[Mr Hornblower]

Hi all, Has anybody got a pair of these little fellas, what are they really like, and is the focus wheel really as stiff as some say or do they loosen up if used for a while?

[BrightIdea]

Piggyback on this one... are they actually different from the "original" yosemite's or is it only cosmetic? same factory? prisms, coatings, FOV, specs? etc?

tia

[NDhunter]

I have an original pair of the Yosemite in 6x30, and have tried the new model in the store.
Not side by side, but I would go with either as I believe they would be much the same.
As far as armor the new one has changed, and so have many of Leupolds models.
I think it was mentioned they may have gone to a different mfr. in China for these.
The focus can be a bit tight, but some is due to the fact they are waterproof and so
they have some seal drag. I am not bothered by it, they may get smoother with age.
Very nice binocular, I recommend them.
Do a search back for comments on the Yosemite, its hard to find a bad word.

Jerry

[BrightIdea]

Originally Posted by NDhunter

...
Very nice binocular, I recommend them.
Do a search back for comments on the Yosemite, its hard to find a bad word.

Jerry

I own an older model beige 6x30 and agree. I was wondering if it was a redesign or just a face lift.

[ceasar]

Originally Posted by BrightIdea

I own an older model beige 6x30 and agree. I was wondering if it was a redesign or just a face lift.

I have a beige one also. I wouldn't consider it a face lift. I haven't seen a new one in person but now it looks a bit less "classy." It looks like all the other binoculars on the block now in that price range. I don't think Leupold redesigned them otherwise, so my guess is it was done to save manufacturing costs.

I'm sorry I didn't get one in the Brick Red color too.

Bob

[lilcrazy2]

In 12/2010 I had a series of phone calls and emails with Leupold's technical people after the BX-1 specs were leaked on EO website. The gist of the discussion was around the revised BX-1 specs particularly on exit pupil and close focus. The net result of this is that they said that they were publishing the actual measured results on the BX-1 instead of the specification sheet as in the past. Besides, the new close focus was actually what the old model did anyway.
I pointed out to them that an EP of 4.6 would mean the 6x30 would actually translate into either a 6.5x30 or a 6x28. We know from many of Henry's past measurements of other inexpensive porros that the objective or magnification could be off a bit from what manufacturers usually publish.

I doubt Leupold changed factories since they also changed the armoring of the Cascade, Olympic, pinnacle and Mojave. To change factories to make the identical binos would be astronomically expensive, whereas a new mold only for the armoring would cost less than $9000 per model to be amortized over the number of units.

I have the old pink camo 6x30 and when I compared them to the new BX-1 last fall, I could notice no difference other than the armoring.

And I see that CDNNsports still has the 6x30 pink camo on sale for $69.99 - they are way too cool. Who wants funeral black?

Tom

[lilcrazy2]

Originally Posted by ceasar

I have a beige one also. I wouldn't consider it a face lift. I haven't seen a new one in person but now it looks a bit less "classy." It looks like all the other binoculars on the block now in that price range. I don't think Leupold redesigned them otherwise, so my guess is it was done to save manufacturing costs.

I'm sorry I didn't get one in the Brick Red color too.

Bob

Bob

I looked long and hard for a pair of the brick reds, but they were discontinued about 2 years earlier, and I couldn't find a reasonable deal on a pair. Someday I'll come across a pair.

Besides, if I look at my pink camo ones thru my Sightrons, they take on a reddish tint

[BrightIdea]

Originally Posted by ceasar

...

I'm sorry I didn't get one in the Brick Red color too.

Bob

Me too! I tried, but I couldnt find them.

I like the beige though. At least its not Pinkcamoahemcoughlittlecrazyahem.

[James Bean]

I'd wanted a 6x30 Yosemite for quite some time, and eventually bought a used one in mint condition recently (original black model, green rings). To be candid, I was disappointed. It has a nice wide and sharp view, but the focus is just not what I'm used to (superb Nikons) and it doesn't 'feel' like a high quality binocular. I can see why lots of people out there like the Yosemite, but it just doesn't do anything for me, although the original's design/styling is much 'classier' than the 'fussier' new BX-1, in my opinion. I wanted to like it, but I don't.