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Here are the new Victorys: Victory HT (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter frank.e.oy
- Start date
brocknroller
porromaniac
Considering how much the total investment would be, to use bird parlance, I think the collective name should be an ostentation of binoculars.
Take your pick!
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm
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james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
No, but the 15x60 BGAT would be a good candidate for that collection.
Ruff
Two birds in one.
Not as far as I know, not yet. This is my fantasy, remember. EDIT: But in the meantime I would go with what Mr H recommends.
Upon reflection, I think I would refer to such a collection of bins as a horde, as in a horde of gold. Of which as an ordinary citizen you could have one but not the other I guess.
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James, thanks. There's also the current Z. Conquest 15x45.
Ruff, watch it, fantasy can be unsafe. Here's my own sensible policy, posted months ago in another thread on the Z. Victory HT. To date I have maintained it re the HT. http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2621473&postcount=8.
Ruff, watch it, fantasy can be unsafe. Here's my own sensible policy, posted months ago in another thread on the Z. Victory HT. To date I have maintained it re the HT. http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2621473&postcount=8.
brocknroller
porromaniac
Doctor Doolittle,
Thank your little friend for that insider information. I wonder if she got into the engineering dept. through an open window or if some Zeiss secretaries were discussing it in a park at lunchtime over Wienerschnitzels and she overhead them?
Oh well, everybody knew that Zeiss' statement about the company having no plans for an 8x32 HT was a ruse to sell off the remaining 8x32 FLs.
I wonder if there will be an announcement followed by delay after delay of if Zeiss figured out that they should keep the news under their hat until they have firmed up their deals with their distributors? Remember, the birds are listening (and so is Big Brother). :eek!:
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eddy the eagle
Well-known member
If the Swarovski SV 8x32 gets voted the best bino of all time,see other thread.then to be sure Zeiss will bring out a challenger,ie.Victory 8x32 HT,won't they ?....Eddy
Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
Already a done deal Eddy (sorry Lee!) - all that remains is to get the delivery of the new born 8x32HT right this time!
I hope Tim's "little birdy" is more reliable than Temmie's "cooked goose"!
Alarmingly, someone on another thread said they were going to adopt dennis as their "canary" in a coal mine ....... I think that one is likely to end up as a "dead duck"!
Madam Zelda sees an 8x32HT in dennis' future :cat: ....... For Sale - one very lightly used 8x32 SV - as new - $1750 (gotta flip a profit!) :smoke:
Chosun :gh:
I hope Tim's "little birdy" is more reliable than Temmie's "cooked goose"!
Alarmingly, someone on another thread said they were going to adopt dennis as their "canary" in a coal mine ....... I think that one is likely to end up as a "dead duck"!
Madam Zelda sees an 8x32HT in dennis' future :cat: ....... For Sale - one very lightly used 8x32 SV - as new - $1750 (gotta flip a profit!) :smoke:
Chosun :gh:
eddy the eagle
Well-known member
Spot on CJ......Eddy
HaHa CJ
I am sure that Zeiss will come up with a new premium 32mm at some point but I caution anyone who is thinking of holding their breath until this happens.
All the signals from Zeiss indicate that this event is not imminent.
Have they stopped production of FL 8x32? No idea. It sounds dramatic but it needn't be. Perhaps they need the production capacity for something else, perhaps even HTs (!). Or maybe they have enough FLs in stock just now.
TroubaLee
Mac308
Well-known member
Zeiss 8x32's are on sale here at a fairly substantial reduction... that's usually how it goes when a bin is on the way out...
It WOULD have been a GREAT bin if it had a slower focus.
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
How cheap are they selling them for? Before the HT came out, it was still hard to get deals on the 8 and 10 x 42 FL's.
For a good price, the 8x32 FL would be pretty sweet.
NDhunter
Experienced observer
James:
Tell us about how you compare the 8x vs. the 10x.
I believe your new HT is 8x42 and you have the 10x42 FL ?
I would like your opinion of the sizes and how they compare
in your usual birding. I respect your opinion, and the size thing often
comes up, and I do know both have advantages.
I just saw your post on another subforum, but is better here.
Jerry
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
Jerry,
The differences between the FL and the HT are just a few ounces, and I notice no real difference around my neck. In the hand, the HT is better balanced and just plain fits perfectly, so it feels lighter - if you know what I mean.
Now, I have no problem with an 42mm FL / HT or SV in terms of size. I think they are more than manageable and [for me] that can mean 12 hour field days. For real bushwhacking though, I like something smaller, something I can tuck under my arm as I push through the Buckthorn or wade through a swamp.
If you get a chance, Jerry, try out the HT's - the image is quite breathtaking.
NDhunter
Experienced observer
James:
Good to hear, but I am also looking for your opinion on power, 8X vs. 10X, in
general, and how you prefer either one.
Jerry
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
Jerry,
I still prefer the 10 for open country - hawk watching, shorebirds, coastal birding - you just can't beat the mag. and I have no problems holding a 10 steady.
Overall though, I prefer the 8x42 format - better DOF, more 3D effect, less compression and most aberrations are less pronounced. My HT has to be the ultimate woodland birding bin, with the brightness, shadow detail and glare control all making for a sensational view.A close second is my 7x42 BGAT/P - still great after all these years!
Do you have the 8x and 10x or just the 10x as an all around. At the moment I just have the 10x HT and find it works well for all areas, although an 8x is a bit easier in forested areas...so might eventually look at either the 8x Conquest or the wait and see if Zeiss comes out with an HT 8 x 32... jim
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
Copied from the Swaro 8x32 thread - thought I would respond here to keep it out of the Swaro forum.
Posted by BruceH.
No answers at this point. I just saw enough to raise the questions in my mind. For this particular sample, the first impression was a small center for the price and the edge blur was subjectively moderate. I need to see some more samples with out the focus issue before drawing any conclusions. If my initial impression is correct, then the next question is to decide if the center view is that much better than the other alphas that it outweighs what is lost outside the center. Please keep in mind that my primary binocular is a Nikon EDG so I put more weight on a large center view for a high end binocular than other forum members may. The sales rep has spent time looking through them and thought the center view was excellent.
__________________
Bruce,
If you can handle mild astigmatism, as almost all owners of the HT have not mentioned it as problematic thus far, then you will be able to appreciate the optical excellence of the centrefield.
The true worth of this bino. is in the viewing, not measuring sweet spot sizes or edge characteristics - it's all about the part of the field we use 90% of the time. And, the improvement over the other alpha's in several categories is not incremental but quite astonishing in terms of scope. I have done a side by side with an 8.5 Swaro and the differences were easy to see.
Brighter in all situations, but that brightness translates into better detail recognition in many situations - backlight, haze, shadow, gloom etc. Just amazing in a woodland canopy!
Better CA control [especially lateral CA] than anything I have used, giving the cleanest and most transparent view.
Best glare and stray light suppression by a country mile, rendering far better contrast and detail in adverse light. The difference here is not small but huge and it is surprising just how often stray light can affect the view [and overall contrast] in other binoculars.
Just a plainly better view - better apparent sharpness than anything I have used - the view just pops with a crispness / contrast that [to my eye] is unsurpassed - it just makes my FL look weak and dull. The view makes me think it must be close to the 8x56 FL, at least in transparency, as the differences with my 10x42 FL are so stark.
So, if sharp edges are your thing, the HT will not be your cup o' tea - but if you want the very best ''view'', it cannot be beat, IMO.
Some of the other alpha's do have larger sweetspots and sharper edges, and maybe a warmer colour palette, but none have a better centrefield than the HT.
Posted by BruceH.
No answers at this point. I just saw enough to raise the questions in my mind. For this particular sample, the first impression was a small center for the price and the edge blur was subjectively moderate. I need to see some more samples with out the focus issue before drawing any conclusions. If my initial impression is correct, then the next question is to decide if the center view is that much better than the other alphas that it outweighs what is lost outside the center. Please keep in mind that my primary binocular is a Nikon EDG so I put more weight on a large center view for a high end binocular than other forum members may. The sales rep has spent time looking through them and thought the center view was excellent.
__________________
Bruce,
If you can handle mild astigmatism, as almost all owners of the HT have not mentioned it as problematic thus far, then you will be able to appreciate the optical excellence of the centrefield.
The true worth of this bino. is in the viewing, not measuring sweet spot sizes or edge characteristics - it's all about the part of the field we use 90% of the time. And, the improvement over the other alpha's in several categories is not incremental but quite astonishing in terms of scope. I have done a side by side with an 8.5 Swaro and the differences were easy to see.
Brighter in all situations, but that brightness translates into better detail recognition in many situations - backlight, haze, shadow, gloom etc. Just amazing in a woodland canopy!
Better CA control [especially lateral CA] than anything I have used, giving the cleanest and most transparent view.
Best glare and stray light suppression by a country mile, rendering far better contrast and detail in adverse light. The difference here is not small but huge and it is surprising just how often stray light can affect the view [and overall contrast] in other binoculars.
Just a plainly better view - better apparent sharpness than anything I have used - the view just pops with a crispness / contrast that [to my eye] is unsurpassed - it just makes my FL look weak and dull. The view makes me think it must be close to the 8x56 FL, at least in transparency, as the differences with my 10x42 FL are so stark.
So, if sharp edges are your thing, the HT will not be your cup o' tea - but if you want the very best ''view'', it cannot be beat, IMO.
Some of the other alpha's do have larger sweetspots and sharper edges, and maybe a warmer colour palette, but none have a better centrefield than the HT.
James
You summed HTs up pretty well.
Just back from France where the astonishing transparency of view was such an asset whether looking for detail on circling eagles and vultures or searching for orchids in the gloom of beech woods.
I also maintain something I said months ago: the sensitivity of the HT to nuances in light and colour adds an almost 3D solidity to the shape of what you are looking at. I mean the brighter forward placed aspects seem to stand forward a bit more while subtlties in shadowed areas are more nuanced.
If you put to one side the questions of assessing this and measuring the other and just immerse yourself in the view its a wonderful instrument.
Lee
