if anyone knows anything about it, be interested to know, for example I'm not even sure they are the same maker.
They are from the same maker - they both carry the KOMZ logo.
Gary.
I just picked these up and they are a bit different than my Swift Commodores 7X50 & Audubon 8.5X44 models. I'm not at all sure what the Vega means and wonder about their probable age. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Vega was its own brand, and then was absorbed into the Swift lineup
as "Swift Vega". Compared to regular binoculars, they have a much sharper
focus near the field's edge and a very flat field overall (little bulging
or puckering), so it seems they have more elements in the eyepiece
that run-of-the-mill eyepieces. The focuser is very solid and smooth.
They are a cut above most, even in the Swift line. Swifts like Aerolites
aren't quite as good. Swift Saratogas are either similar or not as good,
depending on the size. Compared to the Audubon 8.5x44, the Audubon
rends a bit more towards extra field and the Vega towards sharper edges
with less field (unless it's a special x-wide model).
I see ads for the "Swift Vega" in the early 1960s, so just "Vega" should
be around the late 1950s.
10x50 is a rare size for Vegas. They would be great for long distance and
excellent for the night sky. Most Vegas stayed pretty clean inside. Not much
dust gets past their focuser tubes.
I see a picture of the 10x50 Rainier that says 1965.
It has the long striped knob and precision focuser piston.
That seems like a nice touch for long range.
I just took delivery on a pair of Bower 6x15, No.1789 (Field 8.5 degrees)
and I'm really surprised. I had sworn off that size because of all the bare-knuckle
silver binocs whose contrast never quite cleaned up for haze.
These had two boxes for the prisms, a high-precision focuser, and the
"front-spectacles" yoke for the objectives, just like mini Bushnell Customs.
I have an eye out for features descended from the smaller "Mirador-made"
binoculars that became the Custom line. Mirador made cool officer and spy
binocs in WW2 but they died in the early 50s.
Anyway. these dinky 6x15s are sharp and have contrast that shames a lot
of other binocs. Totally jars my assumptions about size. Movement is
silky smooth and the image is almost as crisp as the smaller customs.
They can't do miracles with brightness at 6x15...they are a bit dim.
Love the 8.5 degree FOV...sure beats the usual. Real "teeny-Customs".
The pure-luck part was: no nicotine or mold. I don't even have to go into
these guys... Surface-cleaned. They have a faint violet hard coating.
Took a chance. I have a pile of chances that didn't work out..
but these did! Awesome pocket glancers. They just need a little daylight.