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The Meopta 8x32's are really nice. $799 for 8x and 10x is really a deal and I believe the USA warrantee is transferable.
And another example of a binocular with no competition at it's price.
Cheers
Thanks, Oleaf. Thanks also to Martin, who sent me a detailed reply to my numerous questions about this bin.
I like what I read, but the BIG question that remains is how well it will fit my hands.
The Nikon 8x32 LX has wonderful optics - sharp, bright, W-I-D-E sweet spot, low aberrations, the best contrast and color depth I've seen in a bin - but the narrow and squat size combined with the lack of thumb indents made it difficult for me to hold.
Also, the sculptured strap mounts, which provide a good "back stop" for small hands, prevented me from putting my thumbs backward for better stability.
After performing hand held and mounted resolution tests against the 8x32 SE, I concluded that the only way for me to see as much detail with the LX as I do with the SE was to mount the LX, which is impractical.
I don't mind carrying around a monopod/head set up for a high powered bin, but for an 8x32, it's absurd.
So I traded the LX for the SE even though I like the LX's contrast and color depth better, the focuser better, the eyecups much better, the FOV better, the lack of blackouts better, the larger image scale better, and the close focus much better, but it made no sense not being see as much detail with the LX as I could with the SE hand held.
Also, since the 8x32 LX has no tripod mount (or central post for a tripod adapter like the SE and EII), I had to mount it in a Nikon Binoc-u-mount saddle, but the bin's so small that I have to crane my neck forward to reach the EPs, which is uncomfortable.
So my #1 requirement for an 8x bin is that it must be comfortable and steady in my hands. THEN it must have optics as stunning as the 8x32 LX or the 8x30 EII.
In the spring, I intend to borrow an 8x32 Meopta and try one for myself. That will tell me what I need to know.