Hi HN,
(Btw, typing on the iPad is a pain, sorry for any typos)
I was speaking about length, as you have guessed, but I agree that the manufacturer's description of the shades is imprecise....for example they are said to be telescopic, but that seems to be incorrect. Maybe you should ask Oetzi if they work well etc. Personally I believe that the SV 8x32 might benefit of this type of shades, yet I am hesitating to mount them on the bin and spoil its good looks! Also one would need to remove them when putting the bins back in the case, right?
As a side note, I have been last week in Oslo and could not find a single store carrying high-end bins! The reason seems to be that people go to a brick and mortar store usually only for checking out bins, buying is done typically online....
Best, Peter.
Hi Peter!
Yes, I sent Oetzi a message, but he seems to be on vacation or something (driving his beer-filled wohnmobil around Europe, no doubt!)
I used to think that the shades would spoil the looks of the binocular too, but then I realised I would much rather have improved optical performance than a good looking binocular.
In any case, the shades are flexible rubber, so you should be able to twist them on and off when desired, and put them away in your pocket or something when they are not needed.
As for the relative lack of brick-and-mortar shops carrying high end bins in Norway, I think the reasons for this is mixed, including a relative small and dispersed population, high rents in central areas and the fact that Norwegians are among the most internet-connected people in the world, so buying online is simply second nature to us.
As for me, living in the middle of nowhere above the Arctic circle, I have little choice but to buy online. The cost of traveling to the nearest large town with a brick-and-mortar shop will almost always be higher than ordering online, especially because many online shops offer free delivery. In addition, even the biggest b&m shops will seldom stack the full range of high-end bins anyway, leaving you unable to compare them side by side...
That said, I did actually buy my 8x32 EL SV as a demo bin from a brick-and-mortar shop, so never say never!
HN
