James and Mark have nicely outlined the "billion dollar binoculars" debate. Two different philosophies. Spice of Life vs. Optical Nirvana. Becoming is Superior to Being vs. Being is Superior to Becoming.
I used to be in the Spice of Life camp, and at one point owned a dozen bins including 10 top bananas: 8x32 SE, 12x50 SE, 8x30 EII, 10x35 EII, 8-16x40 XL Zoom, CZJ 8x50 Octarem, Fuji 6x30 FMTR-SX, two 804 HR Audubons (MC, FMC), and a partridge in a pair tree (8x32 LX).
If the SV EL had been around when I was "bin rich," I could have sold them all and bought an SV EL (if the "rolling ball" didn't bother me). But being a spice of life kinda guy like James, I probably wouldn't have.
But now I grow weary of the chase and want to settle down (I guess this eventually happens to all men, just took me longer than most). However, during the past 5 years, a stark divergence has occurred. My income has gone down while the price of top bananas has skyrocketed.
So the only way I can achieve optical nirvana (IF the SV EL works for me and IF I feel about it as others do) is to take a loan out from the Native Americans at Western Sky Financial (APR on the $2600 loan is 139.34%!) since my credit score is too low for a bank loan, thanks to Bernie Madoff and the brokers, bankers, and insurers who robbed us blind legally. Naturally, I wouldn't do that.
I'm also beginning to wonder if being is actually superior to becoming. Notice that Mark now feels "sad" that his journey has come to an end. That's understandable. After dreaming of something for a long, long time, and to finally have it realized in your hands is bound to produce postpartum depression. You could take some anti-depressants, but then Tom Cruise would get in your face.
Reminds me of the Kink's lyrics from the song "Shangri-la"
Now that you've found your paradise
This is your Kingdom to command
You can go outside and polish your car
Or sit by the fire in your Shangri-la
Here is your reward for working so hard
Gone are the lavatories in the backyard
Gone are the days when you dreamed of that car
You just want to sit in your Shangri-la
Thanks Mark for that well balanced commentary. Interesting point about the 3-D effect. I didn't find the 2001 EL had as good 3-D effect as the 8x32 SE, nor was it as good optically. It was also too big and heavy.
But the SV ELs optics and body have been redesigned. That's a major consideration in justifying a price hike unlike other alphas, which are charging more for incremental changes (except for the SLC-HD, which is also a ground-up redesign).
However, being a white collar worker with a blue collar (non-union) income, my POV remains unchanged. $2,400 is too much for me to pay for optical nirvana even amortized over two lifetimes.
To begin with, I'm not a diehard birder, so Dennis' argument of getting the best view of the bird doesn't hold sway with me. Plus, the 8x30 EII gets me 90% there already. Add an ED element, and that's my optical nirvana.
I also use my bins for casual stargazing (when weather/skyglow conditions permit, which isn't often enough), for observing wildlife, and for general use. So it's not just about the best view of the bird for me.
I could buy one of the best 85mm fluorite scopes made (the Televue 85 APO) with the complete package, case, mounting ring, 2" Everbright diagonal, and a Radian EP for $2K. Use it as a spotting scope or for stargazing. That I can at least imagine in my dreams, but carrying around a $2,400 pair of binoculars is simply beyond my renter mentality. I get "sticker shock" when I hear a bin costs $2,400. It's a mad, mad, mad world.
However, I do believe when people say the SV EL is better than the SE. It has ED glass and more comfortable twist-up eyecups, and the ability to focus closer and w/out overlapping barrel shadows -- those improvements alone would make it better. But is it $1,900 better?
Well, as someone said, that's between you and your wallet and my wallet's got a hole in it.
Interesting reading, though.
Brock
