I recently tried the 8x25 Sapphire and now I have a recent pair of the 8x43 model (maybe not even the most recent as I see they have changed the badge letter font and mine are still the original italic style)
I've made comments all over the place about both as I can't be bothered sitting writing any detailed review and it takes me a at least a few uses to try and get the low down on these bins but in summary I just want to make a small comment on the the biggest point I have found with both.
Basically it's the colours they produce which has definitely been updated as my 3 year old 8x43 Sapphire was a little lacking in this department. It's simply my favourite colour profile of all bins I've ever had or currently have and I've owned several of the premium brands.
With the 8x43 it's particularly the colour and ultra sharpness in combination that is stand out. These really are an amazing top notch binocular to me and I would love a 30/32mm version if they ever make one.
So I say well very done to Hawke as for me this certainly has greatly renewed and reinforced my enjoyment of the brand (and still really very good support with any issues).
Would love to hear what others think. It may not be immediately obvious just picking them up a and doing a side by side in a shop but it certainly will be when trying on your local patch.
Folks in the past have said they see no difference to the Frontier and if that is the case and they have these newer coatings or whatever then they will be fantastic also although when I had a 9x36 Frontier I thought it was great for colour and clarity (although very soft off centre) but the Sapphire back then was a bit less good colour wise just not as warm or rich in colour. I still have an 8x25 Frontier and it is fine but these latest Sapphire are really good especially this 8x43. They are still not a warm tone, not particularly cool either. Noting extreme just amazing beauty in particular moments. Really stop in your tracks OMG.
I've said it is addictive and it is which can sort of spoil things for using my other bins which is always the danger. I've also described it as Ethereal Vision in the 8x43 because of the brightness also and I absolutely stand by all of that. In fact Hawke should actually use that term for these.
I'm just glad I have a pair. I was actually asked about them by a guy who owned some Swaro. He said a roof and explained a lot about them but I wasn't entirely listening to it all but in the end his verdict was these were better and he would love a pair and he actually ended the conversation about me making him jealous (or depressed) that I already had them.
So anybody been having a good go with any of these seemingly updated coating models and what are the thoughts?
I really would love a metal and leather 8x30/32 version. I found the 8x25 to fiddly to get eye position but the optics great and I think the same type of metal and leather body would be super in an 8x30/32. Come on Hawke. That could/would be the absolute binocular hit of the moment. I guess what I'm saying is I would love another pair of these updated Sapphire but something more compact when I don't need the larger 8x43 and am prepared to forgo some of the benefits of the larger bin. Maybe the 8x42 would do but it's perhaps to similar (don't know as haven't tried one) and I really didn't get on with the 10x42 I ordered some years back so I'm thinking 8 or 10 x30/32.
Why no 30/32 Sapphire? Surely this is a large omission but I haven't been able to try the current Frontier in these sizes and my current favourite in this size is my Nikon M7 10x30 (thinking of getting an 8x30 also) but I do think the colour profile of these recent Sapphire I have tried is better than the Nikon in my opinion of course. My Kowa SV 8x32 is great, but colour, while quite ok, is not a strong point lacking some vibrancy and distinction otherwise also a bin I enjoy greatly.
In summary or perhaps a note of caution. These Sapphire especially this 8x43, is/are a binocular you could buy and suddenly all your other binoculars don't seem just as good as before. Beware!
I've made comments all over the place about both as I can't be bothered sitting writing any detailed review and it takes me a at least a few uses to try and get the low down on these bins but in summary I just want to make a small comment on the the biggest point I have found with both.
Basically it's the colours they produce which has definitely been updated as my 3 year old 8x43 Sapphire was a little lacking in this department. It's simply my favourite colour profile of all bins I've ever had or currently have and I've owned several of the premium brands.
With the 8x43 it's particularly the colour and ultra sharpness in combination that is stand out. These really are an amazing top notch binocular to me and I would love a 30/32mm version if they ever make one.
So I say well very done to Hawke as for me this certainly has greatly renewed and reinforced my enjoyment of the brand (and still really very good support with any issues).
Would love to hear what others think. It may not be immediately obvious just picking them up a and doing a side by side in a shop but it certainly will be when trying on your local patch.
Folks in the past have said they see no difference to the Frontier and if that is the case and they have these newer coatings or whatever then they will be fantastic also although when I had a 9x36 Frontier I thought it was great for colour and clarity (although very soft off centre) but the Sapphire back then was a bit less good colour wise just not as warm or rich in colour. I still have an 8x25 Frontier and it is fine but these latest Sapphire are really good especially this 8x43. They are still not a warm tone, not particularly cool either. Noting extreme just amazing beauty in particular moments. Really stop in your tracks OMG.
I've said it is addictive and it is which can sort of spoil things for using my other bins which is always the danger. I've also described it as Ethereal Vision in the 8x43 because of the brightness also and I absolutely stand by all of that. In fact Hawke should actually use that term for these.
I'm just glad I have a pair. I was actually asked about them by a guy who owned some Swaro. He said a roof and explained a lot about them but I wasn't entirely listening to it all but in the end his verdict was these were better and he would love a pair and he actually ended the conversation about me making him jealous (or depressed) that I already had them.
So anybody been having a good go with any of these seemingly updated coating models and what are the thoughts?
I really would love a metal and leather 8x30/32 version. I found the 8x25 to fiddly to get eye position but the optics great and I think the same type of metal and leather body would be super in an 8x30/32. Come on Hawke. That could/would be the absolute binocular hit of the moment. I guess what I'm saying is I would love another pair of these updated Sapphire but something more compact when I don't need the larger 8x43 and am prepared to forgo some of the benefits of the larger bin. Maybe the 8x42 would do but it's perhaps to similar (don't know as haven't tried one) and I really didn't get on with the 10x42 I ordered some years back so I'm thinking 8 or 10 x30/32.
Why no 30/32 Sapphire? Surely this is a large omission but I haven't been able to try the current Frontier in these sizes and my current favourite in this size is my Nikon M7 10x30 (thinking of getting an 8x30 also) but I do think the colour profile of these recent Sapphire I have tried is better than the Nikon in my opinion of course. My Kowa SV 8x32 is great, but colour, while quite ok, is not a strong point lacking some vibrancy and distinction otherwise also a bin I enjoy greatly.
In summary or perhaps a note of caution. These Sapphire especially this 8x43, is/are a binocular you could buy and suddenly all your other binoculars don't seem just as good as before. Beware!
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