Paultricounty
Well-known member
Lol, should’ve photo shopped a pair of binoculars in my hands.
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Advice on Habicht please. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Rg548
- Start date
iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
Can you elaborate on which binos you've tried? My implicit assumption is that "aperture always wins" but that doesn't seem to be the case here (?). It seems the 42mm porro habicht can outperform 50mm roof prisms? Very curious to hear more about this from people who have tried.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
It probably would be easier to list the binoculars I don’t own or have not tried 😉. To answer your question about aperture, then the answer would be yes and no. It’s not just about aperture all the time. We have to compare equal quality optics to start with, you have to consider light transmission and where on the curve the peak is , the prism type and the type of coatings being used. A good example are two top alpha binoculars, the the Zeiss FL 8x42 and the Nikon EDG 8x42 , the Zeiss is clearly brighter than the Nikon, maybe not so much on a sunny bright day , but when the clouds roll in or late afternoon early evening, the Zeiss excel. The Zeiss do use AK prisms , but another example is the Vortex UHD 8x42 and are just as bright as the FL or extremely close. And of course one of the most important things that has to be considered with all of the above , is exit pupil size. A 25 year old might find an 8 x 56 brighter than a 7 x 42, but somebody 65 years old may not see any difference.
Edit: The Vortex UHD use AK prisms.
Paul
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Paultricounty
Well-known member
Iseegeorgesstar, where in NY?
There are three things to consider when choosing the brightest binocular for yourself. Exit Pupil, size of your dilated pupils and transmission. If you are over 60 years old, chances are your pupils are only dilating to about 6 mm, so the brightest binocular for you would be one with a 6 mm EP and the highest transmission you can find. The Habicht 7x42 has probably the highest transmission of any binocular at about 95 % and a 6 mm EP, so if you are over 60 it is probably going to be the brightest you will find in low light and in daylight because transmission matters more in daylight than low light.
It is because that beam of light coming out of the Habicht is like a brighter flashlight compared to a less powerful flashlight and even though your eyes may be only able to take a 4 mm EP in the daytime that EP is more intense or brighter. If you are younger and your eyes are dilating to 7 mm, a bigger aperture binocular like an 8x56 or 7x50 that has a 7 mm EP will probably be brighter if it has reasonably high transmission in low light but not in daylight.
The Habicht will still be brighter in daylight because even if you are young your eyes won't fully dilate to 7 mm in the daytime and the higher transmission of the Habicht will make them brighter. So to summarize if you are over 60 a high transmission binocular like the Habicht 7x42 will be brighter in low light and daylight but if you are younger say less than 60 an 8x56 or 7x50 will be brighter in low light but still probably not as bright as the higher transmission Habicht in daylight. If you want a bright binocular, a Habicht 7x42 is pretty hard to beat all around because of its super high transmission. It will be brighter in low light and daylight than most 8x50 binoculars because the small EP advantage of the 8x50 will not overcome the super high transmission of the Habicht.
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iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
NYC. I tend to do most of my day viewing off my balcony onto the skyline/buildings in the distance. Or go to a nearby soccer field for nighttime viewing, which I prefer, but it's usually too late for me. Every once in a while I will take some glass to the local pier. Oddly enough, I almost never take anything to Central Park as I prefer not carry anything -- though I've recently started experimenting with pocket binoculars.
Low light bins for me would be for astronomy use something like the 12x or 15x meoptas are on my wishlist. However, as stated, I have the 10x40 Habicht on the way so I'm very much excited to try my first porro.
iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
I see what you're saying. So if exit pupil is equal than the difference in objective size would amount to difference in resolution that can be discerned?
Paultricounty
Well-known member
I don’t take anything into Central Park either, unless it’s concealed and can go boom if needed.
You’ll like the 10x Habicht’s, real nice glass. I’m on the island if you ever want to check out some of the binos being discussed here, we could meet up at one of the local (safe) preserves on Long Island. Of course your close to just about any binoculars you’d ever want to try on 9th ave at B&H photo video.
Good luck with the Swaros 🙏🏼
Paul
iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
Thank you for the support and invitation. I recently actually went to BH store for the first time to return a spotting scope. That place is huge! And it was filled with lots of people (probably tourists) which I found interesting. Unfortunately they dont have the meoptas on display they do have the canon IS binos which are on my bino bucket list to try. I have a feeling I'm going to love the habicht as well -- thanks. I didn't know they were renowned for their brightness and simply got them because I started my bino journey a few years ago and it's been all roof bins and they always feel flat to me. Like I'm looking at the reflection off a mirror in way; and, I always read about how "stereoscopic" and "3d" some porros are so I ponied up the cash to finally give myself the experience/opportunity to try them out.
I bloody well would
All you really have to know is if you are over 60 years old the Habicht 7x42 will probably be the brightest binocular you can buy in daylight and low light, but if you are under 60 years old an 8x56 or 7x50 will be brighter than the Habicht 7x42 in low light but not in daylight. So if you want the brightest binocular you can buy in daylight and low light, get the Habicht 7x42.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
You could always buy the Meopta , B& H has a very good no questions asked return policy. If you don’t like them shipped them back or drop them off. But I’m sure you will like them. I got my eye on the 8 x 32 myself. For Canon IS the 10x42L is the class leader in IS binoculars. I ve tried them all , currently have the 10x42 & the 10x32. The 42 is a brick and the 50:is a cinder block. The little 32 is a very good birding bino.
The flatness depends on what roofs you , what magnification and if they have field flatteners. Try a 7x42 UVHD and I’ll bet you won’t say that, the 8’s are good for that as well.
Paul
iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
Hello,
I received my 10x40 ga w habicht today. They're simply beautiful and the world is finally in "3d" or at least normal looking and not flat mirror reflection looking. I think porros are what I've been missing all along.
These binos are incredibly small. I thought they'd be twice as large to be honest. I can one hand hold them without a problem. And the view is so clear and simple (in a good way) and present looking. Very nice!
I just wanted to say @OP I totally recommend you get them! The fov doesn't feel clipped. And these feel/are small enough that getting them steady at 10x doesn't feel like that much of a problem.
The only drawback I can note and I need to explore this more, is that I would say I have small hands, so with these being very wide (porro) binoculars I find it difficult to turn/reach the focuser wheel with the same hand I'm holding the bino. (One-handed.) Also the focuser wheel is incredibly stiff. It feels like I'm trying to turn the tread-belt of a tanks "wheels". (Lol). But I don't mind. ER (13mm?) doesn't feel problematic but I'm used to using 6mm ER orthos eyepieces.
I look forward to doing comparisons in low light with these with my tract optics 10x42 as I've always found the latter impressive in the small-detail contrast they provide. And I can report back on the brightness, if desired.
Edit: Forgot to mention I don't think these come with objective covers -- why no beautiful rubber green objectives covers to match the aesthetic? Why swaro why. (Probably factory costs would be my guess.)
I received my 10x40 ga w habicht today. They're simply beautiful and the world is finally in "3d" or at least normal looking and not flat mirror reflection looking. I think porros are what I've been missing all along.
These binos are incredibly small. I thought they'd be twice as large to be honest. I can one hand hold them without a problem. And the view is so clear and simple (in a good way) and present looking. Very nice!
I just wanted to say @OP I totally recommend you get them! The fov doesn't feel clipped. And these feel/are small enough that getting them steady at 10x doesn't feel like that much of a problem.
The only drawback I can note and I need to explore this more, is that I would say I have small hands, so with these being very wide (porro) binoculars I find it difficult to turn/reach the focuser wheel with the same hand I'm holding the bino. (One-handed.) Also the focuser wheel is incredibly stiff. It feels like I'm trying to turn the tread-belt of a tanks "wheels". (Lol). But I don't mind. ER (13mm?) doesn't feel problematic but I'm used to using 6mm ER orthos eyepieces.
I look forward to doing comparisons in low light with these with my tract optics 10x42 as I've always found the latter impressive in the small-detail contrast they provide. And I can report back on the brightness, if desired.
Edit: Forgot to mention I don't think these come with objective covers -- why no beautiful rubber green objectives covers to match the aesthetic? Why swaro why. (Probably factory costs would be my guess.)
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iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
Yes, my bino collection really needs a nice small focus and wide fov bino to the collection. I was eyeying the e2's but they're not close focus so it might have to be the meopta's after all. Unfortunately my fun-expenditures budget doesn't seem to agree at the moment.
IS binos are a whole different beast to get into. I had always planned to get the famous canon 10x42 IS bino as my first but I might try the sig sauer hdx ones instead. Besides the 30mm versions, apparently the new hdx aren't available for at least another 1-2 months. Though I do have some concern/question about their exit pupil behavior/brightness capacity at night.
They have the 12x42 and 10x30 Sig Sauer Zulu 6 HDX here for a pretty low price and I think they can get the other ones in a few days. Ask them for a lower price.
John A Roberts
Well-known member
Hi iseegeorgesstar (post #53),
In regard to objective covers for the 10x40W RA, If you contact SONA (Swarovski Optik North America) they may be able to provide a set.
See posts #43, 44 and 47 in: Habicht 10x40 WGA Objective Covers
There's also discussion about the focuser.
John
In regard to objective covers for the 10x40W RA, If you contact SONA (Swarovski Optik North America) they may be able to provide a set.
See posts #43, 44 and 47 in: Habicht 10x40 WGA Objective Covers
There's also discussion about the focuser.
John
iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
Ahh. I was going by the date that's on the product page at optics planet. As the sig website doesn't seem to provide one. I was eyeing the new 16x hdx.
Thank you so much for this information. A ray of light shines through the cover of clouds! I will definitely look into this.
Also post 42 in that link mentions something I forgot to mention, that the eyeguard covers only fit if the binos are in retracted position. It's not the end of the world but would be nice to keep them constantly covered.. I'm definitely the overprotective type when it comes to my gear and treat it like a newborn baby.
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I am also very interested! How will the Habicht 10x40 perform in dimlight and will it be better than say a nice 10x42 or 8x42.
Another question for me is: the black one or the green rubbered one... The beauty or the workhorse... If the eyecups of the black one are comfortable enough I would take that one. Otherwise the GA version would be a better fit, although I much prefer the looks of the black beauty.
Another question for me is: the black one or the green rubbered one... The beauty or the workhorse... If the eyecups of the black one are comfortable enough I would take that one. Otherwise the GA version would be a better fit, although I much prefer the looks of the black beauty.
When you say better, do you mean seeing detail or brighter in dim light? The Habicht 10x40 will be brighter, and you will see more detail in dim light than almost any 10x42 binocular because of its high transmission. An 8x42 is another story because it has a bigger 5 mm EP than a 10x40. Almost any 8x42 will be brighter in dim light than the Habicht 10x40 because of the bigger EP, but because the Habicht 10x40 has a higher magnification its Twilight Factor is higher, so you will see more detail in dim light than the 8x42, but it won't be as bright.
Without a doubt, the eye cups on the green Habicht are more comfortable because they are bigger, and they fit your eye sockets better. You can get the bigger green eye cups from Swarovski and screw them on the black version, but it looks kind of goofy. That being said, I am like you and I like the looks of the black version, and it is lighter and less expensive than the green one. You can get by with the eye cups on the black version even though they are smaller, you just might have to use the Mosfet technique to avoid black-outs because they tend to sink into your eye sockets further. I always bought the black version for those reasons.
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