APS,
Are your wife's EIIs as finicky to line up as your 8x32BN? I ask because I loved everything about the 8x32BN so much I bought them, but for my eyes, they and all of the Leica 8x32s, BRs, HDs, even to a lesser extent my wonderful 8x42 BRs are sort of tricky in that regard. Then I bought my 8x32SEs and there was that wonderful easy view without having to hold my head just so. I know this is a problem unique to me and others with eyes-face like mine, as you rarely hear people complaining about Leica, yet you hear of lots of blackout issues with SEs.
I got a killer deal on my BNs and wasn't able to afford the Swaro 8x32EL, but for my eyes, (no glasses btw), those ELs were just as easy as the SEs, I still like the overall view through the SEs though.
Good luck,
John
John,
The EIIs are easy. The view is excellent. They are a bit more trouble looking up high (due to short ER). Also, I commonly have to adjust due to bridge flexure. The Leica BN view is different, but also excellent. In the field, day in day out, I like them both just about equally well. That is saying alot, as no other bin has held that position relative to the mighty EII. And that happens to include the Swaro EL 8x32. At one time, having looked through them repeatedly in stores, I considered it to be the ultimate; I longed for a pair, but (like you) couldn't justify the $$. I finally stumbled onto a great deal (via fellow BF member) and got a pair. I just knew the search was over. Well, I spent a little time in the field carrying BOTH pair (EL and EII). I enjoyed the EL, but when I pulled the EII up for comparison, I just couldn't be satisfied birding with EL while EII sat on shelf. The EL actually made my eyes a bit tired, which has not been the case with the beloved EII (or now with the Leica BN). I returned the 8x32 EL and haven't questioned it, confident I saw more, and better with EII.
So, why look further?? Why not be satisfied with BNs? Well, the BNs are just noticeably finicky, and in a way that one would expect to be able to improve on with larger EP, etc - thus, the interest in the 8x/7x42BR. But, I
have noticed a sort of tunnel vision when looking thru Leicas in stores. However, I have never held the 7x42, and based on the reviews, wonder if the same effect is present with them (Is it?? Or, is it very noticeably less??).
All that said, the EIIs and apparently the SEs also are just hard to beat. I may have to put the SE back on the list. But, although it's rarely mentioned here, I suspect the bridge-flex might be an issue (is it?). I also think the EII + SE might be a bit redundant. (Maybe the SE in 10x, but for the $$ involved, I really want to wind up with the "every day go to" bins - which 10x wouldn't do for me.) Oh well...
Finally, time in the field really tells the story; it is the reason I seem to be gradually becoming a Leica fan. So, John - is the finickiness of the 7x42BR objectionable like it is on the 8x32BN? And, "if you could have only one" ...
Thanks again, APS