iambirding
Well-known member
i spent a week with some very serious birders/ ornithologist. and the guys that take this seriously all had swarovski el 8.5 x 42 , 10 x 42 or the B&L Elite 8x42 or 10x42. the people that had the B&L's had bought theirs over 5 or 6 years ago. And were thinking of moving up to the EL but really enjoyed looking through my "very bright" pentax binos. the swarovski guys all had pentax as a back up. Pentax was a second choice no matter what even when it comes to scopes for these birders. swarovski are amazing but Minox, Kahles and the rest is very second rate they agreed. I look at a lot of recent bino reviews and not one ever mentions Kahles or Minox. They all mention Pentax SP, Nikon LX and of course Swarovski EL and lately the new Zeiss FL.
swarovski is still pushing the limits and right behind them is nikon and pentax. I belive B & L will eventually go away or fall in the mid range due to the selling over to bushnell.
I bought my pentax first and eventually will get a nikon or swarovski pair in the future. either way i am safe i have a great safe bet and eventually the bino view i have to look forward to will be excellent with swarovski or nikon. I am waiting for Swarovski to get rid of their slow focus problem on the EL. And then I will buy them. And i still have a great back up pair. My major complaint with Pentax is a narrow field of view.
I would stay away from Minox and Kahles, so far I've found them to be mediocre and not outstanding. I believe Minox and Kahles are secondary brands that work off marketing to everyone that wants swarovski but cant afford it. these companies let everyone know that its there company so people feel safe. the reason why there less expensive is the optics are not top notch. I believe that Zeiss in mid range are some the worst binos I've ever looked through for the price.
i believe pentax is trying to distinguish themselves to be the best optics that they can possibly make for the best price. I do not believe that to be the case with any of the other secondary companies of Leica or Swarovski.
The pentax really caught my attention when I saw a house sparrow eating a cheetoh in the parking lot. No matter what- realize that there is a compromise in every optics. And price does play a part. And we will never be satisfied and thats what created this thread, this market. So go out and look at some birds.
i hope i've helped or given some perspective.
swarovski is still pushing the limits and right behind them is nikon and pentax. I belive B & L will eventually go away or fall in the mid range due to the selling over to bushnell.
I bought my pentax first and eventually will get a nikon or swarovski pair in the future. either way i am safe i have a great safe bet and eventually the bino view i have to look forward to will be excellent with swarovski or nikon. I am waiting for Swarovski to get rid of their slow focus problem on the EL. And then I will buy them. And i still have a great back up pair. My major complaint with Pentax is a narrow field of view.
I would stay away from Minox and Kahles, so far I've found them to be mediocre and not outstanding. I believe Minox and Kahles are secondary brands that work off marketing to everyone that wants swarovski but cant afford it. these companies let everyone know that its there company so people feel safe. the reason why there less expensive is the optics are not top notch. I believe that Zeiss in mid range are some the worst binos I've ever looked through for the price.
i believe pentax is trying to distinguish themselves to be the best optics that they can possibly make for the best price. I do not believe that to be the case with any of the other secondary companies of Leica or Swarovski.
The pentax really caught my attention when I saw a house sparrow eating a cheetoh in the parking lot. No matter what- realize that there is a compromise in every optics. And price does play a part. And we will never be satisfied and thats what created this thread, this market. So go out and look at some birds.
i hope i've helped or given some perspective.