some background:
Since several years I have a Pentax 8x43 SP that I got for general outdoor use, looking at birds and nature, boats on the water etc.
I bought it after some research online and think it is a well built binocular with a good image quality.
There has later on come out 2 updated versions that are very similar but better glass quality, haven't tried those.
I really wanted a pocket binocular to use on dogwalks and similar when I don't bring the large Pentax.
The Pentax hasn't got very much use and a few years ago I got a Nikon acculon 8x25 that I never really liked because of a lot of glare and an image quality that was notable less good than the pentax.
So I got the Zeiss Terra 8x25 and have been very satisfied with it.
Easy to use, works with my glasses and nice image.
The Terra has a nice neutral colour, the Pentax much warmer, yellowish tone but actually quite nice and most noticable when I compare them side by side and switch back and forth.
But the Terra is still a 25 mm and the Pentax 43 mm and the Pentax is a little sharper in the center and more comfortable if looking for longer moments.
So I thought that maybe a 8x32 could be the golden medium for me, and also with a bit better specs than my Pentax if I went for a better brand / model.
Have been reading a lot on line but actually not tested many, while on the look for my 8x25 I briefly looked at a Conquest 8x32 ED and it was nice. Before I had a look at a Kowa 8x33 Genesis, also nice.
Have tried the Terra 8x32 but it didn't really excite me.
I have read about the Conquest HD and have thought about getting it but hesitated because of size and weight, it's a bit heavy for a 8x32 and maybe I wouldn't find it that much more easy to carry than the Pentax. Zeiss FL seems to be a bit old but still the 8x32 in the victory series that Zeiss sells and what I read on BF still a good binocular. And smaller and lighter than the Conquest.
The FL though much more expensive but then suddenly I find it for a better price, just a bit above 1000 euro.
The shop have good return policy and I thought I could give it a try.
So, here I am, comparing my three binoculars:
The FL is / has:
over all nice package, small and lightweight.
Compaired to the Terra as I thought more "full size" and nice to look through.
A bit sharper than the Terra, about the same as the Pentax in the center but Pentax is softer outside the center. Well, looking carefully I think the FL is sharper than the Pentax in the center also but not that easy to see.
Much less CA than the Pentax and neutral colour.
Larger FOV than the other two.
But, I’m not sure I get that WOW feeling.
I see the bigger FOV but not thinking that the FOV in the other two is very restricted. I see the CA in the Pentax but don’t think about it during normal use.
I see that the FL is sharper than the Terra when comparing side by side but don’t think much about it when just out with the Terra.
Maybe I could be satisfied with a cheaper binocular and return the FL?
Since I haven’t made up my mind if I shall keep the FL I have just tried it in the garden and a couple of times outside an longer distance.
Maybe I will appreciate the FOV if I get out and chase birds with it?
Maybe I will appreciate the sharpness when looking at objects that’s more on the limit for resolution?
Is there something out there in the 300-500 Euro range that could be an alternative?
Vortex, Optricron, Kowa, Kamakura, Kowa, others?
I think I would like a decent FOV, light weight and small, usable with glasses and no (or not much) veiling glare and sharpness at the level of my Pentax.
The easiest thing to do is just to keep the FL and be happy, maybe you can talk me into it.
Or is it waste of money and a good binocular for me to keep?
Oh, one more thing. The focus on the FL is a bit stiff. I have seen threads about others feeling the same. Something to get used to or let Zeiss look at?
Works fine when I use both index fingers but using only one it gets a bit inprecise.
Since several years I have a Pentax 8x43 SP that I got for general outdoor use, looking at birds and nature, boats on the water etc.
I bought it after some research online and think it is a well built binocular with a good image quality.
There has later on come out 2 updated versions that are very similar but better glass quality, haven't tried those.
I really wanted a pocket binocular to use on dogwalks and similar when I don't bring the large Pentax.
The Pentax hasn't got very much use and a few years ago I got a Nikon acculon 8x25 that I never really liked because of a lot of glare and an image quality that was notable less good than the pentax.
So I got the Zeiss Terra 8x25 and have been very satisfied with it.
Easy to use, works with my glasses and nice image.
The Terra has a nice neutral colour, the Pentax much warmer, yellowish tone but actually quite nice and most noticable when I compare them side by side and switch back and forth.
But the Terra is still a 25 mm and the Pentax 43 mm and the Pentax is a little sharper in the center and more comfortable if looking for longer moments.
So I thought that maybe a 8x32 could be the golden medium for me, and also with a bit better specs than my Pentax if I went for a better brand / model.
Have been reading a lot on line but actually not tested many, while on the look for my 8x25 I briefly looked at a Conquest 8x32 ED and it was nice. Before I had a look at a Kowa 8x33 Genesis, also nice.
Have tried the Terra 8x32 but it didn't really excite me.
I have read about the Conquest HD and have thought about getting it but hesitated because of size and weight, it's a bit heavy for a 8x32 and maybe I wouldn't find it that much more easy to carry than the Pentax. Zeiss FL seems to be a bit old but still the 8x32 in the victory series that Zeiss sells and what I read on BF still a good binocular. And smaller and lighter than the Conquest.
The FL though much more expensive but then suddenly I find it for a better price, just a bit above 1000 euro.
The shop have good return policy and I thought I could give it a try.
So, here I am, comparing my three binoculars:
The FL is / has:
over all nice package, small and lightweight.
Compaired to the Terra as I thought more "full size" and nice to look through.
A bit sharper than the Terra, about the same as the Pentax in the center but Pentax is softer outside the center. Well, looking carefully I think the FL is sharper than the Pentax in the center also but not that easy to see.
Much less CA than the Pentax and neutral colour.
Larger FOV than the other two.
But, I’m not sure I get that WOW feeling.
I see the bigger FOV but not thinking that the FOV in the other two is very restricted. I see the CA in the Pentax but don’t think about it during normal use.
I see that the FL is sharper than the Terra when comparing side by side but don’t think much about it when just out with the Terra.
Maybe I could be satisfied with a cheaper binocular and return the FL?
Since I haven’t made up my mind if I shall keep the FL I have just tried it in the garden and a couple of times outside an longer distance.
Maybe I will appreciate the FOV if I get out and chase birds with it?
Maybe I will appreciate the sharpness when looking at objects that’s more on the limit for resolution?
Is there something out there in the 300-500 Euro range that could be an alternative?
Vortex, Optricron, Kowa, Kamakura, Kowa, others?
I think I would like a decent FOV, light weight and small, usable with glasses and no (or not much) veiling glare and sharpness at the level of my Pentax.
The easiest thing to do is just to keep the FL and be happy, maybe you can talk me into it.
Or is it waste of money and a good binocular for me to keep?
Oh, one more thing. The focus on the FL is a bit stiff. I have seen threads about others feeling the same. Something to get used to or let Zeiss look at?
Works fine when I use both index fingers but using only one it gets a bit inprecise.