lilcrazy2
Well-known member
The little brown truck dropped a pair of these off on my doorstep this afternoon, and after messing around with them for a couple of hours, I figured I would post my initial impressions. It was late afternoon and since there is a storm coming, it alternated between bright sunshine and dark clouds every 15 minutes.
Alpen lists the specs on this model # 592 as ED flourite glass, PXA phase coating, fully multicoated and silver coating. They are open bridge design.
FOV: 393 ft @1000 yds
ER: 17mm
CF: 6.5 ft
Wgt: 21 oz
http://alpenoutdoor.com/html/binoculars.html
The binos come packed in a double zippered rubberized clamshell case with the binos held inside in a removeable fitted belt case with quick release elastic cords and snap. Once you take the binos out of the case, you have the option of leaving them in the belt case - haven't seen this on any other binos. Straps for case and binos, typical standard flexible occular rainguard, and tethered objective flip down covers which have ridges to secure inside as well as outside.
Build quality on these are excellent and they have a very substantial and solid feel. Alpen has always impressed me with their build quality, in addition to their optical quality, which is why I also own an 8x42 Apex and have gotten rid of the Zen ZRS HD, Legend Ultra HD, and Promaster Infinity Elite ELX-ED as well as many others.
The open bridge gives a very solid and balanced feel with the pinky and ring finger in the open area and the middle finger on the bottom end of the upper hinge with the index finger falling naturally on the focuser. At 5-5/8" tall this is one of the shorter open bridge ED binos
The focuser is buttery smooth with no backlash or hitches, and focuses counterclockwise to infinty. Focuser goes two full turns with close focus (6ft) to 20 ft taking about 1 full turn, and then 20 ft to infinity taking 1/2 turn, and then another half turn past infinity. Diopter adjustment is on right barrel, has the proper tension, and I noticed no shift in all the gyrations I put the binos thru. Eyecups twist up with positive locks at the mid & full up position and have a generous amount of ER for eyeglass wearers, and for those that don't wear glasses, they don't give the eye positioning problems that a lot of 8x42 binos do.
Optical performance was simply outstanding for a bino in this price range. CA was virtually non-existent in every test I put it thru. Flare and veiling glare were only very mildly detectable approaching the bottom of the sun on axis, but then the alphas have the same problem. The sharp useable sweetspot is about 80% with mild edge softening and field curvature which would be expected on a bino with a large 393 ft FOV in this price range. It far exceeds the 8x36 Legend Ultra HD that I was using as a side by side comparison
Alpen seems to have gotten it right with the introduction of this new ED glass bino. It far exceeds the more expensive and heavier Teton model I looked at last fall. After a couple of hours with this new bino, I can hardly wait for Alpens new ED compacts in 8x20 & 10x25 due out at the end of May.
Alpen lists the specs on this model # 592 as ED flourite glass, PXA phase coating, fully multicoated and silver coating. They are open bridge design.
FOV: 393 ft @1000 yds
ER: 17mm
CF: 6.5 ft
Wgt: 21 oz
http://alpenoutdoor.com/html/binoculars.html
The binos come packed in a double zippered rubberized clamshell case with the binos held inside in a removeable fitted belt case with quick release elastic cords and snap. Once you take the binos out of the case, you have the option of leaving them in the belt case - haven't seen this on any other binos. Straps for case and binos, typical standard flexible occular rainguard, and tethered objective flip down covers which have ridges to secure inside as well as outside.
Build quality on these are excellent and they have a very substantial and solid feel. Alpen has always impressed me with their build quality, in addition to their optical quality, which is why I also own an 8x42 Apex and have gotten rid of the Zen ZRS HD, Legend Ultra HD, and Promaster Infinity Elite ELX-ED as well as many others.
The open bridge gives a very solid and balanced feel with the pinky and ring finger in the open area and the middle finger on the bottom end of the upper hinge with the index finger falling naturally on the focuser. At 5-5/8" tall this is one of the shorter open bridge ED binos
The focuser is buttery smooth with no backlash or hitches, and focuses counterclockwise to infinty. Focuser goes two full turns with close focus (6ft) to 20 ft taking about 1 full turn, and then 20 ft to infinity taking 1/2 turn, and then another half turn past infinity. Diopter adjustment is on right barrel, has the proper tension, and I noticed no shift in all the gyrations I put the binos thru. Eyecups twist up with positive locks at the mid & full up position and have a generous amount of ER for eyeglass wearers, and for those that don't wear glasses, they don't give the eye positioning problems that a lot of 8x42 binos do.
Optical performance was simply outstanding for a bino in this price range. CA was virtually non-existent in every test I put it thru. Flare and veiling glare were only very mildly detectable approaching the bottom of the sun on axis, but then the alphas have the same problem. The sharp useable sweetspot is about 80% with mild edge softening and field curvature which would be expected on a bino with a large 393 ft FOV in this price range. It far exceeds the 8x36 Legend Ultra HD that I was using as a side by side comparison
Alpen seems to have gotten it right with the introduction of this new ED glass bino. It far exceeds the more expensive and heavier Teton model I looked at last fall. After a couple of hours with this new bino, I can hardly wait for Alpens new ED compacts in 8x20 & 10x25 due out at the end of May.
) but I'm interested in those too.
