If you could have only ONE binocular ? (no list). (1 Viewer)

[CharleyBird]

Denco, as you linked & quoted greatestbinoculars.com
it is only fair to say Mr Mennie is clear about the cons of the habicht 8×30,
e.g.
"Internal reflections
This is the one serious flaw in this glass. Especially with open pupil, the image is plagued by internal reflections of light sources or high contrast situations. Standing in a dark wood with bright patches of sunlight would be one example. The Nikon SE is way better in this respect. I built a sunshade which will not eliminate but reduce flare and ghosting."

 

[Ruff-Leg]

I see we've gone down the glare rabbit hole again, but I'll return to the OP question.

No matter which bin I pick up: my wife's 8x32 SF, my EDG 8x32, the MHG 10x42, the SE 8X32, the the SW SLC 8x30 (worst of the lot), I always come back to my SF 8x42. I could chuck the rest and be happy with only that one. Everything about it works perfectly for me.

 

[tenex]

If I could have only one binocular, it would have to be the NL 10x42, which is odd because I don't have one. It just doesn't seem to fit in or play nicely with the bins I already have and am accustomed to choosing between instead, according to purpose.

 

[KevinL]

My only binocular is a Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42. Im thinking of selling to switch to Maven B6 in 10x50.

 

[Trinovid]

I think it would have to be my Ultravid 8x20.

 

[dorubird]

No matter how good and expensive it may be, any pair of binoculars is not perfect. Therefore in choosing a pair of binoculars it is important each of us in particular to know exactly what optical, mechanical and aesthetic weaknesses we are ready to accept ! From an optical level up the choice is more a game of accepted weaknesses than qualities!

My choice is:
Zeiss Victory SF 10x42 (black version)

 

[edwincjones]

Lot of choices but in general
8 x(or maybe 7-10) x 32-42mm
larger more flexible but smaller easier to carry
best quality that I could reasonably afford
one I could try in person
one that felt good in my hands-and neck
brand not important but dealer services more so
one that I could be happy with

edj

 

[Thotmosis]

Hi Thotmosis,

I haven't examined a 10x40 Habicht interior, but others here have said that it doesn't suffer from the same glare up front that the 8x30 does. That seems possible to me because of the lower focal ratio of the 10x40's objective lens which may place its edge, as viewed from the eyepiece, further behind the edge of the front baffling cone.

I can see that some reflections are excited from the back of the 8x30 eyepiece (or the identical 10x40 eyepiece), by strong sunlight coming at an observer's back from certain angles, but those seem minor to me, in fact better than average. Binoculars with wider eyecups and eye lenses (like the Nikon EIIs and Swarovski NLs) tend to have worse back reflections because they allow a wider space to develop between the side of the head and the eyecup which allows more direct sunlight to reach the eye lenses. I use eye shields with all my binoculars.

Henry

Hi Henry,

I never had the chance to look through a Habicht 8x30 so I can't talk from my own experience but I have read quite some (often contradicting) comments about the glare issue concerning the 8x30 and other binoculars here at birdforum Truth is I don't have so much experience as most of the members here have.

When I use a binocular I always try to adapt to the instrument, im a a happy Bino Shield user for that matter. Sometimes I do notice certain reflections in my Habicht, indeed very minor and really nothing serious but what is strange: there a faint ring on the bottom of the image and when I tilt the binocular a little bit it disappears. Like the ring in the picture in post #108 but much thinner. Again, when I tilt it the ring disappear.

Anyway I don't want to drift off too much and keep on topic: the question was "If you could have only ONE binocular?"
With me it changes quite often. Probably daily... Today I was watching a tribe of goats at a cliff at a few hundred meters from my garden for a hour, changing all the time between my Habicht and Leica 8x32. Trying to decide which one is better. Each one totally different in style, design magnification, colors, handling etc. but both of them...very good. Then I took my good old 15x60 Zeiss and I thought: this is the one I would keep if I could have only one.

Cheers,
T.

​

 

[Thotmosis]

That is true, but just fold them down a little to allow for some ventilation. That is the nice thing about them, you can adjust them to fit your face tighter or looser. Bino Bandits are almost universally used by astronomers anymore on their binoculars.

Yes, I use them on most of my binoculars. Great stuff. But they "fog up" on all my binoculars under certain circumstances. Nothing to do with the design of the Habicht. Just to be clear ;-)

 

[Thotmosis]

Goats???

Yes, goats. There are over one million goats and sheep here in Crete 🐐

 

[Thotmosis]

Yes, they can fog up sometimes. They work better than winged eye cups though because they conform to your face and totally block any stray light around your eyes.

Yes I agree and also I tend to loose winged eyecups quicker. But winged eye cups don't fog up if I remember well.

 

[Paultricounty]

The 3D view you get in a porro is not the same as DOF, which is determined entirely by magnification. The 3D in a porro comes from the barrel separation of the objectives, and no roof can touch a Habicht for 3D. I tried the UVHD+7x42 and found the smallish AFOV didn't do it for me. The Trinovid 7x35 are about the same as the UVHD+7x42, as far as AFOV. Not enough WOW factor. Most 7x have a small AFOV except maybe the Zeiss Victory FL 7x42, and they are few and far between. If you like Leica's like I do, try the Noctivid 8x42. It absolutely kills the UVHD+. I didn't think there would be so much difference, but there is. Leica did an extraordinary job on the Noctivid. The edges are almost as sharp as an EL or NL, but there is no RB and the on-axis sharpness is the best I have seen in any binocular. The build quality is unearthly. There is a Noctivid 8x42 for sale in the Bird Forum classifieds for $1850 which is a great deal and somebody should jump on it.

Dennis

I can’t argue the fact of how good the 8 x 30 Habicht’s are. I can comment on my opinions concerning the FOV and image differences of the Sw and the UV’s. There really isn’t any binocular IMO that surpasses the brightness, sharpness and neutral color of the Habicht’s (7x42 the brightest). That’s what makes them so good. I do feel when you say things like, kills it or a glare monster, is where you go astray.

The center image quality of the Habicht’s are small , even in the 8x30’s, so it’s kind of a trade off comparing the Leica 7’s to the Habicht 8’s. The FOV sweet spot in the UVHD 7x42 is actually larger than the Habicht. The overall image quality of the two are very close but with different optical emphases. Each fill an optical niche. It all depends on what you’re in the mood for on any particular day and or the the type of observing you'll be doing as to which is the better optic for the day. Nothing really beats the Leica’s for that wow thing, very rich In color and warm. The Habicht’s on the other hand are almost surgical ( you like that description 😉) in there image quality. Both are very different and so very magical.

As far as 842 UVHD and Noctivids, different binos. I gave away my 842’s after I got the Nocs, there so close, and I have a stable of 8’s. Again I wouldn’t say kills it, just different in certain ways that many will like and others may prefer the UVHD. I’m not going to go down a rabbit hole about the minute optical differences on these two. I will agree that Leica build quality is second to none. I did good on the Nocs, $2000 new.

The bino bandit is like a bandaid , it doesn’t solve or cure the issues of glare on most binoculars because the issue, is not always from the ocular side of things.

Paul

 

[winginit]

If I could only have one pair of bins I would probably choose an open bridge 8x32, something easy to handle while also using a camera. Something like the Vanguard Endeavor ED.

 

[KC Foggin]

I love the ones I use, Swarovski binoculars 8x32. They are terrific.

 

[Paultricounty]

I love the ones I use, Swarovski binoculars 8x32. They are terrific.

NL or EL?

 

[KC Foggin]

Sorry, EL.

 

[Rg548]

Could well be my CL8x25's
They never fail to deliver optically, and can go everywhere.... concerts, city breaks, dog walks, paddleboarding
I think I'd miss those the most.

 

[Paultricounty]

Sorry, EL.

Hard to find now. They dried up not long after the the NL’s came out. A shame, phenomenal binoculars.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hard to find now. They dried up not long after the the NL’s came out. A shame, phenomenal binoculars.

Unfortunately, word is out that the NLs have lead in the glass.

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

For bird watching, I find the Zeiss 8x3FL to be most suited to my needs: good eye relief, respectable FOV, light, excellent suppression of chromatic aberrations and sufficient resolution and contrast to provide a sharp view which is comfortable.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood.