Hello, I just got this binoculars after comparing it with a Conquest HD and a Leica Trinovid (not the newer HD) all 8x42. Leica was sharp and compact but less bright, Conquest not as sharp but close. Any owners of the 8x42 HT here and what do you think of it?
Hej Starre
HT is bright and has a transparancy of view that beats SF, IMHO, and means it really performs well in dull situations like dawn, dusk and under dark skies. However SF hits back with a huge FOV which is so usefull in so many situations and although HT handles very nicely I think SF is easier to hold steady for longer periods. SF is sharper nearer the edges but to me that doesn't mean so much: HT is plenty sharp enough.
HT provides its own balance of performance and handling.
Lee
Compared these to my Nikon HG L 10x25 and for sure they are "much" brighter. Sharpness is almost the same, hard to tell a clear difference. The small Nikon is sharper to the edge but less field of view. The bigger Zeis is more neutral in color I think, and thanks to the bigger exit pupils easier to use. But even if the Zeiss is better I am impressed how good the little Nikon is.
I originally compared the HT and the Conquest HD when looking for my first pair of bins and ultimately decided on the Conquest HD due to cost. I compared the two in the daytime, and couldn't see much of a difference in brightness. Mind you, I was very inexperienced with binoculars at the time.
After a few years, I decided to do another comparison and the HTs have a much, much better view. The resolution is sharper, there is much, much less CA than the Conquest. The HTs just have this "pop" that makes images look so good. However, I'm finding that the Conquest HD is really no slouch when it comes to brightness.
Hi Bloody, when looking through the Conquests do make sure you are looking on-axis as viewing off-centre makes a big difference to the CA. I find the Conquest plenty bright enough but near dawn or dusk or under dark skies or in dark skies and pouring rain, HT has a significant advantage.
Won't blame you if you stick with the Conquest and shout that its a bargain because I feel that way about the 8x32 version.
Lee
Hi Lee,
Yes, I notice that there is more CA if I don't have the IPD set correctly. However, I am quite sensitive to CA for some reason.
The other reason I went with the Conquest HD was due to the size difference from the HT.
I wear spectacles so it is easy to put the bins up to my glasses so I am not looking on axis as the bins aren't centred by the eyecups nestling into my eye sockets, so if you wear glasses this is something to look out for.
Lee