I used to think porro's were better optically than roofs but after comparing the Swarovski 8x32 SV Swarovision to my Nikon 8x32 SE and Nikon 8x30 EII I think the SV is better optically than the SE or EII. What do all you porro lovers think? Have you ever compared them?
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Is the best roof in the world better optically than the best porro? (1 Viewer)
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Holger Merlitz
Well-known member
There is nothing to compare, because there exists no high end binocular with Porro prisms any more on the market.
Cheers,
Holger
The SE and the EII are as about as "High-End" as porro's get I agree but many think they are still better optically than the SV. I disagree. I think finally IMO the roofs have surpassed them with the 8x32 SV.
Holger Merlitz
Well-known member
This is true, though it has nothing to do with the prism type. The SV has superior edge-sharpness, CA-control and transmission. If you would take a SE/EII and flatten its field, add ED-glasses and state of the art coatings, then you would arrive at the same (if not superior) optical performance, and perhaps 30% cheaper.
Cheers,
Holger
bh46118
Well-known member
Kammerdiner
Well-known member
Dennis,
When you already have the best birding binocular on earth why ask if it's the best??
Let's see. Add ED glass, coatings, field flatteners, eyecups worth the name, super-easy eyepiece design that doesn't give you blackouts, waterproofing, smaller, lighter, and... oh that's right, you've already got the best birding binocular on earth.
Mark
When you already have the best birding binocular on earth why ask if it's the best??
Let's see. Add ED glass, coatings, field flatteners, eyecups worth the name, super-easy eyepiece design that doesn't give you blackouts, waterproofing, smaller, lighter, and... oh that's right, you've already got the best birding binocular on earth.
Mark
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
Yep, that's it. Dennis came to the exact opposite conclusion last year or so, and started about 10 threads on the subject. Why anyone would take the guy seriously is beyond me. It's the Sybill syndrome plain and simple.
David Swain
Well-known member
Dennis is preparing to dump his porros now that their market price is high, but needs a little false consensus on his "straw man" argument to convince him. Or he's worried by Holger's new piece on the merits of porros. Whatever. This will go several pages also, ad nauseum.
Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
I will keep my 8x32 SE and 8x32 SV in case I need to send one for servicing etc. So still have another bino for birding hahaha
steve@37n84w
Well-known member
I don't think so, even Swaro claims better light transmission for their Habicht series of porros compared to their roofs. If I remember the numbers correctly from proudpapa's ebay site it's something like 88-90% light transmission for the SLCs and ELs versus 96% for the Habichts.
Steve
I agree with you. The SV's have left the porro's in the dust with all the improvements in their latest incarnation. For $600 you can't beat the SE or EII but they aren't the optical equal of the SV's. It is just that when I look through the SV, SE, and EII I am amazed that the SV is quite a bit better. If you want the best view you have to pay the $2K. Sorry, porro's lovers.
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So! What else is new, Johnny One Note?
mulligatawny owl
Well-known member
Just a personal preference, but I still prefer the view from the SE and EII better than any roof out there, and I must have tried them all by now, including SV's. Most recently I owned an SLC HD 8x42 for a few months so got to know it quite well, and a stunning bin it was ( apart from the awful focuser) but still it didn't wow me quite as much as the SE.
I guess my eyes just settle more easily into the porro view. Apart from the obvious 3D advantage I seem to perceive a sharper, more transparent, more clearly defined image with the SE's , though I doubt they are really any sharper than the SLC HD or SV.
So, from a purely optical point of view, for me, the SE's are still unsurpassed.
Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
I don't think I've yet heard a WOW! out of Dennis re:- the 8x32SV .......
I also don't think that *perfunctory* is going to cut it for long (no matter how much reassurance multiple x32SV threads ultimately yield), especially with an x32HT on the horizon ........ :cat:
Chosun :gh:
I also don't think that *perfunctory* is going to cut it for long (no matter how much reassurance multiple x32SV threads ultimately yield), especially with an x32HT on the horizon ........ :cat:
Chosun :gh:
Torview
Well-known member
X2 :t:
I went birding yesterday. We have an 8.5X42 SV, an 8X32 SV and a few 8X32 SE's. I took my SE.
The 8X32 SV beats the SE on many fronts. I commented on that here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=242005
Anyone using an 8X32 SE is not missing any detail or suffering any loss of color and contrast. I believe the 8X32 SV is the better choice for hard core birders, but that's about it. Would I recommend you buy an SE? Probably not. Go figure.
PS
Dennis, let me know how much you get for your porros.
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