Kammerdiner
Well-known member
Just a few thoughts on the 8x42 Prime that I won in last month’s contest.
First, thanks once again to Charles for this generous contest and opportunity! Perhaps subsequent winners (and all other users) can add their thoughts to this thread as well.
The Primes arrived while I was out of town so this is just a few preliminary notes. I’ll try to compare them in more depth to the Zen 8x43 ED2 and the 8.5 SV in more situations but here goes.
They are bigger than I thought they’d be. Cups down they are only ¼ inch shorter than the 8.5 SV. They are 5/8 inch shorter than the ED2. They are the heaviest of the bunch, however. I weighed them on a digital scale and got 840 gm, 29.6 ounces. Getting up there, and noticeably heavier than the ED2. Diopter and hinge tension are both just right. Overall, a real solid feel to them.
Hey, a nice case I’ll actually use. It’s simple, and you can either use a separate strap on it or (my much preferred route) just leave the binocular strap outside the case and carry it that way.
Eyecups. Some have had issues with the large eyecups. As an eyeglass wearer that’s not an issue for me and I wonder if the larger size might actually block more sidelight. I did try them without glasses and with my 63-64mm IPD and average nose I had no trouble. In fact I thought it was nice not to have the eyes and the view crowded by the cups. A big, open feel and it seemed very comfortable to me.
The view is really nice! Superb contrast, rich color, very little CA, sharp to the edges (if not quite on par with the SV in that regard). The color of both Zens is warmer, a little yellowy, compared to the SV’s, which are the most neutral I’ve seen, but without a side-by-side you might not notice. Not quite the easy “roam around” view of the SV, either, but better than the ED2. Glare control is especially nice, excellent really, and a solid improvement over the ED2. The pincushion of the ED2 has also been nicely tamed in the Prime—a welcome improvement in that regard. The Primes seem a little brighter, crisper, more contrasty than the ED2, and frankly very close to the SV.
The close focus spec is 2m, but this one goes down to about 4 feet—neat! Focus knob is very smooth with a small bit of slack when changing directions. Not really noticeable in use, to me anyway. CCW to infinity is a bit of an adjustment (all my other binos are CW to infinity). But my full-size scope is also CCW so I’m used to making that adjustment.
Eye relief is impressive. The Prime and SV are both rated at 20mm but with cups down and wearing glasses I get some flickering blackouts on the Prime. If I back the cups out 2mm or so they more or less disappear. Again, not quite the “slap ‘em on your face” view of the SV, when following a bird let’s say, but still a nice big, full-sized view. I might put a pair of o-rings in there but the eyecups hold an intermediate position quite well even when taking off the rainguard.
So overall I’d say the improvements over the ED2 (I haven’t seen the ED3) make the Prime a definite and worthwhile upgrade! I could easily use these as my primary birding binocular. In fact, I think they’ll get a lot of use. Big thumbs up for these. :t:
Mark
First, thanks once again to Charles for this generous contest and opportunity! Perhaps subsequent winners (and all other users) can add their thoughts to this thread as well.
The Primes arrived while I was out of town so this is just a few preliminary notes. I’ll try to compare them in more depth to the Zen 8x43 ED2 and the 8.5 SV in more situations but here goes.
They are bigger than I thought they’d be. Cups down they are only ¼ inch shorter than the 8.5 SV. They are 5/8 inch shorter than the ED2. They are the heaviest of the bunch, however. I weighed them on a digital scale and got 840 gm, 29.6 ounces. Getting up there, and noticeably heavier than the ED2. Diopter and hinge tension are both just right. Overall, a real solid feel to them.
Hey, a nice case I’ll actually use. It’s simple, and you can either use a separate strap on it or (my much preferred route) just leave the binocular strap outside the case and carry it that way.
Eyecups. Some have had issues with the large eyecups. As an eyeglass wearer that’s not an issue for me and I wonder if the larger size might actually block more sidelight. I did try them without glasses and with my 63-64mm IPD and average nose I had no trouble. In fact I thought it was nice not to have the eyes and the view crowded by the cups. A big, open feel and it seemed very comfortable to me.
The view is really nice! Superb contrast, rich color, very little CA, sharp to the edges (if not quite on par with the SV in that regard). The color of both Zens is warmer, a little yellowy, compared to the SV’s, which are the most neutral I’ve seen, but without a side-by-side you might not notice. Not quite the easy “roam around” view of the SV, either, but better than the ED2. Glare control is especially nice, excellent really, and a solid improvement over the ED2. The pincushion of the ED2 has also been nicely tamed in the Prime—a welcome improvement in that regard. The Primes seem a little brighter, crisper, more contrasty than the ED2, and frankly very close to the SV.
The close focus spec is 2m, but this one goes down to about 4 feet—neat! Focus knob is very smooth with a small bit of slack when changing directions. Not really noticeable in use, to me anyway. CCW to infinity is a bit of an adjustment (all my other binos are CW to infinity). But my full-size scope is also CCW so I’m used to making that adjustment.
Eye relief is impressive. The Prime and SV are both rated at 20mm but with cups down and wearing glasses I get some flickering blackouts on the Prime. If I back the cups out 2mm or so they more or less disappear. Again, not quite the “slap ‘em on your face” view of the SV, when following a bird let’s say, but still a nice big, full-sized view. I might put a pair of o-rings in there but the eyecups hold an intermediate position quite well even when taking off the rainguard.
So overall I’d say the improvements over the ED2 (I haven’t seen the ED3) make the Prime a definite and worthwhile upgrade! I could easily use these as my primary birding binocular. In fact, I think they’ll get a lot of use. Big thumbs up for these. :t:
Mark
