What binocular provides your current favourite view? (1 Viewer)

[mpeace]

This is a bit of shameless excuse to share my current favourite binocular view, but would be great to hear others as well. I’m hoping there may be a couple of surprises in what people choose.

I think it’s an interesting question because it’s completely removed from ergonomics and practical considerations. Also, it’s not about the technically ‘best’ view and is highly subjective and could be sentimentally or nostalgically influenced as well.

So, to kick off my favourite view is given by the Zeiss 10x56 FL. It’s relatively new to me, bought for stargazing, but is something of a revelation in daytime as well and better for birdwatching than I thought. The view’s really clear and is the most immersive I’ve seen. It’s also the steadiest 10x I’ve used, no doubt due to its heft. A bonus is a natural 3D quality missing from many roof prism bins.

Prior to these, I’d probably say the Zeiss 8x25 victory pocket gave my favourite view. Not necessarily the best against my others, but always beyond expectations and totally gratifying.

 

[has530]

My current favorites are my new to me SLC 7x42. It is by far the most relaxed view of anything I have used and just feels like an extension of my vision that places me in the scene.

 

[Ignatius]

Decisions ... decisions ... My Habicht 8x30? The relatively new SFL 8x30? Or the new whopper that's a Conquest HD 10x56?
Tbh I cannot make up my mind, and the 710 is looking at me funny because I sit on the balcony with all three on the brunch table, taking turns to look through each for a bit. But she is a wonderful wife who only shakes her head - instead of having me committed.

 

[wllmspd]

Nikon 8x30E2, all my other binoculars feel constrained and limited in comparison.

Peter

 

[Conndomat]

Hi,

currently I use the Leica 7x42 HD-Plus the most and in fact the Victory FL 10x56 is my main use binoculars in the 10x configuration!

You're right, that FL 10x56 are incredibly good binocular.

Andreas

 

[Binocollector]

Fuji HC 8x42 without a doubt. Brightness, lack of any color tint, very low CA, perfect birding bino for me.

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

I am still favouring my Zeiss 8x32FL, after eighteen years, as my most used glass when I carry only one binocular. It is just a very nice combination of size, good eye relief, field of view, contrast and resolution. It may be time for an update.

Stay safe,
Arthur

 

[Elpha8888]

I would love to try the 10x56 FL especially for astronomy and I wonder how it would compare to the NL 12x42, that binocular is my favourite night sky instrument so far, during the day the Eii gets the nod.

 

[Paultricounty]

My favorites in order and why.

Leica 8x42 Noctivid , delicious and elegant.
Bushnell FPO 7x35 Rangemaster, breathtaking.
Leica 8x32 Ultravid+, full size high-end premium binoculars trapped in a compact body.

I’ll ad the second and third choices float a bit , but the Nocs have held first place since I got them almost two years ago.

 

[tehri]

Another endless thread, lol !!

For their ergonomics, their optical quality, undoubtedly none concerning me : NL Pure 10x32.
Fully retracted eyecups + Crazy FOV, provide a 'hallucinogenic' view of nature, a 'mind portal', which astonishes me and delights me ceaselessly !!!!

 

[Paultricounty]

Another endless thread, lol !!

For their ergonomics, their optical quality, undoubtedly none concerning me : NL Pure 10x32.
Fully retracted eyecups + Crazy FOV, provide a 'hallucinogenic' view of nature which astonishes me and delights me ceaselessly !!!!

View attachment 1507237

Another endless thread, don’t you just love it 😍.

Crazy FOV, don’t look through a Rangemaster 😜. I have the 10x42NL’s so I know what your saying , but the hallucinogenic thing might be something else 😂✌🏼.

 

[wllmspd]

…. Baader Morpheus (or similar) can give you >NL/Rangemaster width and very high quality… so I get a feeling that we have some wide AFOV junkies here?

Peter

 

[[email protected]]

Probably for the steady view and the fact I can see more detail with them, the Canon 10x30 IS II. For a traditional binocular, the Habicht 7x42 W. The FOV is narrow, but it is really bright, sharp on-axis and has the superb stereoscopic view of a porro-prism. Even though it has a lot of idiosyncrasies, the Habicht 7x42 is just different from any other binocular I have used, and I like that. What it does really well. It is a specialist for low light. It is in a class by itself.

 

[Bill Atwood]

Favorite, but not always the best: 8x40SFL.

Near zero glare, good contrast, acceptable FOV and a bit more 3d view.

Don't know if it counts for view, but additional SFL plusses are faster focus and less weight.

 

[Paultricounty]

…. Baader Morpheus (or similar) can give you >NL/Rangemaster width and very high quality… so I get a feeling that we have some wide AFOV junkies here?

Peter

Yes we do have some wide AFOV junkies here. But I’ve never been bitten by the WF bino bug until I tried the vintage superwides. Even though I own the so called latest and greatest SF, NL and the lesser older E2 porros they never blew me away with their FOV. They have a very wide field when comparing to other quality glass of the day , and the FOV is surely noticeable in comparison to other Swaros, Zeiss and a few other, but nothing compares to the wide field images of the vintage superwides. It’s a whole different quality feeling of the image. It really is indescribable when comparing them to an NL or SF, and must be experienced to see the differences I’m talking about. It’s not just the FOV that makes the image circle so astonishing , it’s the sum of all the parts, superwide FOV, plus huge and widely separated prisms/barrels and incredible sharpness and resolution, which gives them the most expansive , stereo scopic and 3D effect of any other binoculars.

Maybe im reaching here with this example , and others with more experience with high quality (alphas of their day) super wide field bins can chime in or give better analogies, but ill compare them like this. It’s like handing an NL or SF to someone who’s been using a vortex DB or Nikon Monarch 3 and watching their expression.

When you look through a modern widefield bino you still get the sense that your looking through binoculars because of the easily apparent field stop, with a super wide it feels like there’s no glass in between you and the image , and the field stop is not so apparent to the whole image circle. This is one of the main reasons its one of my favorite views. If I want wide field I go vintage (on sunny day) , if I want delicious I go Noctivids 🤪.

NL’s, SF’s , Ultravids , Habicht’s are all other choices for other days and moods. 🙏🏼.

 

[Binocollector]

@[email protected]
I wouldn't have expected the Habicht 7x42 to be your favourite

 

[Maljunulo]

Not being a big fan of navel-gazing, I just use my 8X32 SF for anything at which I want to get a “closer look” without wondering if a different glass would show me an additional 10 meters at 1,000 meters, or if they are a centimeter “Too long” or any of the myriad things which seem to obsess some users of the noble binocular.

It is one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments, and it is to be embraced, and a source of constant joy, rather than the target of carping criticism.

 

[A2GG]

right now it’s my Trinovid HD 8x32. It’s so sharp and clear with nice colors and great contrast. Plus the long eye relief and slightly larger exit pupil - compared to my 8x30 bins - makes it easier to use with eyeglasses.

It also has a super smooth focuser which makes it more pleasing to use.

 

[Paultricounty]

right now it’s my Trinovid HD 8x32. It’s so sharp and clear with nice colors and great contrast. Plus the long eye relief and slightly larger exit pupil - compared to my 8x30 bins - makes it easier to use with eyeglasses.

It also has a super smooth focuser which makes it more pleasing to use.

That’s Leica Beth, just such beautiful image quality.

Paul

 

[mwhogue]

This is a bit of shameless excuse to share my current favourite binocular view, but would be great to hear others as well. I’m hoping there may be a couple of surprises in what people choose.

I think it’s an interesting question because it’s completely removed from ergonomics and practical considerations. Also, it’s not about the technically ‘best’ view and is highly subjective and could be sentimentally or nostalgically influenced as well.

So, to kick off my favourite view is given by the Zeiss 10x56 FL. It’s relatively new to me, bought for stargazing, but is something of a revelation in daytime as well and better for birdwatching than I thought. The view’s really clear and is the most immersive I’ve seen. It’s also the steadiest 10x I’ve used, no doubt due to its heft. A bonus is a natural 3D quality missing from many roof prism bins.

Prior to these, I’d probably say the Zeiss 8x25 victory pocket gave my favourite view. Not necessarily the best against my others, but always beyond expectations and totally gratifying.

mpeace,

Great thread thanks! But you left the door slightly ajar by referencing the AbFab VP 8x25 so here goes, all subjective of course.

My "reference bin" for favorite view is the late model pre FP SW SV 8.5x42.

Favorite view overall, Nikon EDG II 7x42.

Favorite view pound for pound, the SW Curio 7x21.

My "surprise" pick for all around favorite/versatile view is the Kowa 6.5x32.

Gratifying to see here that various Zeiss FL models remain top contenders.

Mike