Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
This is a post that I've been meaning to get around to writing ever since the Zeiss 8x42 SF was released. The world hasn't been crying out for this post, but here it is.
In comparing the Zeiss 8x42 SF to the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL Swarovision, one of the supposed advantages of the SF is more ergonomic focus, which is accomplished by (1) placement of focus wheel closer to the central opening for the hand, along with (2) moving most of the bin's glass, and thus its center of gravity, toward the oculars. The first design aspect (according to numerous marketing literature inspired posts), is supposed to make the SF superior because it doesn't require reaching sideways with one's index finger to operate the focus (See illustrations of this supposed problem, for example this one http://www.binomania.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Zeiss_SF_3.jpg or this ridiculously exaggerated one http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/zeiss/zeiss_victory_sf_review.html). The second design aspect is supposed to make the SF feel lighter (presumably when held one-handed with the focusing hand) because it isn't nose-heavy.
I'm all for moving focus wheels farther forward than they are on most of today's roof prisms, so I applaud that design aspect of the SF. In contrast to what Zeiss touts, what I like about such design is that it gets my hands away from my face, which I feel is more comfortable because no thumbs are bonking into my nose, no fingers are smudging my glasses, and air circulation around my face is less impeded thereby preventing fogging of eyeglasses or bins in both cold weather and hot (when humidity is so high that the sweat evaporating off my face threatens to condense on my eyeglasses). Also, forward placement of the hands reduces interference with hat brims. Some past bins that I really liked in this respect were the Bushnell 8x42 Banner roof and the original Bausch & Lomb 8x42 Elite (as seen here https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/8020982130/in/photostream/ ), both of which had the focus knob in front of the center hinge instead of behind it. Such placement allows a wrap-around grip, even with a conventional hinge. For those who don't like a nose-heavy bin, note that such a forward placement of the hand makes the center of gravity (of the bin itself) irrelevant. In fact, I suspect the lack of nose-heaviness of the SF has more to do with the more forward position of the focusing hand than to the balance point of the bin being closer to the oculars.
All of the above notwithstanding, I'm still mystified that these issues are taken to be relevant to comparing and choosing between the SF and EL. The EL does not enforce an awkward hand position. No strange sideways positioning of the focus fingers is necessary. I prefer a grip that embeds the bin comfortably and securely in my palm, that allows using either or both index and middle finger for rapid focusing, and that makes full use of the length of the bin for support (i.e. one hand in front of the other--apologies to that minority who use both hands simultaneously for focus and thus keep both near the oculars). Fortunately, the 8.5x42 EL lends itself well to such a grip, and furthermore, when holding the bin in such a manner, the focus wheel is far enough in front of the oculars that my focusing hand is still well away from my face.
I've illustrated such a grip before, as applied to the much smaller Leica 8x20 Ultravid BL (see http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2439175&highlight=solidarity#post2439175 ). Here are images illustrating how I suggest holding the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL Swarovision. Note the comfortable and solid one-hand basis of the hold (image 1). Although it may not be apparent in the pictures, my hand is relaxed and my fingers are comfortably aligned with my palm. Both index and middle finger lie straight across the focus wheel (image 2). My left hand goes in front of the right, and even though my fairly narrow IPD leaves less room than other users will have in the open hinge area, I still have enough room to get all my fingers in the center (image 3), although for some idiosyncratic reason I prefer (with all bins that allow it) to wrap my little finger around the objective lens cell (image 4). Down below, I have enough room for my thumbs, though I wish there were more space between the barrels (as would be the case if my IPD weren't so narrow).
--AP
In comparing the Zeiss 8x42 SF to the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL Swarovision, one of the supposed advantages of the SF is more ergonomic focus, which is accomplished by (1) placement of focus wheel closer to the central opening for the hand, along with (2) moving most of the bin's glass, and thus its center of gravity, toward the oculars. The first design aspect (according to numerous marketing literature inspired posts), is supposed to make the SF superior because it doesn't require reaching sideways with one's index finger to operate the focus (See illustrations of this supposed problem, for example this one http://www.binomania.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Zeiss_SF_3.jpg or this ridiculously exaggerated one http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/zeiss/zeiss_victory_sf_review.html). The second design aspect is supposed to make the SF feel lighter (presumably when held one-handed with the focusing hand) because it isn't nose-heavy.
I'm all for moving focus wheels farther forward than they are on most of today's roof prisms, so I applaud that design aspect of the SF. In contrast to what Zeiss touts, what I like about such design is that it gets my hands away from my face, which I feel is more comfortable because no thumbs are bonking into my nose, no fingers are smudging my glasses, and air circulation around my face is less impeded thereby preventing fogging of eyeglasses or bins in both cold weather and hot (when humidity is so high that the sweat evaporating off my face threatens to condense on my eyeglasses). Also, forward placement of the hands reduces interference with hat brims. Some past bins that I really liked in this respect were the Bushnell 8x42 Banner roof and the original Bausch & Lomb 8x42 Elite (as seen here https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/8020982130/in/photostream/ ), both of which had the focus knob in front of the center hinge instead of behind it. Such placement allows a wrap-around grip, even with a conventional hinge. For those who don't like a nose-heavy bin, note that such a forward placement of the hand makes the center of gravity (of the bin itself) irrelevant. In fact, I suspect the lack of nose-heaviness of the SF has more to do with the more forward position of the focusing hand than to the balance point of the bin being closer to the oculars.
All of the above notwithstanding, I'm still mystified that these issues are taken to be relevant to comparing and choosing between the SF and EL. The EL does not enforce an awkward hand position. No strange sideways positioning of the focus fingers is necessary. I prefer a grip that embeds the bin comfortably and securely in my palm, that allows using either or both index and middle finger for rapid focusing, and that makes full use of the length of the bin for support (i.e. one hand in front of the other--apologies to that minority who use both hands simultaneously for focus and thus keep both near the oculars). Fortunately, the 8.5x42 EL lends itself well to such a grip, and furthermore, when holding the bin in such a manner, the focus wheel is far enough in front of the oculars that my focusing hand is still well away from my face.
I've illustrated such a grip before, as applied to the much smaller Leica 8x20 Ultravid BL (see http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2439175&highlight=solidarity#post2439175 ). Here are images illustrating how I suggest holding the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL Swarovision. Note the comfortable and solid one-hand basis of the hold (image 1). Although it may not be apparent in the pictures, my hand is relaxed and my fingers are comfortably aligned with my palm. Both index and middle finger lie straight across the focus wheel (image 2). My left hand goes in front of the right, and even though my fairly narrow IPD leaves less room than other users will have in the open hinge area, I still have enough room to get all my fingers in the center (image 3), although for some idiosyncratic reason I prefer (with all bins that allow it) to wrap my little finger around the objective lens cell (image 4). Down below, I have enough room for my thumbs, though I wish there were more space between the barrels (as would be the case if my IPD weren't so narrow).
--AP
. I can see grips being an individual thing. For instance, on my Zen ED3 (open frame EL copy, though with a much preferable wider, ergonomically shaped bridge, and much larger - length and diameter - knurled alloy focusing wheel), I like to use a push-pull arrangement with the index finger of each hand to focus, and the middle fingers overlap on the wide bridge. Ring fingers and pinkies are then naturally butted up against the bridge with no gap or weird bending or angles, and fully within the open frame. My hands are large so my thumbs each then rest/support the underside of the opposite barrel, despite there being thumb indents further toward the middle of the bin on each gripped barrel. This gives an ultra stable grip that is super comfortable, and ultra quick (with the Zen's fast focuser) and precise to focus. :t:
