SeldomPerched
Well-known member
Till this week I had almost never (1 exception) sold or parted with any bins obtained since getting the birds'n'bins bug a few years ago - that's years in single figures.
On Monday after some days' break from normal work and activities and with a day or two of walking and viewing for relaxation I decided I now had enough hours under my belt to know which bins didn't do it for me in practice, regardless of how good their specification.
That day, having led up to it with a bit of market testing and so not exactly a sudden impulse, I sold 5 bins in a very good deal to a shop that has served me well. It felt liberating to walk away with a good-sized cheque and no further purchases or exchanges to take a bite out of it.
But... I did try out an NL Pure 8x42 while there. I wanted to buy it but kept strong. The premises look out on to a small garden, including lots of bushes, flowers and blue tits -- they get everywhere it seems as they win their peanut battles at the garden feeders. Beyond that you can see the whole distance from 25 yards to about 2 miles as the hillside stretches up into the distance as far as a castle-like folly and a golf course. Despite dull damp-filled atmospheric conditions (just after rain) the NL cut through and gave, to my eyes, an exceptionally clear and beautiful view. I could easily make out a golf buggy moving across and two men in it at 2 miles. At closer range detail, lighting, colours were brilliant and the dioptre control design was so good that all was set up right first time without taking the bin from my face. Balance was great; I didn't give it a thought at the time. Dull conditions, so no glare but then ELs have not troubled me that way so I seem to be one of the lucky majority(?).
Long scene-setting here but now comes the main point. I wondered how many of you with more than one bin of the same format (say another 8x42 or maybe 7x42 / 8.5x42 or a really good 8x32) found the NL such an advance and so enjoyable that you have fallen out of love with the other models you have to the extent they now disappoint you. I have some favourites -- after selling the less favourites -- but wonder if the NL might change all that if I got one. And if I got one, then 2 or 3 others would go anyway as part of a deal I've made with myself. There was something very relaxing and refreshing about the NL as well as the clarity and colour.
If you have recent 8x42 SLC or 8.5x42 SV do they disapppoint after using NL (optically - esp the SV as it's got a closer family resemblance with flat field etc)? To me the SLC is pretty special so I'd be interested in your thoughts also if you have that 8x42 and compared with NL.
And does the wide FOV mean that the 7x42 FL/Dialyt T*P*/ UVHD Plus lose their point on the whole? Those are definite favourites -- till now? Not planning to make a move rightaway but info could help a decision to mature.
By the way, no wish at all to get an NL 32 while enjoying the compact FLs; for me at present if 32 isn't small then I head for 42.
Tom
On Monday after some days' break from normal work and activities and with a day or two of walking and viewing for relaxation I decided I now had enough hours under my belt to know which bins didn't do it for me in practice, regardless of how good their specification.
That day, having led up to it with a bit of market testing and so not exactly a sudden impulse, I sold 5 bins in a very good deal to a shop that has served me well. It felt liberating to walk away with a good-sized cheque and no further purchases or exchanges to take a bite out of it.
But... I did try out an NL Pure 8x42 while there. I wanted to buy it but kept strong. The premises look out on to a small garden, including lots of bushes, flowers and blue tits -- they get everywhere it seems as they win their peanut battles at the garden feeders. Beyond that you can see the whole distance from 25 yards to about 2 miles as the hillside stretches up into the distance as far as a castle-like folly and a golf course. Despite dull damp-filled atmospheric conditions (just after rain) the NL cut through and gave, to my eyes, an exceptionally clear and beautiful view. I could easily make out a golf buggy moving across and two men in it at 2 miles. At closer range detail, lighting, colours were brilliant and the dioptre control design was so good that all was set up right first time without taking the bin from my face. Balance was great; I didn't give it a thought at the time. Dull conditions, so no glare but then ELs have not troubled me that way so I seem to be one of the lucky majority(?).
Long scene-setting here but now comes the main point. I wondered how many of you with more than one bin of the same format (say another 8x42 or maybe 7x42 / 8.5x42 or a really good 8x32) found the NL such an advance and so enjoyable that you have fallen out of love with the other models you have to the extent they now disappoint you. I have some favourites -- after selling the less favourites -- but wonder if the NL might change all that if I got one. And if I got one, then 2 or 3 others would go anyway as part of a deal I've made with myself. There was something very relaxing and refreshing about the NL as well as the clarity and colour.
If you have recent 8x42 SLC or 8.5x42 SV do they disapppoint after using NL (optically - esp the SV as it's got a closer family resemblance with flat field etc)? To me the SLC is pretty special so I'd be interested in your thoughts also if you have that 8x42 and compared with NL.
And does the wide FOV mean that the 7x42 FL/Dialyt T*P*/ UVHD Plus lose their point on the whole? Those are definite favourites -- till now? Not planning to make a move rightaway but info could help a decision to mature.
By the way, no wish at all to get an NL 32 while enjoying the compact FLs; for me at present if 32 isn't small then I head for 42.
Tom
