Good morning....
There's this binocular that is held in a VERY high regard here on BF. If fact, it is said that maybe it is THE binocular to buy for $200 or less. I've come close to purchasing it SEVERAL times. In fact I've probably said I'll NEVER buy it because I don't NEED it. So much for THAT! SO, several years after Frank posted his review about this binocular, I actually did PURCHASE one....the Sightron Blue Sky 8X32.
Now I actually wanted something in the same price range and format to compare it to. I had paid $170.00 or so for the Blue Sky's so I really didn't want to get above $200.00 I really didn't have a CURRENTLY available binocular in the format/price so I went about picking one out. I had purchased a Vortex Diamondback 8X32 some time ago for a friend and knew I didn't want to go that direction. I had looked at some 8X42 Leopold BX-2 Tioga's a few times and liked the construction. I checked to see if the BX-2 was available in the 8X32 format and checked to see if it was less than $200.00....so check and check so I ordered the Leupold BX-2 8X32.
Before I get into my observations and thoughts on these two and other similar 8X32s I want mention that I purposely did not refresh my memory of the listed specs of the Blue Sky nor did I look at the specs of the BX-2 other than to see format and price. I like to have as little bias as possible before going afield.
INITIAL IMPRESSION
The BX-2 arrived first. Upon opening the box I first noticed that the BX-2 has a nifty little case! It's nice! I didn't even take the strap out the wrapper. WOW is the BX-2 SMALL. It's among the smallest 8X32s I have ever seen. Construction seems to be VERY good. Gives the impression of a more expensive binocular. Focus adjustment seems great and requires about 1&1/2 turn stop to stop. Diopter adjustment is in the usual spot under the right eyecup and functions fine. Eyecups feature three stop adjustment. Weight...binocular only- 15.7 ounces. Country of origin- China.
Blue Sky... Right out of the box, I could tell I was really going to like the handling qualities of the Blue Sky. It reminded me of my favorite 8X32, the Swarovski EL 8X32 Swarovision. Case it about what you would expect for a sub-$200 binocular as is construction...maybe slightly above it's price point. Focus adjustment seems fine and requires about 1&1/3 turn stop to stop. Again, diopter adjustment is in the usual spot. Eyecups feature five stop adjustment. Weight...binocular only- 17.1 ounces. Country of origin- Philippines.
IN THE FIELD
I've had these two binoculars a little over two months. I used them every time I've gone birding during this time except for about 10 days while on vacation. Let's say a good bit! I also kinda caught the end of summer right to the beginning of winter. Also birding conditions have ranged from very sunny to downright gloomy. I didn't attach a binocular strap to either binocular, instead I zip-tied RYO snaps for the UL harness. Of course both binoculars feel like that are hardly there when worn. As usual I carry both binoculars rotating one in front and one to the side.
During the first part of October I was able to catch some of the tail end of fall migration. Some of those birds were Indigo Bunting, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart(a favorite!), and Gray Catbird. I was surprised to get those! Mostly conditions in October were very nice for viewing and IDing birds. Both binoculars functioned perfectly. It was easy to prefer one over the other in terms of handling. The Blue Sky ACED handling. Quite honestly they are about perfect for me. Easy and without any thought and very instinctive. Eye relief was perfect for me and very comfortable while wearing glasses with the eyecups all the way down. The BX-2s aren't the best in terms of handling. For me the barrels are a little too short especially with the strap rings a little far down the barrels. Eye relief for the BX-2 was adequate with eyeglasses but nothing more.
Optically....certainly a difference. The Blue Sky is really better in every way. Detail and optical imagery is noticeably better than the BX-2. The Blue Sky comes across as a more expensive binocular here. While looking AT and FOR birds, I was surprised at how much better the optical presentation was with the Blue Sky. Detail was much better with improved image definition. In fact the BX-2 reminded me of the Vortex Diamondback 8X32 I had here briefly. I wish I still had it to compare. Cloudy conditions magnify the optical advantage of the Blue Sky with better color, contrast, and imagery. Checking FOV....I could tell in the field that the Tioga BX-2 had less FOV than the Sightron Blue Sky. I would have guessed 40 feet. Checking each binoculars factory specifications the difference isn't that much...420ft vs. 394ft, but it sure seemed like more of a difference. One side note...it's CRAZY what a small piece of the pie one is REALLY seeing with a binocular!
More coming!
There's this binocular that is held in a VERY high regard here on BF. If fact, it is said that maybe it is THE binocular to buy for $200 or less. I've come close to purchasing it SEVERAL times. In fact I've probably said I'll NEVER buy it because I don't NEED it. So much for THAT! SO, several years after Frank posted his review about this binocular, I actually did PURCHASE one....the Sightron Blue Sky 8X32.
Now I actually wanted something in the same price range and format to compare it to. I had paid $170.00 or so for the Blue Sky's so I really didn't want to get above $200.00 I really didn't have a CURRENTLY available binocular in the format/price so I went about picking one out. I had purchased a Vortex Diamondback 8X32 some time ago for a friend and knew I didn't want to go that direction. I had looked at some 8X42 Leopold BX-2 Tioga's a few times and liked the construction. I checked to see if the BX-2 was available in the 8X32 format and checked to see if it was less than $200.00....so check and check so I ordered the Leupold BX-2 8X32.
Before I get into my observations and thoughts on these two and other similar 8X32s I want mention that I purposely did not refresh my memory of the listed specs of the Blue Sky nor did I look at the specs of the BX-2 other than to see format and price. I like to have as little bias as possible before going afield.
INITIAL IMPRESSION
The BX-2 arrived first. Upon opening the box I first noticed that the BX-2 has a nifty little case! It's nice! I didn't even take the strap out the wrapper. WOW is the BX-2 SMALL. It's among the smallest 8X32s I have ever seen. Construction seems to be VERY good. Gives the impression of a more expensive binocular. Focus adjustment seems great and requires about 1&1/2 turn stop to stop. Diopter adjustment is in the usual spot under the right eyecup and functions fine. Eyecups feature three stop adjustment. Weight...binocular only- 15.7 ounces. Country of origin- China.
Blue Sky... Right out of the box, I could tell I was really going to like the handling qualities of the Blue Sky. It reminded me of my favorite 8X32, the Swarovski EL 8X32 Swarovision. Case it about what you would expect for a sub-$200 binocular as is construction...maybe slightly above it's price point. Focus adjustment seems fine and requires about 1&1/3 turn stop to stop. Again, diopter adjustment is in the usual spot. Eyecups feature five stop adjustment. Weight...binocular only- 17.1 ounces. Country of origin- Philippines.
IN THE FIELD
I've had these two binoculars a little over two months. I used them every time I've gone birding during this time except for about 10 days while on vacation. Let's say a good bit! I also kinda caught the end of summer right to the beginning of winter. Also birding conditions have ranged from very sunny to downright gloomy. I didn't attach a binocular strap to either binocular, instead I zip-tied RYO snaps for the UL harness. Of course both binoculars feel like that are hardly there when worn. As usual I carry both binoculars rotating one in front and one to the side.
During the first part of October I was able to catch some of the tail end of fall migration. Some of those birds were Indigo Bunting, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart(a favorite!), and Gray Catbird. I was surprised to get those! Mostly conditions in October were very nice for viewing and IDing birds. Both binoculars functioned perfectly. It was easy to prefer one over the other in terms of handling. The Blue Sky ACED handling. Quite honestly they are about perfect for me. Easy and without any thought and very instinctive. Eye relief was perfect for me and very comfortable while wearing glasses with the eyecups all the way down. The BX-2s aren't the best in terms of handling. For me the barrels are a little too short especially with the strap rings a little far down the barrels. Eye relief for the BX-2 was adequate with eyeglasses but nothing more.
Optically....certainly a difference. The Blue Sky is really better in every way. Detail and optical imagery is noticeably better than the BX-2. The Blue Sky comes across as a more expensive binocular here. While looking AT and FOR birds, I was surprised at how much better the optical presentation was with the Blue Sky. Detail was much better with improved image definition. In fact the BX-2 reminded me of the Vortex Diamondback 8X32 I had here briefly. I wish I still had it to compare. Cloudy conditions magnify the optical advantage of the Blue Sky with better color, contrast, and imagery. Checking FOV....I could tell in the field that the Tioga BX-2 had less FOV than the Sightron Blue Sky. I would have guessed 40 feet. Checking each binoculars factory specifications the difference isn't that much...420ft vs. 394ft, but it sure seemed like more of a difference. One side note...it's CRAZY what a small piece of the pie one is REALLY seeing with a binocular!
More coming!
