Kevin Conville
yardbirder
I received a pair of 6.5x32 Furys yesterday from Eagle Optics and things are not what I had hoped.
Upon opening the box it appears that they were shipped with the wrong case. The binos are swimming in this case and looks sized for larger 42mm, or even 50mm binos. I actually have the Vortex 32mm case I bought for my Leica 8x32 BNs and the Furys fit perfectly in that case. So why do they come with the oversized case?
Second immediate impression was (and still is) that these are large for 32mm binos. They feel like many current 42mm binos in the hand and (to me) is contrary to one of the reasons I want a 32mm bino. They feel heavy also though they weigh 21.4 oz. (actual, I weighed them). My 8x32 BNs are about an ounce heavier but feel lighter, go figure. It must have something to do with mass centralization or some such.
Third, the focus is just terrible. Defective in fact. Very rough, it feels like a grinding operation is going on. With my brother on the phone, I had him listen while I ran the focus and it was clearly audible to him!
It has several spots where it binds up to a degree where it cannot be rotated with just one finger.
Fourth, the disparity of focus between the two barrels is so great that I ran out of adjustment of the diopter. At this extreme adjustment they are still not quite in sync. This is with my contacts in and have no similar issues with any other binos I currently own or have ever owned. In fact all four pair of Leicas I've had were/are used with the diopter zeroed out.
Needless to say these are going back and has me with serious concerns about Vortex' quality control. I know it is only a sample of one, but I've never experienced such poor quality before.
Oh, here's the good parts...
Though I haven't done any thorough testing, the optics seem fine (at distance). Sharp enough and bright and are reasonably well corrected. Yeah the edges get soft and there is plenty of CA especially in the outer third of the field but overall quite good and not unexpected in this price range. Distortion is low and the field wide. Visually I could live with these.
They are nice looking, though (again) physically large for 32mm binos.
Clearly some will like this aspect, I don't.
The eye relief is almost silly on these things also. All you coke-bottle-glassed guys named Shecky take note. If you need lots of ER these are for you. Specs aside, I'll tell you these might have an inch of ER!
The eyecups have a soft rubber surface that should be friendly for eyeglass wearers.
So now I have a few days to ponder what I want to do. Here are my options I think...
Exchange them for a (hopefully) good pair of Furys and live with the design elements I don't like.
Replace them with Leupold Katmai 6x32s
Replace them with Minox BL 6x32s.
Replace them with EO 6x32s, which I think are Minox BTW.
I'm leaning towards the Katmais but can be persuaded.
Addendum:
The diopter issue seems to be getting worse somehow and now they won't properly focus even at distance.
Upon opening the box it appears that they were shipped with the wrong case. The binos are swimming in this case and looks sized for larger 42mm, or even 50mm binos. I actually have the Vortex 32mm case I bought for my Leica 8x32 BNs and the Furys fit perfectly in that case. So why do they come with the oversized case?
Second immediate impression was (and still is) that these are large for 32mm binos. They feel like many current 42mm binos in the hand and (to me) is contrary to one of the reasons I want a 32mm bino. They feel heavy also though they weigh 21.4 oz. (actual, I weighed them). My 8x32 BNs are about an ounce heavier but feel lighter, go figure. It must have something to do with mass centralization or some such.
Third, the focus is just terrible. Defective in fact. Very rough, it feels like a grinding operation is going on. With my brother on the phone, I had him listen while I ran the focus and it was clearly audible to him!
It has several spots where it binds up to a degree where it cannot be rotated with just one finger.
Fourth, the disparity of focus between the two barrels is so great that I ran out of adjustment of the diopter. At this extreme adjustment they are still not quite in sync. This is with my contacts in and have no similar issues with any other binos I currently own or have ever owned. In fact all four pair of Leicas I've had were/are used with the diopter zeroed out.
Needless to say these are going back and has me with serious concerns about Vortex' quality control. I know it is only a sample of one, but I've never experienced such poor quality before.
Oh, here's the good parts...
Though I haven't done any thorough testing, the optics seem fine (at distance). Sharp enough and bright and are reasonably well corrected. Yeah the edges get soft and there is plenty of CA especially in the outer third of the field but overall quite good and not unexpected in this price range. Distortion is low and the field wide. Visually I could live with these.
They are nice looking, though (again) physically large for 32mm binos.
Clearly some will like this aspect, I don't.
The eye relief is almost silly on these things also. All you coke-bottle-glassed guys named Shecky take note. If you need lots of ER these are for you. Specs aside, I'll tell you these might have an inch of ER!
The eyecups have a soft rubber surface that should be friendly for eyeglass wearers.
So now I have a few days to ponder what I want to do. Here are my options I think...
Exchange them for a (hopefully) good pair of Furys and live with the design elements I don't like.
Replace them with Leupold Katmai 6x32s
Replace them with Minox BL 6x32s.
Replace them with EO 6x32s, which I think are Minox BTW.
I'm leaning towards the Katmais but can be persuaded.
Addendum:
The diopter issue seems to be getting worse somehow and now they won't properly focus even at distance.
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