Holger Merlitz
Well-known member
8x is certainly a more universal format than 7x. On the other hand, there is far more competition on the market of 8x binoculars.
Yet, as I have mentioned elsewhere, there also exists a general deficiency in terms of marketing: Everybody, even the casual binocular user, understands the meaning of magnification - after all, this is precisely the reason why somebody would buy a binocular: To view things magnified.
Side effects of magnification, however, are less easily explained:
Handshake - OK, no problem in the store, but after several hours in the field and partial exhaustion, it turns visible.
Field of view, depth of field - the three dimensional volume of objects that are imaged clearly without the need to refocus increases dramatically at lower powers.
Finally, larger exit pupils offer improved low-light performance and ease of view.
If every potential buyer was aware of these facts (and I am not talking about members of this forum, who got a far higher understanding of binocular technology than the average user), then probably the 7x format would sell far better.
My suggestion therefore: Binocular manufacturers should not only sell, but also inform about their products - and here I refer to something else than just buzzwords for new coating technologies. Perhaps, every binocular should come along with a small, 20 page booklet that informs the buyer about most basic technical facts and thus improves his understanding of binocular technology and binocular observation. A manufacturer, who adopts the information, if not training, of his customers as one of his duties, should have the chance to sell products that positively differ from his competition.
Cheers,
Holger
) I will add that if this launch hiccup happens again, such a statement would be even more effective issued a lot earlier.
