Today's Premier Matchup! Sub$200 8x32 lightweights
I had a chance to really sit and put the Theron LT and Sightron SII through their paces for a while today. I have both and plan on keeping one. UNtil today, i was likely going to sell the SII.
I did not weigh them but it is very obvious that the Theron is heavier than the Sightron. I think 17.9 is on the heavy side. If the lightest 8x32 is what you fancy, the Sightron should be sufficient to the task.
Mass-off:
My trusty triple beam OHaus says that the SII, fully dressed with strap and both lens covers has a mass of 528.45 grams (18.64 ounces).
The Theron, equally dressed up with covers and strap, exceeded the maximum mass of the scale ( 610g = 21.5ish ounces).
Striped nude and ready to fight the SII is 483.65, or just at 17.0 ounces.
Theron's fightin weight is 542.35g, or 19.1 ounces moving the Theron to the top of, but still within, what I'd consider the lightweight class.
As mentioned, neither is heavy, and the Sightron feels noticeably lighter.
I prefer Therons heft while viewing, and Sightrons while wearing it around my neck. (the therons occular caps, the SII objective covers... the theron strap, the SII diopter... the theron looks, the SII centerfield sharpness, theron FOV... and so it goes)
SII Cold Weather Issues?
SIGHTRON focus wheel after a day in my car (35degF) results in no noticeable difference from the tension when stored in the house @ 63DegF. Completely and totally useable, though as mentioned by others, on the stiff side. Perhaps 35degF is not cold enough to reduce viscosity to annoyingly useless levels. My prefernce tends towards a smoother/easier to turn wheel, but could live with this without losing a moments rest. Bottom line, no cold weather issues at 35degF.
FOV's?
At 44 feet I was able to see 4 cinderblock widths, and the WapitiLT provided 4 and 1/4. Tough call without graduations on them. SII states 7.5, LT states 8. I believe them.
Centerfield Sharpness
Viewing various sized book titles and high contrast black on white package labels it was apparent (
) that the SII had a crisper image. I havent really been able to pin this down until today, inside, sitting, bino's at rest, side by side, with various package labels. The SII, for me, won this round today.
Color
There has been for me jsut "something" about the SII that jumps at me when I peer through. I use the LT quite a lot now, far more so than the SII. However whereas the LT is great to use, the SII has "something".. .I dont know what. Bear with me here, I'm a novice. It's been difficult for me to figure out what that something is while birding/viewing outside.
After today, that "something may be an edge in center sharpness. However, Tom hinted at trying to pin down if its a color issue, which can effect contrast. I looked at several flags, posters, and fireextinguishers in bright light and dim light (inside). Side by side, its is clear to me that the SII pops some colors more, most specifically the whites look whiter next to the reds of the fire extinguisher. the reds, by comparison, seem more brilliant. I cant tell any difference with blue, but green gave me a similar though less dramatic pop. I peered at a stuffed steelhead with some organish pinkish coloration on the side. The SII is slightly more vivid. The LT
may be brighter.
So, FWIW, another LT-SII comparison.