Nixterdemus
Well-known member
Before the bin arrived I was looking WWN under a complete low overcast sky w/Minox HG 8.5x52. I noticed some CA whilst looking at a squirrels nest. I looked through 10x40/12x45 Conquest, 8X42 Kruger Caldera, 8.5x45 Weaver Super Slam, 8.5x50 Vortex Viper, 10x45 Optolyth Royal, 15x56 Vortex Vulture HD, 20x56 Nikon M511 und naturally the Leica Trinovid HD 10x42 was dropped off as I finished w/rest.
Super Slammy wins again followed closely by the Nikon w/Trinovid a game third. Oddly enough, to the point I find queer, is the best viewing under CA w/Trinovid HD is dead center [who'd 'ave thunk it] L-R, but slightly elevated above center. There was a reticle years ago that had a fine wire splitting the bottom/top of sphere in the center w/small tapered vertical post that barely went past the horizontal wire leaving a small rectangular nub. Like this:
http://m7.i.pbase.com/o10/70/1271570/1/165794767.aPx1abxl.L25xpc2.jpg
A squirrels nest is larger than a bulls-eye, yet I still need the nest above the nub, so to speak for best control of CA. I tried moving the glass, tilting the glass to no avail.
The Trinovid HD has more PC than I care for, yet it's not that distracting. I do not want globe effect though I wish to be a mite closer. Same goes for the Conquests. I've no clue about the Conquest HD.
On the back deck I could hear geese coming up on me from NNE. They were only around 70' high slicing full bore through the trees. I threw up the Trinovid preceded to bring them into focus. W/o realizing in the heat of the moment that I was at minimum focus. It's amazing how long it can take to spin a focuser two complete turns, all the while attempting to stay on target by homing in on the honking. In retrospect it would've been far easier/much quicker to spin the focus to the end, as I keep an eye on the grey geese, then throw them up needing only a slight adjustment to fine tune.
The Trinovid HD 10x42 is bright. As daylight dwindled it appeared brighter than the 10x40 Conquest w/ABK prism. Not by much though credit newest lens coating I suppose.
Completely overcast all day. Still the little Leica was bright/sharp w/plenty plenty of contrast making for a nice view. The focus isn't nearly as easy as the Zeiss, but does not need the exertion for the Minox, usually.
Speaking of focusing, [780* total 2.2 turns ] 5'/1.5M- 40'/12M 1.8 turns[680*] -50yds/46M 1.9 turns 710*[from there it's .2 turns/75* to the end of travel.
No, the little Leica did not displace the old Weaver in CA control. Yes, it has a wee bit more PC to boot. The focus is always smooth as silk from infinity down CCW. Sometimes from close focus to infinity CW the focus is beyond hard to turn. No feel of being gritty just at least twice as hard as the Minox HG 8.5x52[which is super smooth though requires twice as much force to turn as any of me early Conquests, 8x30/10x40/12x45. Other times it's smooth as can be going from minimum focus to infinity. No rhyme nor reason it would seem.
I had this issue three separate times. Sometimes focus was very hard for half/full turn then it would return to easy motion. Once it was hard all the way from minimum focus to the end of the line. Always when turning CW never CCW. This was within the first thirty minutes. Since then I cannot induce this one way/on occasion hard focus to save me soul. Would seem possessed then changed its mind.
I called Leica they ran the SN. It has never been registered. The skies have yet to clear, so I'm left to guess that infinity is slightly past two turns. As well I've not been able to use them under clear skies. Not a deal breaker as the Royal has over 2.75 turns L-L though I prefer 1-1.5.
I can minimum focus to 4'10" though I wrote 5' as it's an easier number. Still, almost two turns to 50Y/46M is a lot of spinning. Although the vast amount is used reaching 40'/12M. From there to infinity is probably within 0.25 turn. I'll have to wait for clear skies to know.
I tried to back off the eye cups to the 4th setting. No such luck. Even fully extended they could've been a mite longer for me as I prefer to bury me eyes in the cups.
So, it would seem for me w/this sample it is truly a mixed bag. I'm not focusing on the focus. Whatevah/whyevah I'm sure this is an isolated incident. Plus, I wish to peer whilst under clear blue skies.
I'm not going to rush to judgment, but I am going to contact Leica about the focus mechanics. We'll see what shakes, eh mates?
ETA: Infinity is 730* so, 40'/12M 1.8 turns[680*] is 30* from infinity. At 50yds/46M 1.9 turns 710* it's only 20* to infinity.
The focus has no slack, it seems to be a mite easier within .5 turn of Minimum focus listing ever so slightly less effort in CCW movement. Not by very much w/me looking hard for evah so slight irregularity of tension.
Now, past the half turn CW the effort required seems the same whether CW/CCW to lock past infinity. Breaking in?
Perhaps I'm going mad, would be a short trip, as I'm concentrating on the feel of the focus sitting in the dark.
ETA: Thursday morn breaks fully overcast fog just above the trees. The colours of the Trinovid are striking. Again I compare to the older Conquest 10x40 ABK. It is no contest. What surprises me is that the view from the Leica does not appear to be oversaturated. Perhaps a combination of colour/contrast/sharpness. It holds true this afternoon under full sun.
Once more I target the nest. I'm north of a large oak tree bins & I immersed in shade. Same CA that is best resolved w/target right above the horizontal center of view. I change looking due south at another oak. If I side step half a step I'll be looking into the sun. Of course even in the shade under such harsh conditions it is no problem to see CA. What I found interesting is the level, up/down of the bin determines if I see yellow or indigo. And in the middle, just above the center line, is the sweet spot that cancels each out. Not a huge spot though it is there.
As well I'm spotting jets that I cannot render unaided. The view is small at 10X, yet very crisp even hand held. I also saw a very low flying single ross's goose. Quite breathtaking. Didn't hurt that I was looking north w/sun at me back.
The focuser has not stiffened up since the third time yesterday. Effort wise it's twixt the Conquest & Minox HG. The diopter ring moves easy enough, yet it isn't loose or sloppy. Focusing under 5' is unusual. I allow me eyes to drift from a diverged point.
Super Slammy wins again followed closely by the Nikon w/Trinovid a game third. Oddly enough, to the point I find queer, is the best viewing under CA w/Trinovid HD is dead center [who'd 'ave thunk it] L-R, but slightly elevated above center. There was a reticle years ago that had a fine wire splitting the bottom/top of sphere in the center w/small tapered vertical post that barely went past the horizontal wire leaving a small rectangular nub. Like this:
http://m7.i.pbase.com/o10/70/1271570/1/165794767.aPx1abxl.L25xpc2.jpg
A squirrels nest is larger than a bulls-eye, yet I still need the nest above the nub, so to speak for best control of CA. I tried moving the glass, tilting the glass to no avail.
The Trinovid HD has more PC than I care for, yet it's not that distracting. I do not want globe effect though I wish to be a mite closer. Same goes for the Conquests. I've no clue about the Conquest HD.
On the back deck I could hear geese coming up on me from NNE. They were only around 70' high slicing full bore through the trees. I threw up the Trinovid preceded to bring them into focus. W/o realizing in the heat of the moment that I was at minimum focus. It's amazing how long it can take to spin a focuser two complete turns, all the while attempting to stay on target by homing in on the honking. In retrospect it would've been far easier/much quicker to spin the focus to the end, as I keep an eye on the grey geese, then throw them up needing only a slight adjustment to fine tune.
The Trinovid HD 10x42 is bright. As daylight dwindled it appeared brighter than the 10x40 Conquest w/ABK prism. Not by much though credit newest lens coating I suppose.
Completely overcast all day. Still the little Leica was bright/sharp w/plenty plenty of contrast making for a nice view. The focus isn't nearly as easy as the Zeiss, but does not need the exertion for the Minox, usually.
Speaking of focusing, [780* total 2.2 turns ] 5'/1.5M- 40'/12M 1.8 turns[680*] -50yds/46M 1.9 turns 710*[from there it's .2 turns/75* to the end of travel.
No, the little Leica did not displace the old Weaver in CA control. Yes, it has a wee bit more PC to boot. The focus is always smooth as silk from infinity down CCW. Sometimes from close focus to infinity CW the focus is beyond hard to turn. No feel of being gritty just at least twice as hard as the Minox HG 8.5x52[which is super smooth though requires twice as much force to turn as any of me early Conquests, 8x30/10x40/12x45. Other times it's smooth as can be going from minimum focus to infinity. No rhyme nor reason it would seem.
I had this issue three separate times. Sometimes focus was very hard for half/full turn then it would return to easy motion. Once it was hard all the way from minimum focus to the end of the line. Always when turning CW never CCW. This was within the first thirty minutes. Since then I cannot induce this one way/on occasion hard focus to save me soul. Would seem possessed then changed its mind.
I called Leica they ran the SN. It has never been registered. The skies have yet to clear, so I'm left to guess that infinity is slightly past two turns. As well I've not been able to use them under clear skies. Not a deal breaker as the Royal has over 2.75 turns L-L though I prefer 1-1.5.
I can minimum focus to 4'10" though I wrote 5' as it's an easier number. Still, almost two turns to 50Y/46M is a lot of spinning. Although the vast amount is used reaching 40'/12M. From there to infinity is probably within 0.25 turn. I'll have to wait for clear skies to know.
I tried to back off the eye cups to the 4th setting. No such luck. Even fully extended they could've been a mite longer for me as I prefer to bury me eyes in the cups.
So, it would seem for me w/this sample it is truly a mixed bag. I'm not focusing on the focus. Whatevah/whyevah I'm sure this is an isolated incident. Plus, I wish to peer whilst under clear blue skies.
I'm not going to rush to judgment, but I am going to contact Leica about the focus mechanics. We'll see what shakes, eh mates?
ETA: Infinity is 730* so, 40'/12M 1.8 turns[680*] is 30* from infinity. At 50yds/46M 1.9 turns 710* it's only 20* to infinity.
The focus has no slack, it seems to be a mite easier within .5 turn of Minimum focus listing ever so slightly less effort in CCW movement. Not by very much w/me looking hard for evah so slight irregularity of tension.
Now, past the half turn CW the effort required seems the same whether CW/CCW to lock past infinity. Breaking in?
Perhaps I'm going mad, would be a short trip, as I'm concentrating on the feel of the focus sitting in the dark.
ETA: Thursday morn breaks fully overcast fog just above the trees. The colours of the Trinovid are striking. Again I compare to the older Conquest 10x40 ABK. It is no contest. What surprises me is that the view from the Leica does not appear to be oversaturated. Perhaps a combination of colour/contrast/sharpness. It holds true this afternoon under full sun.
Once more I target the nest. I'm north of a large oak tree bins & I immersed in shade. Same CA that is best resolved w/target right above the horizontal center of view. I change looking due south at another oak. If I side step half a step I'll be looking into the sun. Of course even in the shade under such harsh conditions it is no problem to see CA. What I found interesting is the level, up/down of the bin determines if I see yellow or indigo. And in the middle, just above the center line, is the sweet spot that cancels each out. Not a huge spot though it is there.
As well I'm spotting jets that I cannot render unaided. The view is small at 10X, yet very crisp even hand held. I also saw a very low flying single ross's goose. Quite breathtaking. Didn't hurt that I was looking north w/sun at me back.
The focuser has not stiffened up since the third time yesterday. Effort wise it's twixt the Conquest & Minox HG. The diopter ring moves easy enough, yet it isn't loose or sloppy. Focusing under 5' is unusual. I allow me eyes to drift from a diverged point.
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