Hi SBB
Well it's fair to say I've done the circuit on this one and after much deliberation and contemplation it's now between the SV 8x32 EL field pro and the Zeiss 8x42 HT.
The SV 8x32's are actually quite fabulous and I'm not sure if I can find a reason NOT to by them
I tried them on a reserve and against trees and certainly could see the infamous rolling ball. The eyecups and focusing is just so easy and relaxing with a crystal clear large field of view......very pleasing.
The Zeiss 8x42 HT is also a lovely bin. Obviously a bit bigger and heavier but a beautiful crisp field of view. The eyecups are a little bit tighter than the EL's but pretty much extend the same distance so I do get a nice complete field of view. The HT objective lens covers are a bit of a faff and a strange solution by Zeiss. Not quite sure they've got that right. Tried the SF out of curiosity and in my opinion the HT is better in every way.
The Leica bins don't work for me at all, strange I know. Eyecups just don't extend enough so can't get decent field of view. Even the 8x42 Noctovids I tried didn't work either although they're very nicely made.
So to sum up, if money was no option and I had any 8x to choose from I'd probably go with the EL 8x32 field pro. The design, caps, neck strap and view are just 5*. I do like the design, shape and view of the HT's and of course they're cheaper.
It's a nice problem to have. Just trying to figure what the HT would give me that the EL doesn't.
Some on here will immediately launch and say they're completely different bins. However to me that's irrelevant as they probably both work for me needs.
Lastly .....I realised that after testing 10x options on many of the above and going away and thinking about it all that 8x was always going to accommodate 90% of my needs and the view just generally felt better.
