Opticron Specialist Military 8x30 porro (1 Viewer)

Just wondering what it is, Opticron's own website do not have anything about it, but from Norway:

http://www.optiline.no/opticron/images/specialist_m3_8x30_oct2010.pdf

Hi - it looks like a binocular reviewed by Holger Merlitz:General Hi-T 8x30 and Xian Vision

It gets a reasonable review.

Andrew

We stock this in relatively small quantities for specialist orders but it can be supplied in large volume to customer requirements.

The UK SRP is £229 for the standard version, £239 with distance/size reticle and £269 with both reticle and laser blocking.

The PDF on Optiline's website is the only product info we publish.

It is available from them, from Gunnar Olssons in Stockholm and from Thomas Jacks in the UK.

Cheers, Pete

I stopped by Opticron's Luton HQ today and had a play with 8x30IF.
http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/marine.htm

Bottom line is that I thought it very good.

The sweet spot is huge. There is a fairly mild field curvature, and a little softness at the edges which I couldn't focus out, but I would count over 80* of the claimed 65* view as acceptably sharp. Holder said the manufactures claim 95% transmission. I couldn't tell, but if appeared very bright. It was a good day to show CA, and there was a little more than the £400 roofs I tested along side, but not what I would call troublesome. With the rubber eye cups folded down there was plenty of ER for my glasses. The DOF appeared usefully greater than the 8x roof I used. I have another pair of IFs so I'm probably more comfortable using them than most. There is minimal sticking on the ocular turning. The setting I'm accustomed to on the other pair dialled straight in and small adjustments at the eye were quite easy. The closest focus I could get was about 10-12 ft, but this not going to be a choice for a butterfly watcher. The 3D porro effect was nice as you would expect. The build seemed very sturdy with a generous rubber armour. There is a projection in the rubber at the top of the prism block, which was not ideal with my broad hands.

All in all, very enjoyable to use!

Back in December Pete said the SRP was £229. The current list is £289!

David

I had the nice folks from Clifton Camera UK ship me a 8x32 SR GA across the pond a few months ago and I'm still surprised by the quality of the view considering the modest price. Does anyone know if the 8x30 IF is manufactured in Japan like the SR GA???

Steve

Steve,

The SRGA is excellent, but the ER on the 8x32 is too short for my glasses. The 8x30IF appears to be made by Xi'an Vision in China as Andrew pointed out. I should have thought to compared the two of them. I couldn't say which was 'better' but the IF view definitely had the wow! factor, and the real plus for me of working with glasses. I have a United Optics 12x50IF which is very good, I thought the little 8x30IF was better (and much more expensive). Holger thought it was the best Chinese pair he'd tested. I'm not surprised. Not an obvious choice for birding, but a very good bino all the same.

David

David

Thanks for the info. I use IF binos a lot for astronomy and was thinking about purchasing a smaller pair of IF like a 8x30 for kayaking trips on the river. Nothing is as rugged/waterproof as good quality IF bino.

Steve