An old, fairly standard-looking, 50s-60s-style 8x30 with some surprises.
The 'condition' comment said the views didn't line up but I figured
I'd have a go at fixing it if the price stayed down. It did: $10 and $14 S+H.
After a perfunctory external cleaning (acetone to cut polymerized skin goo
and a 90% IPA chaser to go fine), the collimation was beautiful and the
image was extra-sharp and good contrast, excellent color.
There is a 'faint purple' multi-coating, where the lenses become ghostly..
very nice. They have these cool screw-up metal eyecups, very unusual for
that era, very nice. Running gear was like early Empire but tighter.
A slightly wide 393ft//100-yd view (7.5 deg). Very rich crisp view.
The greatest part was the zero-squint view: no blackouts at all.
They work with glasses, though you loose 5% fov. Not bad for the time.
I'm guessing these are the little brother to the precision 8x40 Gran Prix.
The workings and grease were all good. Don't know if it was great grease
or maybe they got a pro cleaning. Case dry but no cracks. I applied beeswax
boot dope, esp. to the hinge. Then a mop-off and a damp-rub (removes dust
and shines wax).
The case flexes and shines like no tomorrow. I have to try that more
often.
The 'condition' comment said the views didn't line up but I figured
I'd have a go at fixing it if the price stayed down. It did: $10 and $14 S+H.
After a perfunctory external cleaning (acetone to cut polymerized skin goo
and a 90% IPA chaser to go fine), the collimation was beautiful and the
image was extra-sharp and good contrast, excellent color.
There is a 'faint purple' multi-coating, where the lenses become ghostly..
very nice. They have these cool screw-up metal eyecups, very unusual for
that era, very nice. Running gear was like early Empire but tighter.
A slightly wide 393ft//100-yd view (7.5 deg). Very rich crisp view.
The greatest part was the zero-squint view: no blackouts at all.
They work with glasses, though you loose 5% fov. Not bad for the time.
I'm guessing these are the little brother to the precision 8x40 Gran Prix.
The workings and grease were all good. Don't know if it was great grease
or maybe they got a pro cleaning. Case dry but no cracks. I applied beeswax
boot dope, esp. to the hinge. Then a mop-off and a damp-rub (removes dust
and shines wax).
The case flexes and shines like no tomorrow. I have to try that more
often.