I came across one each of these models via a local website. Both were unused, ever. Both were boxed and even had 'new bino smell'! I was pretty stunned by both, although they are different combinations of fine features. The Eaglet feels heavier, although I didn't weight them. It is a curious 7x bino, in that no single aspect is outstanding, but it is such an excellent combination of features that it could serve as an all-round workhorse, especially for 7x fans.
The Eaglet is Trinovid-like in its robustness, yet feels like a semi-compact (think Opticron DBA Oasis 8x21 or Leupold Katmai 6x30). Fine sharp view, I had to wring its neck to get even minimal CA, and sharp across a good 65% of the FOV. Stated FOV isn't much, but I thought it was perfectly satisfactory. No numbers yet, I couldn't be arxxd.
The Ultralite was surprising. Sharper, I think, by a hair than the Eaglet, although I get confused about sharpness between bins of different magnification. Certainly a little brighter, but the FOV was tight for me, and the build quality was a bit 'plasticky', although it is sufficiently robust for normal use by even the average Neanderthal. Just don't drive jeeps over it or blast it with shotgun pellets.
Conclusion? I bought the Eaglets. I don't know why, I hardly even bird anymore, but I thought they would make the perfect hiking bino....compact yet full-size, casual yet serious, understated yet impressive. On rare occasions a bino-obsessive comes across a 'special' bino that exudes an indescribable non-mainstream panache. Something that appeals to the Idiot Hipster in all of us. (The last time that happened to me was a 2nd hand pair of Bausch and Lomb 12x50 Elites). And these Eaglets have the most tactile rubber armouring of any bino I've ever seen. And they smell beautiful. In fact, I think I'll go smell them now. Tomorrow I might even look through them!
The Eaglet is Trinovid-like in its robustness, yet feels like a semi-compact (think Opticron DBA Oasis 8x21 or Leupold Katmai 6x30). Fine sharp view, I had to wring its neck to get even minimal CA, and sharp across a good 65% of the FOV. Stated FOV isn't much, but I thought it was perfectly satisfactory. No numbers yet, I couldn't be arxxd.
The Ultralite was surprising. Sharper, I think, by a hair than the Eaglet, although I get confused about sharpness between bins of different magnification. Certainly a little brighter, but the FOV was tight for me, and the build quality was a bit 'plasticky', although it is sufficiently robust for normal use by even the average Neanderthal. Just don't drive jeeps over it or blast it with shotgun pellets.
Conclusion? I bought the Eaglets. I don't know why, I hardly even bird anymore, but I thought they would make the perfect hiking bino....compact yet full-size, casual yet serious, understated yet impressive. On rare occasions a bino-obsessive comes across a 'special' bino that exudes an indescribable non-mainstream panache. Something that appeals to the Idiot Hipster in all of us. (The last time that happened to me was a 2nd hand pair of Bausch and Lomb 12x50 Elites). And these Eaglets have the most tactile rubber armouring of any bino I've ever seen. And they smell beautiful. In fact, I think I'll go smell them now. Tomorrow I might even look through them!
Last edited: