If you could only have only ONE pair of binoculars for birding and all around use. Which one would it be? You don't have to explain why. Price is not a determining factor.
For me FIT comes before anything else. Glass I think is no longer an issue as modern binoculars are good enough. As far as power goes I am a 7 power believer. If I could keep steady a 10 power that would be it. Having said all this for me current production would be Leica 7x42 HD perfect fit and weight.
My Swaro SV 8.5x42.
It is very, very good.
I am in fact still rather spooked how much better it is than my other good bins (in contrast and glare suppression).
If you could only have only ONE pair of binoculars for birding and all around use. Which one would it be? You don't have to explain why. Price is not a determining factor.
Since you apparently don't like having just ONE pair of bins yourself, I'm not sure why you are asking me to make "Sophie's Choice".
Am I stranded on a deserted island? Well, if Gilligan was with me, I'd want something mil spec, because he'd probably drop them from a tree, and also WP (down to 5 meters), because he'd definitely drop them in the water.
I wouldn't want an IS bin, otherwise the professor would take it apart and try to use the electronics to make a radio!
I also wouldn't want a bin with poor AR coatings, because then Ginger would use it as a mirror. Or with rubber coatings that looked appetizing or the skipper would eat them. Or with a thin strap that Mary Anne could use to tie her pony tails.
Or one that is a very rare collectible so that Mr. and Mrs. Howell wouldn't want to steal it and have Sotheby's auction it after we were rescued.
If price was truly not a determining factor, then I couldn't be stranded on a deserted island (unless it was with Mariangela Melato, which I wouldn't mind), and I could be as rich as Bill Gates (before he gives his money to charity) or Oprah or J. K. Rowling.
In that case, I'd have a crème de la crème bin made to order for me rather than pick one off the rack like a mere commoner.
Here's what I'd put in my order:
1. Color saturation and contrast of the Nikon LX
2. Smooth panning motion, ergonomics, and sharp edges of the Nikon SE (but w/out the blackouts and vignetting at the edges)
3. Wide FOV like the 8x EII and 7x ED2.
4. Internal focus to keep out the cat hairs.
5. 5mm exit pupils so I could fully utilize them.
6. Best quality ED glass.
7. 19mm of usable ER.
8. Porro II prisms to accommodate the internal focus.
9. Twist up, click stop eyecups that fit my eyes similar to the Swaro SLC.
10. 99.99% TOTAL light transmission.
The configuration should be 8.5x44. And please have it flown in by helicopter to my compound in Côte d'Azur. Yeah, if I got to have only one bin, that should do.
Brock
Dennis,
I cannot answer, not currently being quite in love with anything enough to marry it. But, I am interested to hear what you will think about the mongo Zeiss. And, if it is optical nirvana, whether the slight increase in "neck factor" over your 8x32 FL will seem worth it.
I can volunteer, however, that I have used nothing lately that makes me as happy as my $135 circum 1960 Hensoldt DF 8x30. By lately I mean a couple of all day birding trips, and my to/from work tote through the canyon for several weeks now (to which the Turkey Vultures have arrived for the summer, the vanguard of seven, just two days ago.). The old coatings are dim and give muted colors, which is a very pretty picture to look at in a way. It's just too dang little to show any CA. The optics are surely as sharp as the Keck 8.4m telescope. I find myself increasingly unhappy with the center focus/diopter adjust system, finding I get the sharpest focus with individually focusing eyepieces. The way the Hensoldt feels in my hands is like God made it just for me. It only weighs 20 ounces, too! My state of the art binoculars don't know what to think. I have also reverted to my old Omega daily-windup wristwatch. Backwards and downward!
Ron
Zeiss 7x42 Bgat ClassiC.
You lift it to your eyes and invariably it's already in focus.
The tactile pleasure of holding/using binoculars cannot be overestimated.
The Zeiss is beautifully balanced with a very relaxed view. It's depth of field, astounding FOV and the quality of its build always give immense pleasure.
I also own SV 8.5 x 42 and both the Ultravid HD 7x42 and the Trinovid 7x42, but none of these fine instruments compare with the pleasure that using the Zeiss gives me.
My Swaro SV 8.5x42.
It is very, very good.
I am in fact still rather spooked how much better it is than my other good bins (in contrast and glare suppression).
I fully agree with you.Zeiss 7x42 Bgat ClassiC.
You lift it to your eyes and invariably it's already in focus.
The tactile pleasure of holding/using binoculars cannot be overestimated.
The Zeiss is beautifully balanced with a very relaxed view. It's depth of field, astounding FOV and the quality of its build always give immense pleasure.
I also own SV 8.5 x 42 and both the Ultravid HD 7x42 and the Trinovid 7x42, but none of these fine instruments compare with the pleasure that using the Zeiss gives me.