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Top 7x42 on the market (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter ND2000
- Start date
ND2000,
I'll jump into this "briar patch" of a question and do so with absolutely no intent of sounding like a politician...or, of minimizng the seriousness of your post. With regard to "roofs" (only), the real answer is the BR,BN,FL or SLC that provides you with the best image and handling.
A good place to start your quest is to review the respective forums at the top of this page; then, head for the nearest store or fair and handle 'em all.
To my eyes and hands the answer is... Mr. BN... even though the FL and BR are a bit brighter. I just love the Leica 7x42 BN and the comfortable view that it provides!
I'm sure that others with more 7x42 experience than I have will jump in here, forthwith.
Best of luck.
Bill
I'll jump into this "briar patch" of a question and do so with absolutely no intent of sounding like a politician...or, of minimizng the seriousness of your post. With regard to "roofs" (only), the real answer is the BR,BN,FL or SLC that provides you with the best image and handling.
A good place to start your quest is to review the respective forums at the top of this page; then, head for the nearest store or fair and handle 'em all.
To my eyes and hands the answer is... Mr. BN... even though the FL and BR are a bit brighter. I just love the Leica 7x42 BN and the comfortable view that it provides!
I'm sure that others with more 7x42 experience than I have will jump in here, forthwith.
Best of luck.
Bill
Last edited:
That's EASY! LEICA 7X42 BN>
Dennis
Dennis
The Leica 7x42 Ultravid is also a top option, although I hear that the sweet spot on the Trinovid is a bit larger (I have never looked through the BN).
I did look through the FL the other day and the brightness and lack of CA is very impressive. If I had it to do over again, the FL might just top my Ultravids.
As noted above, you really need to try all for yourself to make the best decision. Bin handling, balance and eyecup/eye socket interface cannot be underestimated.
The BRs, BNs, FLs and SLCs are all top offerings but you need to try before you buy!
Regards,
Steffan
I did look through the FL the other day and the brightness and lack of CA is very impressive. If I had it to do over again, the FL might just top my Ultravids.
As noted above, you really need to try all for yourself to make the best decision. Bin handling, balance and eyecup/eye socket interface cannot be underestimated.
The BRs, BNs, FLs and SLCs are all top offerings but you need to try before you buy!
Regards,
Steffan
buzzard12
Well-known member
Love mine too, recently replaced a pair stolen in SE Asia. Great to have them back...
chartwell99
Well-known member
I agree that the Leica 7 x 42 (mine is a BA) is a gem but there was a time not so long ago when the model was treated as a pariah. When I acquired a 7 x 42 Zeiss ClassiC a while back, my wife insisted that the Leica was redundant and, at her urging, I attempted to sell it with zero success (success defined as receiving at least $600, and I never came close to that amount). The two binoculars probably are redundant of each other, but happily I still own and enjoy both.
KorHaan
Well-known member
7x42 FL for me.
A few days ago I was out birding, standing by a marsh at dusk, waiting for a Little Crake that had been heard and seen there earlier. As it grew darker I could just distinguish with the naked eye a family of Grey Lag Geese swimming by; through the FL's the image was amazingly bright, showing lots of details on the birds. Like when you look through a low end pair of bins on an overcast day.
Unfortunately it started to rain, and it got gradually worse to a steady downpoor; since a Little Crake would be a lifer for me, I endured the shower and got my bins soaked for another hour and a half. No problems, no fogging, just spatters on the objectives.
It was completely dark by this time. With the naked eye I could barely see the elders sticking out above the reedbeds. Looking through the FL's I could not only see the sharp contours of the elders, but I could easily distinguish the elder blossoms in surprising detail. Great Crested Grebes on the water were still distinguishable though it was nearly midnight.
Pity the Little Crake did not perform but the FL's did.
Great pair of bins.
Greetings, Ronald
A few days ago I was out birding, standing by a marsh at dusk, waiting for a Little Crake that had been heard and seen there earlier. As it grew darker I could just distinguish with the naked eye a family of Grey Lag Geese swimming by; through the FL's the image was amazingly bright, showing lots of details on the birds. Like when you look through a low end pair of bins on an overcast day.
Unfortunately it started to rain, and it got gradually worse to a steady downpoor; since a Little Crake would be a lifer for me, I endured the shower and got my bins soaked for another hour and a half. No problems, no fogging, just spatters on the objectives.
It was completely dark by this time. With the naked eye I could barely see the elders sticking out above the reedbeds. Looking through the FL's I could not only see the sharp contours of the elders, but I could easily distinguish the elder blossoms in surprising detail. Great Crested Grebes on the water were still distinguishable though it was nearly midnight.
Pity the Little Crake did not perform but the FL's did.
Great pair of bins.
Greetings, Ronald
KorHaan
Well-known member
Thanks, Bill. Imagine what a view the 8x56 FL's would provide when the 7x42 is already that good... But this is not the subject in this post.
Impressive but shaky. The 8x56 is really heavy, so heavy in fact that it is a real challenge to hold it steady. The weight distribution is also not nearly as perfect as in the 42 mm models.
It is clearly designed for hunters who stay stationary and use is in a hide with some sort of support. You at least need to rest you elbows on a support to use it for a prolonged period of time.
It is as heavy as a 65 mm Diascope with an eye-piece.
Tom
Atomic Chicken
Registered with the D.O.E.
Greetings!
Yes... that's all fine, but the real burning question is: Is it heavy?
Best wishes,
Bawko
Yes... that's all fine, but the real burning question is: Is it heavy?
Best wishes,
Bawko
Greetings!
Yes... that's all fine, but the real burning question is: Is it heavy?
Best wishes,
Bawko
Within 5% +/- it's as heavy as a human brain .........
to compare with for those endowed with ....
henry link
Well-known member
I suppose I'm probably the only one here who actually uses an 8x56 FL for birding. I've found it to be just as handy as the 8x42 for quick aquisition and focusing on a bird. In addition I can hold it quite a bit steadier than any smaller 8x bin, in part owing to the extra weight which tends to damp hand tremors and in part because of the large surfaces to grip. I often hold it with the right hand at the back end for focusing and the left hand forward wrapped around the left barrel.
Funny! I developed the same asymmetrical grip after a few minutes. But I found it rather awkward. Optically they are second to none, but - apart from slightly more CA - I felt happier with the 50 mm Conquests - as far as handling (and price) is concerned. The 56 FLs are forward-heavy, aren't they?
As regards any dampening effects of heavy weights, there seem to be two camps. I seem to be in the better-with-lighter group.
Tom
henry link
Well-known member
Tom,
The center of gravity is farther from the eyepiece compared to the 42mm FLs, but the positions of the focuser and bridge are also farther from the eyepiece, so the balance in the hands seems about right to me. I've really found no significant problems in the way the 8x56 handles, but I'm an optics guy. The ergonomics would have to be terrible for me to give up what I see as the best image quality. I think for most people the weight would be more of a problem than the handling. I doubt very many birders want to carry 1200g binoculars around all day, no matter how good the optics.
Henry
matt green
Norfolkman gone walkabout
Are 7x42's the new 8x42?
My first choice would be for the ultravid, I haven't seen anything else that equals the resolving power over long range..
Though the field of view and close focusing of those zeiss fl's must make them a second place contender.
Almost got myself a secondhand pair of those swarovski slc's, would of been very happy with them but I got gozumpted!!
Matt
My first choice would be for the ultravid, I haven't seen anything else that equals the resolving power over long range..
Though the field of view and close focusing of those zeiss fl's must make them a second place contender.
Almost got myself a secondhand pair of those swarovski slc's, would of been very happy with them but I got gozumpted!!
Matt
