[James Bean]

Have you ever picked up a binocular and IMMEDIATELY thought "Wow, this feels so good, so right, as if made for my hands!"?
This has happened to me a few times, but most recently it occurred when I'd bought an old (late 1960s/early 1970s?) Zuiho 7x50 on UK eBay for very little money. It's an American-pattern (Bausch & Lomb shape) porro, halfway in size between a Swift Audubon and a WW2 B&L US Navy 7x50 model, well balanced and looks rather elegant. The optics are quite good, considering they're at least 40 years old and only 'coated', albeit the field is a limited 5.1*. I have to push the oculars well into my eye sockets to obtain even a medium-sized view, so it won't suit spectacle wearers and can't compete with (say) the Audubon's 'big easy view', but it's pretty sharp and quite pleasant when you get used to it. Made in Japan, J-E32/J-B160.
But it's the shape that's so comfortable: my hands mould themselves to the smoothly rounded contours and my thumbs fit perfectly underneath the body. I was so impressed with the 7x50 Zuiho, I bought a very nice 7x35 Zuiho too. This is also beautifully shaped and is perhaps the nicest-looking binocular in my collection, resembling an over-fed Nikon 8x32SE. In comparison with the 7x50, it has an 11* wide angle, and is marked J-E32/J-B25. Its oculars are 25mm across in contrast with the 7x50's puny 17mm.
Maybe it goes to prove that old binoculars can be a pleasure to own, even if they can't compete with modern stuff for sheer optical performance.
I'll post pictures shortly...

What's your favourite "feel-good-to-hold" binocular?

[BrightIdea]

Originally Posted by James Bean

What's your favourite "feel-good-to-hold" binocular?

I absolutely know what you are talking about.

For me, nothing is as physically perfect in practice and feel as the simple little excursion 7x36.

NO question, they aren't close to the best optically. They're not even the best I have tried. And while they even have physical flaws (diopter is not "set" in the center, some claim focus wheel issues in cold weather), no matter what I try out, these still fit and feel the "best" to me.

[FrankD]

Yep. 8x32 Swaro ELs. Like a glove baby.

Too expensive for me now but the ergos of the Sightron 8x32 are incredible close to that of the Swaro. About the same size as well.

Maybe the 7x36 Zen Ray ED2 as well.

[Sancho]

I've recently acquired a gem Zeiss FL 8x32, and feel it was "made" for my hands. My SV 8.5x42 is optically superior, but the little Zeiss has been my "go to" bino for a few weeks. Focusser made in heaven, perfect weight and balance, I can get a steadier image, I think, than any other non-IS bino I've owned.

[Simon Wates]

Originally Posted by FrankD

Yep. 8x32 Swaro ELs. Like a glove baby.

I agree - and superb bins.

Mind you I am sticking with my supremely comfortable Leica 8x32 BN's as I have grown very fond of her and the image is as new 10 years on.

[jaymoynihan]

Originally Posted by James Bean

Have you ever picked up a binocular and IMMEDIATELY thought "Wow, this feels so good, so right, as if made for my hands!"?

Zeiss 7x42 BGATP
Nikon 8x32 SE
Zeiss 8x30 BGATP
Leica 10x42 BA

[mooreorless]

Originally Posted by Simon Wates

I agree - and superb bins
Mind you I am sticking with my supremely comfortable Leica 8x32 BN's as I have grown very fond of her and the image is as new 10 years on.

I agree about the Swarovski 8x32 EL in the hand, but overall feel the Swaro 8.5x42 Swarovision.

[edwincjones]

for me,

only the SW 8.5x42

edj

[James Bean]

As promised, here are pictures of a Nikon 8x32SE compared with the ergonomically elegant Zuiho 7x35, and the curvaceously svelte Zuiho 7x50...

[brocknroller]

Another vote for the 8x32 EL. What's amazing about this is if you saw a photo of Steve's hands (mooreorless) and mine next to each other, they would look like baby bear's and papa bear's, respectively. Swaro could boast "one size fits all" with the 32 EL.

My second favorite roof's ergos was the ZR 7x36 ED2. No matter how I picked up the bin, it would always fall comfortably in my hands, and the views were steadier than any bin I've tried. Like I hit the IS button.

The 8x32 SE's "feel" was quite different from the open-bridged roofs, but it was just as comfortable to hold due to its roundish prism housings and camphered front ends. My hands did extend slightly beyond the barrels so I used dew shields to keep the light from bouncing off my hands and into the optical path.

Next would be the 10x42 SE. Very comfortable to hold for the same reasons as the 8x SE (same prism housings), but due to its higher power and relatively light weight (25 oz. - less than most full sized 10x premium roofs), I get the DTs unless my back is braced against something. But it sure does feel good in the hands.

And now my choice for the #1 "Feel Good Factor" bins of all time....

The Leupold 8x42 Cascades porro. For the big handed, it doesn't get better than this, folks. Shape similar to the SE, soft rubber armoring, spongy at the bottom of the prism housing where my thumbs rested, almost felt like those EDG "gel" thumb indents. If only the view was as comfortable, but I felt like I was like looking through a porthole.

Brock

[mooreorless]

Brock you mean for your hands PaPa bear with long skinny fingers,not much meat.:) I admit my hands are not that big, but I have strong hands and have no trouble turning focus wheels on binoculars, unlike some other crybabies on here.

[mooreorless]

Originally Posted by James Bean

As promised, here are pictures of a Nikon 8x32SE compared with the ergonomically elegant Zuiho 7x35, and the curvaceously svelte Zuiho 7x50...

Hi James, I really like the looks of that Zuiho 7x35.

[WilsonsWarbler]

The best ones I've felt are the Swarovski SLC HD & Minox HGs (the latter just need the strap lug a tiny bit higher for total perfection).

[Alexis Powell]

I agree about the Swarovski 8x32 EL. Another "one size fits all" model was the Zeiss 7x42 Classic.

--AP

[flossiepip]

When I first handled my new Vortex Furys, I found the raised name and Vortex emblem on the top of both barrels to feel sharp and un comfortable but in the months that I've had them, I've used the Furys a great deal, taking them on some wonderful birding trips and now they feel just great! I think you just subconsciously adapt, as long as you give them time!

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by flossiepip

When I first handled my new Vortex Furys, I found the raised name and Vortex emblem on the top of both barrels to feel sharp and un comfortable but in the months that I've had them, I've used the Furys a great deal, taking them on some wonderful birding trips and now they feel just great! I think you just subconsciously adapt, as long as you give them time!

Either that or the name and Vortex emblem wore down from use! -:)

When I first saw the 8x42 Fury in person, I thought no way are these going to fit my hands because there's practically no bridge and no thumb indents, so what am I going to grip on top and how am I going to support the weight from underneath?

Then I took them in my hands and put them up to my eyes and found two surprises. The first was that the image was much better than I had expected for this price point. The second was that the bins fit my hands well.

The barrels are so FAT that even though my thumbs were tucked underneath like all roofs w/out thumb indents, they weren't dangling in the space between the barrels making them totally useless for support, but instead they were folded on the thick barrels. Can't explain where the rest of my hand/fingers went, but somehow the closed bridge roof with almost no bridge fit my large hands well.

The bullet headed eyecups also fit my eye orbits well, so make that three surprises.

I don't know why Vortex discontinued this line of bins. Seems like it could have become to Vortex what the Monarch has become to Nikon - their best seller.

Brock

[flossiepip]

I would like to add my vote here to bring back the Vortex Fury. Can not quite under stand why they dropped it from the line up, as there seems to be a gap there now. A next generation Fury would be good. Perhaps some one should start a new thread in binoculars asking for the Furys return!

[ceasar]

I like the way the Swift 828's feel in my hands best of all but I'm always changing my grip anyway (which I guess is better than losing it! ) no matter what binocular I happen to be using. Sometimes I hold them with my fingers and thumbs, sometimes I rest them on the heel of one hand or two with my thumbs back against my cheekbone; depends on the binocular, just as long as the eyecups are braced firmly against my brow ridge.

I often focus my 804 using my right thumb under the binocular. Large, wide binoculars like my 7 x 42 Trinovid and SEs and EIIs I just grab in my palms. I can keep my fingers and thumbs out of each other's way with them. With smaller ones like my 8 x 30 SLC and 8 x 32 LX L I'm always trying unconsciously to keep my fingers from entangling and I hold the objective tubes with the tips of my fingers on their tops.

Compacts I hold in the V of my thumb and palm with my fingers tented above them.

Bob