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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

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    Product Review: The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 8 x 42 Binocular

    Not sure if you're referring to me, but I'm not bashing Swarovski. Quite the contrary, we're using them as the benchmark for great binoculars, and it's just praise for the srbc to be spoken about in the same league. Longevity is an unknown but they seem solidly built, and we use things...
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    Product Review: The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 8 x 42 Binocular

    Coming back to how these perform, I recently received the 10x50 version and think they are very special. Doubt I have seen/will see binoculars that will outperform these at least to my eyes in the real world. Very impressive neutrality, transparency, color, sharpness and contrast. No black beans...
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    Most immersive view possible through your glasses?

    Hello all! Glad to say my search for binoculars is, I think, over for now. Initial viewing is proving the sr banner clouds are exactly what I wanted them to be! No detailed review until I take them birding, but they go toe to toe with the Opticron Aurora 10x42 for sharpness, contrast and color...
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    Most immersive view possible through your glasses?

    The cloud banner 10x50 should arrive today, can't wait to see how they are! On paper that 70/75deg AFOV sounds promising, and the large oculars+ep might help placement on top of glasses. I'll update on comparisons with the Opticron when I use them for a bit.
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    Product Review: Sky Rover Banner Cloud APO 10 x 50 Part I

    Ordered mine, can't wait to see how they turn out! Will be interesting to see the comparisons with Opticron Aurora which are impeccably sharp and contrasty.
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    Most immersive view possible through your glasses?

    I liked the little I used of the NL, in store. It's still hard for me to justify huge spending on binoculars right now, but I still wanted that large AFOV, and exit pupil. I personally decided to try out 10x50s for now, to see that 5mm exit pupil and to see if that makes a difference. I got...
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    Most immersive view possible through your glasses?

    Thanks for the responses! Since Ive never tried something with a larger exit pupil, I'm getting very tempted to. I feel like I have to fiddle too much to get to exact position. I'm nearsighted, Andreas! Good tip, I never knew that could be an issue. After all the reading I'm guessing it has to...
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    Most immersive view possible through your glasses?

    Thank you! I do see your point, although I'm just over 30 and have a few good years to use it! Which of these will have the widest AFOV? 8x32 / 8x42 / 10x32 / 10x42
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    Most immersive view possible through your glasses?

    Hi everyone! I've successfully converted my wonderful wife into a birder, and now am looking for a second pair of binoculars. She really likes the Opticron Aurora 10x42 we have. I'm looking for something that has a huge AFOV even through glasses, great glare resistance, and center sharpness...
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    Costa Rica first timers trip - help us plan!

    Hello fellow birders, I'm super excited to go to a dream destination, and spending 11 days in Costa Rica with my wife. It'll be a very wildlife focused trip, on not a very high budget, so I'm trying to plan this well (without a guided full trip), so we can enjoy other activities as well. Can...
  11. Peregrine perfection

    Peregrine perfection

    A pair that is nesting, one would often sit out like this on a cliff and wait for a hunt.
    • Akhil O
    • Media item
    • Comments: 4
    • Category: North America
  12. Snowy Plover

    Snowy Plover

    This little threatened beauty was with about 30 others, resting on the beach
    • Akhil O
    • Media item
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: North America
  13. Great Horned Owl

    Great Horned Owl

    An almost cartoonish appearance... He hung around hunting for a good few minutes before end of light.
    • Akhil O
    • Media item
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: North America
  14. A

    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    Maybe to some, it's not about owning the very best "objectively", if that even exists, but what best suits them in their budget. These make me happy. Now that I got to use them in Point Reyes and got a decent 70-odd species in a day, with crystal clear, contrasty, and saturated looks alongside...
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    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    It really comes down to what you're used to, I think! I've only ever birded with 10x42s, for the last decade. I appreciate the detail I can see, and maybe I need it to id? I tried 8x and 10x MHG in the store side by side, and didn't see a difference apart from the extra zoom, so I think I'm...
  16. A

    Quick & dirty review of 8x42 Opticron Aurora.

    I'm the opposite of a long term user, I got them this week! So far I'm very happy with my decision. Optics are beautiful, it feels solidly built, and the settings stay where I want them.
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    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    Fov wise, it's a wee bit smaller than the MHG, rated 348 ft/1000yds to their 360(?). Not ultra wide, but wide enough for me, given the sharpness goes pretty close to the edge. I've had no issues tracking birds flitting about even in a fixed frame. To my eyes and memory, these do...
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    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    What were you disappointed with, Paul, if I may ask? Wondering if there was bad QC and differences in individual pieces, because my pair seem to offer a view and solid build as good as any... Or whether there are different ergonomics you prefer?
  19. A

    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    I think they stopped selling through stores, I looked around to the shops that used to sell Opticrons. BHPhotovideo and a couple of other online retailers have them though... That's where I bought my pair. Leap of faith, as I tested the Conquest HD and Monarch HG and Razor HD in person here...
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    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    Thanks and the same to you, Ratal! Thanks for bringing these to light and attention they deserve. $800 well spent for me!
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    Is Leica Ultravid 8x32 HD-Plus still a good deal in 2023 ?

    Binoculars, unlike cell phones or cameras, are not a quickly changing industry. What was a great bin 10-15 years ago will still be a solid option today. Yes, price points change, and some coatings get better, but if you're inexperienced you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference in many top...
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    Torn between the ~$1000 options..

    Well... They're here and I spent just a little time behind them. I was trying to be patient and wait before posting detailed impressions, but these are too good to not be super buzzed about! First impressions, they are super bright, with excellent contrast (up there with the best I've seen in...
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    One head to do them all? Need suggestions!

    Any opinions on using a Arcatech ballhead-gimbal or long lens for scopes? It's used for about twice my budget but if it works great I would love the weight and ease of ball heads..
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    Swarovski ATS 65HD vs Leica APO 65 vs Kowa 773

    I have little experience, but have been doing my research on scopes for a bit to buy. From what I've heard, you cannot go wrong with any of the three, however my pick would be the kowa 773 of just those 3. It's super light too, and I wouldn't compromise on the larger objective (both for reach...
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    One head to do them all? Need suggestions!

    Hello everyone! I'm foraying into the world of using scopes with an incoming 86mm, heavy scope. Reading a bit has made it plenty clear that I need a solid tripod head. I currently own the Promaster XC525c tripod and default head which I quite like, it's been stable for me albeit on a much...
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