Jose, others, Do you know of any reviews or user reports on this model on the internet? Thanks. A short "preview"(?) by Binomania more than 10 months ago (linked in this forum) was to be followed by a more normal review but that has not been done, or else not published, so far. They gave a figure of 7.8 deg. for the field of view. There are a few YouTube videos on the model but these are not very useful. (I might now instead go for the Steiner NightHunter/ShadowQuest 8x56, a porro, which has many reviews.)
The Steiner ShadowQuest 8x56 is said to be in focus from 20 m to infinity once the focus is set, so maybe the individual focusing is not such a problem?
Thanks Lee. I was wondering if there was some new "optical magic" here that enables the user to easily find a setting where 20 m to infinity is nearly in focus. I tried this with my present biggest 8x which is a 42 with good sharpness (Bushnell Legend-M) and could get to nothing like that. Yet reviews somehow back the claim. One in Steiner's (own) website comments: "...with Sports-Auto-Focus make it much easier to use This lets you pick up moving objects faster. Excellent focus free that I have been wanting for years...", and another review in a leading online retailer's site says: "I love the AutoFocus". Back to the Minox...;-)
WJC (Bill) has posted about this often enough. There is no optical magic that makes binos in focus over big distances and an 8x will only have as much depth of field as another 8x. Any perceived 'increase' in this depth is dependent on the users own 'accommodation' and relying on this can be tiring and straining on the eyes.
Lee
F88, I wonder whether you have forgotten that 7x magnification gives greater depth of field than 8x?
Individual focus does not contribute towards this (except that IF results in correct focus at any setting vs CF with a less-than-perfect diopter mechanism which can lead to "wandering diopter".)
The comfort in viewing is probably due mainly to the large exit pupil.
I have the HG and it would take a whole lot to better it.....