The diopter setting of my 8x32FL does drift a little, especially when the binocular hasn't been used for a few weeks. I don't mind re-setting it.
I must have been very lucky with the binoculars I've tried (or chaps like denco must have the touch of a safe-cracker), as, although some were more pleasant to use than others, none have been outright unacceptable. My birding doesn't require constant significant focus adjustment from near to far like some others do, though; the times I've been birding in wooded areas I've noted that the focus wheel needs to be worked a lot more. Most of the time only quite small adjustments are needed - that's why I prefer the focus gearing to be quite slow (for better fine-tuning) and the focus weight to be, I think, on the heavy side compared to others.
I like the compactness of the Noctivid; my hands/fingers are able to get a good grip around the barrels so the open bridge is useful (though I have no real trouble holding more traditional roof binoculars steady) and, for what it's worth, I think top tier modern binoculars are very well made. That bracket of binocular is certainly not competing with PRC made product. The best of the tier below, like the Meostar range and also the Conquest HD, also strike me as being very solid. I'd certainly rather use either of those in demanding conditions than any of the great classics of the past (except maybe a Leica BA/BN aka "brick' in good repair).
PS. I have to admit I find denco's opinions very entertaining, but in order to get the complete perspective, one needs to read both the "before" and "after"...
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