[Kevin Conville]

There are a few trends in the bino world that I'm not embracing fully.

1. Hard shell cases. I don't see the point of a case that is the same size whether is contains something, or not. Roof prism bins aren't hot house flowers so why the hard luggage? I suspect they are also more prone to damage as they can be crushed, unlike a soft case.

2. Wide neoprene straps. I dislike almost all of these things. They are hot in warm weather. Their width often causes chaffing and don't allow them to fit well behind a collar.

3. Tethered objective caps. Not a big deal here as most just come off and can be forgotten. I generally can't stand these things however and haven't quite figured out what their purpose is other than being annoying.

There are a few more (lesser) issues like how many new designs are long (big), how a few have garish graphics, and the obsession with flat fields. On this last issue, I'd rather have another 50' of visual field with a little edge fall-off and a bit of pin cushion than a view suited for astronomy or photography.

[ingle1970]

Originally Posted by Kevin Conville

There are a few trends in the bino world that I'm not embracing fully.

1. Hard shell cases. I don't see the point of a case that is the same size whether is contains something, or not. Roof prism bins aren't hot house flowers so why the hard luggage? I suspect they are also more prone to damage as they can be crushed, unlike a soft case.

2. Wide neoprene straps. I dislike almost all of these things. They are hot in warm weather. Their width often causes chaffing and don't allow them to fit well behind a collar.

3. Tethered objective caps. Not a big deal here as most just come off and can be forgotten. I generally can't stand these things however and haven't quite figured out what their purpose is other than being annoying.

There are a few more (lesser) issues like how many new designs are long (big), how a few have garish graphics, and the obsession with flat fields. On this last issue, I'd rather have another 50' of visual field with a little edge fall-off and a bit of pin cushion than a view suited for astronomy or photography.

Its good to get things of your chest Kevin

1. Hard shell cases . Are we talking of a particular model or just in general, i only use mine for storage anyway. I have always liked the old soft leather cases of Leica Trinovids and Zeiss Classics though, they just go well with them.

2. Wide neoprene straps . Some are better than others !, the floating straps are handy for heavy bins. I like to have the bins high on my chest, so the yards of excess strap which is hanging over is a pain.

3.Tethered obj caps . not a problem with them.

[Kevin Conville]

Originally Posted by ingle1970

Its good to get things of your chest Kevin

1. Hard shell cases . Are we talking of a particular model or just in general, i only use mine for storage anyway. I have always liked the old soft leather cases of Leica Trinovids and Zeiss Classics though, they just go well with them.

2. Wide neoprene straps . Some are better than others !, the floating straps are handy for heavy bins. I like to have the bins high on my chest, so the yards of excess strap which is hanging over is a pain.

3.Tethered obj caps . not a problem with them.

Yeah, maybe I'm bored

What are you "storing" in the hard case? I've never stored a binocular, myself. Hear hear, on the old Leica and Zeiss soft cases! Those made sense.

I agree that some neoprene straps are better than others, and some (many?) like them, but I'm not a fan.

[ingle1970]

Originally Posted by Kevin Conville

What are you "storing" in the hard case?

you name it

[Sancho]

Hard cases? Don´t understand ´em.

Tethered objectives? No more useful than un-tethered ones. Which means pretty useless. Rainguards yes, objective covers no.

Wide neoprene straps? Comfy enough for the neck is fine by me.

Flat fields? I was always a wide-FOV fan. But the 7.6 degree flat field of the new Swarovs has me suckered.

[John M Robinson]

Agree with you on the hard cases, I love the soft case that my Ultrvids came in, didn't like the Swaro semi-hard case. I thought the old soft leather pouch the Trinovids came in was classy and functional.

I actually like the tethered caps on my Ultravids, they've worked fine so far.

I don't mind the wide neoprene strap on my Ultravids. I personally hate bino harnesses, they seem like some kine of man-bra to me. The narrower nylon straps on my SEs are fine to. Maybe if I lived in a hot climate I would not like the neoprene straps as much.

Flat fields; I think the SEs got that design compromise perfect, though I'm looking forward to trying both the 7x36 ZR and new EL.

John

[ingle1970]

Originally Posted by John M Robinson

I love the soft case that my Ultrvids came in, didn't like the Swaro semi-hard case. I thought the old soft leather pouch the Trinovids came in was classy and functional.

John have you seen the hard case for the Ultravid BL its superb...

[John Dracon]

I'm not so sure the pop up adjuster for the diopter on the main focus wheel is really any advantage. The traditional adjustment on the right barrel with a friction fit suits me just fine. (although I do dislike clicks) IMO all that has been added is complexity, without gain. On porros I do like the after market covers for the objectives (made for rifle scopes) because they are indeed useful and protective.

John

[Fireform]

I like tethered objective covers and I'm fine with neoprene straps as long as they aren't too wide. The Op/Tech EZ comfort strap is just about perfect, with no quick releases or other nonsense.

I also am lukewarm on the center diopter setting. If well implemented, as on the Leupold Gold Ring, Nikon LX or Zen Ray among others, it's better on the right barrel.

[Kevin Purcell]

The advantage of a central diopter setting is you don't have to move the lens in one of the barrels so you don't have to compromise ER on that barrel. You also don't have to extend the length of the barrels to add that ring (and often add a spacer on the other side). All the "top bins" use a center adjustment (for good reason).

I like flat fields (my SEs and Canon IS) and I like wider neoprene straps (especially the ones shaped like jacket collars so they fit better).

I think I prefer padded soft cases (like the Zeiss FL ones).

I prefer the plain look.

[statestat]

Have to disagree on the tethered objective lens covers, when I got my Trinovid 10x42 w/o covers I immediately called Leica to find out why. Was told I did not need them, but I could purchase a set from Leica. I love them, to me it keeps the glass safe and protected.

Same as you, the Leica leather case is very classy and works well and is durable. I have even seen the leather bags sell on eBay for high prices, must be a demand for them.

To me the current Swarovski SLC case is a dud, too open to let moisture out but dirt in, better than the 'make-up' bag they used to have.

No more neck straps for me, not that I am 'bra-less', but switched to the harness, feel like a work horse but very comfortable. I have always wanted to try the Leica leather bins holster but never have seen one in person, and too expensive to try sight unseen.

[Kevin Conville]

I'm not surprised that I'm mostly alone in my dislike of the garden variety neoprene strap. They're popular, I suppose, for a reason. They just don't work well for me, in my part of the world, using them the way I do.

I'm more surprised, at this point anyway, by the fans of objective cap covers. Tethered, untethered, whatever. It's a mystery to me.

The hard shell cases are more of a problem I think as one often does want a case and if you dislike the clamshell contraption that came with your bins that means you're shopping for an alternative.

As far as ugly goes, you can't legislate taste and everyone's idea of beauty is a little different. Hey, if everyone had good taste the general look of human kind wouldn't be nearly as homely! pssst, alcohol's involved

[spyglass]

Kev, I'm with ya on cases bein' an issue. Swift, in particular, included some very nicely done hard cases in hi-quality, really fine-looking faux leather, padded, with very attractive felt interiors and solid spring-loaded latches....and they were invariably too small (bino had to be folded to min ipd to get into the case). Another useless case (if you wanna carry the glass in it and be able to get it into action quickly) was the stiff, semi-hard (or semi-soft, if u prefer) one that a B&L 7x42 Discoverer came in. Nicely done, good protection and heavy-duty zipper, but taking 2 hands and a lot of pulling to get it out. So I just used something else....for the Swift 820, I had an old B&L 10x50 Legacy pouch that was perfect, and a padded double zip electronic test meter case (perfect fit), which I kept after I sold the B&L and now use if for the 7x42FL I replaced it with. The Zeiss case is ok, but with the strap on the bino, it's a pain to fold up and get inside. That case I now use for a 15x50 IS, since I don't keep a strap in it any longer...it's a perfect fit and I have a strap on the case to tote it into the field. I also don't carry the 7x26 Elite Custom in it's oversized device; rather, one of the older zipper cases the 7x26 used to be supplied with. Smallness and ease of access are tantamount.

[spitfiretriple]

You don't like tethered objective caps?
What's the problem?
Just cut them off.

Look at this from a manufacturer's point of view: Some of your customers like the caps, some don't. So you can either sell the bins without the caps, meaning your cap fan customers will be unhappy (maybe you won't have any cap-fan customers, because they'll buy elsewhere). Or, you can sell them with the caps. Some of the cap-haters will complain, but most will just cut off the caps. End of problem.

[Kevin Conville]

Spitfire-
Point #3 in my OP...
3. Tethered objective caps. Not a big deal here as most just come off and can be forgotten. I generally can't stand these things however and haven't quite figured out what their purpose is other than being annoying.

More to the point is why some users lament the lack of, or the questionable design of, objective caps. I understand why manufacturers supply them, I just don't understand why anybody wants to use them.

[RJM]

I find tethered soft rubber caps quite useful when keeping bins in my pack to protect the lenses when I don't want to carry the case and when sea birding from a ferry to keep sea spay from building up during the inevitable down times. They have never slowed me down and stay out the way in use so I can't see why you find them annoying. Different strokes I guess.

Rick

[DHB]

I don't like hard cases either. Factory Leica Ultravids and EO cases are GTG for me.
Straps have to be rated as an individual.
Lens covers - I like them as I have more than a couple bins and it's dusty around here. Keeps the lens clean when not in use and undamaged when stuffed in a pack.

My .02......

[postcardcv]

Originally Posted by Kevin Conville

3. Tethered objective caps. Not a big deal here as most just come off and can be forgotten. I generally can't stand these things however and haven't quite figured out what their purpose is other than being annoying.

I've got to say that I am a fan of tethered objective covers. I like the fact that I can have my bins in the footwell of the car without fear that the lenses will get scratched. Flicking the tethered covers off is much quicker than getting them out of a bag if I need a quick look at something.

Originally Posted by John Dracon

I'm not so sure the pop up adjuster for the diopter on the main focus wheel is really any advantage. The traditional adjustment on the right barrel with a friction fit suits me just fine. (although I do dislike clicks) IMO all that has been added is complexity, without gain.

I'm not sure about this either. The first time I got bins with the diopter on the focus wheel I thought it was a great idea as it wouldn't be knock out of position when using the bins. However I have had three pair of bins where the diopter has failed (and know of plenty more) on all occassion this was with a central diopter adjustment. A lockable adjustment on the eyepeice (like on the Nikon HG) seems the best solution to me.

[spitfiretriple]

Originally Posted by postcardcv

Flicking the tethered covers off is much quicker than getting them out of a bag if I need a quick look at something.

+1

[John Dracon]

Not being familiar with the actual mechanical linkage of the pop up diopter to the focus wheel, I am assuming it is complex. Many folks value the complex. I don't. The simpler the better as long as one can focus with accuracy. The Nikon HG system works well, and allows that final tweaking when focusing.

John

[birdazzLED]

I prefer a soft case for everyday transporting and storage and a hard case for extended traveling or any activity that might expose it to sharp damaging blows.

I did not like the Pro-Optic center diopter adjustment. The button is too small, has sharp edges, and it's not fun to hold down while adjusting. I did, however, like the Zeiss FL. It's the only other one that I tried..

Tethered caps? I like them. If they weren't tethered I would probably not use them much and eventually scratch the lens or damage the coating. Also, cleaning the lens less often is probably better for it.