• 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.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by fazalmajid

  1. fazalmajid

    Leica eye candy....

    And you wasted the rest of your money, per W.C. Fields.
  2. fazalmajid

    Japanese High grade Binoculars

    You're missing Kowa.
  3. fazalmajid

    Fast and lightweight tripod + head for ATC

    Ballheads are not ideal for a scope. You want a head that allows motion but when you let go the scope stays where its pointed at. I use a gimbal (ProMediaGear Katana Jr) on a Gitz GT90TT Traveler Titanium leg set with my Meopta Meostar S2+ 82 HD, but for a compact setup like the ATC I'd look at...
  4. fazalmajid

    See how we go with these.....

    The HT use Abbe-Koenig prisms that are longer and more glass-heavy than the more common Schmidt-Pechan, which shifts the balance somewhat. These were Zeiss' top of the line, albeit for a fairly short period of time between the Victory FL and the Victory SF, so it seems like you got a great deal...
  5. fazalmajid

    New APC 50 Stabilised

    I got to try the TSX at last year's Birdfair. Optically much better than my Kite APC 16x42, but the weight is simply too much. The new Kites at least have ED glass, which should mean better optical quality (CA is very noticeable on the KIte 16x42 APC compared to the Sig-Sauer Zulu6 HDX 20x42...
  6. fazalmajid

    Having 2 pairs of binoculars. Which would you choose?

    The Uppendahl prism originals you posted photos of earlier in the thread? Yes, definitely collectible. I wonder if you could 3D-print replacement eyecups in TPU or silicone. I wear glasses and can't stand fold-up eyecups compared to the modern style used in the Retrovids.
  7. fazalmajid

    Having 2 pairs of binoculars. Which would you choose?

    The Retrovids look even nicer, though. I have the 10x40, but was bitten by the 4 meter minimum focus distance.
  8. fazalmajid

    Having 2 pairs of binoculars. Which would you choose?

    Because while it’s optically outclassed, the Leica wrapped in leather is just a joy to hold and use.
  9. fazalmajid

    Having 2 pairs of binoculars. Which would you choose?

    Swarovski NL Pure 8x42 Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 Sig-Sauer Zulu6 HDX 20x42 (stabilized) Zeiss Victory HT 10x54 for astronomy Leica Ultravid HD 8x42 in leather I have all of these already except for the HT 10x54 (I have a Leica Ultravid 10x50 instead). On second though, just make it the Nikon WX...
  10. fazalmajid

    Baby S

    I gave my keen birdwatcher nephew my EL SV 8.5x42 when I upgraded to the NL Pure and despite his young age (11) he was very appreciative. Seems like a better value proposition but I have to admit these baby Swaros look mighty cute, and that argument often wins the day.
  11. fazalmajid

    Which monocular as a substitute for binoculars...?

    10x monoculars are very rare because monoculars are harder to hold steady than binoculars. That's also why monoculars are available in powers like 5x or 6x that are not common in binoculars. Those Opticron Imagic are made by Kamakura Koki, they are available from other brands like Bresser and...
  12. fazalmajid

    Seeking advice on tripod for Kowa TSN99-A

    There are occasionally sales on Gitzos, I recently saw the 3542LS for -30% at B&H IIRC.
  13. fazalmajid

    Seeking advice on tripod for Kowa TSN99-A

    I found my Gitzo Series 2 Mountaineer was not good enough for my Meopta Meostar S2 82 HD, I ended up getting a Gitzo Systematic GT3542LS. Presumably a 99mm scope would be more demanding yet. The original Gitzo "Systematic Traveler" GT4553S was a unique model that tried to combine the stability...
  14. fazalmajid

    Chromatic Aberration, CA, what, why, how?

    And atmospheric conditions. e.g. heat haze, although the latter seems unlikely to be a major concern in the environments Thrupenney Bit has mentioned he is going to use his scope in.
  15. fazalmajid

    Chromatic Aberration, CA, what, why, how?

    Also have a look at point light sources in the periphery. There are other types of image-degrading aberrations like coma, where points grow "hair" (coma means hair in Greek), astigmatism, spherical aberration and so on.
See more
Back
Top