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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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    Have you compared the best Kowa (Genesis Prominar XD) side by side against the best Nikon (Monarch HG)?

    I have to agree there is a steep diminishing returns curve for high end optics, therefore I partially agree and disagree that the Swaro EL is not "worth" 2x the cost of the Nikon MHG. Having said that, and having the Ziess SF and Nikon MHG myself and comparing it to my family member's ELs (all...
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    Suggestions appreciated for a spotting scope for astronomy

    Yes and maybe(edit)! Go for a spotting scope. Get one with an angled eyepiece. I use a straight nikon prostaff 5 20-60x 82mm. In city limits with tons of light pollution i was able to see saturn and jupiter (with 2 of its moons). Love my scope after that, up until then it was on the chopping...
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    Bird Watcher vs Birder

    Birder bird watching bird watcher birdo birds beets bears battlestar galactictica binoculars his her him she her his...... I have never been so confused in my whole life I like binocularER...... ya that what I will go by, perfect
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    What are your priorities in binoculars?

    Haha, shame on me, I never read the original post. I just did. In retrospect, I am kind of glad I wrote my preferences prior to reading yours (Has530). Nonetheless, our priorities seem to align. Thanks for posting a fun thread topic. I am enjoying reading other individual's preferences and how...
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    What are your priorities in binoculars?

    I will make my list, in order of most important to least: Can use without my glasses (overdrives past infinity sufficiently to correct for my vision) IPD starting at 54mm -55mm my IPD is ~55mm Low to No CA - hate color fringing on birds against the sky Perfect center Sharpness (less sharp...
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    What's your favourite bins of all time..... and why?

    Ziess SF 8x42 - super shap large fov and easy viewing ergonomics and balance Would/could have been Swaro SLC HD 8x42, but did not correct for my vision at infinity. SLC - I liked the price, view, contrasty image, size, slightly yellow/warm color tone
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    Moving up the $$$$ chain and glass

    Ok, here we go, got the Zeiss Victory pocket 8x25 yesterday. And....WOOW!!! Totally blew me away with the quality of the view and glass. I believe it edges out the Cl Bs 8x30 in raw optics (just slightly, mainly CA control). Sharpness is about the same, I would say the edge sharpness drops off...
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    Moving up the $$$$ chain and glass

    Thanks for the input. I am planning to try the Victory 8x25 against the CL B s this weekend.
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    Moving up the $$$$ chain and glass

    Selection without the ability to try is super frustrating. So, I received the Swaro CL B 8x30s. It was low light and late when I got home, but man!!! the CA was a lot better controlled than the 10x30 counterpart and definitely passed my initial test (my tolerance level for CA). I will try again...
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    Moving up the $$$$ chain and glass

    Looks like it is going to come down to personal preference and ergonomics. I was only able to try out the 10x30 swaro cl b in hand and it seemed to have more CA than I would like, but the ergonomics were fantastic. I will see how the 8x30 handles CA. It is funny, I can post all day long and...
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    Moving up the $$$$ chain and glass

    So here is a question for the forum GOers here regarding moving up the money chain in the optics world and performance. Needless to say we have all expirenced the diminishing returns on price vs performance. Has anyone had an experience where they purchased more expensive optics (excluding...
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    New Zeiss binos 8x40 SFL and 10x40 SFL

    Thank you for this! You saved me $1800. I have spent too much chasing away CA. Finally, very content with SF 8x42. For a lightweight option I use the monarch HG 8x42 that comes in at 23.5oz. Well controlled CA, but definitely more than the SF and enough to make we want to step up to the SF...
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    Any advice appreciated 🙏

    If this is a hobby. GO CHEAP!!!! It is so much fun to see what kind of results you can get on a shoe sting budget (I am talking <$500). Also it will maximize your skills and really make you understand where money is best spent for actual results. In the digital age...as a broke college student I...
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    Should I keep a pair of Nikon Monarch M7 that was shipped with zero protection?

    I have received so much stuff with dented corners of the retail packing including the corresponding shipping box corner. First few times I had the same reaction. Then I learned to live with it as a part of online retail. Cameras, lenses, audio receivers, Binos, speakers, glassware, .... the list...
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    Nikon Prostaff P3 8 x 42- was it damaged in shipping?

    I am assuming you are an REI member. If want the p7 I would absolutely go for it. The p7 and monarch 5 were my first pair of real binos and they were indistinguishable to me at the time. Made me wonder why I bought the monarch 5. If you are a REI emeber give them a call. I would exchange it if...
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    Swarovski 8x30 CL B vs Nikon Monarch M7 8x30 - suggestion

    Agreed. I have ordered both the M7 8x30 and CL b 8x30 to compare first hand. Based on the above comments sounds like I may end up with the CL Bs. Will report my findings one I have compared them. I am pretty sure it will read like any other comparison of this sort........... M7 excellent for...
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    Swarovski 8x30 CL B vs Nikon Monarch M7 8x30 - suggestion

    Thanks for all the responses. This reaffirms my suspicion and I really don't want to regret not taking my SF 8x42 I think that I am probably going to at least compare the CL B and the M7 side by side. And now with all the input I am probably going to go with the CL B. I have quickly become used...
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    Swarovski 8x30 CL B vs Nikon Monarch M7 8x30 - suggestion

    Thanks for the input. The reason i "skipped " the HG model as a choice was because th CLs price is so pretty close to it. As other accounts said that it was similar optically to the m7. This was also my experience with the m7 8x42 and hg 8x42. Again thanks for all the responses, thisnkg to...
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    Swarovski 8x30 CL B vs Nikon Monarch M7 8x30 - suggestion

    I agree regarding the difficulty of drawing conclusions with a comparison between the 8x42 and 10x30. Thanks for posting your experience between the two. I may need to find a way to try them out (very difficult) first hand. Nikon seems to more often than not deliver comfortable views with...
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    Swarovski 8x30 CL B vs Nikon Monarch M7 8x30 - suggestion

    Hello, I find binoculars super handy and I want a compact ~16oz set with a small foot print alpha(ish) to add to my current line up for travel/hiking. I have narrowed my choices down to Swarovski 8x30 CL B vs Nikon Monarch M7 8x30. I find anything less than 8x30 is too fiddly to use...
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    Best 8x bins for $200

    8x30 prostaffs all the way. just picked up a set for myself. can't say a bad thing about them. Esp if it is for others the Nikon name is easily recognizable as a quality product
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    Which one is best?

    of the 2 you narrowed it down to Nikon PROSTAFF 7S 10x42 gets my vote IMO excellent for the money. I have really high regard for the prostaff 7s line esp for the price I do agree with yarrellii regarding the monarch 5
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    Advice need please re. eye strain with Monarch 7 8x30

    Wow, That is quite a bit of a step up from the monarch 7. Definitely a world class end game pair of binos. Enjoy them in Good health!
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    Advice need please re. eye strain with Monarch 7 8x30

    no prob. here is the link of a lengthy post I wrote of differences i found during my comparison of 3 8x42 bions. Helped me pick. May be of value to go through the different traits of the M7 to better identify the source of the stain. It could be 1 or more items (mutli-factorial). Or if you get...
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    Advice need please re. eye strain with Monarch 7 8x30

    Pertinent side note, interestingly you are not alone with eye stain/ discomfort using the Monarch 7 8x30. In the bino bargain thread someone just recently posted about Headaches with Monarch 7 8x30s.......... I have not waded through all of the posts, but what has helped me in the past is to...
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