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

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  1. R

    Trinovid hd 8x32 report

    On a recent little stay in San Francisco, I found the big red spot store directly across the street from our hotel. I have long craved a nice roof prism 8x32, and planted that seed in my wife's mind to grow. I had decided the Ultravid HD plus was probably the one for me. But in the store, I...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 34
    • Forum: Leica
  2. R

    small exit pupils in low light

    Howdy, Lately, going out for nighthawks in evening dusk/twilight, I have much enjoyed using my 8x30 Fujinon FMTR-SX. Not being purely bird-obsessed, I direct my gaze not only into the sky for birds but also at darkening terrestial scenes, under bushes etc., the darkest places I can find. I...
  3. R

    And now, for something seriously inappropriate

    Birding lately with my little old 8x30 Fujinon FMTR-SX has been a gateway drug to the hard stuff, the big mama 7x50 FMT. I hadn't been out with this one lately, but today once again confirmed that it delivers the plainest and clearest image that I have ever seen. Not sure I can explain it...
  4. R

    Color skewing comparison

    I have always considered myself happily immune to the fine color presentation differences that are often discussed here. Many have praised the Leica Ultravid in this respect, and criticized the Zeiss FL for being too blue, too green, or at the very least not red enough. The 50mm BR and 56 mm...
  5. R

    Interview with a normal person

    My wife has used Swaro 8.5x42s the last 5 years, both the original and the Swarovision, and has remarked that while the SV is excellent, it does not seem like a significant improvement to her. So, we are dealing with a "normal birdwatcher" here, not a "binocular fanatic". I recently brought...
  6. R

    10x56 FL review

    I have been curious about the 10x56 FL ever since Henry Link made his case for the large exit pupil advantage in his review of the 8x56. But I like higher magnification for low light, distant views, and stargazing. Like the 8x, the 10x56 is not very popular here, but the occasional reports glow...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 17
    • Forum: Zeiss
  7. R

    Gijs's reviews

    Temmie shared a review by member Gijs van Ginkel, and with a bit of poking around I discovered a bunch of very thorough reviews he has written. Not reading Dutch, I had to use a web translator, but even filtered through that nonsense his careful work shines...
  8. R

    distant glitter points, bean blooms

    I was sitting out on the back deck as twilight deepened yesterday, looking around with binoculars, just enjoying the end of the day. The 12x50 wandered upon the lights at a distant intersection, but the focus was set very close. The out of focus blobs were not circular, but shaped like vertical...
  9. R

    Trinovid BN 12x50 #2

    Before my 12x50 BN got ripped off, I was contemplating a 10x50 Ultravid to fill the gap between my 8x42 and the big 12x. When insurance offered a generous choice of replacement, I got the 10x50 BR, and have been happy with it. It is arguably a better all around binocular than the 12x BN. In...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 22
    • Forum: Leica
  10. R

    Article on prism systems

    Here is a nice-beginning, but suddenly turning impenetrable, article about straight-through inverting prism systems that I wandered up on, written in 1967 by R. Liebmann of Zeiss. Thanks to Isle Roberts and Peter Abrahams for knowing about it as well as translating it, in 1996...
  11. R

    Is the FL old hat?

    During a recent day of good birding at Bosque del Apache NWR, I traded my 8x42 FL for my wife's 8.5x42 Swarovision for a little over an hour. What follows are purely subjective impressions, but from real field use looking at birds fast and hard, no time to fool around, hopefully sorting out what...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 115
    • Forum: Zeiss
  12. R

    FL not ED

    This link from the Zeiss FL infotisement page, clearly claims Zeiss's FL glass is different from ED glass. Sorry it didn't come through as a clickable link. Once in there, go to the "The Victory FL difference" section, and then click on "Why FL glass"...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Zeiss
  13. R

    new 8.5x42 SV in the house

    It's my wife's, our insurance company's generous replacement for her 2005 model old style EL which got stolen. It came directly from Swaro, not through any dealer, and was back ordered for a couple of weeks, so is the very latest thing off the line. The focus on this one is budda smooth unlike...
  14. R

    XXX on hingepin

    My used BR 10x50 has XXX stamped on the hingepin on the underside. It looks like it was stamped on after manufacturer, like the stamping went through the black enamel a little bit. The previous owner thought maybe it means it is a demo. Or perhaps a refurb, I wonder? A dispicable third rate...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Leica
  15. R

    10x50 BR

    Hi ya'll, I've had this 10x50 BR only two days, but have inflicted almost every conceivable viewing cruelty upon it, and I am delighted. Not much new here, but I feel duty bound to share my findings/brag. The sun is low these days and the moon is high, and by day and night resistance to...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 36
    • Forum: Leica
  16. R

    SV and SLC-HD review, 42mm ratings and transmissions

    Here's something that came to light over on CN. It is a detailed review of the new Swaros, plus ratings and some spectral transmissions several of the top 42mm roofs, by Gijs van Ginkel. http://home.europa.com/~telscope/Ginkel.2010.Test.42mm.binoculars.pdf And, here is Gijs's description of...
  17. R

    Fan Tao's website archived

    Vintage fans should be sad at the loss of Fan Tao's website, which showed his impressive collection and very articulate comments on those interesting binoculars. There was a lot of love there! But over on Cloudy Nights, one of the members somehow discovered that some angel had archived this...
  18. R

    Fujinon 6x30 FMT-SX

    I should explain why the purchase of this binocular was not silly, but a matter of grim necessity. First, my Zeiss 8x42 FL already obviated my similar Trinovid BA, with it's better optics and ergonomics. So I sold the Leica--I just don't want two 8x42s. Second, the FL also has obviated my...
  19. R

    BA finger

    Today, in a rousing face-off with a 8x42 Zeiss FL for several hours down along the Rio Grande, my 8x42 BA took not a bit of lip from the newer glass, but demonstrated its warmth and richer contrast vs the FL's brighter and CA free but cooler and somehow thinner view. Resolution of fine reeds and...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Leica
  20. R

    12x50 Trinovid BN

    I tried a used 12x50 BN in a store in Tuscon recently, and was very impressed by the central sharpness, 68deg field, and compact size (exactly the same width and thickness as a Zeiss 8x42 FL, and only 1/2 inch longer). I just couldn't resist, and bought it. I'll be using it for stargazing...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 19
    • Forum: Leica
  21. R

    phase coating, binolife confessional

    I said: "We sometimes discuss how a Schmidt-Pechan prism is not totally internally reflective at all surfaces, and generally applaud the new dielectric coatings which give over 99% reflectivity, enabling the SP to compete with Porros and AKs for brightness. But, isn't the reflectivity of a...
  22. R

    phase coating reflectivity

    We sometimes discuss how a Schmidt-Pechan prism is not totally internally reflective at all surfaces, and generally applaud the new dielectric coatings which give over 99% reflectivity, enabling the SP to compete with Porros and AKs for brightness. But, isn't the reflectivity of a...
  23. R

    crepescular me

    After an early supper tonight, my wife and I decided to drive out to our favorite owl site, a small canyon about 15 miles away. There is a good place to park and look at a cliffsides about 300 yds away, full of eroded holes, also woods and mesa tops where we know a pair of Great Horneds hangs...
  24. R

    8x42 FL five weeks later

    Updates: My FL seems flawless, and I am now accustomed to the quick-geared but heavy feeling and smooth focus. There have been several reports of problems with this model, problems with Zeiss warranty service, and suspicions concerning the models ruggedness and integrity. I can only hope mine...
    • ronh
    • Thread
    • Replies: 13
    • Forum: Zeiss
  25. R

    my first resolution measurement

    Guys, I hate to be a blabbemouth, but this little paragraph is imbedded (post #41) in the current thread on the Zeiss 8x42 FL that has turned into discussions of global economy and stuff. I was afraid you'd miss it, and would appreciate any feedback criticism and advice. I saith: "Yesterday, I...
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