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I am thinking the new 32 mm alphas from Swarovski and Zeiss are the best birding binoculars you can buy right now. (1 Viewer)
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Thotmosis
Well-known member
I guess the 8x56 gives a more relaxed view than the 10x? Will be using them mostly at daytime but also for nightsky. Have already a Zeiss 15x60 BGAT for distant viewing. From all my binoculars the old Swift Audubon 8.5x44 gives me the most relaxed view so i want to try a 8x56 to see if it's even more relaxed.
Dennis: from memory trying a Duovid in Frankfurt Airport a few years back I was surprised by the high CA. Lost all interest for that specific model there and then. CA level is not the only criteria I go by but it at the Alpha glass level I would like as little as possible. I envy people who barely notice CA.
How do you like the Swift Audubon 8.5x44 besides the relaxed view. How are the edges? I have heard they are noticeably soft, but are they distracting when birding?
How was the brightness on the Meostar 8x42?
Have you ever tried a Noctivid 8x42 for CA?
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Yes they have blur at the edges but the FOV is so wide 144m (430ft)that for me and my eyes it's not a problem at all. I just love them, they are perfect for birding: rich saturated colors, wide FOV and nice in the hands. Just for the optics and looking at not to far away birds i like them more than my Habicht's 10x40 GA. They are made for birding! The diopter and hinge are a bit loose though after almost 25 years but the focus is still smooth as silk. It's like a very good old wine
Most people i let them look through see CA and prefer the Habicht so if you are sensitive to CA you will probably prefer the Habicht.
Thotmosis
Well-known member
HenRun, i guess im one of those lucky ones who -until now at least- barely notices CA. Having a Duovid 8-12x42 im very satisfied with the double magnification. The FOV at 8x is rather narrow comparing to other 8x though. When comparing the Duovid at 8x with my UVHD 8x32 (not plus) i do't see a lot of difference at day time. The smaller 8x32 is maybe even brighter. White is more white. So when compactness and weight is an issue the UV 8x32 would be a good choice.
Binocollector
Well-known member
@Thotmosis
I really like my Kite Cervus 8x56. Great eye relief - the only bino I have where I can see the whole FoV with my glasses on. Nice build quality, very good edge to edge sharpness. It's kind of my reference bino to which all others will be compared and I snatched mine up as a 'slightly used display item' for 500€ from an official vendor. 30 years warranty also sounds good, let's hope Kite will be around for a while.
I really like my Kite Cervus 8x56. Great eye relief - the only bino I have where I can see the whole FoV with my glasses on. Nice build quality, very good edge to edge sharpness. It's kind of my reference bino to which all others will be compared and I snatched mine up as a 'slightly used display item' for 500€ from an official vendor. 30 years warranty also sounds good, let's hope Kite will be around for a while.
Thanks! They have a BIG FOV for an older glass. It sounds like the colors are a lot like a Leica. What do you mean by not looking to far away birds? Do they soften in resolution at greater distances?Yes they have blur at the edges but the FOV is so wide 144m (430ft)that for me and my eyes it's not a problem at all. I just love them, they are perfect for birding: rich saturated colors, wide FOV and nice in the hands. Just for the optics and looking at not to far away birds i like them more than my Habicht's 10x40 GA. They are made for birding! The diopter and hinge are a bit loose though after almost 25 years but the focus is still smooth as silk. It's like a very good old wine
How are the Duovid's at 12x? Would you say they are comparable outside of the FOV to an alpha 12x42?
I never heard of the Kite Cervus 8x56. How do they compare with the Zeiss FL 8x56 or Swarovski SLC 8x56? Have you ever compared them?
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Sounds like a good deal to me. I might try these Kite's! 30 years warranty sounds also cool, if they are still around by then, i guess i won't
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Yes the colors are Leica like. Sorry for my bad english, i meant that for birds at a longer distance i would use the Duovid at 12 or at home my Zeiss 15x60.
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Sorry, can not tell you Dennis, i have very limited experience with other (alpha) binoculars. Untill 2-3 years ago I just had my Swift Audubon HR/5 10x50 and my fathers old Eschenbach Club 8x20. Used this combo with great satisfaction for 25 years or so. Live was more simple then hahaha. I guess the newer binoculars with the latest coatings, like NLPure 12x42, has to be better but for me they are far too expensive. I rather buy 3 or more yesterdays alpha.
There is nothing wrong with that! The yesterday's alpha's often times perform very well and will compete in many ways with the more modern glass. Those Swift Audubon HR/5 10x50 were quite a classic binocular, and you don't hear much about them. I have never heard of a Eschenbach.
I think the Meostar 8x42 is one of the best in the Meostar line and I agree with you, it is a step-up in viewing comfort from the Meostar 8x32. More so than many 8x42's which are just s light improvement from their 8x32 counterpart.
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Those Swift Audubon HR/5 10x50 still are magnificent after 25 years, bought them when i got my first pay check after promotion from account manager to sales manager. Eschenbach is a well known german brand in Europe. I inherited the 8x20 Club from my father but gave it to my brother 2 years ago and got myself a Leica Ultravid 10x25. The Leica is much better then the Eschenbach Club.
I see that they still sell a binocular with the same name ("The timeless design is a successor to the classic award-winning Eschenbach binoculars on show at New York‘s Museum of Modern Art...")
Club | Premium Eyewear Binoculars | Eschenbach Optik Binoculars
Our timeless design from elegant black with precious metal detailing creates a stylish binocular. Go from the theater to big game with ease & excellent vision!
www.eschenbach.com
And they sell Porro's:
I wonder how the Eschenbach porro's are? The whole line reminds of a GPO in design. They could be made by somebody else like Kamakura, like GPO.Those Swift Audubon HR/5 10x50 still are magnificent after 25 years, bought them when i got my first pay check after promotion from account manager to sales manager. Eschenbach is a well known german brand in Europe. I inherited the 8x20 Club from my father but gave it to my brother 2 years ago and got myself a Leica Ultravid 10x25. The Leica is much better then the Eschenbach Club.
I see that they still sell a binocular with the same name ("The timeless design is a successor to the classic award-winning Eschenbach binoculars on show at New York‘s Museum of Modern Art...")
Club | Premium Eyewear Binoculars | Eschenbach Optik Binoculars
Our timeless design from elegant black with precious metal detailing creates a stylish binocular. Go from the theater to big game with ease & excellent vision!
And they sell Porro's:
