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Companion pair to NL pure 12x42
I already have the 8x42NL, which satisfies all of my general purpose requirements. If I were doing it again, and if it were today, I would have gone for a 10x52, since I am perfectly fine with the added weight over the 8x42. Provides additional magnification, has a wide-enough view, is bright...- roweraay
- Post #22
- Forum: Binoculars
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Companion pair to NL pure 12x42
Thank you. If I get the 10x52, then I will sell off the 8x42NL, and treat the 10x52 as a "one-and-done" binocular, as I posted in a different thread yesterday. The 10x52 is bright enough (same brightness as the 8x42), and has enough magnification for all-around usage, and straddles the area...- roweraay
- Post #19
- Forum: Binoculars
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On the occasion of the HDX, thinking about it …
In this age of robotics, IIoT and high levels of automation in manufacturing, people still imagine mythical craftsmen crafting their products by hand. A silly fantasy at best ! A “craftsman” barely touches many of these components, and even the QC is done via sophisticated optical instruments... -
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Anyone using the new Swarovski NL Pure 10X52s for general birding?
If warranty is needed, it will need to go back to Austria, rather than Swarovski's facility here in the US. The product itself is exactly the same.- roweraay
- Post #46
- Forum: Binoculars
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On the occasion of the HDX, thinking about it …
Actually in these cases, they are building something that's affordable price-wise, while maintaining the same standard, rather than lowering the quality standards to get to a lower cost-point. I have premium interchangeable camera lenses (Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM etc., with the "GM" designation... -
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Anyone using the new Swarovski NL Pure 10X52s for general birding?
I currently have the 8x42NL, and have extensively tried the 12x42NL and the 14x52NL. I did not yet try the 10x52NL. However, I am currently looking at a compliment to my 8x42NL and the 12x42 is very much in the running, alongside the 10x52NL and the 14x52NL. 12x42NL: VERY handholdable, and...- roweraay
- Post #44
- Forum: Binoculars
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Companion pair to NL pure 12x42
I assume you meant 8x42 NL Pures ? And if so, did you find them to be a good compliment to the 12x42 NLs ? And did you keep them, post the 30 days ? I am in a reverse situation. I have the 8x42NLs currently, and deciding between the 12x42NL vs the 10x52NL or the 14x52NL as a compliment to...- roweraay
- Post #17
- Forum: Binoculars
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
Yes, the explanation in that thread makes sense, and aligns to my findings. Anything within around 50-150 feet distance, has that effect. Anything further out, say a 1000 feet away and beyond, the effect goes away, and the magnification is seen exactly as it is. -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
Also, to me, the 14x52 (and the 15x60) are very hand-holdable, mainly since I have very steady hands. Very similar to my experience with the 12x42NL. I can easily read small lettering on a package from a distance. This was one of my worries about a high magnification binocular, but all of... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
Not sure why, but the NL 14x52 seems to have a noticeably higher magnification than the 15x60. I repeated it with various static subjects, and the finding is the same. I would have expected the reverse to be true. So a bit confused by the finding. Focus speed itself feels to be about what... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
Thank you very much for the 1st person experience with the lens. I have always known the HTs to be bright, but had not heard/read too many reviews about the HT, and thanks for clarifying on the CA and also the natural view (rather than flattened). I looked it up, and seems like the 10x42... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
I have been doing some back-and-forth testing between the Swarovski 14x52NL and the Zeiss 15x60 GAT* and the 15x60 is certainly a very impressive instrument, and has excellent performance, even by today's standards. Not instrumented testing of course, and just a back-to-back assessment from a... -
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Conquest HDX
Please note that adding a "field flattener" (an actual glass optical element) completely changes the optical formula. That means, the entire chain of glass elements that comprise the optical formula, will need to be re-done in some way, to get to the targeted end-result. So if they have... -
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Where are made the Conquest HD
This is a good point. I noticed that my absolute best camera lens, the Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM, is "Made in China". I assume the "Made in" is more of a final assembly point, of the fundamental optical bits that originated out of Japan, but nevertheless, that's what it states on the lens. The... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
The NL is super-sharp. No question about that. The old Zeiss is certainly no slouch either.......at least across 90% of the field and a really pleasant view. But yes, close focus is not the forte of the Zeiss, at 15m/50ft. To me, the usage of field-flatteners is a serious trade-off, and I... -
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On the occasion of the HDX, thinking about it …
I think the gap tolerances in the body is very indicative of the quality of the overall assembly. Similarly, sloppiness in the body assembly, is very indicative of sloppiness all around. The engine is not the only aspect in a car that can fail ! -
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On the occasion of the HDX, thinking about it …
The HDX housing is now made of Magnesium alloy, from the prior Aluminum/Aluminium. I am curious about the 15x56 HDX, and what kind of optical improvements may have taken place in those, even though the AFOV of the device is still 69 degrees. They are slated to arrive by early 2025. -
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On the occasion of the HDX, thinking about it …
I personally think the new HDX will have better assembly and fit-and-finish quality, than the HDs that preceded it. And even better than the much more expensive SFs. Anybody thinking that the folks in Japan (where the HDX is now assembled) are less-than-perfect in quality-checks and assembly... -
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Zeiss 15x60 BGAT*
Yes, I have been using the 14x52NL now for a couple of days, and I can easily/steadily hand-hold it, just like I did with the 12x42NL. I can easily read the lettering within the fine-print on a box, a 100 or so feet away, letter by letter, with no problem at all. Very steady. Completely... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
I have some fantastic news to report back on my 15x60. I asked on a different really old Birdforum thread, if there were anybody in the PNW (Washington State, Oregon coast etc) who could work on, and repair, an older Classic Zeiss. I was about to send it out to Zeiss, when I asked the... -
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Binocular and optical repair in Seattle
Just sent you a PM. Thank you very much.- roweraay
- Post #6
- Forum: Binoculars
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
Yes, I did get to do the evaluation of the view, and the focusing, before my blunder. And compared it side-by-side with the 14x52 (yes, 14.4x X 52, I guess, based on their exit pupil number of 3.6x). Maybe it is my imagination, but the view of the 15x60 did seem to give a deeper DOF (more... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
I think what this shows is that a binocular's product design is more than the sum of its parts. The whole formula needs to be considered as a "system", which includes various glass-types, types of coatings, prism-type etc. Simply altering one aspect within that "system" (single-coating... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
Other than the impressive statistic about its light transmission (95% for a roof, even though AK, is truly impressive), no reviews I read seem to praise the HTs, for it being exceptional in any way. Clearly, the binocular is more than its brightness level alone. I believe despite having... -
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Zeiss 15x60 B/GA T*...How good is a late model by today's standards?
A quick cellphone picture of my 8x42NL, the 14x52NL and the 15x60 GAT*, with the 14x52 and the 15x60 having arrived today. I really liked the 14x52NL (bright, sharp and no optical aberrations whatsoever), but the 15x60 really surprised me with its quality and luminosity.....Stunning in-fact...