Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
So then-Chinese made binoculars are not officially alpha
And to be not so subtle about the point, for me, they are not unofficially alphas either.
--AP
So then-Chinese made binoculars are not officially alpha
And to be not so subtle about the point, for me, they are not unofficially alphas either.
--AP
What binoculars that are not made by Zeiss/Leica/Swarovski/Nikon EDG II, i.e., "Alphas", do you consider to have a comparable optical quality to the "alphas"?
The original question was about optical quality. Not build quality or ergonomics. Other than Alexis's specific comment regarding chasing sparrows in the brush I haven't really seen anything concrete to clarify why some of the higher performing Chinese binoculars don't compare with the Alphas. Stray light control? Off axis performance?
Please clarify this issue.
Frank:
I will offer one, and that is the Nikon SE 8x32, and it may not be considered
among the main alphas, as it is an alpha binocular, considering its great
build, and I find the optics to be very good, comparing to some of the
alphas, including stray light handling, it is the equal or better than the Nikon EDG 8x32, and the great edg performance makes it a top performer. I do find it much like the Swaro. 8.5x42 SV, as these all have many great advantages.
I am wondering about any of the Chinese built types that you would think
to be included in this area. I have tried some, and have not found much that
do not get into this area. I do like centerfield performance.
What is there that would be of notice?
Jerry
Original poster here.
I do not have a pair of "Chinese" binoculars, apart from my little Leupold Yosemite 8x30 BX-1. So, i cannot comment directly on "Chinese" binocular optical quality vs that of the Teutonic Trinity and Nikon's Japanese production.
However, a story from the world of amateur astronomy.
Back in the 1990's and before, APO (apochromatic) refractors were considered the sole provenance of Japan, the United States and Germany.
Then, early in the last decade, Orion Telescopes introduced the "Orion 80ED". It was a an 80mm f/7.5 refractor of Chinese manufacture. No less than the "official" authority, Sky & Telescope Magazine, pronounced it an APO.
Now, the majority of APO refractors are carrying Chinese optics.
The original 80ED left much to be desired mechanically. And, quality control was somewhere below ok
The moral of the story is this. Chinese manufacture of optical elements certainly will match the "alphas" in quality, if some have not already, someday. The total quality of manufacture and assembly of the optical train/assembly will lag behind, but eventually improve to a high standard. Fit and feel will lag even longer, but it too will advance.
The ideal birding bin is the one that allows you to get your eyes on a raptor that is momentarily visible through a rear passenger side window, and which delivers that view even though you are looking sideways through the oculars (slight exaggeration , holding the bin one handed, and are contorted into an almost up-side-down position in order to get the needed viewing angle, all the while speeding down a county highway from one spot to another in the course of a big day effort.
... why I posted that this could get interesting as it develops. Asking a question based on an undefinible ideal is bound to get interesting, as everybody will have lots of different opinions.
no offense, but you keep repeating this as though it's a priori true that the "alphas" are better at this stuff than non alphas, but I don't actually see any evidence that it is the case. WTF is so special about the alphas that lets you get on a bird quicker while hanging upside down from a tree branch with one arm tied behind your back exactly???
Obviously there are some alphas that are renowned for their ergonomics (some people swear by the old Lieca Trinnies, others love the Swaro open bridge, etc) but among non-alphas there is as much (if not more) variation in size, physical design, focus speed, focus knob tension, etc. I am simply not buying that the alphas as a class are in some way magically superior in this respect to all non-alphas.
no offense, but you keep repeating this as though it's a priori true that the "alphas" are better at this stuff than non alphas, but I don't actually see any evidence that it is the case. WTF is so special about the alphas that lets you get on a bird quicker while hanging upside down from a tree branch with one arm tied behind your back exactly???
Obviously there are some alphas that are renowned for their ergonomics (some people swear by the old Lieca Trinnies, others love the Swaro open bridge, etc) but among non-alphas there is as much (if not more) variation in size, physical design, focus speed, focus knob tension, etc. I am simply not buying that the alphas as a class are in some way magically superior in this respect to all non-alphas.
...If the question wasn't really about birding specific functionality, it should have been asked as "are there any current production mid or full-sized bins with absolutely top-end optical performance not made by Z/L/S/N,....
You are correct, the above would have been a better way to ask.
However, the original question does not refer to "birding" specifically. Birding i believe refers to the pastime of identifying birds.
From the original post:
"the purpose of the use should be for handheld looking at birds."
For example, early this a.m. i was out checking on my most local group of crows. Checking for feather damage, iding what they were snacking on etc. I was "watching birds", but few would call that birding.
To own an alpha, or near alpha, and to only use it to ''look at birds'' is just a waste of money. ...
Interesting.
I of course will try to ID a bird I do not recall seeing before
But, animal behavior study is my hobby. The Common, or american Crow my primary subject.
I need to be able to discern slight differences in shading, and interior mouth color, from a distance, to reinforce my aging of them from their behavior. And, I need to ID any birds or other creatures the crows are interacting with. Often, i need to discern what they are eating or playing with. At times I have starred through my binos for a 1/2 an hour or more without let up. Therefore, I do need very finely made optics so as not to get a headache. And, as you can imagine, this occurs in all weather/seasons/conditions.
I am glad you told me this. I can ignore the current production alphas. :t: