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

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  1. K

    Pocket CL Update

    I just noticed that Swarovski has updated (their word) the Pocket CL. They softened the look by rounding off the hinges (which may be more comfortable since the former design could dig into your fingers just a bit), rounding off the exposed metal, reducing the number of splines on the focus...
  2. K

    SV rainguards

    I mentioned this long ago, but it might be of use. For some reason, Swaro doesn't make great rainguards. I recently bought a second 8x32 SV, FP now, and yikes they still have a crummy rainguard, even though it's different from the original. If you push it all the way on, good luck trying to get...
  3. K

    Olympus 8x25 Tracker returns

    I just noticed that Amazon is selling the little Olympus 8x25 Tracker reverse porro, for $80. They were, so far as I knew, discontinued years ago, selling for $60-70?? The Tracker is quite the little overachiever. It's as sharp as any compact I've ever seen, weighs 10 ounces (282gm) with strap...
  4. K

    Are Monopods Useful?

    I was recently out hiking and travelling light—peanuts and stream water for lunch kind of light. :t: At one point I was beside a big reservoir and saw an immature Common Loon way out on the water. Not a big deal, but I like to watch Loons and they don't nest around here, so I did wish I could...
  5. K

    Binocular Optics and Mechanics

    I ran across this nifty book: Binocular Astronomy, 2nd ed. by Stephen Tonkin (2014). You can read chapter two as a sample, which covers binocular mechanics, here: http://www.springer.com/astronomy/popular+astronomy/book/978-1-4614-7466-1 Mark
  6. K

    Thoughts on Primes

    Just a few thoughts on the 8x42 Prime that I won in last month’s contest. First, thanks once again to Charles for this generous contest and opportunity! Perhaps subsequent winners (and all other users) can add their thoughts to this thread as well. The Primes arrived while I was out of town so...
  7. K

    Gadgets vs. Eyeballs

    In today's NYT: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/10/its-gadgets-vs-eyeballs-as-two-species-of-bird-watchers-clash/?_php=true&_type=blogs&hp&_r=0 Oh man, I like to think of myself as "old school" but...umm...you cannot take my birdsong app away from me. From my cold, dead hands as...
  8. K

    New Meopro HD Binoculars

    Have a look: http://www.meoptasportsoptics.com/us/news/meopta-introduces-the-meopro-hd-binocular-series-1404043132.html Mark
  9. K

    New Meopta Scope Coming

    I just received this link: http://www.ammoland.com/2014/04/meopta-meopro-hd-80-spotting-scope/#axzz2yPNqguU5 Interestingly: "Like all other optics in the MeoPro line, the HD 80 is assembled in the United States at Meopta’s Long Island, NY facility." I didn't know MeoPros were assembled here...
  10. K

    Bushnell 6x25 Custom Compact, 8 Degrees, circa?

    Well, I found this little gem at a thrift store for $2, and even though it was totally out of collimation I bought it anyway, just for yucks. What a magnificent little critter! It took a big hit at some point in terms of collimation. It takes my eyes about 2-3 seconds to compensate for the...
  11. K

    Threadlock? ED50 Tripod advice?

    I'm sure this has been covered before but with lots of new models available I thought I'd bring it up again. I've been using a truly cool vintage tripod with my ED50: Whitehall Travelite TR-1 made who knows when (50's-60's??). It weighs all of 1060gm (37oz), and goes up to about 60" or so...
  12. K

    Swaro video

    Just got this link in an email from Eagle Optics. A visit to SONA's facility: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y42S4nhHbt0&feature=youtu.be Mark
  13. K

    Thoughts on sand?

    I'm thinking about giving the 8x25 Pocket CL a go, but can't decide on a color. Out in the field I've seen the 32mm SV and the 30mm CL in "sand," Swaros light tan color. I wasn't real sold on it. It struck me as kind of an anemic color. But for some reason the 25mm looks good in sand, at least...
  14. K

    New Rainguards are here

    Looks like Swaro has heard all those complaints about the hard plastic rainguards: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/478773-REG/Swarovski_44001_Rubber_Silent_Rainguard_for.html Should come standard very soon. I've been using FL guards, but there you go. M
  15. K

    Easy for them to say.

    As a sideline I study consumer behavior and happiness, and last year I ran across this article. http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/2557/howellpcheliniyer2012the-preference-experiences-over-possessions.pdf As always with scientific papers: unless you're deep in the field, skip...
  16. K

    CL strap?

    I have grown to like the neoprene strap Swaro supplies with the SV's, once I cut off about four inches that is. Instead of a straight pad, it curves quite a bit, and is seriously comfy with the big 42mm's. But with the 32mm's it strikes me as needlessly heavy and more than what a 20.5 ounce bino...
  17. K

    "I need nines."

    I thought some folks here might enjoy this video about "Sh*t Birders Say": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaX7i1Q7-Rw Those are the same Stokes birdsong CD's I drive my wife batty with. ;) Mark
  18. K

    SV Update?

    I just got an LL Bean hunting catalog which shows what is supposedly a 10x42 SV, but it looks different. The frame is different, with the arcs between the bridges straightened out. The focus knob is black. There are two black knurled rings on the eyepieces, looking like diopters but I suspect...
  19. K

    Prostaff 5?

    Something new out there: http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-prostaff-5-16-48x60mm-zoom-spotting-scopes.html 26 ounces for a 60mm scope? One foot in length? Three interchangable EP's that are said to be designed to reduce CA? Looks interesting for sure. Mark
  20. K

    Leupold Ventana?

    Much as I like my Celestron 80mm Regal it's just too much to travel with. Plus, at 72 ounces you need a pretty heavy-duty tripod. But I ran across this Leupold that certainly sounds nice: Leupold SX-1 Ventana 15-45x 60mm--and only 30.6 ounces. $300. Well now, I could live with that...
  21. K

    The Big Year Bins

    Like a lot of us I'll be going to see "The Big Year" this weekend, even though it veers pretty hard from the fabulous non-fiction book it's based on (written by Mark Obmascik), and even though it seems to be getting uniformly lukewarm reviews (at best). The three main characters are competing...
  22. K

    Watch that bridge?

    I've grown to like open bridge bins, at least full-size. Mid-size might be another issue. But there's one thing that may affect how good they feel, and that's how thick/wide the focus bridge is. The SV focus end bridge is less wide than the Zen ED bridge and others. As a result, you don't have...
  23. K

    Kruger 15-45x60?

    Has anyone seen this one: http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/kruger.pl?page=kruger_malheur15-45x60 Can't beat the price ($180) and if it really is 32.5 ounces it would be nice in the field. But is it any good? Mark
  24. K

    Calculating FOV?

    I recently added the Baader Hyperion 17mm to my Celestron Regal 80mm and it seems to be a sweet combo. Focal length of scope is 480mm, yielding 28x with the EP. A big, wide FOV for sure, but I'm curious to know what it would actually measure. Can this be calculated or is a direct measurement the...
  25. K

    Focus Slop

    A few weeks ago brocknroller mentioned somewhere here that his Zen focuses better going from near to far (or far to near--I can't remember). Intrigued, I tried out a couple of my bins as well. Sure enough, some focus a bit better going one way rather than the other. It's very slight, of course...
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