Some very interesting responses arising from this post, it would seem that many of us enjoy using older binoculars, I think it must be the combination of metal and leather as in old Leica M and Rollieflex cameras exuding that "olde world" quality sometimes missing in modern glasses.
I still enjoy using my old Dialyt 8x30B for that reason, the optics can't match a modern binocular but they are so nice to hold and are built to exquisite standards.
I have never considered the Deltrintem/Jenoptem 8x30s to be high quality glasses what with their wobbly bridge and the tendency to fog up at the merest hint of British drizzle, but in the UK they were cheap, easily available and sold in huge numbers, they are not in the same league as the SE or E11 but neither are they in the same price range, a friend recently bought a mint example from a charity shop for the princely sum of £5.
Perhaps the Nikon E11 enables us to "have our cake and eat it", retro styling and brilliant up to date optics.( I must remember to keep looking in those charity shops!!!)
Petroc.
I still enjoy using my old Dialyt 8x30B for that reason, the optics can't match a modern binocular but they are so nice to hold and are built to exquisite standards.
I have never considered the Deltrintem/Jenoptem 8x30s to be high quality glasses what with their wobbly bridge and the tendency to fog up at the merest hint of British drizzle, but in the UK they were cheap, easily available and sold in huge numbers, they are not in the same league as the SE or E11 but neither are they in the same price range, a friend recently bought a mint example from a charity shop for the princely sum of £5.
Perhaps the Nikon E11 enables us to "have our cake and eat it", retro styling and brilliant up to date optics.( I must remember to keep looking in those charity shops!!!)
Petroc.