I had the 8x30 CL, the 8x32 SV and the 8.5x42 SV. Each increase in aperture brought a huge increase in performance. This new 8x30 CL may be improved but it still will not compete with it's bigger brother's if you want superior optics. The move from an 8x30 CL to an an 8x32 SV is almost insignificant in size and weight but huge in performance.
The old CL. My point is even with the improvements on the new CL I don't see it to be any serious competition for the 8x32 SV. The new CL will be a nice smaller compact binocular for those people willing to sacrifice performance for those advantages. I have tried a lot of different 30mm binoculars and I have never found their performance good enough for a full time birding binocular under all conditions. They are fine as a secondary sunny weather daytime binocular but I wouldn't take one to the jungles of Costa Rica. I know I have tried them. They don't WORK good under the canopy. Give me a 42mm for all around use all around the world. The best 30mm I ever had optically was the Nikon 8x30 EII. Even with an optical box you still only have a 3.75mm exit pupil. It is too bad they couldn't make a 25mm or 30mm binocular perform like a 32mm or 42mm. That would be like having your cake and eating it too.Dennis,
....huge in performance....,
Based on what experience do you make this statement?
We are talking about the new CL and I assume you about the old CL.
Jan
The old CL. My point is even with the improvements on the new CL I don't see it to be any serious competition for the 8x32 SV. The new CL will be a nice smaller compact binocular for those people willing to sacrifice performance for those advantages. I have tried a lot of different 30mm binoculars and I have never found their performance good enough for a full time birding binocular under all conditions. They are fine as a secondary sunny weather daytime binocular but I wouldn't take one to the jungles of Costa Rica. I know I have tried them. They don't WORK good under the canopy. Give me a 42mm for all around use all around the world. The best 30mm I ever had optically was the Nikon 8x30 EII. Even with an optical box you still only have a 3.75mm exit pupil.
Dennis,
How can you make your point if you even have never looked through this CL?
Jan
Well, had the chance to look trough the 8 and 10x this afternoon and I must say these are Swarovski worthy optics.
Swaro, congrets. Very well done.
By widening the incoming lightray they managed to inplant an "optical box" which causes no blackouts at the eyecups side. I say it wrong, but it results in a eye relief to 21mm. I know it is 16 but one can get closer or further away from the eye lens without experiencing blackouts.
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Jan
Jan,
I'm confused.:h?:
Does "widening the incoming lightray" make the exit pupil larger?
And what is an "optical box?"
Bob
Dennis,
How can you make your point if you even have never looked through this CL?
Jan
Jan,
Isn’t it easier to speculate and talk „hands-off“ about binoculars that you have never seen than to comment on facts and features of a bino which you have had to inspect yourself ?
sbb, post 11,
It is funny that you complain about the size of the binocular bag. Not long ago, Swarovski supplied the best (my opinion) bags one could dream of, they fitted like an envelope around the binocular, but I heard that consumers did not like these bags since they were too sober or whatever term you can think of.
I still use them every day and they hardly take space in the backpack, so ideal for hiking and protection. Pity such a consumer influence to the worst (my opinion of course, not shared by everybody I am sure).
Gijs van Ginkel
RobMorane, post 53,
It was the envelope one, it fitted very tight around the binocular and it did a very good job for:
-a- protection
-b- most compact transport in the backpack.
Gijs van Ginkel
Thank You Gijs.
The closest one I found matching your description is that one
http://opticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/swar-grn-functional-bag-2501.jpg
That's actually a good idea, I'm going to see if I can improvize one with one of the Domke protective wraps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PACh3YRasI
Thanks again Gijs
Anyone non US/Canada in the birdforum neighborhood go out and get these/try these today??? Were people lined up at the stores like with iphone???
I'm very excited about this unit, but looks like I have to wait till mid January 2018 here in the US. Would like to hear the reviews from the earlybirds.... thanks,
CG