What is the Noctivid about? (1 Viewer)

[tenex]

After awhile I just gave up on them and returned them. I probably got a lemon. I think if the focuser was smoother and less tight they would be pretty nice binoculars... I noticed that because of the large eye relief even with the eye cups all the way out If I wasn't careful I would get blackouts. For me the eye cups need to be a couple of mm longer.

Not the highest praise of the view Dennis.
I`m less keen on the ergonomics but the only problem I have with the view is I find them too contrasty like a UHDTV set to dynamic.

It sounds like the qualities of the Noctivid view are appreciated more over time, so Dennis I'm sorry you had ergonomic problems get in the way of that. I've had the same issue with eye relief/cups on the Leica 42s, and other binos. Sometimes I have to play games, like just starting to unscrew the eyecup, and then it's deep enough (Trinovid BR 42). Or with the Swaro design, finding that each eyecup height is really two because twisting moves it up before it goes down, and that "up" variation on the full height works a bit better (SLC 10x56).

Torview, "too contrasty" is an interesting reaction. (Most including Leica probably don't think that's possible.) Is it a purely aesthetic objection or do you find it some sort of problem in use?

 

[Torview]

Hi Tenex,

I do find it an issue, for example when viewing a Bird surrounded by a bright white sky, the Bird seems to bleed into the sky for me, like an incorrectly expose photo with blown out highlights, I`m probably weird but I do find it a real issue.

 

[[email protected]]

"However, these types of issues do not interfere with the pleasure of birding, or the quality of the view. They are minor niggles, more like the feel of different brands of guitars, and slightly different gauges of strings. You just get used to it in short order. At least I do.... most of the time. We all have different tolerances for these things."

I don't know about that. IMO a nice smooth focuser that seems seamless when you are birding makes the whole experience more pleasurable. I hate one that has too much play or is sticky or is harder to turn in one direction. Going from the EDG to the Noctivid focuser was an eye opener. I was just in a Cabella's today and I tried a Swarovski SLC 10x42 and sure enough it was harder to turn in the clockwise direction. I told the sales girl and she said she would tell the Sales Rep from Swarovski. Good luck with that I told her! If you buy an SLC CHECK the focuser!

 

[42za]

Hello All,

In expensive upper tier binoculars I for one DO expect superior mechanical construction and operation.
All the upper tier binoculars have superior optics , but this is meaningless if the mechanics are wanting.
It should not be necessary to accept mediocrity at these price points.

Perhaps I am behind the times , or the accountants have taken over and pride of construction has gone out the window.

But I actually do enjoy what I have.

Cheers.

 

[Mike F]

FWIW the focus mechanism on my NV is perfectly smooth and feels exactly the same in both directions. I have a friend with an EDG and the mechanism on the NV is every bit as good. I have tried two other NV’s and they were both as good. As always, there can be bad samples from all manufacturers.

 

[Swissboy]

Hello All,

In expensive upper tier binoculars I for one DO expect superior mechanical construction and operation.
All the upper tier binoculars have superior optics , but this is meaningless if the mechanics are wanting.
It should not be necessary to accept mediocrity at these price points.

……………..

I fully agree with you. Nevertheless, there seem to be some limitations of what is possible. I had my Zeiss FL 10x42 along for the Batumi migration tour. When I had recently got it (bought used), in both directions, the focus was as smooth and soft as I had wanted it to be, but under the sunny warm conditions at the Batumi watchpoints it turned out to defocus easily when not in use. This was what I had already known from my 8x42 FL before I had it refurbished. When I got it back, the focus was just slightly on the hard side for my liking, and I was debating whether I should complain. Yet, it is very smooth and even, so I decided to live with it. So far, there has never been a spontaneous shift in that one.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi Tenex,

I do find it an issue, for example when viewing a Bird surrounded by a bright white sky, the Bird seems to bleed into the sky for me, like an incorrectly expose photo with blown out highlights, I`m probably weird but I do find it a real issue.

I agree with you, Torview. What you could be observing is CA the CA on the Noctivid's was higher than any of the other alpha's I have had including the SV and the SF on the edge. In fact the CA on the Noctivid's was worse than some less expensive binboculars I have had. CA is not as will controlled in the Noctivid's especially on on the edge. From Scopeviews Review.

"As usual, false colour increases towards the very edge of the field, again perhaps a little more so than the very best.
This result suggests the Noctivids employ a single ED element, rather than the two used in some designs (like Kowa’s Genesis models) that effectively eliminate false colour."

 

[[email protected]]

It sounds like the qualities of the Noctivid view are appreciated more over time, so Dennis I'm sorry you had ergonomic problems get in the way of that. I've had the same issue with eye relief/cups on the Leica 42s, and other binos. Sometimes I have to play games, like just starting to unscrew the eyecup, and then it's deep enough (Trinovid BR 42). Or with the Swaro design, finding that each eyecup height is really two because twisting moves it up before it goes down, and that "up" variation on the full height works a bit better (SLC 10x56).

Torview, "too contrasty" is an interesting reaction. (Most including Leica probably don't think that's possible.) Is it a purely aesthetic objection or do you find it some sort of problem in use?

I had the Noctivid's eye cups all the way out and they were still a little short for me. I didn't unscrew them though. I don't like to have to resort to those measures when with other binoculars I don't have to. You shouldn't have to do stuff like that to make a $2500.00 binocular work for you IMO. I don't think glassing time behind the Noctivid would have changed my opinion of it's performance. It is what it is and it isn't no SV or SF IMO. I agree with you Swissboy about focuser's on binoculars. I have had good and bad ones on every level of binoculars. I even had an EDG which usually have superb focusers that had too much play in it and I won't even go into how many Swarovski's I have had with funky focusers. My opinion is if you get a binocular with a good focuser HANG on to it. The new Nikon EDG 8x32 I just purchased has a wonderful focuser. It is fluid with no slack and no sounds of grease oozing around in it like some Vortex's do. It is a keeper.

 

[Torview]

I agree with you, Torview. What you could be observing is CA [/B][/QU

Although CA is more often apparent in the NV than the others for me, its not actually a CA issue, it may be an issue with how my eyes work, but what I perceive as a more subdued contrast in the SF allows me to see more detail in the conditions I described earlier.

 

[wdc]

I had the Noctivid's eye cups all the way out and they were still a little short for me. I didn't unscrew them though. I don't like to have to resort to those measures when with other binoculars I don't have to. You shouldn't have to do stuff like that to make a $2500.00 binocular work for you IMO.

It doesn't matter what they cost, the fact of the matter is, the binoculars just didn't fit you. That's unfortunate, but its not the fault of the binocular. Binoculars are not a one size fits all proposition, any more than shoes are. More like a one-size-fits-many. There's a lot of binoculars that don't fit me. In fact, most Leicas don't fit me.

-Bill

 

[[email protected]]

It doesn't matter what they cost, the fact of the matter is, the binoculars just didn't fit you. That's unfortunate, but its not the fault of the binocular. Binoculars are not a one size fits all proposition, any more than shoes are. More like a one-size-fits-many. There's a lot of binoculars that don't fit me. In fact, most Leicas don't fit me.

-Bill

You are correct. Even though a shoe may be expensive that doesn't mean it is going to fit everybody. That is why you need to try before you buy but in this case you can't even try Noctivid's locally so you have to order them and take a risk and return if they don't work for you.

 

[wdc]

. That is why you need to try before you buy but in this case you can't even try Noctivid's locally so you have to order them and take a risk and return if they don't work for you.

What member of this forum, or, practically speaking, humans on earth, that can try brand 'x' locally anymore? If they ever could in the first place. I have to resort to internet sales quite a bit to try certain brands. It often ends in 'tragedy' . ;-)

-B.

 

[SeldomPerched]

What member of this forum, or, practically speaking, humans on earth, that can try brand 'x' locally anymore? If they ever could in the first place. I have to resort to internet sales quite a bit to try certain brands. It often ends in 'tragedy' . ;-)

-B.

I must be lucky because a local stockist carries several major brands new as well as a good variety secondhand. Only a 10-15 minute walk. Similarly when I go on holiday in my own country. As you can imagine it really makes a difference.

Tom

 

[chill6x6]

To be honest the Nikon EDG's put the focuser on the Noctivid to shame. The EDG makes it pleasant to focus and with the Noctivid it was like a fight every time you moved the focuser on my sample. It is a shame that even alpha binoculars have quality problems. You think when you pay over $2K for a binocular that it would be perfect but it is not so.

That's not the case for me at ALL. I have 3 EDGs right here. I have two Noctivids RIGHT HERE. If anything, the Noctivid's focus adjustment is LIGHTER and SMOOTHER. The two Noctivid's focus adjustment is among the best I have.

 

[chill6x6]

What member of this forum, or, practically speaking, humans on earth, that can try brand 'x' locally anymore? If they ever could in the first place. I have to resort to internet sales quite a bit to try certain brands. It often ends in 'tragedy' . ;-)

-B.

Virtually every binocular I have was bought sight unseen via internet or by phone. For me the incidence of returning a binocular is VERY low. When I pay the money for a quality product, I almost always get one. It's when I stray from what I KNOW works I get into trouble...

 

[[email protected]]

That's not the case for me at ALL. I have 3 EDGs right here. I have two Noctivids RIGHT HERE. If anything, the Noctivid's focus adjustment is LIGHTER and SMOOTHER. The two Noctivid's focus adjustment is among the best I have.

You must have got the good ones. I got the lemon. I am glad not all Noctivid's are like what I got. I used to try to buy used binoculars off of Ebay when I had less money and it seems even though they said they were "Like New" they turned out to have some kind of problems with them. A lot of them had sticky focusers, the lenses were really dirty or the binoculars were very dirty. I had one pair of used binoculars I bought used that were covered in dog hair. It took me two hours to clean them. I take care of my stuff even though I use it so I just buy new in the box binoculars now. Honestly ,I have been lucky enough to be in a financial position where the money I save by buying used isn't worth the frustration or risk anymore. I have bought quite a few new binoculars even alpha's that were not perfect. Many Swarovski's especially SLC's and even SV's have had funky focusers being sticky or having unequal focus tension. I have sent those into Swarovski and usually they come back about the same. I bought a new EDG II with a focuser with too much play in it which I returned and EDG's usually have great focusers. I bought a new Meopta Meostar 8x32 that completely lost tension in the IPD adjustment and started oozing grease out of the focuser like there was no tomorrow. I would never buy a Meopta after that one. I had a Vortex Razor 10x42 that would not even focus correctly and I returned it and complained to Vortex and they sent me a new MIJ Vortex Razor 10x42 for no cost so I got it free. The Vortex Razor's have excessively greased eye cups that you have to use a q-tip to clean or you will have grease all over the place. The Vortex's also have this oozing sound of grease in their focuser's but you may be able to tolerate that if your hearing is bad. I returned a Nikon EDG I for a drifting diopter and received a new EDG II in exchange. I had a new Zeiss 8x42 SF which had reddish reflections around the field stops which was obviously defective and I had to return. I bought a Zeiss Terra 8x25 that I had all kinds of problems with and I had to return. Also, many binoculars have eye cups that are too short for the eye relief which makes them difficult to use. If you had not very many problems with the binoculars you have purchased you are very lucky or less picky than I am.

 

[wdc]

Virtually every binocular I have was bought sight unseen via internet or by phone. For me the incidence of returning a binocular is VERY low. When I pay the money for a quality product, I almost always get one. It's when I stray from what I KNOW works I get into trouble...

The primary reason I’ve sent binoculars back is that they don’t have enough eye relief. Sometimes I gamble on the specs, hoping for the best. Doesn’t always turn out that way. I don’t recall that I’ve ever sent one back because of flaws in the product. That’s someone else’s schtick....

-Bill

 

[Mike F]

You must have got the good ones. I got the lemon. I am glad not all Noctivid's are like what I got. I used to try to buy used binoculars off of Ebay when I had less money and it seems even though they said they were "Like New" they turned out to have some kind of problems with them. A lot of them had sticky focusers, the lenses were really dirty or the binoculars were very dirty. I had one pair of used binoculars I bought used that were covered in dog hair. It took me two hours to clean them. I take care of my stuff even though I use it so I just buy new in the box binoculars now. Honestly ,I have been lucky enough to be in a financial position where the money I save by buying used isn't worth the frustration or risk anymore. I have bought quite a few new binoculars even alpha's that were not perfect. Many Swarovski's especially SLC's and even SV's have had funky focusers being sticky or having unequal focus tension. I have sent those into Swarovski and usually they come back about the same. I bought a new EDG II with a focuser with too much play in it which I returned and EDG's usually have great focusers. I bought a new Meopta Meostar 8x32 that completely lost tension in the IPD adjustment and started oozing grease out of the focuser like there was no tomorrow. I would never buy a Meopta after that one. I had a Vortex Razor 10x42 that would not even focus correctly and I returned it and complained to Vortex and they sent me a new MIJ Vortex Razor 10x42 for no cost so I got it free. The Vortex Razor's have excessively greased eye cups that you have to use a q-tip to clean or you will have grease all over the place. The Vortex's also have this oozing sound of grease in their focuser's but you may be able to tolerate that if your hearing is bad. I returned a Nikon EDG I for a drifting diopter and received a new EDG II in exchange. I had a new Zeiss 8x42 SF which had reddish reflections around the field stops which was obviously defective and I had to return. I bought a Zeiss Terra 8x25 that I had all kinds of problems with and I had to return. Also, many binoculars have eye cups that are too short for the eye relief which makes them difficult to use. If you had not very many problems with the binoculars you have purchased you are very lucky or less picky than I am.

Thank you for this post. I'm sorry that you've had so many problems, but it's important to put things into perspective. As I said above, there can be bad samples from all manufacturers - even Swarovski!

 

[[email protected]]

Thank you for this post. I'm sorry that you've had so many problems, but it's important to put things into perspective. As I said above, there can be bad samples from all manufacturers - even Swarovski!

The important thing to remember is I have purchased a LOT of binoculars over the last 10 years. Perhaps as many as a 100 binoculars so my sample size is very large so my defect % rate might seem high but actually it is probably about average.

 

[wdc]

Dennis, You have described a long list of woes that have befallen you and your encounters with binoculars. However, with the exception of the binoculars that come to your house and mysteriously ejaculate grease, it seems that the primary problem you have is with yourself.

Reference your comments about Swarovski focusers. Have you ever considered that their consistent 'funky' behavior is actually an artifact of intentional design, material, and manufacture? You may not like the feel of their focuser, but thats not a flaw in the product. Take, for example, the Habicht 7x42 that you've been mentioning as of late... In your first go round with that one 5 years ago, you slammed it for poor eye relief, stiff focuser, and an exceedingly narrow field of view. Then, there more recently appeared some mention on the internet of light transmission tests rating that very binocular at the top of the heap. Suddenly, the binocular forum was flooded with effusive comments from a single individual (you), incessantly quoting that measurement in thread after thread, briefly acknowledging, but completely discounting all the potentially negative characteristics of that product. The binocular has remained the same the entire time, and it is the user who has changed. And you might ask yourself what has actually changed?

-Bill