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Why No More High End Porros? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter fleurviola
- Start date
Neil G.
Well-known member
Zeis make them......so do nikon,steiner,swarovski,leica,canon,olympus and most other binocular manufacturers you care to mention.
I wonder actually if far more porros are sold than roofs? Birders aside, and maybe hunters too, are most binocular buyers actually buying porro or reverse-porros? The astronomy-type binoculars made by Celestron etc. are all porros, and if you look at the binos in catalogues like Argos, or in high-street camera shops, they're mostly reverse, or things like Olympus DPS or Nikon Actions. Maybe roofs are largely the preserve of a relatively narrow segment prepared to spend greater sums on better glass, housed in roof bodies, and manufacturers like Nikon have only stopped their porro lines to the likes of us. So it's our fault...we voted with our wallets and stopped buying SE's, whereas people not-that-bothered voted with theirs, unprepared to buy either expensive roofs or expensive porros, and perfectly happy sub-200 euro binoculars whatever the shape.
Last edited:
fleurviola
Member
Thanks for your posts
Thanks to everyone for thoughtful posts, full of information. My take-away is that a simpler and more efficient system (porro) is being displaced by a more complex system (roof), mainly for the sake of ergonomics and practicality (compact, easy to hold, easier to waterproof). Still, I feel we give up something important, view-wise, in this transition. And still suspect that the perfectionists amongst binocular owners would find joy in the superiority of a latest-tech porro or perger system instrument offered by a top manufacturer. I suppose this will never come to pass.
Reminds me of what has happened to high fidelity sound reproduction - but that is another subject for another type of forum...
Thanks to everyone for thoughtful posts, full of information. My take-away is that a simpler and more efficient system (porro) is being displaced by a more complex system (roof), mainly for the sake of ergonomics and practicality (compact, easy to hold, easier to waterproof). Still, I feel we give up something important, view-wise, in this transition. And still suspect that the perfectionists amongst binocular owners would find joy in the superiority of a latest-tech porro or perger system instrument offered by a top manufacturer. I suppose this will never come to pass.
Reminds me of what has happened to high fidelity sound reproduction - but that is another subject for another type of forum...
Tell us your idea of a "latest-tech porro".
Did I say nobody makes them? No I did not. I said they don't sell well, a miniscule number compared to roofs. Look around.
Theo98
Eurasian Goldfinch
Vinyl and analog are coming back strong...maybe, so will "new-tech" porros...just a thought!! :h?:
Personally, glassed with a lot of porros, but feel a good roof prism (like my Swaro EL's) presents "to my eyes", a more relaxing view. However, the Canon Porro II 10X42 IS is a strong exception to my stated preferred opinion!! :t:
Ted
fleurviola
Member
Quote: Tell us your idea of a "latest-tech porro".
Imagine a compact-and-lightweight-as-possible, waterproof, (maybe) armored, center-focus, wide FOV, long eye relief instrument with superior optics and the latest coatings, precisely assembled, and beautiful. Is that too much to ask?
Imagine a compact-and-lightweight-as-possible, waterproof, (maybe) armored, center-focus, wide FOV, long eye relief instrument with superior optics and the latest coatings, precisely assembled, and beautiful. Is that too much to ask?
fleurviola
Member
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season to all.
Neil G.
Well-known member
I dont remember accusing you of saying that nobody makes them.What you said is that if they sold well a lot more manufacturers would make them.
All i then said was that virtually every single binocular manufacturer that exists today,including the best quality manufacturers make a set of porros.LOOK AROUND.
And to you!B
Theo98
Eurasian Goldfinch
HaHaHa, HeHeHe, HoHoHo...May the Reason for the Season be with you all, in Heart and Soul!!! o
Ted
Re Nikon SE eyecups. Take them off, cover in Armorall and let sit overnight. Wipe off and replace. Mine have been on and folded down for 13 years. I take them off every few years and repeat this procedure (maybe three times). It's quite amazing how well preserved they are.
Sancho! Are you drinking again? Here is a question to ponder. If the big three did make an new alpha porro do you think it could be as good or better than the alpha roofs. Really for birding a Nikon 8x32 SE or Habicht 8x30 W are the best porro birding binoculars made and they still are not as good as the best alpha roofs like the Swarovision. Could they make a BETTER porro than the Nikon 8x32 SE that would blow away a Swarovision?
Doesn't the shine scare the birds away?
John Cantelo
Well-known member
Whilst I don't disregard the points made thus far, I think the major disincentive regarding buying porros is the widespread misconception that roofs are inherently 'better' as, like-for-like, roof prism binoculars are more expensive. There is a deeply embedded perception in our society that products that are more expensive 'must' be better. When I got my Nikon 8x32 SEs some years ago I was met with some derision for buying what was regarded by many as a substandard pair of binoculars solely because they were porros. such a view extended to those who should have known better. I recall being told by the salesperson at an RSPB reserve which sold a lot of optics that porros were optically inferior to roofs and who completely dismissed my protestations. I also vividly recall the stunned silence when I swapped my SEs with a mocking friend's alpha roof 8x32s - the superiority of the porros was obvious.
I do look around, and I see 100 roofs for every porro. To answer the OP's subject, that's why there aren't more of them.
When it comes to the Navy, Army and maybe Police Forces one is quite likely to see a good Porroprism binocular.
Astronomers usually or mostly use Porroprism binoculars.
It is birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts who seem to prefer roof prism binoculars.
They seem to need close focus more.
It may be that with birdwatchers roof prisms are 100 times more likely than Porroprism binoculars, but this won't be so in some other groups.
Astronomers usually or mostly use Porroprism binoculars.
It is birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts who seem to prefer roof prism binoculars.
They seem to need close focus more.
It may be that with birdwatchers roof prisms are 100 times more likely than Porroprism binoculars, but this won't be so in some other groups.
Ok I'm gonna do it! I mean Hell, they are in the case....doing NOTHING.... I might as well!
I agree... Early in my hunting years there were a few Steiners. Earlier in the year at Magee Marsh...a few of the Leupold(pronounced LEE o pold!
) porros were present.Sometimes I'll see a family with "some binoculars" as in one between them. Sometimes it will be a porro.
I'm not knocking porros. It's just that OVERALL current models that I have seen just aren't the binocular a good roof is for things that matter to ME. Show up with a group of birders....a porro just isn't gonna happen.
