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

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  1. S

    large observation binoculars?

    Hi Mark, I've found the Miyauchi 20x77 (see picture) to be excellent for astronomy and I've also used it very successfully for long range observation (I didn't carry the astronomical mounting I hasten to add!). I think these are very similar/same as the Opticron Specialist range of binoculars...
  2. S

    k10D Bigma settings

    The colours look very natural to me. I you have a look at the review of the K10D on dpreview.com you can see that the K10D is capable of very good images but jpegs straight out of the camera can look a bit soft. A very mild bit of sharpening in Photoshop will do the trick. Good luck :-)
  3. S

    why arent 8x50 Bino's more popular?

    I think birders tend to avoid the 8x50mm models because most people want to carry less weight and they also want a wider field of view. Some 8x50's have a significantly narrower field of view than the equivalent 8x42. Personally I really like the 8x50 format (I'm a sucker for those big lenses)...
  4. S

    Bright comet visible now!

    Don't miss your chance to turn your binoculars on a bright comet. Binoculars are the perfect instrument for casual comet viewing. See this thread - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=100231
  5. S

    70-200mm f2.8 EX DG Macro

    Thanks everyone. I was considering it as a general purpose lens rather than a dedicated bird lens. The fact it'll take a 2x convertor and still autofocus looks like a nice bonus.
  6. S

    Nikon 8 x 32 SE v Nikon 8 x 32 HG

    Hi Andrew, You'll find the HG often referred to as the Venturer on the US market. The SE (as we call it in the UK) is often called the Superior E (which is what SE stands for after all). They're both very high quality instruments. Good luck. John
  7. S

    70-200mm f2.8 EX DG Macro

    70-200mm f2.8 EX DG Macro - Any users? Anybody using this lens for general nature/wildlife photography? Any experiences good or bad? Cheers John
  8. S

    Canon 30D - still a good choice?

    Thanks very much for all the replies. Dave is right, I saw the 30D at Warehouse Express for £459 (curiously comes in a white box but apparently brand new). I think I'll probably go for one of these if I decide to go ahead. Cheers!
  9. S

    Canon 30D - still a good choice?

    I'm thinking of taking the plunge and getting a digital SLR for bird photography. I can get a new 30D body for £460 and wondered if this was a good choice. I think I've really narrowed it down to a 30D or the Nikon D80. Any thoughts on the pros and cons of these? ....or should I wait for the...
  10. S

    Jet-skiers - what to do ?

    Thanks Perry. That looks quite effective but not very portable ;)
  11. S

    Jet-skiers - what to do ?

    There seems to be a growing problem with jet-skiers around the Langstone Harbour area near Portsmouth. There can be up to a dozen of them at once speeding up and down the harbour entrance and up into the main harbour that contains roosting and nesting areas for thousands of birds (this area is...
  12. S

    Should dogs be banned from woodlands trust properties??

    Hi Matt, I think the problem is that only responsible people take notice of restrictions and rules. I often visit the reserve at Farlington Marshes and there are clear signs at the entrances saying dogs must be on a lead. Some dog owners take no notice and let their dogs run free. Just by...
  13. S

    New Ultravids coming

    For the UK there's Import Duty + VAT (17.5%) charged on the product and shipping cost + a 'Customs processing fee' charged by the post office for the arduous task of clearing the package through customs. An additional hidden cost comes from the fact that the warranty may well be invalid too. So...
  14. S

    New Ultravids coming

    Hi Tom, Well the Swarovski 8x30 Habicht is no longer available in the armoured version (at least here in the UK), the 7x40 has a very small field of view for a 7x and they all (7x, 8x, 10x)have limited eye-relief by modern standards. The eye-cups are common source of complaints too. I was just...
  15. S

    New Ultravids coming

    I note with dismay that the prices of the new HD Ultravids at Warehouse Express are as follows: Ultravid 7x42 HD £1280 Ultravid 8x42 HD £1350 Ultravid 10x42 HD £1420 Ultravid 8x50 HD £1350 Ultravid 10x50 HD £1420 Ultravid 12x50 HD £1570 I find this rather depressing. I really hope...
  16. S

    Minox BD 15x58 ED BR

    Hi Bob, In terms of optical quality, my experience is that the Minox 15x58 approaches the quality of some of the top porro-prism designs such as the Fujinon 16x70 and even the Zeiss 15x60 (at least my sample does). Last year I travelled a very long way to look at a used pair of Zeiss 15x60 being...
  17. S

    Minox BD 15x58 ED BR

    Hi Bob, I have this binocular and I use it mostly for astronomy, although it's great in daylight too. Optical performance is very good with very little chromatic abberation. Stars focus down to tight pin-points. Even though it's a heavy instrument (about 1.5kg) it's quite well balanced and can...
  18. S

    Nikon SE 10x42 vs. Nikon LXL 10x42

    I've owned both the same binoculars as Sailcat and I agree entirely with what he says.
  19. S

    Leica 7x42 Ultravid v Leica 7x42 BN

    Hi AP I haven't tried comparing multiple samples but my impression is that the optics are different. Certainly with the 7x the nature of the view is quite different. I've tried several 7x BN's and they always had a large and even 'sweet spot'. The Ultravid 7x seems to be sharper but with a...
  20. S

    Leica 7x42 Ultravid v Leica 7x42 BN

    I've had the opportunity to try both side by side. They both have their plus points so it's not a clear victory for one over the other. The Ultravid is astoundingly sharp in the centre of the field but the overall area of central sharpness is greater in the BN which to my eyes makes for a more...
  21. S

    Leica 8x32 BA / BN - even illumination ?

    A quick update. I finally got to try a brand new Leica 8x32 BN and was extremely impressed. It seemed much better than the 8x32 BA that I sold 8 years ago and the uneven illumination issue that bothered me so much in the old BA seems absent in the new BN. The credit card may be taking another...
  22. S

    Conquest 8x50 and 10x50

    Has anyone tried these binoculars ? I just noticed them while viewing the Zeiss website and didn't realise that 50mm models had been introduced. http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A80033F8E4/Contents-Frame/436FD37CCBF86D1941256A690045E754
  23. S

    Truly sickening

    Hi Matt I took your advice and just signed ! I've already seen too much of this stuff. Cheers John
  24. S

    Leica 8x32 BA / BN - even illumination ?

    I'm starting to wish I'd never asked this question. Since Angelo's reply I've started to notice that I actually can see uneven illumination in the 10x42 BN. I notice it more when looking at a bright plain area of open sky or sea. I see it less in dull conditions. It's pretty mild and nowhere...
  25. S

    Leica 8x32 BA / BN - even illumination ?

    Hi Angelo Thanks for the information. I must say I find this rather puzzling. Over the years I've used Trinovids in 8x32 BA, 8x50 BA, 10x42 BN and 7x42 BN, but I've only ever been bothered by the uneven illumination in the 8x32 BA. I've just checked my 10x42 BN (current model with the better...
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