Reviews by Leif

Hawke Frontier ED 8x 43 Review
The Hawke Frontier ED 8x43 binocular is a Chinese made instrument, boasting features seen in more expensive instruments, for a very modest price. On paper the Hawke is very impressive. It boasts a magnesium alloy frame, a wide field of view, ED glass in the objectives, roof prisms with phase correction coatings, fully multi-coated optics, waterproofing and it is nitrogen filled. It is hardly surprising they have generated a lot of discussion online.

The finish is very good, given the price, and on a par with other similarly priced instruments that I have tried. The metal components look well made, and well finished, with no roughness. The plastic components also look to be decent quality. Mine has a few small cosmetic marks, including a small scratch on one of the bridge hinges, and a mark on the armour, but nothing significant.

In the hand it feels very comfortable, and surprisingly light. The housing is covered in green plastic armour, with a pleasant tactile feel, and a distinct smell, which apparently disappears with age. The armour is somewhat functional, and lacks the luxury feel of armour on top range instruments.

The unit has a twin bridge design, and the hinges are neither too stiff nor too loose. The front hinge has a small cap that can be unscrewed to reveal a threaded hole for attaching a tripod adaptor.

The focus wheel is mounted close to the eyepieces. It is large, easily accessed, and ribbed ensuring a good grip. The one on my sample is a bit stiff, although it is said to loosen with use. It is perfectly usable, and very smooth, with no obvious backlash, although there is a slight squelching sound of grease on metal. The focus is fairly coarse i.e. a small rotation causes a large change in the focus, and for my tastes it is too coarse.

The image is bright, with good contrast, and saturated colours. Centre sharpness is excellent (comparable to my Nikon 8x32 SE), and chromatic aberration (colour fringing) is almost absent on axis, and slight but noticeable off axis. The field of view is 142m at 1000m, or about 8 degrees of arc, giving an apparent field of view of roughly 64 degrees of arc, which is a match for the best. There is a wide sweet spot, with edge softness appearing at roughly 70% from the centre and the image is very blurred at the field edges. Most of the softness at the field edges can be corrected using the focus wheel. Field curvature is significant away from the axis, and is perhaps the most obvious optical fault. Although depth of field is a function of magnification alone, in daylight anyway, I had the impression that the depth of field was less than expected. Careful testing against a Nikon 8x32 SE showed the two instruments to have the same depth of field. The illusion of reduced depth of field is without doubt due to field curvature, and/or the rather fast focus. There is obvious pincushion distortion, which is a characteristic rather than a fault.

I saw no flare or ghosting, except on one occasion when the sun was low on the horizon, and flare was obvious. I assume this was a reflection from the sides of the optical assemblies. Otherwise the coatings, baffles and blacking are doing a good job.

The image is fairly neutral, or slightly warm.

I used the binocular an hour or so after sunset, and the brightness was excellent. Viewing stars in the night sky, I was impressed with the quality of the view. The Seven Sisters was a very pleasant sight, with point like star images.

The diopter adjustment is a simple ring on the right hand eyepiece, and the user rotates it until the desired compensation is set. It is stiff, and easy to use.

The twist out eye cups have 3 positions i.e. fully extended, partially extended, and retracted. In use they stayed at the selected position. I found them very comfortable.

Eye relief is quoted as 18mm, and I found it to be adequate for use with eyeglasses, although it is worth noting that my eyeglasses have thin lenses, and I do not have deep eye sockets. The eye relief is probably measured from the rear lens element, rather than the edge of the eye cup. As the distance between the two is quite large, the effective eye relief is closer to 14mm, and some eyeglass wearers may have difficulty seeing the entire field of view.

The close focus is given as 2m, and my tests were consistent with that value.

The instrument comes with detachable objective covers (a nice feature), and the usual rain guard for the eyepieces. They are of decent quality. There is also a strap, and an attractive fake leather case, offering some protection from dirt, if not impact.

On my scales the binocular weighs 863g including the objective and eyepiece covers.

In use the only real criticism I have is the coarse focus. I found it hard to focus sufficiently accurately on a target, and as a result my eyes were forced to accommodate more than otherwise, and I found this tiring.

Overall the Hawke has many attractive features. It has a decent build, good mechanics, and surprisingly good image quality. For the price it is extremely good value.

David Versus Goliath
The question on the minds of many people is how the Hawke compares to more expensive instruments. After all, in paper it competes with top of the range instruments. So, I compared it to the Swarovski 8.5x42 Swarovision.

The finish of the Swarovski is far higher, with a luxury feel. It also has better mechanics. To be fair to the Hawke, its finish and mechanics are good, and probably more than good enough for most users, who do not clamber through rain forests or traverse deserts. As to how durable the Hawke is, only time will tell.

The Swarovski focus is much finer, and hence more precise, and I find this provides a much more relaxing experience with less eyestrain. For me the coarse focus is the only significant fault with the Hawke.

The Swarovski has superior optics. On axis sharpness is noticeably better, although it does have a slightly higher magnification so some increase in sharpness is to be expected. The image is sharp to the very edges of the field, with no field curvature, and excellent contrast. The image is slightly cool. Surprisingly the Swarovski has noticeably more off axis chromatic aberration than the Hawke. Both instruments provide images with well saturated colours. The Hawke image is surprisingly good, with a huge field of view, a reasonably wide sweet spot, and excellent contrast, but the strong field curvature, lower on-axis sharpness, field curvature and marked edge softness provide a less pleasing view. In the field I found the Hawke more tiring to use, putting more strain on my eyes. Overall the Swarovski image is simply more relaxing, more natural, and more pleasing.

I tested both instruments an hour after sunset, and at night. In these low light conditions the two instruments showed very similar image brightness with no obvious difference, which is a testament to the quality of the Hawke optics. Frankly I was surprised that the Swarovski did not beat the Hawke.

On my scales the Swarovski weighs 920g, compared to 863g for the Hawke. Both instruments were weighed with the objective and eyepiece covers in place. Oddly enough the Swarovski feels much heavier than the Hawke.

In conclusion, in terms of contrast, brightness and field of view the Hawke is on a par with the Swarovski, which is a remarkable result. Where it falls down is the strong field curvature, slightly lower on axis sharpness, and edge softness, and the coarse focus. The finish and build are inferior, but for the money, they are quite acceptable, and to be honest the metal components are well finished. The Swarovski is the better instrument, with the more pleasing and relaxing view, but the Hawke is an extremely good binocular, at a remarkable price, and would probably satisfy most casual birders, and many serious ones too. Whether the difference is enough to justify the price of the Swarovski is for you to decide.

Note: There are some more expensive binoculars from Hawke, which claim to have improved eyepieces and dielectric prism coatings. I have not tried these, and it is possible that they are even closer to the Swarovski.

Footnote
An informative review of the previous version of this binocular can be found here:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=124448

Many reviews of this product have appeared online, so I will try and make this review brief, and concentrate on the key issues. Quantities such as weight can be found on the manufacturers web site.

Not surprisingly the finish is high quality, as expected, and the build looks excellent, although it is impossible to know without taking it apart. That said, Swarovski have an excellent reputation, and a class leading warranty going by user reports.

The design is very similar to the previous version, with a slight change in the shape of the barrels. Otherwise it retains the twin bridge, with a combined focus wheel and diopter adjustment close to the eyepieces.

As others have noted, the focus wheel is stiffer in one direction than the other. It did not bother me. One feature that did annoy me is the strap lugs, which are placed inline with the focus wheel, and one of them interfered with my right hand making the grip slightly uncomfortable when not wearing gloves. It is not a serious fault, just a niggle.

From an optical standpoint the new binocular is a significant improvement on the previous version. The original EL had noticeable CA, both on axis, and off axis, which bothered me, although most people seemed not to notice it. It also had slightly reduced contrast in dull light, when compared to competing instruments. The view through the new model is excellent, with very impressive sharpness over the entire field. From a subjective viewpoint the image is sharp right to the edges, although critical testing shows a slight reduction in resolution at the edges, which in practice is irrelevant. The field is also flat i.e. when viewing a distant scene both the edges and the centre can be brought to a focus. The field of view is wide, 133m @ 1000m, giving an apparent field of view of almost 65 degrees.

A feature that has received considerable comment is the distortion. As is well known, all binoculars have image distortion. The designer can choose to minimise rectilinear distortion, or magnification distortion, but not both. Swarovski have chosen the former approach, such that horizontal and vertical lines appear straight. The cost is that the magnification varies across the field, an effect that is most noticeable at the field edges. It does look slightly strange to me, but I got used to it after I short time. However, online reports indicate that some people find it extremely annoying, especially when panning.

Chromatic aberration is something that troubles some people, including myself, and not others. Suffice to say that CA is low, but noticeable. On axis CA is almost if not completely absent. Off axis CA is present, and noticeable towards the edges of the field, from about 70-80% from the centre on a sunny day. It is minor, but does detract slightly from the otherwise superb edge sharpness. On a dull day, with snow on the ground, off axis CA was quite noticeable, and somewhat disconcerting to my eyes. It was seen as purple fringing away from the centre of the field. It did not interfere with identifying birds, but it did mar the subjective quality of the view. I should add that in these conditions most if not all binoculars will show off-axis CA, and many if not most will show more than the new EL. CA is present, but it is well controlled, and may well not be noticed by most users.

I tried the binoculars on the night sky, and I was impressed with the image quality, especially the edge sharpness, where stars appeared as points. The magnification distortion was less noticeable than during daytime.

Eye relief is very good, and more than enough for eyeglass wearers.

The binocular has a slight smell of rubber, but only when the nose is placed in close proximity to the rubber armour. This is perhaps not a complete surprise.

The binocular does feel fairly heavy, no doubt the objective covers, eyepiece cover, and strap do not help.

The binocular is supplied with a soft case, strap, and covers for the oculars and objectives. The case is in my view rather over-elaborate, and I prefer the simpler designs supplied by some other manufacturers.

In summary, the new EL has good design, excellent build, and improved optics, with remarkable edge sharpness, but unusual distortion, and controlled but noticeable CA. it is without doubt a high quality binocular, albeit at a high price.

I compared the binocular to my Nikon 8x32 SE, which some regard as one of the finest binoculars made. Note that mine was made over a decade ago, and hence it does not have the latest coatings, which may impact contrast. My subjective opinion is that the Swarovski provides an image with slightly higher contrast, but quite a bit more off axis CA. They both have similar edge sharpness. The Nikon image has slight pin cushion distortion which I prefer to the correction of rectilinear distortion chosen by Swarovski. In very low light, the Swarovski provides a noticeably brighter image, which is not surprising given the larger objectives. As far as ease of use is concerned, the Swarovski wins: I find the Nikon slightly cumbersome to hold, and the small focus wheel is rather stiff and awkward.

Incidentally, I recommend that you take my review as no more than an opinion, and that you test them for yourself, preferably alongside other binoculars of a similar quality. In practice the view through a binocular depends strongly on each persons personal psychology, and something that annoys me, such as chromatic aberration, may be missed by someone else, and conversely, something that does not bother me, such as edge distortion, may irritate them.

Introduction
------------
Like many others I rushed to place an order as soon as the D200 was announced. Several months later, and I became the lucky owner of a camera from the second batch to reach the UK. I paid 1200, a 100 reduction on the RRP of 1300. By all accounts Nikon have been unindated with orders, and at the time of writing (June) are still struggling to make enough to fill backorders.

The D200 is my second digital camera. A year earlier I bought a D70 and rapidly became a convert to digital. The D70 is a very good camera, but it does have some serious limitations, including a poor viewfinder and no mirror lock up. Hence my impatience for a more serious camera at a reasonable price.

The D200 is in all respects a better camera. It has a better more solid build, the controls are more accessible, the viewfinder is bright and clear, it has professional grade features such as mirror lock up, and of course the image quality is noticeably better.

In the remainder of this review I will highlight some of the features. A list of reviews can be found at www.NikonLinks.com.

Build
------
The camera is built round a magnesium frame, with rubber pads to aid grip and comfort. I heard someone say that it is built like a tank, and that is not far off the mark. Some parts such as the CF chamber door and the flash housing are plastic, and presumably are more vulnerable to damage than the metal body. The finish is superb as is so often the case for Japanese products. The camera is weather sealed, though not waterproof. If only the lenses were as well sealed.

Ergonomics
--------------
The ergonomics are excellent, with well placed controls, and large buttons. The layout follows the pattern established by earlier cameras such as the F80, the F100 and the D100. If like me you have small hands, then you might find the D200 on the large side. But when compared to professional bodies such as the F5, or the D2x, the D200 is compact, and light. For those who like manual shooting, the D200 is especially well designed.

Shooting Mode Dial
------------------------
The shooting mode dial, on the top left of the camera, allows selection of single frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, self timer and mirror lock up shooting modes. Unlike the D70, the self timer remains enabled until the selected mode is changed. I will come abck to mirror lock up a bit later.

LCD Monitor
----------------
The LCD screen is humungous, especially for anyone used to a D70. Yes, it really is big. It is also remarkably bright and clear. Images can be reviewed on the screen, and using the rocker control, information can be superimposed on the image, including exposure data, and a histogram, either composite, or three separate RGB graphs. The user can zoom in on part of an image, using the rear thumb wheel and rear command dial to select the degree of zoom, and the frame placement. I find the zoom surprisingly easy to use, much more so than the D70 version. Unfortunately the screen can be hard to view in bright sunshine. This seems to be a failing of all LCD screens.

Top LCD Screen
--------------------
On the top right of the camera is a huge LCD screen that displays current exposure settings, including exposure mode, image file size and type, white balance mode, aperture, shutter speed and the battery usage indicator. It is also used in combination with the thumbwheels when configuring the ISO, white balance mode, image size, shooting mode, exposure and flash compensation and exposure and flash bracketing. Phew. Although it sounds complicated, it isnt. In fact it is remarkably similar to manual cameras of old, and in my opinion that is a high complement.

Metering
-----------
The camera provides the usual suspects, namely M, A, S and P. There are no so-called idiot modes. Metering modes are spot, partial, matrix (with non D lenses) and 3D matrix (with D lenses). Matrix metering uses a 1005 pixel colour grid as per other top end Nikon cameras. The camera will matrix meter with AIS lenses that lack a CPU. My experience is that the metering is accurate but not perfect, and not infrequently I have to dial in exposure compensation.

Exposure Bracketing
-------------------------
Exposure may be bracketed, in one third or one half stop steps.

Flash
------
Unusually for a high end camera the body comes with a built-in flash. Not only can this provide flash, but it can be used to control one or more wireless flash units without the need for connecting wires. Although many people question the value of a small flash on such a high end camera, there is no doubt that it is useful for fill flash when you want to take some snapshots, and dont want to carry a bag full of kit.

The usual flash modes are supported, namely rear curtain sync, front curtain sync, red eye reduction etc.

Flash exposure compensation may be set in one third or one half stop increments, from +1 to 3 stops. In addition flash may be bracketed in one half or one third stop increments.

Self Timer
-------------
The self-timer is activated using the shooting mode dial on the top plate. The camera can be configured to trigger the mirror 0.4 seconds before the shutter is released, in order to avoid the vibrations from the mirror causing camera shake during the exposure.

Mirror Lock Up
-------------------
Mirror lock up is enabled using the shooting mode dial on the top plate. Once enabled, the first press of the shutter button raises the mirror, and the subsequent press of the shutter button triggers the exposure. In practice most people will use the MLU in combination with the remote control unit.

There is also a cleaning mode which locks up the mirror to give access to the sensor. This mode is accessed via the menus. It is quite distinct from the MLU shooting mode.

Viewfinder
-------------
The view finder shows 95% of the image at a magnification of 0.94 X. It is clear and bright, and considerably better than the rather pokey D70 viewfinder.

The diopter adjustment wheel is positioned next to the viewfinder. It is stiff and will not accidentally move once set. (A severe failing of the D70 was the tendency of the diopter setting to drift if like me you had to remove the eyepiece surround.)

Accessories such as the DR-3 right angle finder simply clip on to the view finder, although in the case of the DR-3 you will need to purchase a small plastic adaptor. I find it curious that weight for weight this small piece of plastic probably costs more than solid gold.

Viewfinder Information
----------------------------
Visible in the viewfinder are the focus sensors and, if the option is enabled, the on demand grid. Also present are the ISO, shutter speed, aperture etc.

Depth of Field Preview
----------------------------
Depth of field preview is activated by pressing a button at the side of the lens mount.

Image Files
--------------
Images can bes saved in basic, medium and fine sizes, and in JPG, RAW or JPG and RAW formats. In addition RAW files can be compressed, although the compression is not lossless and hence some image data will be lost.

Auto-focus
--------------
There are 11 auto focus sensors, spread over a fairly wide area, and they are user selectable using a thumbwheel on the back of the camera. I do not normally use auto-focus, preferring instead to focus manually, but I found the AF to be effective when tested in a room lit by a dim 60 watt bulb. With AFS lenses the autofocus is lightning fast.

Autowind
------------
In continuous mode the camera can shoot at a maximum frame rate of 5 frames per second, although the rate reduces considerably once the buffer is full. For maximum performance high speed compact flash cards should be used. For a detailed analysis see the review at www.dpreview.com.

ISO
----
The ISO can be set in one third stop increments from ISO 100 to 3200. For some reason Nikon refer to the top most three values 2,000, 2,500 and 3,200 as
H0.3, H0.7 and H1.0 respectively. Well, I suppose it keeps them happy.

Noise Reduction
--------------------
In camera noise reduction can be activated via the menu system. Above ISO 800, noise reduction is always applied, though by default only at the lowest level. Noise reduction works well, although there is some loss of image detail.

There is also a long exposure noise reduction mode, enabled via the menus, that takes a second exposure with the shutter closed, in order to subtract noise from hot pixels.

Sensor
--------
The sensor is APS-C sized, or DX in Nikon speak, and measures 24mm by 16mm. It has 10.2 million effective pixels. The actual number of pixels is slightly larger as the sensor is slightly over-sized. Though not directly visible in the image, the pixels at the edge of the sensor do play an important role as they are used by the processing algorithms when calculating values for pixels at the edge of the visible frame.

Image Quality
-----------------
The image quality is quite remarkable. At ISO 100 there is as expected no visible noise, and the resolution is outstanding. I compared shots taken with the D200 to some taken on Provia 100F, and the D200 image. The D200 image had slightly more detail and lacked the coarse grain that marred the film image when viewed at high magnifications. I have no doubt that the D200 image was a substantial improvement on the film one.

One point worth making is that the D200 images required careful processing to extract all of the detail.

As expected, D200 images were noticeably sharper than D70 images, with higher resolution and noticeably less artifacting due to the greater pixel density. On an A4 print the difference would be noticeable though not blatant, whereas on an A3 print it would be obvious.

At ISO 100 images are noise free. Noise was also low at ISO 200 and ISO 400.

At ISO 1600 noise was obvious, though not severe. Application of noise reduction in Nikon Capture produced an acceptable result although there was a noticeable loss of detail compared to the ISO 100 result. At ISO 1600 the noise is mainly luminance and has the appearance of film grain.

At ISO 3200 noise was obvious. Application of noise reduction in Nikon Capture produced a considerable improvement, but with a considerable loss of detail. ISO 3200 though useable is best avoided unless there is no choice.

But, and here is the catch, at ISO 3200 when I underexposed by one stop, the results were awful. Noise was very obvious, even after the application of noise reduction in Nikon Capture. At ISO 3200 accurate exposure is essential.

Dynamic range is excellent, and an improvement on the D70 which I thought tended to clip highlights. According to other sources such as dpreview, the D200 sensor can record approximately 8 stops of information. For comparison colour slide film records about 5 to 6 stops, and colour print film records about 11 stops.

Diffraction is apparent at about F13, and at smaller apertures the image becomes progressively softer regardless of the lens used. Note that this is due to the physics of optics in combination with the pixel density and is not specific to the D200. In practice I find that the image quality with high quality lenses stopped down to F16 is excellent:

Note that in-camera noise reduction can be increased above the default level. I did not have enough patience to test the in-camera noise reduction settings.

I have posted some sample test pictures taken with a new 200mm macro lens here:

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com/showthread.php?p=9769#post9769

Clearly the D200 is capable of producing very sharp high quality images.

Software
-----------
Nikon supply a CD containing Picture Project. This is basic software for cataloging images.

Nikon also provide at additional cost Nikon Capture, a software package that converts RAW files, and provides limited image processing capabilities, including chromatic aberration removal, noise removal, curves, etc.

At the time of writing Nikon Capture costs about 100. A new version has been announced, developed in collaboration with a respected software house, it offers significant enhancements, including speed improvements. To be honest a speed gain is not hard to achieve given that NC is phenomenally slow, and in my opinion it is unuseable for simultanously editing more than two or three images.

Incidently, the current Nikon Capture does not include distortion correction. PT Lens, a free software package, includes data for a wide range of lenses including most Nikon auto-focus lenses.

Interval Timing
------------------
The camera can be configured to take a series of exposures, from1 to 9, separated by a constant time interval, from 1 to 999 seconds, allowing for simple time lapse photography. Thus if you want you can photograph the passage of clouds across the sky, the rotation of a Sunflower as the sun moves across the sky, (the rather elegant French name for his flower is tournesol), or whatever else your imagination can think of.

Battery
--------
The camera is supplied with a rechargeable battery and charger. Apparently the battery life improves after a few charge-discharge cycles. Although it looks like a D70 battery, it is a new type incorporating technology to accurately gauge the remaining charge. Note that although a D200 battery may be used in a D70, the reverse is not true.

Storage Media
----------------
The camera has one compact flash (CF) slot, with a plastic cover. The door is unlocked by means of a stiff lever. To my eyes the door seems a tad flimsy and hence vulnerable to damage - compared to the rest of the camera, though I am probably worrying over nothing.

Data Transfer
----------------
Nikon supply a USB cable allowing data transfer directly between the camera and a PC, or Mac, using USB 2.0. I find it much more convenient to read the media card directly using a card reader attached to my PC.

Things Ive Missed
-----------------------
Im sure that Ive missed lots of important features, including GPS, the external sockets, the optional grip, and so on.

Banding
----------
According to many sources, many cameras in the first batches displayed banding, whereby parallel bands could be clearly seen at high contrast boundaries in images viewed at 100%. By all accounts this was due to incorrectly calibrating the internal signal processing firmware/hardware. Defective cameras can be sent to Nikon for adjustment. As far as I know the problem has been solved in later batches and is not a fundamental flaw.

Incidentally, when banding was first reported, many people, especially Canon users, rushed to attack Nikon, condemning them for poor quality control. What was not well publicised at the time was that many Canon cameras have suffered from banding. As an example, the Canon 5D can display banding at high ISO settings. (The source is interference from the focus motor in certain lenses.) The truth is that digital cameras are highly complex products, and all manufacturers have their fair share of niggles. For this reason many people avoid buying a product until it has been on the market for at least 6 months, so that the gremlins can be removed.

My camera, which came from the second UK batch, does not suffer from banding.

Dust
----
For some reason I have had a lot of trouble with dust on the sensor. Over the past few months I\'ve had to clean the sensor several times, despite only weekend amateur use. Cleaning is not hard - I use Pec Pads, Digi-pads and Eclipse fluid - but it is tedious.

Compared to the D70
-------------------------
Anyone moving from the D70 to the D200 will be taken aback by the huge improvement in all areas. Not only is the resolution markedly higher, but everything is easier to use, and there are added features. Buttons are large and easier to press, the LCD monitor is the size of a football pitch, the diopter wheel does not move, the self timer mode does not need to be engaged for each shot (aaarrrghhh), there is a mirror lock up mode, and the camera will meter with old AIS lenses. And of course the build quality is on a completely different level. The D70 is an excellent camera. But the D200 is far better.

Conclusion
-------------
The D200 is a superb camera and in the right hands can produce superb images. But be aware that it is a merciless judge of lenses and photographic technique.

Cons
------
Requires the best lenses, as the sensor is merciless.
Requires good technique, due to the high resolution.
High ISO performance, though excellent, is not on a par with full frame cameras from Canon.
Price: much more expensive than a D70.

Pros
------
Excellent build.
Excellent ergonomics.
Feature rich.
Excellent image quality.

Other Reviews
------------------
See www.NikonLinks.com for a list of equipment reviews.

I bought one of the In-Focus variants of this tripod. It\'s very well made, durable, and decent value. I have used it with a 77mm scope, but really I would recommend something more sturdy. In calm weather it\'s okay, but in the wind it tends to shake a bit, even at low magnifications. In my opinion this tripod is fine for a ~60mm scope, but nothing bigger. Recommended? Yes, but check out the current offers at shops such as Warehouse Express!

I recently purchased a Markins M10 ball head and I use it with a Uniloc 1600 tripod for photography. I wanted something that was light as I routinely walk a few miles on foot and I wanted it to be stable. I narrowed the choice down to the Kirk BH-3, the Acratech Ultimate Ballhead and the Markins M10. The other heads were either too heavy or too expensive. I ended up going with the M10 as I liked the positive user reviews.

I\'ve used it now for a few months, and overall I am very pleased with it. The locking knob is large, has a rubber grip, and is very effective. Unlike many heads there is no separate tension knob. Instead the locking knob has a little dial, which limits how far you can undo the main knob. Thus the dial sets the minimum friction. I have not noticed it moving once set. There is a smaller metal knob that locks the panning motion. I find it a bit uncomfortable to use as the knob is small and the surface is knurled metal. The head comes with a quick release platform of the Arca-Swiss type. The platform has a locking knob and again the surface is knurled metal. (Please Markins, can we have rubber grips on all knobs?) My head came with a Markins QR plate specially designed for my camera which is incredibly small and beautifully made. (Note that the plate has to be ordered separately, and adds to the cost.)

The head is largely made from duralumin (an alloy of aluminium with other metals such as copper to make it easier to machine) and is black anodised for durability. (Anodising is the application of a thin layer of aluminium oxide, followed by the application of a dye while the oxide is young, and porous. Aluminium oxide is much harder than aluminium and hence it acts as a protective layer.) I believe that the internal bearing surfaces that support the ball are made from engineering plastics.

The quality of the machining is very high, and indeed the head has that quality feel associated with precision engineering.

In use the head is very smooth, and the locking knob is effective. One turn and the camera is locked solid. Note that locking the head does not change the framing, which can be a problem with cheaper heads (and even some expensive ones).

According to Markins all knobs are captive. This means that a knob will not fall off while you are carrying the tripod to the next site. If like me you\'ve lost the locking knob of your tripod head, then you\'ll know how important this small feature is.

The head can be ordered from the Nikonians website, and if you are in the UK, it will be sent from Germany. In my case delivery took less than 2 days.

Overall I recommend the Markins M10. It is very expensive, but no more so than competing products. Just don\'t tell your family how much it costs, or you\'ll never hear the last of it.

Introduction
There are times when one wants to carry a binocular, but for various reasons it simply is not practical to carry a large instrument. Even an 8x30 roof prism binocular is fairly large and heavy and would not fit in a shirt pocket. Hence the popularity of a small 8x20 roof prism binocular that in good light provides most of the performance of a full sized instrument, and yet folds down into a shirt pocket sized package.

Design and Build

The Zeiss 8x20 Classic is a traditional roof prism binocular, consisting of two parallel tubes, connected via hinges to a central bridge. The housing is made from a hard dark grey plastic, whilst the lens cells are made from metal.

The focus wheel and dioptre wheel are mounted at the rear of the bridge, the focus wheel on the left, and the dioptre wheel on the right. A rather nice feature of the design is that left-handed users who prefer to have the focus wheel on the right can simply invert the instrument. The coarsely knurled focus wheel rotates very smoothly, and, for me anyway, is perfectly positioned for the little finger on my right hand. The dioptre wheel is smooth, and the rotation is fairly stiff to prevent it from accidentally moving from the desired setting.

The eye tubes are made from a fairly stiff rubber and fold back for eyeglass users: I found folding them back to be a very fiddly process.

The binocular folds into a remarkably tiny package for storage in a shirt pocket, a coat pocket, or the corner of a briefcase.

The binocular weighs under 200g and is thus extremely light.

Overall build quality and styling is very good. I have taken one on numerous four mile runs around the local nature reserve, and thus far it has survived without any problems.

As far as I know the binocular is not waterproof. In any case, it is so small that it is easily sheltered from the rain.

Optics

In good light the binocular provides a surprisingly good image with very good contrast and excellent sharpness over a large part of the field. Tested on a resolution chart the binocular compares well with larger instruments. The field edges are a bit soft, due in part to field curvature, but in practice the softness is insignificant. There is some distortion, which is evident when panning, and this is perhaps the only weakness.

In overcast conditions the small objective are all too apparant, though resolution is excellent.

The binocular has a tendency to flare when viewing towards bright light, which can be reduced somewhat by using one hand to shade the objectives.

I noticed no obvious colour cast.

The field of view, 110m at 1km, is less than on most high end full sized binoculars, but is quite acceptable. As with most compact binoculars, eye relief is not large and some people will have trouble seeing the whole field while wearing eyeglasses. Ideally it should be used without eyeglasses.

The close focus is approximately 3m.

Accessories
The binocular is supplied with a rather nice case made from leather, although to my disappointment the seams appear to be made from plastic strip.

One potential problem I noticed is that if the binocular is placed in the case with the eye tubes folded down there is a real danger that the eyepiece lenses could come into contact with the zip and suffer damage. The solution is to store the binocular with the eye tubes extended.

The binocular comes with a cord neck strap. It is not supplied with a rain guard or lens caps.

Cheaper Alternatives
For significantly less money excellent optical quality can be obtained from an inverted porro-prism binocular, although none are anything like as compact as the Zeiss 8x20.

Comparisons
I compared a Zeiss 8x20 Classic with a more expensive Swarovski 8x20 B (I bought the Swarovski and inherited the Zeiss). Optically they are very similar. Both have excellent contrast and sharpness over most of the field. The Swarovski has a slight edge as it does not have as much edge distortion or field curvature as the Zeiss, though the differences are small. Mechanically they are rather similar, though the Swarovski has screw-in screw-out eye tubes that are more convenient. Neither is comfortable when used with eyeglasses. The position of the focus wheel is highly subjective, but I prefer the Zeisss: I initially found the Swarovski focus wheel hard to use, though with time I have come to rather like it. The Zeiss focus is neither especially fine nor coarse, whilst the Swarovski focus is finely geared, making focussing finer but slower. In the UK the Swarovski costs about 280 compared with about 215 for the Zeiss.

Other alternatives include the Nikon 8x20 HGL, the Zeiss 8x20 Victory and the Leica 8x20 BCA. I have only briefly tested these instruments, but it was obvious that all have first class optics, with similar performance, and excellent build quality. Perhaps the most obvious differences are the position of the focus wheel, and the size of the folded binocular: the Leica and the Zeiss Classic are both noticeably smaller than the Nikon and the Zeiss Victory. In terms of price the Zeiss 8x20 Classic stands out, as it is by far the cheapest. An alternative is the Opticron 8x21 DBA Oasis, which has a noticeably wider field of view, and much larger eye relief than any of its competitors. Although the image has significant distortion, the overall package is very impressive, and well worth a look.

Conclusion
Overall the Zeiss 8x20 Classic is an excellent little binocular. It is not really suitable for general birding due to the small objective. However, it is well made, stylish, and has excellent optics although the fiddly rubber eye tubes will not suit some users. At about 215 in the UK it is excellent value compared with competing products. If you need a compact binocular with high quality optics, I can recommend the Zeiss 8x20 Classic.

A warning
Many people like to keep a compact binocular on a windowsill, or side table, ready to view birds in the garden. However, a binocular such as the Zeiss 8x20 Classic is readily pocketed by dishonest visitors, as my mother found to her cost. It wise to keep it hidden from the eyes of potential thieves.

The Swarovski 8x20 B is a compact roof prism binocular with high quality optics. Priced at approximately 300, it is far from cheap.

Mechanics
Like its competitors the Swarovski 8x20 B consists of two parallel tubes connected by hinges to a central bridge. The binocular is largely made of metal it looks like black anodised aluminium with Swarovskis trademark green rubber armour partially covering the optical assemblies, and a plastic cover embossed with the Swarovski eagle on the bridge.

The hinges allow the user to adjust the eyepiece spacing, or fold the binocular for storage. It is surprisingly small when folded.

The focus wheel is mounted rather perversely at the far end of the bridge midway between the objectives. The focus can be annoying and hard to use for those used to a more conventional position. However after a few months I figured out that I could access the focus wheel from beneath with my left thumb: using this technique the focus wheel is very convenient. Fortunately the focus is smooth and is low geared i.e. a large number of turns are needed to move the focus from one extreme to the other.

The dioptre wheel is mounted on the bridge, midway between the eyepieces. Its knurled, stiff, and functional.

The eye tubes screw in and out and are covered with rubber for comfort. They also unscrew to allow cleaning of the eyepiece lenses.

According to Swarovski the binocular is waterproof and fog-proof.

The binocular weighs a mere 215g and hence is lightweight.

A strap is supplied and is permanently attached. I was a little concerned that the strap could break free from the binocular, but in practice it seems well designed. I am still not convinced that a removeable strap would not be better.

The instrument is supplied with a woven Nylon case, with a Nylon zip, and a woven strap. In my opinion the case, though well made, does not quite match the standard of the binocular: I would prefer a more stylish leather case. It is also rather large, and importantly, the eyepieces risk being scratched if the binocular is stored with the eye tubes screwed in. To be fair to Swarovski the danger of the case scratching the eyepieces seems to be a general problem with compact binoculars.

The binocular is not supplied with objective covers or a rain guard and as far as I know none are available.

The overall build quality and finish are superb, and up to Swarovskis usual high standards. The binocular is certainly robust: I regularly carry mine in a trouser pocket when out on a 4 mile run round the local nature reserve.

Optics

The optics are superb, and in good light provide an image that can rival much larger instruments. The field of view is very good 115m at 1km but does not match premium full sized instruments where 130m at 1km is more usual. Contrast and sharpness are excellent over most of the field, with very little softening at the edges and very little distortion. Chromatic aberration is almost absent, except at the field edges. Flare is not a problem except when viewing in the direction of the sun when it can be significant. (Note: never look at the sun, either with a binocular, or the naked eye, as blindness will result.) Ghosting is not a problem.

In good light brightness is excellent. On an overcast day the limitation of the small objectives is all too obvious, especially when compared side by side with a larger instrument. Nevertheless resolution is excellent even in low light due to the relatively high contrast. Another side effect of the small objectives is small exit pupils 2.5mm and hence eye placement is critical.

According to the manufacturer eye relief is 15mm. I can just about see the whole field of view while wearing eyeglasses, but the view is not comfortable. NB: The only comparable binocular that I am aware of that has sufficient eye relief for eyeglass wearers is the Opticron 8x21 DBA.

Close focus on my sample is just over 2m.

Conclusion

The Swarovski 8x20B is a first rate, albeit expensive, compact binocular. On the negative side the small objectives, and small exit pupil mean that it is not really suitable as a general birding glass. Furthermore, as it is not as well armoured as some competing products, it is susceptible to cosmetic damage. However, if you need a compact instrument with first rate optics, and you have deep pockets, then the Swarovski 8x20 B is strongly recommended.

Foreword
This is a review of a William Optics 8x42 APO binocular written at the request of William Optics. The review sample was sent to me by post from Taiwan and I was allowed to keep it if desired. Please note that William Optics have had no influence on the content, apart from supplying some product images, and answering some questions.

For anyone not familier with William Optics, they are well known in America for making refracting telescopes, and other equipment for the amateur astronomer. As far as I know they are new to the binocular market.

Overview
The WO 8x42 APO is a roof prism binocular with 8x magnification and 42mm objectives. It has a modest price (199), and an excellent specification.

Mechanics
The most striking feature is the remarkably small size: the binocular is significantly smaller than many competing instruments, and not much larger than many 8x32 instruments! It is also very light, weighing in at a mere 700g. According to the manufacturer it uses composites in its contruction, though the objective cells and hinge appear to be metal. The binocular has the shape typical of a roof prism instrument, i.e. two stubby tubes, joined by a central hinge which is nice and stiff.

The body is almost completely covered in a black rubber armour. It has a non slip surface and is sufficient to protect it from light knocks.

The eye tubes screw in and screw out. They are held in place by friction, rather than any locking mechanism, and those on my sample stayed put when extended. The ends are covered with rubber for comfort, and I had no problems using them.

The focus wheel is situated between the two eyepieces. It is large, rubber covered, and well placed. The focus is very smooth, but somewhat stiffer than I would like, although it has loosened somewhat with use.

The dioptre wheel is mounted on the right eyepiece, and is held in place by friction. I found it rather fiddly, albeit functional. Note that on my sample the dioptre was faulty in that it had a noticeable offset even when set to the neutral position. No doubt the manufacturer would repair or replace a production sample under the warranty.

Overall the binocular feels good in the hand and seems solidly built, surprisingly so given the low price. The small size will be appreciated by people with small hands, and those who want an instruments that can be stuffed in a back pack, or travelling case.

The binocular is waterproof according to the manufacturer though I did not put the claim to the test. In any case, it should easily survive a heavy downpour.

Optics
The image is in most respects excellent, with decent brightness, due in part to silver coatings on the prisms, and a field of view - 7 degrees that is exceptional in a budget roof prism binocular. The image softens noticeably about three quarters out from the image centre, and is poor at the edge. There is a little distortion off axis but nothing serious. The one flaw in the image, in my opinion, is a slight softness, which I assume is due to the absence of phase coatings on the prisms (see also the footnote section).

Chromatic aberration is minimal, with almost no colour fringing, even in high contrast situations, for example when watching a black crow fly against a bright sky. The objectives are triplets, although William Optics make no mention of the type of glass used. Such good colour correction is unusual in a roof prism binocular.

Flare, though sometimes present, is well controlled. I saw a little ghosting at night when viewing street lights, but nothing to worry about. According to the manufacturer the optics are multi-coated and I see no reason to doubt this claim.

I saw no obvious colour cast, though I should come clean and make it clear that I am relatively oblivious to colour casts unless they are very obvious.

The minimum focus distance is claimed to be a remarkable 3 feet, and my sample easily focusses to within 2m consistent with the claim. (I prefer to use the metric system.)

Eye relief is exceptionally good given the price and the field of view, and I had no problem viewing the entire field while wearing eyeglasses. Although the manufacturer does not give a value for the eye relief, I would estimate it, based on my experience with other instruments, to be at least 17 mm, which makes it especially suitable for eyeglass wearers who usually need at least 15 mm.

Accessories
The binocular is supplied with a basic but quite useable rainguard, simple pop on objective covers (which hook onto the strap: a clever idea, though I suspect they will soon be lost), a basic strap (which I quickly replaced with a neoprene one), and a very basic and unstylish but functional pouch.

Comparison
I was able to compare the William Optics binocular with a Swarovski 8x20 B, a Nikon 8x32 SE, a Zeiss 8x42 FL a Nikon 8x40 Egret, and a Viking 8x40 binocular.

The Viking 8x40 is a decent performing budget porro prism binocular (price about 100), but alongside the William Optics, it is outclassed, being larger, heavier, more cumbersome to hold, with lower contrast, a darker image, and a greater minimum focus distance. It does though have excellent eye relief, and is excellent value for money.

The Nikon 8x40 Egret is a budget porro prism instrument (~150 or less) from a well known optics manufacturer. Alongside the William Optics instrument the optics hold up very well, having similar on axis sharpness, contrast and brightness, though careful testing with a resolution chart showed the Egret to have slightly but noticeably better on-axis resolution and contrast. Away from the image centre the Egret has noticeably more distortion and softness. It also has much less eye relief, making for a less comfortable view, and effectively reducing the useable field of view for eyeglass wearers. It also has a much larger minimum focus distance of 4m compared to less than 2m (measured value) for the William Optics binocular. From an ergonomic viewpoint the Egret is outclassed by the William Optics binocular, being much larger, a bit heavier, with fiddly rubber eye tubes, and no water resistance.

The Zeiss 8x42 FL (~920) is one of the finest instruments available. Alongside the William Optics binocular the FL has, not surprisingly, noticeably superior resolution, contrast and brightness, and a wider field of view. However, from an ergonomic perspective the William Optics binocular does rather well, being much more compact, a bit lighter, and with similar eye relief. Clearly this comparison is completely unfair (and somewhat pointless) given the huge price difference.

The Nikon 8x32 SE (~450) behaved rather like the Zeiss FL, although it was noticeably dimmer in low light. However, the SE is not waterproof (though it is said to have some water resistance), and has fiddly rubber eye tubes.

The Sarovski 8x20 B is a very expensive compact binocular (~300) with a diminutive size, and superb build quality and optics. Alongside the William Optics binocular it does in many respects hold its own. Even in low light it shows almost as much detail in distant objects, though the image is significantly less bright. However, it has a somewhat narrow field of view, significantly less eye relief, and much smaller 2 mm exit pupils, all of which make for a significantly less relaxing view. Clearly the William Optics instrument is more suited to eyeglass users.

Summary
Overall this is a nice little binocular with some outstanding features. The optics have decent brightness, remarkably little chromatic aberration (less than many premium instruments), excellent eye relief, excellent minimum close focus distance, and an impressive field of view (the equal of at least one premium instrument), in a remarkably small and light waterproof package. The only caveat is the slight image softness.

Footnote
I mentioned the slight image softness to the William Optics representative, and he passed my comments to his technical coleagues. A few weeks later he informed me that William Optics have decided to add phase coatings to the prisms, and increase the number of layers in the anti-reflection coatings, in order to improve the sharpness.

Note that, according to William Optics, for an introductory period of a few months, they will sell the binocular at 149, rather than 200.

Introduction
The Zeiss FL range is Zeiss\\\'s latest attempt to conquer the premium binocular market. Priced at the top end of the market, it is intended to compete head to head with offerings from Leica, Nikon and Swarovski. The 7x42, 8x42 and 10x42, FL continue the Zeiss tradition of using Abbe-Koenig prisms with higher transmission than the more usual Schmidt-Pechan prisms. Another unusual feature, and the origin of the FL name, is the use of triplet objectives with an element of fluoride glass. Zeiss claims that this significantly reduces colour fringing. The optics are of course fully multi-coated (T*) and the prisms are phase coated (P*).


Build and Design
The Zeiss 8x42 FL has a typical roof prism binocular shape consisting of two parallel optical assemblies connected by a central hinge. The optical assemblies are tapered, being broader at the objective end and, unlike many competing instruments, do not have thumb indents. The binocular is almost entirely covered in black rubber armour with a matt texture: it is high quality and very pleasant to the touch.

The large rubber armoured focus wheel is situated between and slightly in front of the eyepieces. It can be accessed from above, in the normal manner, or held between thumb and forefinger for making fine adjustments. The wheel turns smoothly with no perceptible backlash or stiffness, and is highly geared for a rapid focus. The high gearing might trouble some people, though I found that I soon got used to it, and appreciated the speed with which I could lock on to a bird.

The dioptre adjustment is achieved by pulling out the focus wheel, then turning until the required setting is achieved. Zeiss claim an adjustment range of +/- 4 dioptres. There\\\'s not a lot to say except that it works.

The eye tubes screw in and screw out and have four positions including two intermediate ones. The eye tubes are, like much of the internal structure, made from a composite material. For comfort the ends are covered with rubber. They work well.

It is worth noting that the strap lugs are well placed, since a common criticism of the original Victory range was that the strap lugs dug in to the sides of the hands.

Weighing in at 755g the binocular is one of the lightest in its class.

The binocular is waterproof and filled with nitrogen to prevent internal fogging.

According to Zeiss the internals are made from a combination of metal and a composite described as fibre-reinforced polyamide. Although some people might question the use of plastics (or, as Zeiss might say, advanced polymers), there\\\'s no doubt that it provides strength whilst keeping weight to a minimum. The only negative aspect, in my opinion, is the central hinge covering, which seems to be made from high-density polyethylene, and to my eyes it looks slightly cheap in contrast to the rest of the instrument.

Accessories
The binocular is supplied with a very good neoprene strap, a rain guard for the eyepieces, excellent removable objective caps and a very good holster case with strap. The presence of a strap on the case is a welcome change from the norm.

Optics
The binocular provides a superb image, which in many ways, but not all, surpasses any other binocular I have tried. The field of view is class leading at 135m at a distance of 1km. On axis, sharpness and contrast are excellent and even with my eyeglasses on the image has that \\\"with your own eyes\\\" feel characteristic of the best optics.

On-axis colour fringing is absent. There is a trace of off-axis chromatic aberration in high contrast situations but it is negligible and probably will not even be noticed by many users.

There is a trace of pincushion distortion at the edges of the field, sometimes noticeable when panning, but it is not significant, and I do not notice it in normal use.

There is some off-axis softness which starts to appear at about 60% from the axis, and gradually increases until the edge where the image is mediocre. This is perhaps the only (minor) weakness in the optics. Although re-focussing can recover some sharpness, most of the softness is from aberrations other than field curvature.

Flare is, as with most if not all premium binoculars, extremely well controlled, and was not a problem. Ghosting was not seen. I saw no obvious colour cast, though I am very poor at seeing a colour cast.

Eye relief, which is of particular importance to eyeglass wearers, is generous at 17mm, and I found that I could view the whole field of view while wearing eyeglasses. (Eyeglass wearers should check for themselves, as there are wide variations in eyeglass frames and individual facial features. I have small frames that sit close to my eyes, and I do not have sunken eyes, all of which help with viewing through a binocular.)

Comparison with other instruments
I own a Zeiss 8x42 FL, a Nikon 8x32 SE and a Swarovski 8.5x42 EL and was able to do some side by side comparisons.

The Swarovski 8.5x42 is quite rightly a best seller, with superb ergonomics and build quality, and excellent, but not in my opinion class leading, optics. It has slightly higher resolution than the Zeiss, consistent with the higher magnification and it has slightly better off-axis sharpness. However, it has slightly lower contrast, and in high contrast situations noticeable chromatic aberration, even on axis. In my highly subjective opinion the Zeiss provides an overall image that is one step above the Swarovski, though the Swarovski is nevertheless a fine instrument. Of course some people might disagree with my conclusions.

The Nikon 8x32 SE is in my opinion one of the finest 8x glasses in existence. It has superb sharpness and contrast, roughly on a par with the Zeiss. However, the Nikon also has almost no distortion, almost edge-to-edge sharpness, and an almost completely flat field. There is some chromatic aberration, both on and off axis, in high contrast situations, though it is minor, and can usually be ignored. The Nikon has in many respects slightly better optics than the Zeiss, but it is not waterproof, the image is not as bright in low light, the on-axis image is not quite as good, the folding rubber eye tubes are less convenient and the small focus wheel can be rather stiff in cold weather. Overall the Nikon is a superb instrument and at about half the price of the Zeiss it is a bargain, albeit one that is less rugged and convenient. However, as discussions on Bird Forumhave shown, the SE is surprisingly rugged, and if treated with a little care, should last many years without any problems.

Discussion
Overall I think that Zeiss have done an exceptional job. The use of fluoride glass is a definite innovation in premium birding binoculars and does exactly what Zeiss claim: in my opinion the one problem with most roof prism binoculars is excessive chromatic aberration, and in the FL Zeiss have overcome this issue. I was pleasantly surprised at the high contrast and the excellent sharpness. I was less impressed with the off-axis sharpness, which though very good, does not match that of the best competing instruments. The Zeiss FL has excellent ergonomics and I found little to fault. The armour is good quality, and has a pleasingly soft texture. The eye tubes, with intermediate positions are a welcome innovation. The smooth backlash free focus wheel is extremely well placed, and easy to use. Some might consider the focus too coarse, but the high gearing allows rapid acquisition of fast moving objects, whilst the smoothness and absence of backlash allow for fine adjustment. The binocular is waterproof and I can testify to this fact having on numerous occasions been caught in torrential rain. In many respects Zeiss have borrowed the best features of other instruments, and then added a few of their own (triplet objectives, multi-position eye tubes). I have already heard that one other manufacturer has introduced a roof prism binocular with triplet objectives. I suspect they will not be the last.

Conclusion
If you are looking for a premium waterproof binocular, and have the cash, then I reckon that you should take a look at the Zeiss FL range.

Comment added 28 March 2005:
After using a Zeiss 8x42 FL for 6 months, I remain as impressed as ever with the optics. Compared side by side, colours through my Nikon 8x32 SE seem slightly but noticeably subdued, whilst colours through the FL have more clarity and vibrancy, due no doubt to the better colour correction. Combined with the high contrast the result is an incredibly natural and bright image. The slight distortion is, for me anyway, a non issue. The slight off-axis softening is sometimes noticeable when birding, but is a minor irritation rather than a flaw. It is however more obvious when using the binocular on the night sky, presumably because the eye is more likely to explore the field when viewing stars. In terms of ergonomics, I have become more accustomed to the fast but sensitive focus, and would not go back to a slower version.

Leica APO Televid 77 Angled

Overview
The Leica APO Televid 77 is a moderately compact highly portable waterproof spotting scope with superb optics, and superb mechanics. In the UK it is surprisingly good value in comparison with similar products from other manufacturers. It is ideal for bird watching and wide field astronomy.

Mechanical
The scope is a long tube with the objective at one end and the prism housing and eyepiece socket at the other. The body is made from die cast aluminium components and is silver in colour. It looks rather elegant and seems well built. A retractable lens shade with an integral sight is built in to the front of the scope. Sadly the sight is useless when the scope is in the stay on case. The focus mechanism is mounted on top of the prism housing and consists of two wheels mounted one directly in front of the other. The front and rear wheels provide fine and coarse focus respectively. The focus can be very stiff on new units but quickly loosens with use. I liked the dual focus wheel mechanism, finding that it provided both rapid coarse focus, and subtle fine focus. The focus wheels are covered in ribbed rubber, which I found gave a comfortable and positive grip.

The scope has some rubber armour on the most vulnerable spots i.e. the hood, and the base and sides of the prism housing. Most of the scope is not armoured and hence will scratch unless protected by a suitable case.

The overall build quality and finish are excellent.

Leica state that the scope is highly shock resistant and I see no reason to doubt that claim.

The eyepieces attach via a bayonet mounting: an eyepiece is inserted and then twisted to secure it. The zoom eyepiece has a lock to ensure that it will not accidentally unscrew whilst twisting the zoom control. It is released by pressing a small plastic button. I found the button fiddly to operate and thought that it looked cheap.

The eyepieces have large eye tubes, the zoom being of the screw-in screw out variety, whilst the others are of the push-pull variety. They are rubber coated and worked well.

The weight is almost 2kg with an eyepiece and so the scope is not a lightweight. It is however highly portable, and easily carried over the shoulder in the stay on case. At about 410mm long the scope is compact, though not quite as compact as some of the more recent products from competing manufacturers. If you are in the habit of carrying a scope and tripod over your shoulder, then lighter competing products might be more suitable. However I do not find the weight to be a problem.

The scope is certified waterproof and nitrogen filled to ensure that it does not fog. Interestingly the eyepieces are only waterproof when mounted on the scope. Thus if you carry several eyepieces, care should be taken to protect the ones not on the scope.

Leica state that the lenses are quartz coated to protect against scratching, quartz being a very hard transparent mineral. Enquiries to the service department suggest that the quartz coating is applied to the eyepieces as well as the objective.

Optics
I purchased and tested the scope with the 20xw, 30xw and 20-60 zoom eyepieces and as such all comments apply to both eyepieces unless stated otherwise.

Overall the scope provides a superb natural image, with excellent sharpness and contrast. I saw no obvious colour cast though some users report a slight yellow cast.

Chromatic aberration, as expected from the APO designation, is almost completely absent. A trace of colour fringing is often apparent at the very edge of the field but is insignificant.

The 32xw eyepiece has a field of view (FOV) of 40m at 1km, equating to an angular FOV of 2.3 degrees and an enormous apparent FOV of 74 degrees. Impressive! The image is sharp almost to the extreme edges, with just a trace of field curvature 90% out from the field centre: I only notice if I look for it. Distant birds are pin sharp and very natural. Stars appear as points over the entire field. There is no noticeable distortion and chromatic aberration is almost completely absent as expected from the APO designation. Depth of field is excellent. I noticed no flare or ghosting, and just a trace of scatter around bright planets such as Jupiter, but nothing significant. Eye relief is excellent quoted as 19mm - and I had no trouble viewing with eyeglasses on. The focal length is 13.75mm. The eyepiece is huge and as large and heavy as the zoom! The eye lens is huge and I was quite concerned that I could scratch it with my eyeglass frames. Overall the image from the 32xw eyepiece is quite superb, and I do not hesitate to recommend it as the standard eyepiece. This eyepiece is also highly regarded by amateur astronomers, many of whom consider it one of the best available in its focal length.

The 20xw eyepiece has a field of view (FOV) of 60m at 1km, equating to an angular FOV of 3.45 degrees and a huge apparent FOV of 69 degrees. The image is sharp and contrasty with stars appearing as points over all of the field. Chromatic aberration is insignificant. I noticed no flare or ghosting. There is noticeable field curvature at the field edges, but it is not significant. Eye relief is 20mm i.e. huge and I could view the entire field with eyeglasses. The focal length is 22mm. As expected from the lower magnification, the 20xw eyepiece provides a brighter image than the 32xw. It also delivers much greater depth of field which makes for a much more relaxing view. However for general birding I feel that either the 32xw or the zoom are more suitable as 20x does seem rather limiting.

The 20-60 zoom eyepiece is a similar size to the 30xw but offers a range of magnifications. At 20x it has a FOV of 34m at 1km, an angular FOV of 2 degrees, and an apparent FOV of 38 degrees. At 60x it has a FOV of 20m at 1km, an angular FOV of 1.2 degrees and an apparent FOV of 72 degrees. Thus at 20x the image feels narrow and tube-like with the edges of the field quite obvious and to me anyway quite distracting. At 30x the image is still tube like, though the apparent field is somewhat better. By 40x the view starts to feel fairly wide and by 50x the view is truly wide, and quite superb. The image at 50x is though somewhat dim due to the high magnification. At 60x the apparent field of view is equally superb but the image quality has dropped markedly, due to a lack of brightness and a slight lack of snap in the image. Sharpness and contrast are excellent at all magnifications except, as mentioned, at magnifications approaching 60x. There is some distortion about 80% out from the field centre at most magnifications. Eye relief is greater than 18mm at both ends of the zoom range and I had no trouble viewing with eyeglasses. As with the 32xw I did not see any flare or ghosting but I did notice a trace of scatter on bright planets. The eyepiece seems to be varifocal i.e. the focus is not maintained while zooming. The focal length varies from 22mm to 7.3mm. Twisting the barrel operates the zoom and my sample is silky smooth.

Mechanically the eyepieces are huge, weighing almost 300g i.e. more than some compact binoculars, and each has a huge eye tube that is over 5cm in diameter.

Most people seem to recommend the zoom and 32xw eyepieces for general birding. My own perference is for the 32xw, though both are excellent. For amateur astronomy I would recommend the 20xw.

Stay-on-case
The stay on case is green and made from a woven artificial fabric rather like military webbing. It is not padded, but will protect the scope from scratches and knocks. There are covers that pull back to expose the objective, the focus wheels, the eyepiece, and the tripod socket. One press-stud and several Velcro tabs secure each cover. Interestingly the case prevents the scope from being rotated on the mounting ring. The case is supplied with an excellent bouncy Neoprene shoulder strap.

The stay on case is very effective: it takes me no more than 15 seconds to have the scope off my shoulder and on the tripod ready for use. The stay on case is well designed, and attractive, but over-priced and not padded.

In use
The scope is a delight to use: it looks good, it feels good, and it provides a superb image. It can be set up at a convenient spot overlooking a lake, or a local reserve, and the sky and surrounding countryside leisurely scanned for birds. Birds that would otherwise go unnoticed, or be passed off as distant blobs, are revealed as a Wheatear, a Little Ringed Plover and so on.

Protective Filter
Leica recommend the use of a Leica UV filter to protect the front element. Unfortunately what they do not tell you is that the Leica UV filter has a distinct yellow brown cast. I do not recommend it. Both Nikon and Canon manufacture photographic quality clear 77mm filters. The Nikon has the designation NC. The Canon is referred to as a Protect filter.

Other Accessories
Leica sells an adaptor that allows a Leica Televid eyepiece to be used on an astronomical telescope that takes standard 1.25 eyepieces.

Leica do not sell an adaptor to allow use of 1.25 astronomical eyepieces on the Leica scope. Sadly the focal point of the objective is too far into the body of the scope for most astronomical eyepieces. However some eyepieces can be used if a suitable adaptor is machined. Many other eyepieces could probably be used if the owner was prepared to machine the eyepiece housing i.e. remove most of the barrel. An American company - Company Seven used to sell a third party adaptor at an appropriately astronomical price: more than $400. However, it was only available to those who purchased their Leica scope from Company Seven, and it has been discontinued due to low demand for the scope.

Leica sell an adaptor that in conjunction with a T-ring allows a camera to be mounted on the scope. The adaptor converts the scope into a 800mm F10.4 lens.

Service
I have found Leica UK service to be somewhat lacking.

Competing Products
There are many competing products on the market, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. As far as I could tell most competing scopes are of similar optical quality, and the differences are more ones of taste, rather than optical quality. In any case, many specialist optics retailers do field days where potential purchasers can try and compare in the field several instruments.

Amateur Astronomy
The Leica is an excellent wide field astronomical telescope for magnifications up to 60x and will provide views of globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies. It is not really suitable for planetary observations, unless you adapt a high power eyepiece, although it will reveal the more prominent bands on Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and the phases of Venus. Perhaps its greatest strength is the relatively small compact size and rugged build giving it a portability that few astronomical telescopes can match. One point to note is that it can be hard to locate objects in the night sky without the addition of a small finder scope.

Introduction
These are high quality compact mid-sized roof prism binoculars from a highly respected German manufacturer.

Design and Build
The binoculars consist of two inline optical assemblies joined by a broad hinge. The unit is compact and I found that I could wrap both hands around the entire binocular. Much of the external surface is covered with deeply ribbed rubber armour that is pleasant to the touch, but rather hard edged. A metal focus wheel is mounted at the eyepiece end of the central hinge. It is easily accessed, but could do with being wider. On new units the focus is very stiff (which has drawn negative comments in some reviews) but it loosens with use, and on used examples I have seen it is silky smooth. A dioptre wheel is mounted at the objective end of the central hinge. It is made from metal, is easily accessed, and although there is no locking mechanism, it will not slip. The eye tubes are made from thick rubber and although they do the job, they are not as convenient as screw in screw out eye tubes: I found them rather fiddly.

These binoculars weigh under 600g and they feel fairly light, especially when compared with full sized roof prism binoculars.

The build quality is excellent, although the rubber armour is not quite as well finished as competing products e.g. Leica 8x32 BN.

These binoculars are weatherproof and will survive exposure to heavy rain. They are though not waterproof.

Optics
The optics are excellent providing a very wide field of view with good depth of field, excellent contrast, excellent sharpness and good brightness. They are not as bright as the Nikon 8x32 HG, but compare well with competing products such as the Leica 8x32 BN.

Sharpness is excellent over most of the field, but becomes somewhat soft at the extreme edges, largely due to field curvature. (You will probably not notice it unless you look for it.) There is also a trace of linear distortion at the extreme edges of the field which gives rise to a slight funfair effect when panning.

Chromatic aberration is exceedingly well controlled. (For comparison the Leica 8x32 BN and Nikon 8x32 HG binoculars both show significant chromatic aberration in high contrast situations.)

I did not see any ghosting although I noticed a trace of flare in low light, especially when peering into dark trees set against a bright but fading sky.

I did not notice any obvious colour cast, although I should admit that I am not good at judging subtle colour casts.

Eye relief is very good, and I could see the whole field of view while wearing eyeglasses. As with most mid-sized roof prism binoculars, the eye relief is not quite as good as on full-sized binoculars of comparable quality.

The close focus is 3m, which is adequate for viewing dragonflies and butterflies.

Accessories
The binoculars are supplied with a good quality neoprene strap, a rubber rain guard, and a very good quality soft leather pouch.

Conclusion
These are excellent high quality mid-sized binoculars. They are in my opinion optically superior to the Leica 8x32 BN (more eye relief, less chromatic aberration) but the mechanics are not as user-friendly i.e. stiff rubber eye tubes, narrow focus wheel and not waterproof.

Many people, including several celebrity birders, consider that a mid-sized roof prism binocular provides all of the performance they need 95% of the time, especially when used with a spotting scope. If you are in this group then these binoculars might well suit your needs. If you are prepared to accept more bulk, and do not need waterproofing, then take a look at the Nikon 8x32 SE: they are brighter, sharper and have more eye relief. If you want noticeably brighter sharper images, more eye releif and waterproofing, then Im afraid you will have to consider full-sized binoculars.

NB The original version of this binocular the Zeiss Notarem 8x30 was introduced over 30 years ago, and used examples in perfect working order are often seen on sale. Although optically excellent, they are not as good as the latest version due mainly to the absence of modern coatings, especially phase (or P) coating.

These are Nikon's top of the range mid-sized binoculars and compete directly with similar products from Leica and Swarovski. It is in many respects a smaller version of the well respected 8x42 HG which appeared some years earlier.

These are traditional roof prism binoculars with twin straight optical assemblies joined by a large hinge. They are compact, although not quite as compact as many competitors, and the body is nicely contoured to ensure a good grip. It is covered in a thick rubber armour that both protects the binoculars and provides a pleasant surface to hold. The central hinge is stiff, as it should be. A large rubber armoured focus wheel is situated between the eyepieces and it is well placed and rotates extremely smoothly. (Note that I did not get the chance to try the bins in cold weather.) A diopter correction dial is built in to the right hand eyepiece. It has a locking mechanism and it works well. The eye tubes screw in and screw out and are covered in rubber for comfort.

The binoculars weigh 715g which is quite heavy when compared to competing products. However, I found the weight to be quite acceptable and they certainly did not feel heavy.

They are guaranteed waterproof and should survive a short period of immersion at a metre of so down. They are also nitrogen filled to avoid fogging in cold weather. (My problem is that my glasses steam up, but that's another story.)

The build quality is excellent, and up to the usual standard of Nikon.

Optically they are excellent. They are as sharp as any mid-sized roof prism binocular. (Some users report better sharpness, though I did not perform accurate tests.) Sharpness drops slightly away from the centre, and is slightly soft at the edges, but is still remarkably good. They are brighter than expected and side by side with a Leica 8x32 BN appeared to give a noticeably brighter image when viewing objects in the shade. They have an excellent field of view. The depth of field is also very good although I felt that it was slightly less than with comparable 8x full sized binoculars of comparable quality. I saw no flare or ghosting and I noticed no obvious colour cast. Eye relief is excellent and I could easily see the whole field when wearing glasses. There is quite a bit of chromatic aberration in high contrast situations - for example when viewing birds in flight - though they were in this respect no worse than the Leica 8x32 BN. (This does not seem to bother most people.) The close focus distance is 2.5m which should be enough for anyone. It is certainly ideal for watching dragonflies and other insects.

The binoculars are supplied with a rain guard, plastic objective caps (which soon get lost if used), a useable strap and a soft plastic case. The case is functional but lacks the elegance of the leather cases supplied with some competing products.

Overall these are excellent binoculars, and ideal for someone who wants a compact waterproof 8x binocular that can be used on bright and overcast days. Their strengths are the nice design and bright optics.

Whether these will appeal to you is perhaps a matter of personal taste. Personally I much prefer the Nikon 8x32 SE which in my opinion provide a noticeably better image (brighter, sharper, much less chromatic aberration). As always, try them for yourself, and form your own opinion.

Note: When I wrote a UK dealer was selling them at ~500 which is remarkable value when compared with competing products from the top manufacturers.

Introduction
When these binoculars were introduced a few years ago they took the birding world by storm due to the combination of innovative design and superb optics. Indeed for many years they sold as fast as Swarovski could make them.

Mechanics and design
What makes these binoculars unusual is the twin bridge design, that allows the user to wrap their hands round each optical assembly. Try it for yourself, but I find it makes for an exceptionally comfortable grip.

The binoculars are relatively light at about 800g, although they are not the lightest in their class: this prize belongs to the Zeiss Victory 8x40.

They are made from a lightweight alloy with a synthetic rubber sleeve on each tube. Both the alloy and the rubber appear to be manufactured and finished to a very high standard. The rubber gives the surface a pleasant feel, and from used examples that I have seen it is very durable.

Swarovski guarantee that the binoculars are water and immersion proof. I have no doubt that they would survive being dropped in a puddle or a shallow stream without leaking.

The focus wheel is located between the eyepieces. It is rubber coated, large, easily accessible, and rotates smoothly, though it is not quite as silky smooth as I would like. (My previous experience with binoculars suggests that it will loosen up with use.) The focus wheel requires a relatively large number of turns - 2.5 - to go from infinity to close focus. I find the focus pleasingly sensitive but some users do consider it too fine and hence slow. As always, try before you buy.

The diopter adjustment is built into the focus wheel. Focus the left hand optics on an object, pull out the focus wheel, and turn until the object is also in focus in the right hand optics. Then push in the focus wheel to lock the diopter offset. It is simple and effective.

The metal eye tubes screw in and screw out and I find they can be set at any intermediate height without them slipping. The ends of the eye tubes are fitted with synthetic rubber for comfort.

Optics
The optics are first rate, with excellent field of view, depth of field, sharpness, brightness and contrast.

According to the Better View Desired web site these binoculars are sharper than any 8x full sized binocular, which no doubt is in part due to the slightly greater magnification.

The image quality is excellent across the entire field of view. Sharpness drops off very slightly as you move away from the centre, and then becomes slightly soft at the field edges, though you will not notice this unless you look through the binoculars in a very unnatural way!

As with any quality instrument, the resolution is excellent even in low light.

The field is remarkably flat with almost no field curvature or distortion at the edges.

Brightness is excellent, even when used in gloomy woods, or at dusk, when the naked eye is struggling to discern distant objects.

The contrast is excellent although I felt that it was a shade less than through the Nikon 8x32 SE and, according to user reports, the Leica 8x42 Ultravid.

I could not detect any obvious colour cast. (I tend not to notice colour casts, but others seem to consider them to be relatively neutral.)

Flare resistance is remarkable and I did not notice any internal reflections or ghosting. In low light I had no problem peering into the gloom in dark trees beneath a bright but fading sky. Evidently the internal baffles and coatings are doing an exceptional job.

There is, as with most if not all roof prism binoculars, a trace of chromatic aberration, visible in high contrast situations. When watching a coot on a lake I noticed faint colour fringes around the bird. For comparison many other expensive binoculars - such as the Nikon 8x42 HG, Leica 8x32 BN - show much more chromatic aberration. As I keep saying, try them for yourself and see what you think.

(A few months after writing the above I decided to look into the chromatic aberration. I found that eye placement is critical: if the eyes are accurately aligned with the optical axes of the binoculars, then much of the chromatic aberration disappears. It is in any case a minor issue.)

Bits and Pieces
The binoculars are supplied with a hard plastic rain guard for the eyepieces. It does the job, but would be better made from a more flexible plastic.

The binoculars are also supplied with rubber objective covers that attach to the objectives and pop open for viewing. They are very effective and help protect the optics when the binoculars are being carried around outside of the case. (Note: invite your friends round to watch you fitting them. They will laugh their heads off as you struggle to fit tight fitting rubber loops over the ends of the binoculars.)

The binoculars are also supplied with a good quality neoprene strap embossed in large letters with the Swarovski name, and a cordura (woven Nylon) case.

Conclusion
In my opinion, if you want a pair of top of the range waterproof full sized binoculars, then you should take these binoculars for a test drive. I must admit that though they are competitively priced, they are still horribly expensive. If you want slightly better optical quality for significantly less money, and do not require waterproofing, then take a look at the Nikon 8x32 SE. Similarly if you want a 10x binocular with superb optics that will not give your bank manager a heart attack, then take a look at the Nikon 10x42 SE.

An excellent pair of binoculars. Beautifully made, with a very heavy and pleasant rubber armour. The shape is very comfortable (but do try for yourself - we are not all alike). They are a bit on the heavy side, though the shape and excellent balance help compensate. The focus wheel is very smooth and responsive and it is well placed. The central hinge is pleasingly stiff. These binoculars are very rugged and Nikon state that they are waterproof.

The optics are excellent, and very sharp. The image is very even, with excellent sharpness over most of the field, and only slight softness at the edges. Contrast, brightness and depth of field are all excellent. The image has a very lifelike feel. The only drawbacks are a slightly narrower field than competing products (~120m at 1km whereas most competitors provided about 130m at 1km) and noticeable chromatic aberrration (more so than many competing products) although many people do not seem to notice it!

Eye relif is excellent and more than enough for almost everyone.

The close focus is excellent.

I have not given these 10 points due to the weight and the - in my opinion - excessive chromatic aberration.

Introduction
The following is a review of a pair of Nikon 8x32 SE binoculars that I own.

Design and Mechanics
These are traditional porro-prism binoculars with twin dog-leg optical assemblies. They are fairly small and someone with small hands will have no problem using them. I find the shape is very comfoetable to hold. (Note: A recent review in Bird Watching magazine stated that they had to be held in the seagull stance, with elbows stuck out to either side. This is untrue. They can be held as per roof prism binoculars with the elbows beneath the binoculars, and braced against the chest.) They are also light at around 600g. Each optical assembly is covered with a synthetic rubber that is durable and has a pleasant slightly giving feel.

There is a central hinge made from a lightweight alloy with a pleasing gunmetal finish. The hinge allows the spacing between the two eyepieces to be adjusted to suit the user. The hinge is stiff as it should be, and has shown no sign of becoming loose over the six months that I have used it.

The focus wheel is rubber coated and sits between the two eyepieces. It is well placed, easily accessed, rotates smoothly and is responsive. I find that I can focus the binoculars using thumb and index finger, the thumb being placed beneath the wheel and the finger above it. I found that in very cold weather the focus is rather stiff, more so than I would like, and this may well be an issue for users in cold climates.

Dioptre adjustment is achieved by turning the right eyepiece. There is no lock and in practice one is not needed.

The eye tubes are made from thin flexible rubber, and fold back for eyeglass wearers. Although not as convenient as screw-in screw-out eye tubes, they work well.

These binoculars are not by any stretch of the imagination waterproof, but exposure to light rain will not cause any problems. They might even survive a downpour though I would not recommend putting them to the test. They certainly would not survive immersion.

The binoculars are supplied with a plastic leather look pouch. It is functional, but does not have the class of the leather pouches that are usually supplied with top of the range binoculars.

Build Quality
The build quality is exemplary, and on a par with the old Nikon manual focus lenses. All parts move smoothly, and the finish is second to none. I have heard that they can survive a drop from several feet onto a hard surface without losing collimation.

Optics
The optics are outstanding, producing an image that is in my opinion - qualitatively superior to that provided by top of the range full sized binoculars such as the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL and the Nikon 8x42 HG. The image quality has that with your own eyes feel that only the best binoculars provide.

The field of view is superb (390 ft at 1000 yards). Depth of field is equally impressive, and in practice I tend not to focus, or just make occasional tweaks when I spot something of interest. The image quality is remarkably even across the field of view, with no obvious darkening and only a slight softening of the image at the edges. Chromatic aberration is present but insignificant and only really noticeable if searched for.

Sharpness is first rate and comparable to any full sized binocular. I compared them with my Swarovski 8.5x42 binoculars. At large distance (100m) the Swarovski were sharper by a gnats crotchet, helped no doubt by the slightly greater magnification.

Contrast is superb and flare is insignificant. (Note that with some binoculars when viewing a dark area next to a bright area, some of the light from the bright area floods into the dark area, reducing contrast, and making it impossible to see detail in the dark areas.) I have noticed no internal reflections.

These binoculars are bright, far brighter than one would expect from the small objective size. I compared them with my Swarovski 8.5x42 binoculars. At dusk, I could see no difference between the two. Distant Roe Deer and a distant barn were all equally well resolved and bright. Viewing the night sky, the EL was a little brighter, but not significantly so. Detail that was only visible with averted vision through the Nikon, was visible with direct vision through the Swarovski. My budget Nikon Egret 8x42 binoculars were as expected noticeably less bright.

The image has a strong 3-D feel due to the relatively large separation of the objective lenses. However I did find that it was not always easy to focus on nearby objects due to the strong 3-D effect. .

The close focus is roughly 3m.

Eye relief is excellent and I have no problem using the binoculars and seeing the whole field of view while wearing glasses.

The exit pupil at 4mm is fairly small and I found it a little harder to align the binoculars with my eyes than it would otherwise be with an 8x42 instrument.

Summary
Optically these binoculars provide an image that overall is second to none providing excellent FOV, DOF, sharpness, contrast and brightness. In my opinion though I have heard several people state the same they outperform top of the range full sized 8x roof prism binoculars. Mechanically they are excellent and the finish is second to none. The only blot on their character is the performance in very cold weather: the focus wheel is stiff, and some people might consider it unacceptable. I consider the optics so superior that I am willing to put up with a stiff focus wheel on cold winter days.

To be fair these binoculars will not appeal to everyone, due to their shape, the smallish 4mm exit pupils, the lack of waterproofing, the stiff focus in cold weather and the fold down rubber eye tubes.

What surprises me most is that I have never seen a pair around another birders neck. Quite why beats me. The fact that few optics shops stock them does not help, and I have been told - incorrectly in my opinion - by several shop keepers that they are not as good optically as the best roof prism binoculars.

Conclusion
Strongly recommended.