As to the question posed by Gwen several posts ago. If you were to take the rubber armor off a McKinley and a Gold Ring HD I doubt ANYBODY would be able to tell the difference. I think most people will prefer the newer McKinley to the original. There is HUGE ergonomic difference. The optics are the same, but most people will swear the new one is better. People really should pay less attention to spec sheets. The ONLY people who complain about the weight of the Gold Ring are overwhelmingly those who have never used one. Not to pick on Brock here, but he's the poster boy example of this.
I can not explain this, but while the Gold Ring pulls the scale down more than the McKinley, the Gold Ring in one hand and the McKinley in the other, the Gold Ring feels lighter. I should add that I'm not the only person who thinks so either.
My Gold Ring HD 8x42 is my main gun these days. However I also use the Mojave 8x32 a LOT as well. What the Allbinos review says about the 8x32 Gold Ring works for my 8x42. All one would have to do is go through and replace all the x32 with an x42. Wile I happen to think the Swarovski SLC-HD is Swarovski's best offering, I would turn down a straight across trade. For me the GR HD fits like a custom designed perfect fit for me binocular. You will go cross eyed trying to nit pick optical differences. They are there, but not enough to matter at all...to me anyway.
As to Bruce's reference to the McKinley vs SV in relationship to his Pinto vs Grand Prix analogy...come are you KIDDING...
. The Swarovski is the better instrument to be sure...IF you don't have rolling ball issues (no I'm not trying to be Brock's replacement here)
. However the McKinley is just a little behind, the difference is not as great to most people as you infer. Bruce you need to keep in mind that (if I remember your posts correctly) that you have less than perfect eye sight. I have always felt that vision on either end of the optical spectrum...either poor or very good, is where one benefits the most from good optics. Also keep in mind that just because either one of us likes or dislikes a certain binocular...neither one of us are the final arbiter. I am however glad you have a binocular that has said...KEEPER...to you in no uncertain terms and that you enjoy it like you seem to do. That you enjoy it is no surprise either...aside from my rolling ball issues, it is a great optic.
I'm working on a Leupold centered review comparing the Gold Ring HD, the two McKinley versions, the ZEN Prime, and for kicks the Mojave 8x32.