreled open bridge design they are great for small hands. My wife is very petite, she has small hands and most bins don't have sufficient minimum IPD for her. Even the Fury's with their huge oculars (much larger eyepiece than the Sightron) and extra 5-6oz are too bulky for her, but she tried the Sightrons and really loved them. You get close-to-alpha optics with a thin barreled open-bridge body style that is very easy to use for someone with a small face and small, delicate hands.
eitanaltman
Well-known member
Well just to stir the pot a little...that describes the Theron Wapiti LT 8x32, right down to the smooth focus too.
I'm tempted but I was a bit turned off by my experience with the 8x42 model, as I've wrote before. Although it's been reported here that the 8x32 is superior to the 8x42. And I did really love the ergonomics of the Theron (although the Fury eyecups are still better).
Basically, give the Sightron better eyecups, rainguard, and a wider FOV and it would be near perfect for me. That seems pretty close to the Theron 8x32 eh? But I'm concerned about the sharpness, the 8x42 Theron didn't impress me in this regard whereas the Sightron appears super sharp and contrasty.
squidge
Wha Whassssat
Had a look through the sightrons yesterday and I was really impressed. For a sub 200 binocular they have excellent optics. For some reason the view reminded me of the nikon monarchs I used to own.
It was a dull day but they still showed a bright image with no ca, however when they were compared to more expensive glass their limitations came through. They had a narrower fov and were a lot duller than the other bins.
The focussing was very smooth with no hint of stiffness. I liked the double hinge barrel shape as they fit my hands perfectly. I would have preferred a more smooth rubbery build but then I had to keep reminding myself how much they cost.
Overall verdict, Comparing them to Minox hg's, Zeiss fl's and swarovisions is not really fair on the sightrons. But to actually hold their own when doing so is a real compliment to the optics of the sightrons. If I were in the market for a pair of back up bins then these would be on the top of my list. I would like to compare them to the theron wapiti 8x32 though.
Cheers,
Ger.
It was a dull day but they still showed a bright image with no ca, however when they were compared to more expensive glass their limitations came through. They had a narrower fov and were a lot duller than the other bins.
The focussing was very smooth with no hint of stiffness. I liked the double hinge barrel shape as they fit my hands perfectly. I would have preferred a more smooth rubbery build but then I had to keep reminding myself how much they cost.
Overall verdict, Comparing them to Minox hg's, Zeiss fl's and swarovisions is not really fair on the sightrons. But to actually hold their own when doing so is a real compliment to the optics of the sightrons. If I were in the market for a pair of back up bins then these would be on the top of my list. I would like to compare them to the theron wapiti 8x32 though.
Cheers,
Ger.
FrankD
Well-known member
I think Eitan brought up an excellent point and one that was referenced in a secondary manner. In one of my posts I mentioned that my fiancee used the Sightrons while I used the ED3s while out in Ohio for that birding symposium back in September. She loved them and didn't forget them the next time that we went out and were using binoculars. She was satisfied using the Excursion 8x28s at the time but she enjoys using the Sightron more.
Also, in one of the first few pages of this thread there was a gentleman who bought the Sightron for his wife/girlfriend while he used his SE 8x32. She seemed happy with them as well.
Good point to bring up Eitan. I hope it doesn't lower the machismo interest though.
Squidge,
I think you summed up the comparison very well. When I compared my pair with the Nikon LXs, Meopta Meostar and Nikon SE (all in 8x32) I thought the Sightrons held their own quite well. All of the others had better edge performance/larger sweet spot but other than that one issue I would be hard pressed to say that any of the others stood head and shoulders above the Sightron....at least for the characteristics that I remember comparing them.
Also, in one of the first few pages of this thread there was a gentleman who bought the Sightron for his wife/girlfriend while he used his SE 8x32. She seemed happy with them as well.
Good point to bring up Eitan. I hope it doesn't lower the machismo interest though.
Squidge,
I think you summed up the comparison very well. When I compared my pair with the Nikon LXs, Meopta Meostar and Nikon SE (all in 8x32) I thought the Sightrons held their own quite well. All of the others had better edge performance/larger sweet spot but other than that one issue I would be hard pressed to say that any of the others stood head and shoulders above the Sightron....at least for the characteristics that I remember comparing them.
Last edited:
Paloma_Negra
Active member
I joined to give a HUGE thank you to Frank and all the members here that help give advice on this confusing world of binoculars.
Background:
I've been lurking for a short while because I needed a "good" pair of binoculars and Google led me to many posts here, there and everywhere! ..one link led to another, often with conflicting information OR something else to consider that I never thought of or knew nothing about. Oy vey! Never in my life have I seen, read and pondered so many choices for something that seemed so simple. What power? What size objective lens? Weight? Roof or Porro prism? Coatings? Phases? Ergonomics? COST?!? ...ETC!!!
Now, this was not my first pair of binoculars. I've owned several pairs through the years but was never really happy nor satisfied with any of them. I always chalked this up to cheaping out and/or hasty decisions when I purchased them. I blamed myself, so to speak. Not this time! No sir, I was going to do a little due diligence! Of course, I had NO IDEA how complex and convoluted this path would be. The biggest problem was budget. Like most consumer purchases, if you're wealthy, you can mostly avoid the pain I've been through by dropping a boat load of cash on the counter and getting something top of the line. I think you guys call that "Alpha" glass. My dear mother always said I had Champagne tastes on a Budweiser budget. True that, still today.
Cutting to the chase...
I purchased these Sightron 8x32's.
Wow are these some terrific binoculars!
They simply blow away everything I've compared them to between me and my friends/family.
My biggest worry came down to the focusing stiffness.
Immediately, upon unboxing them, I gave 'em a twirl and was SHOCKED at how light/easy the effort was!
I even put them in the fridge overnight and they were fine. NO problem whatsoever and easily the lightest focusing effort of ANY binocular I have ever tried. Was it a fluke or did Sightron make a change? I have no idea but it is a total non-issue on my particular pair.
I can't really add anything technical to all of the superlatives that have been mentioned but to simply agree with them. I'm very happy with my purchase. The image quality, ergonomics and size/weight are simply superb.
Background:
I've been lurking for a short while because I needed a "good" pair of binoculars and Google led me to many posts here, there and everywhere! ..one link led to another, often with conflicting information OR something else to consider that I never thought of or knew nothing about. Oy vey! Never in my life have I seen, read and pondered so many choices for something that seemed so simple. What power? What size objective lens? Weight? Roof or Porro prism? Coatings? Phases? Ergonomics? COST?!? ...ETC!!!
Now, this was not my first pair of binoculars. I've owned several pairs through the years but was never really happy nor satisfied with any of them. I always chalked this up to cheaping out and/or hasty decisions when I purchased them. I blamed myself, so to speak. Not this time! No sir, I was going to do a little due diligence! Of course, I had NO IDEA how complex and convoluted this path would be. The biggest problem was budget. Like most consumer purchases, if you're wealthy, you can mostly avoid the pain I've been through by dropping a boat load of cash on the counter and getting something top of the line. I think you guys call that "Alpha" glass. My dear mother always said I had Champagne tastes on a Budweiser budget. True that, still today.
Cutting to the chase...
I purchased these Sightron 8x32's.
Wow are these some terrific binoculars!
They simply blow away everything I've compared them to between me and my friends/family.
My biggest worry came down to the focusing stiffness.
Immediately, upon unboxing them, I gave 'em a twirl and was SHOCKED at how light/easy the effort was!
I even put them in the fridge overnight and they were fine. NO problem whatsoever and easily the lightest focusing effort of ANY binocular I have ever tried. Was it a fluke or did Sightron make a change? I have no idea but it is a total non-issue on my particular pair.
I can't really add anything technical to all of the superlatives that have been mentioned but to simply agree with them. I'm very happy with my purchase. The image quality, ergonomics and size/weight are simply superb.
stereotruckdriver
Well-known member
PN, welcome and thanks for posting! I only wish i had the wealth of information that is available to consumers today in regards to sport optics. But then again we didn't have the choices there are today! Enjoy what you have and try not to nit pick at the little things! : ) If you do? Beware, it's a never ending journey but, i' m sure others will gladly lead you into the dark-side!!!
FrankD
Well-known member
PN,
Glad to see that you are happy with the Sightrons. I think they are most likely all the bin that anyone would every need. Sure, there is always room for improvement but for the price they sell for it is difficult to ignore their value.
Hope you continue to enjoy them for years to come.
Glad to see that you are happy with the Sightrons. I think they are most likely all the bin that anyone would every need. Sure, there is always room for improvement but for the price they sell for it is difficult to ignore their value.
Hope you continue to enjoy them for years to come.
Paloma_Negra
Active member
Thank you Bryce and Frank for your contributions!
..the downside to seeing such magnificent images is the need for upgrading everything in my collection! It now all looks like/IS crap. AND.. you can never go back to lesser optics. Looking at/through anything inferior is almost painful. I will have to tread lightly on this slippery new slope, alas the darkside might get me! :king:
..NEXT UP: A "good" spotting scope. ..oh my aching wallet!!
..the downside to seeing such magnificent images is the need for upgrading everything in my collection! It now all looks like/IS crap. AND.. you can never go back to lesser optics. Looking at/through anything inferior is almost painful. I will have to tread lightly on this slippery new slope, alas the darkside might get me! :king:
..NEXT UP: A "good" spotting scope. ..oh my aching wallet!!
stereotruckdriver
Well-known member
Can't say i didn't warn you PN! : )Theron Optics Saker 60 mm. $250 US with ED glass.
Best bargain going right now for very good optical performance.
Paloma_Negra
Active member
I tried Google but got nowhere.
Searched this site, nothing productive.
..so, here's one for people "in the know".
These Sightron's have "Philippines" on 'em.
Made in the Philippines?!
That took me totally by surprise because I assumed, because of price, these would have surely been made in China. Now I haven't compared them to the top teir in bino world but the build quality is VERY high on mine. So that leaves me with this nagging question that I'm putting forth...
WHO is the maker of this particular binocular???
(SII Blue Sky 8x32)
AND, more importantly(!), do they offer/sell/manufacture any more models???
There can't be "that many" Filipino binocular factories?
I called up an ex-GF and she didn't have a clue.
(we're still friendly like that)
..she chastised me for thinking that just because she was born there she would know one blessed thing about binoculars. I got the distinct impression of an eye-roll on her end. LOL
Searched this site, nothing productive.
..so, here's one for people "in the know".
These Sightron's have "Philippines" on 'em.
Made in the Philippines?!
That took me totally by surprise because I assumed, because of price, these would have surely been made in China. Now I haven't compared them to the top teir in bino world but the build quality is VERY high on mine. So that leaves me with this nagging question that I'm putting forth...
WHO is the maker of this particular binocular???
(SII Blue Sky 8x32)
AND, more importantly(!), do they offer/sell/manufacture any more models???
There can't be "that many" Filipino binocular factories?
I called up an ex-GF and she didn't have a clue.
(we're still friendly like that)
..she chastised me for thinking that just because she was born there she would know one blessed thing about binoculars. I got the distinct impression of an eye-roll on her end. LOL
