[denco@comcast.n]

Of all the bincoulars you have experienced what are your favorite birding binoculars in the roof prism design and the porro-prism design without regard to price? Based on optics, weight,ergonomics, build quality, and included accessories(Case,Strap,rainguard and objective covers). Now if you haven't tried the top alpha binoculars for whatever reason we still would like your opinion on the binoculars you have had but state that you haven't tried the top alphas. Here is my vote to start it off:

1) Best Porro Prism- Nikon 8x32 SE.

2) Best Roof Prism- Zeiss 8x32 FL.


Dennis

[BobinKy]

1) Best Porro -- Nikon SE 8x32

2) Best Roof -- Leupold Katmai 6x32

...Bob
Kentucky

[Martin Fagg]

Hi,
I've not tried newer most expensive alphas as I can't afford them and I know if I look through them, I'll most likely want them.

1). Porro- Bushnell Legend 8x42. Cracking view for very low price. Full fov with specs on. Only down side is weight. Tried in shop recently and about to buy them as back up pair.

2). Roof- Meopta Meostar 8x32. Bought in June. Fantastic view and an ergonomic delight. Full fov with specs on. Compared them against used Leica 8x32 BNs and new Swaro SLC 8x30 and I think much better than both

Cheers,
Martin.

[Kevin Conville]

whaa, huh, oh uh ...sorry I was sleeping... yawn

Hasn't this been asked (effectively) about 67 different ways? Recently?

Oh yeah, the questions:
1. Porro: Fujinon 40x150s (for portability)
2. Roof: Nikon 5x15s (for sheer optical power)

[CLRobles]

Originally Posted by Kevin Conville

whaa, huh, oh uh ...sorry I was sleeping... yawn

Hasn't this been asked (effectively) about 67 different ways? Recently?

Oh yeah, the questions:
1. Porro: Fujinon 40x150s (for portability)
2. Roof: Nikon 5x15s (for sheer optical power)

hahaha, behave Kevin

[Martin Fagg]

1. Porro: Fujinon 40x150s (for portability)

I bet you don't even need a harness for these. On a strap around your neck you'll barely notice them.

[Kevin Conville]

What can I say? I've been working out...

BTW, they've got one helluva Twilight Factor !

[spacepilot]

Originally Posted by Kevin Conville

What can I say? I've been working out...

BTW, they've got one helluva Twilight Factor !

Well, duh! Your 40x150s attract light like a mini black hole, of course they've got a good twilight factor.

[Sancho]

I´m very fickle with binoculars so I´d give a different answer to "fave roof/porro" every fortnight or so. Therefore you can completely ignore the following current faves:

Roof: Swaro EL 8.5x42
Porro: Nikon EII 10x35. Or maybe Canon IS 10x30. Or maybe not. I just can´t decide.

[Tero]

Probably my favorite roof is one I do not have: Pentax 8x32 but ED version. I have the regular.

[ceasar]

Nikon 8 x 32 SE -- Porro;

Leica 7 x 42 Trinovid -- Roof.

Bob

[bruleke]

1) Porro: A chinese 20 dollars one - that is the only one I have
2) Roof: A Zen-Ray ED2 8x43mm - that I dont have yet because it didnt arrive.

Oh hell...

[FrankD]

Favorite Roof: Zeiss 7x42 FL
- Honorable Mention: Meopta 8x42 and 8x32, Zen Ray 8x43 ED II

Favorite Porro: Undecided

[Fireform]

No surprises here:

1) Zeiss 8x42 FL

2) Nikon 8x32 SE

There are a number of also-for 1, but no CF porro comes close to the 8x SE IMO apart from the late, lamented EII.

[temmie]

roof: Zeiss Victory T*FL 7x42 because I own them and they are fantastic wearing glasses.
porro: Nikon for great portability! http://birdforum.net/attachment.php?...4&d=1178902830

[Steve C]

Favorite roof: ZEN ED 2 7x36. This has easily become my favorite glass, and one I could live with just fine if I had to choose just one.

Favorite Porro: Swift Audubon #804 8.5x44. Close 2nd is the Yosemite 6x30 just because it is so blasted useful and so very good for what it costs.

[JohnJos]

I'll agree with Fireform:

Roof: Zeiss 8x42 Victory T* FL LT

Porro: Nikon 8x32 SE

I would like to give the 8x32 FL a whirl but that's not happening anytime soon. So maybe the 8x32 Meopta eventually. Or a Zen-Ray since that 7x36 is enticing. I like my 10x35 EII also but not as much as the SE. Oh, and I'd really like to get my hands on a pair of the Swift Audubon Mk II 804ED HR/5 8.5x44 porros but very rare it seems.

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by JohnJos

I'll agree with Fireform:

Roof: Zeiss 8x42 Victory T* FL LT

Porro: Nikon 8x32 SE

I would like to give the 8x32 FL a whirl but that's not happening anytime soon. So maybe the 8x32 Meopta eventually. Or a Zen-Ray since that 7x36 is enticing. I like my 10x35 EII also but not as much as the SE. Oh, and I'd really like to get my hands on a pair of the Swift Audubon Mk II 804ED HR/5 8.5x44 porros but very rare it seems.

It looks like it is running Zeiss FL for the roof and Nikon SE for the porro. I think the Zeiis 8x32 FL is sharper at the edges than the 8x42 FL.

Dennis

[CLRobles]

Roof - Swarovski 10x42 EL
Porro - 3 way tie... The whole SE line!
Dennis, just moved to Colorado Springs! Gonna have to meet up and do a little comparative glassing!

[Pinewood]

Hello all,

Porro: Nikon 8x30 EII, which I found far friendlier than the 8x32 SE.

Roof: Zeiss 8x32 FL. with the 7x42 Dialyt close behind. The latter is peculiar because it is rather like a Porro with its slight stereo effect and moving bridge.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood

[Alexis Powell]

Originally Posted by denco@comcast.n

...what are your favorite birding binoculars in the roof prism design and the porro-prism design without regard to price? Based on optics, weight,ergonomics, build quality, and included accessories(Case,Strap,rainguard and objective covers)...

I thought I might break down and post a simple answer, but then I read the question again and realized I really don't have a ready answer because I'm flummoxed by having to figure out how to figure in considerations such as such as weight and included accessories. I own a bunch of binos but generally use only a few as my workhorses, the selection of the day generally determined by the largest size that is practical to carry given everthing else I might be doing.

For dedicated birding when size/weight are of little concern, I prefer the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL (I like big exit pupils for forgiveness with eye placement). However, I use an Op/Tech neoprene strap and a B&L Elite faux-leather case with it, and I don't use the yucky hard plastic rainguard.

For birding and butterflying, or dedicated birding when size/weight are a concern, I prefer the Zeiss 8x32 FL. However, I use an Eagle Optics neoprene strap and a Leica 8x32 BN leather case with it. I do use the Zeiss FL rainguard, but I've used a sharp blade to modify it to mimic the Leica BA/BN rainguard design. I'm not a big fan of the 8x32 FL ergonomics, so when weight but not size is a concern, I use the Swarovski 8x32 EL instead. I use an Op/Tech strap with that one and keep it in the Zeiss 8x32 FL case.

For birding and butterflying, or opportunistic observation in the course of other activities such as outdoor photography, I prefer the Leica 8x20 Ultravid BL. I do use the supplied necktrap (though I pass the ends through the bino eyelets and then knot the ends so they can't slip back through rather than using the ridiculous little buckles, they adding needless complication, being prone to slippage over time, and possibly scratching the housing or optics when the binos are tucked into a pocket), and I use the leather clamshell case too. I can't remember if they came with any covers, but if they did, I certainly don't use them.

So....for the final roof-prism reckoning, weight and size turn out to be very important but entirely context sensitive. All else being equal, I prefer big binos to small ones, but once I've committed to a "size" of bino, I'm generally satisfied with the optics that the above models offer, so that's a contextual wash in the overall equation too. Therefore, as I see it, the grand winner, because I consider its ergonomics and build quality second to none and (mainly) due to the fact that I actually use its supplied accessories, is...

the Leica 8x20 Ultravid BL ! :)

--AP

PS Oops! almost forgot the porros. I don't like the straps, cases, eyecups etc provided with any porro I've ever seen, so those factors are out. I'd say it's a tie between the Nikon 8x32 SE and Nikon 8x30 EII depending on whether eye-relief and build or gee-whiz wide view are more important.

[Sancho]

Originally Posted by Alexis Powell

For dedicated birding when size/weight are of little concern, I prefer the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL (I like big exit pupils for forgiveness with eye placement). However, I use an Op/Tech neoprene strap and a B&L Elite faux-leather case with it, and I don't use the yucky hard plastic rainguard.

Ditto on the adjustments to Swaro EL 8.5x42. My general favourite too, but I also use a neoprene strap, and a case plus soft rubber rainguard cannibalised from a cheap pair of Bressers. But in 8x I´ve used other top bins like SE´s and EII´s and even though they might be slightly superior in some respects, overall the Swaro EL´s give me the best combination, and to my eyes the most comfortable, relaxed view.

[postcardcv]

roof: Swaro 8.5x42 EL - I've been through a fair few top end roof but these have stuck, the image and handling work well for me.

Porro: Nikon 8x30 EII - I prefer these to the SEs, not that I own a pair but I do have a pair of 8x30 E.

[Fireform]

Originally Posted by Sancho

Ditto on the adjustments to Swaro EL 8.5x42. My general favourite too, but I also use a neoprene strap, and a case plus soft rubber rainguard cannibalised from a cheap pair of Bressers. But in 8x I´ve used other top bins like SE´s and EII´s and even though they might be slightly superior in some respects, overall the Swaro EL´s give me the best combination, and to my eyes the most comfortable, relaxed view.

Another birdwatching hedonist. I just knew it.

[jaymoynihan]

Originally Posted by denco@comcast.n

Of all the bincoulars you have experienced what are your favorite birding binoculars in the roof prism design and the porro-prism design without regard to price? Based on optics, weight,ergonomics, build quality, and included accessories(Case,Strap,rainguard and objective covers). Now if you haven't tried the top alpha binoculars for whatever reason we still would like your opinion on the binoculars you have had but state that you haven't tried the top alphas.

Disclaimer:
I have not tried/used an "Alpha" glass made since the mid-1990's.
That said:

Porro: Nikon 8x32 SE
Roof: Zeiss 7x42 BGATP

Criteria: purely on optics, & ease of view.

Best on fit, feel, build (not optics):

Porro; Swift Audubon 8.5x44 HR/5 (1980's non-armoured)
Roof: Leica 10x42 BA.