I've been trying to build up a good collection of Selsis,
since at their best, they can have super contrast and noticeably
better resolution than Bushnells of similar vintage (which were
actually pretty good).
The thing is, while the glass is usually excellent, they went through
a plasticization phase in the late-70s and into the 80s, and I often got
ones with wonky focusers or other damage, a lot like the
great-glass-bad-body thing that happened to Bell+Howell and the wide
JC Pennies.
Anyway, I saw a pair of 8x30s in fine shape with die-cast metal arms
and the 'quieter' hi-grade amber coating ("Luminous"), and took a chance.
They are from the early 70s, and have a 'thin line' font (not the
bulbous 'groovy' font of later years)..
A light external cleaning, and these pups really performed.
Sharpness, contrast, solidness of focus....all great.
Brightness really surprising. Color lovely and neutral.
I'm up to one super 10x50 Selsi and now the 8x30.
It holds its own next to modern kit thanks to the fine
ribbed tunnel up front, the extra grinding precision,
and the hard-arm old-school slow focuser.
They were something very special.
So If you are pondering taking a chance on old Selsis, pay close
attention to the focuser arms. The thin-line font might help
place the right vintage too. I have 'groovy-font' 8x30 monoculars salvaged
from a cracked-arm pair, and the image is awesome, but they didn't
survive well as binocs with the plastic arms.
since at their best, they can have super contrast and noticeably
better resolution than Bushnells of similar vintage (which were
actually pretty good).
The thing is, while the glass is usually excellent, they went through
a plasticization phase in the late-70s and into the 80s, and I often got
ones with wonky focusers or other damage, a lot like the
great-glass-bad-body thing that happened to Bell+Howell and the wide
JC Pennies.
Anyway, I saw a pair of 8x30s in fine shape with die-cast metal arms
and the 'quieter' hi-grade amber coating ("Luminous"), and took a chance.
They are from the early 70s, and have a 'thin line' font (not the
bulbous 'groovy' font of later years)..
A light external cleaning, and these pups really performed.
Sharpness, contrast, solidness of focus....all great.
Brightness really surprising. Color lovely and neutral.
I'm up to one super 10x50 Selsi and now the 8x30.
It holds its own next to modern kit thanks to the fine
ribbed tunnel up front, the extra grinding precision,
and the hard-arm old-school slow focuser.
They were something very special.
So If you are pondering taking a chance on old Selsis, pay close
attention to the focuser arms. The thin-line font might help
place the right vintage too. I have 'groovy-font' 8x30 monoculars salvaged
from a cracked-arm pair, and the image is awesome, but they didn't
survive well as binocs with the plastic arms.
