pat mitchel
Well-known member
Looks interesting. Pat
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new kid's edition roofie 6.5x32 voretx- comments? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter pat mitchel
- Start date
Looks interesting. Pat
has530
Well-known member
50° AFOV, no phase coating, doesn't mention multicoatings. Looks like it is probably the same quality as their crossfire line but in a smaller package which is probably good because the optical shortcomings should be less visible at 6.5x. While the vortex warranty is enticing for kid binos, I would still probably go with the kowa yf.
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
Why?
The Kowa YF 6x and 8x are both great little bins. I have them for my kids and I often find myself looking through them as well. I discern they are obviously better optically than the Bantam. Also currently made in Philippines vs Bantam MIC.
has530
Well-known member
From a quality standpoint the YF is very good for the price. The coatings are good, central contrast and sharpness good, overall excellent optics and probably the best in their price range. On the other hand the low end vortex like the crossfire are very bad. My first pair of new binoculars were an 8x42 crossfire and they were so bad it sparked my passion to find something better! Dim image with lots of ghosting from poor AR coatings, bad contrast from lack of phase coating. Kids don't need the best optics but having good enough optics to give a bit of a wow factor can really help spark their passion.
From a haptics standpoint the YF is great for kids. The wider barrels and general shape of porro prisms is generally a lot easier for small hands. They also accommodate small IPDs more naturally. IMO the yf is the ideal kids binocular and the vortex is unlikely to improve upon it. They are likely $25 amazon type bins with a vortex warranty.
oldfortyfive
Well-known member
Got to try a pair in Cabelas this afternoon. The sample I tried just couldn’t be focused in sharp across the store. Seemed clearer around the outer edges than in the middle.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Very nice collection. Which is your favorite?
Is that the St. Lucie nuclear power plant In the background?
Paul
I ordered one and it came today. It is actually a pretty decent binocular and fits its price point. Light, clear and sharp views at the center, good eye relief. You won't do better at $69.99. I was surprised. The Oberwerk lw and Kowa YF are better, but also cost more. This would be a good first binocular for a child and you could later get him or her a better one. It would also be handy for adults who want an inexpensive decent roof at low mag. It's not bad at all. If you get a bad sample the warranty is the best in the business.
Elkhornsun
Well-known member
I like the Pentax 6.5x21Papilio II binoculars that focus down to 19 inches. Great for birds, butterflies, reptiles, and insects. There is also a 8.5x21 version selling for $120 and weighing only 10 ounces.
Good question. Honestly, I can't pick a favorite. The 6x depth of field and stable view is very enjoyable, but a narrow AFOV. The 8x has a wider AFOV and decent depth of field / 3d.
If I could only have one, and still have the rest of my bins, then I'd take the YF 6x.
If I could only have one, and it would be my ONLY bin, then I'd take the YF 8x.
Not sure the name of the power plant. We are standing in Petersburg, KY. That is the Ohio River. The power plant is in Ohio, but straight across from us is Indiana.
I ordered a Bantam 6,5x32 at a middle day sale. Received it today.
Not as cheap as in some other countries, but it's still a very good binocular for ~$100. I have actually hard to see a difference in sharpness compared to Viper HD 6x32. Which is discontinued but was ~$500 11 years ago.
Here beside Viper HD 6x32.
The eyelens is ~20mm compared to ~22mm of Viper. It's also more recessed.
They are exactly the same length.
But Bantam is thinner and lighter. Around 150gram lighter actually. Here you can see it's thinner than Viper.
The TFOV is stated as 7,6deg. With 6,5x it should be 49deg AFOV. Still the AFOV is smaller than Viper 6x32 which has 48deg. I cannot either see a difference in magnification when comparing side by side. Viper 6x32 has slightly wider as well true and apparant FOV. I draw the conclusion Bantam is actually a 6x32. And comparing the exit pupils they look very much the same.
When I look into the objectives I can see a completely white mirroring in Bantam while not in Viper. It's obviously some prism part which is not coated in Bantam. Still it's difficult to see a brightness difference at day.
Bantam works with eyeglasses but not that comfortable open view as Viper. It's a pity 1-2mm of eye relief is unnecessary wasted because of the more recessed eye lens.
Still I find this acceptable for a glass of this price. It works, and Bantam is a binocular I dare yo use in cases I don't want to risk to loose the Viper and to lend out to a friend.
When it comes to the eyecups I find with both Bantam and Viper that they are not possible to extend enough to get the perfect distance when observing without eyeglasses. It's a pity this is still not made right.
When I look against a bright light source Bantam shows significantly more glare than Viper.
Another drawback worth to mention with Bantam is the close focus: 4-5m which is about twice of Viper. I usually don't care much about that but when I try out and compare binoculars sitting by the kitchen table I noticed that it was hard to get focus to the other side of the kitchen.
Conclusion:
Bantam 6,5(6)x32 HD is not as good as Viper HD 6x32 which was not either expected. But for 1/5 of the price it's an excellent value!
The image quality is very good and it works pretty good with eyeglasses.
6x means a stable view and 5+mm exit pupil provides a bright image in dim conditions.
As a gift to as well a child and adult, and as an extra binocular for example in the car, when you don't loose a fortune if it is stolen, I think Bantam is a great choice.
It will not replace my Viper HD but will be a complement.
Edit:
I pondered a while about the eyecup design and found it should be possible to increase the useable eye relief a bit. I realised that I can cut away a bit of the eyecup edges without risking for physical contact between eyeglass lens and eyepiece lens/metal rim. And it worked! I got probably 1-1,5mm extra useful eye relief, which is a valuable improvement.
I may later try to polish the rubber for a nicer look.
But the important thing is that it works.
A while later: I have levelled out the edge completely.
Not as cheap as in some other countries, but it's still a very good binocular for ~$100. I have actually hard to see a difference in sharpness compared to Viper HD 6x32. Which is discontinued but was ~$500 11 years ago.
Here beside Viper HD 6x32.
The eyelens is ~20mm compared to ~22mm of Viper. It's also more recessed.
They are exactly the same length.
But Bantam is thinner and lighter. Around 150gram lighter actually. Here you can see it's thinner than Viper.
The TFOV is stated as 7,6deg. With 6,5x it should be 49deg AFOV. Still the AFOV is smaller than Viper 6x32 which has 48deg. I cannot either see a difference in magnification when comparing side by side. Viper 6x32 has slightly wider as well true and apparant FOV. I draw the conclusion Bantam is actually a 6x32. And comparing the exit pupils they look very much the same.
When I look into the objectives I can see a completely white mirroring in Bantam while not in Viper. It's obviously some prism part which is not coated in Bantam. Still it's difficult to see a brightness difference at day.
Bantam works with eyeglasses but not that comfortable open view as Viper. It's a pity 1-2mm of eye relief is unnecessary wasted because of the more recessed eye lens.
Still I find this acceptable for a glass of this price. It works, and Bantam is a binocular I dare yo use in cases I don't want to risk to loose the Viper and to lend out to a friend.
When it comes to the eyecups I find with both Bantam and Viper that they are not possible to extend enough to get the perfect distance when observing without eyeglasses. It's a pity this is still not made right.
When I look against a bright light source Bantam shows significantly more glare than Viper.
Another drawback worth to mention with Bantam is the close focus: 4-5m which is about twice of Viper. I usually don't care much about that but when I try out and compare binoculars sitting by the kitchen table I noticed that it was hard to get focus to the other side of the kitchen.
Conclusion:
Bantam 6,5(6)x32 HD is not as good as Viper HD 6x32 which was not either expected. But for 1/5 of the price it's an excellent value!
The image quality is very good and it works pretty good with eyeglasses.
6x means a stable view and 5+mm exit pupil provides a bright image in dim conditions.
As a gift to as well a child and adult, and as an extra binocular for example in the car, when you don't loose a fortune if it is stolen, I think Bantam is a great choice.
It will not replace my Viper HD but will be a complement.
Edit:
I pondered a while about the eyecup design and found it should be possible to increase the useable eye relief a bit. I realised that I can cut away a bit of the eyecup edges without risking for physical contact between eyeglass lens and eyepiece lens/metal rim. And it worked! I got probably 1-1,5mm extra useful eye relief, which is a valuable improvement.
I may later try to polish the rubber for a nicer look.
But the important thing is that it works.
A while later: I have levelled out the edge completely.
Last edited:
I have continued the process of increasing the useable eye relief. I have now also sanded the inner edge of the rubber eyecup. From being "pretty decent", I've now gotten to the point where I "climb into the picture" and have the perfect open view.
This should not be necessary if the eye lens of ocular was not unnecessary recessed. And the rubber parts of the eyecup decreased the useable eye relief even more. But I am very happy I could solve the problem completely satisfactory!
Before:
After:
Here is a sketch describing the change:
This should not be necessary if the eye lens of ocular was not unnecessary recessed. And the rubber parts of the eyecup decreased the useable eye relief even more. But I am very happy I could solve the problem completely satisfactory!
Before:
After:
Here is a sketch describing the change:
Last edited:
dalat
...
Just saw this. Looks like a good children's bin indeed. The minimum IPD of 51 mm is better than of most small roofs, which is an important criteria for bins to work with kids.
My experience, well my kid's, is different. They never liked the porros and always preferred small roofs or the Papillo. One issue is that it is difficult to reach the focus wheel of the porro with small hands.
Last edited:
Elkhornsun
Well-known member
Close focus distance is 12 feet. Far better to buy the Pentax Papilio II binoculars that focus down to 19 inches. Available in a 6.5x21 and 8.5x21 and selling for $106 at BH Photo Video. Great for birds but also for butterflies, frogs, insects, and reptiles.
Looks interesting. Pat
Kowa yf compared to Bantam:
Pros:
*sharper image
*longer ER(without cutting/sanding the eye cup)
Cons:
*outer focusing part makes it more vulnerable for impacts
*porro design makes it easier to get out of collimation
So both have pros and cons. For a smaller child I think Bantam is better.
Pros:
*sharper image
*longer ER(without cutting/sanding the eye cup)
Cons:
*outer focusing part makes it more vulnerable for impacts
*porro design makes it easier to get out of collimation
So both have pros and cons. For a smaller child I think Bantam is better.
iseegeorgesstar
Well-known member
Great write up. Thank you for all the pictures. I'm thinking about picking one of these up for fun.
