Hi Dude
I don't love the feel of porros in my hand so there goes the SE. The Nvid has a great view but its on the narrow side and I find I have to slide my hand to a position that enables my 1st finger to fall on the focus wheel but makes it impossible to grip the tube with all the other fingers at which point the handling advantage of an open bridge is gone.
SF 8x has super-wide view which is great with the big sky-scapes, sea-scapes and coasts of Scotlands islands. It makes picking up re-surfacing birds, otters and seals and cetaceans so much easier, and a wide fov like this just gives you a lot for your money every time you lift them to your eyes.
I watch otter and seal behaviour for extended periods eg anything up to an hour or so and the SF's balance and grip and hand position make this really comfortable.
Are the SFs a bit on the long side? Yes they are but the only time this ever, ever, occurs to me is when looking at specifications or looking at photos of SF side by side with some other models. It has never entered my head when out using them in the field, even when stuffing them inside my jacket so I can lay down and photo some tiny flower from ground level. Not once have I thought 'this is awkward because these SFs are so big'. For me the size disadvantage is a theoretical one that has never had an impact out on the islands.
I have used them for hours in the Hebrides as late in the year as November so the sun was low in the sky all day and have never noticed flare/glare. But Dude my eyes aren't your eyes.
Lee
I don't love the feel of porros in my hand so there goes the SE. The Nvid has a great view but its on the narrow side and I find I have to slide my hand to a position that enables my 1st finger to fall on the focus wheel but makes it impossible to grip the tube with all the other fingers at which point the handling advantage of an open bridge is gone.
SF 8x has super-wide view which is great with the big sky-scapes, sea-scapes and coasts of Scotlands islands. It makes picking up re-surfacing birds, otters and seals and cetaceans so much easier, and a wide fov like this just gives you a lot for your money every time you lift them to your eyes.
I watch otter and seal behaviour for extended periods eg anything up to an hour or so and the SF's balance and grip and hand position make this really comfortable.
Are the SFs a bit on the long side? Yes they are but the only time this ever, ever, occurs to me is when looking at specifications or looking at photos of SF side by side with some other models. It has never entered my head when out using them in the field, even when stuffing them inside my jacket so I can lay down and photo some tiny flower from ground level. Not once have I thought 'this is awkward because these SFs are so big'. For me the size disadvantage is a theoretical one that has never had an impact out on the islands.
I have used them for hours in the Hebrides as late in the year as November so the sun was low in the sky all day and have never noticed flare/glare. But Dude my eyes aren't your eyes.
Lee
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