Opticron is a newcomer to the States [the former colonies, if you prefer] with limited sales outlets. In fact, New York City's largest optics retailer only has the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA binocular for online sale.
The specs strike me as remarkably similar to the Nikon EII. It seems to have poor eye relief but the specs never tell the whole story. Could someone please comment of the binocular's general quality, optical performance with specs, and its handling?:
Pinewood
A number of the long term users of binoculars who post on the Forum are, or have been, users of the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA. I am not a long term user of binoculars. And I have never owned or used a Nikon 8x30 EII!
But it's only fair I join in to reply to you, since I am another Opticron 8x32 SR.GA user. The Opticron was my field binocular of choice for bird-watching trips before I went down the 7x/10x road. Since then I have also bought an Opticron 8x42 HR.WP.
I think of the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA, by virtue of its distinctive 'fast' (circa 160* from lock to lock), precise and smooth-operating focussing mechanism, as a specialist tool.
The Opticron 8x42 HR.WP conveniently points up the distinctive character of the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA.
The Opticron 8x42 HR.WP is a relaxed 'Focus & forget' binocular. The Opticron 8x32 SR.GA is more a 'Hair-trigger' one.
You could say, in British birdwatching terms: A Buzzard versus a Sparrowhawk!
I don't use the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA to watch the feeders 40ft (12m) away from the house at the bottom of the garden. I find myself, whether compulsively or for some optical or mechanical reason, too often making repeated 'rocking' fine focus adjustments. It's tiresome, whatever the cause may be. I have 'house binoculars' that are more suitable.
But if I was walking in the country through close cover, I might well prefer the fast focus (and wider field of view) of the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA to the greater depth of focus of a binocular such as the Opticron 8x42 HR.WP. The former thereby excels at shifting point of focus from a far to a near location, or back again. The latter excels more at scanning in open country.
For the rest:
* Build quality of Opticron 8x32 SR.GA: Exemplary
* Ergonomics: In my hands, exemplary - the only exception is that on purchase the diopter adjuster moved too freely. I have since easily fixed it
* Handling: Treated above
* Optics: I pass. My colour sensitivity is low, and I don't have the descriptive ability of other Forum users.
I'd be interested though to hear what other Forum users think, optically, about the outer area of the field of view of the Opticron 8x32 SR.GA. I'd like it to be more 'usable'. But it's one of those aspects of performance where you need to possess a binocular very close in specification to the binocular under consideration in order to know what is practically achievable, and what is not.
I hope this appraisal helps.
Stephen