As far as any input that I can add here- I am not sure that I can add very much since I have only seen the Pentax 8x32 ED and have not compared it to either of the other two that you reviewed.
As far as my own intro to the Pentax 8x32 ED- I came across them quite by accident. I really did not have much experience at all with Pentax binoculars. I saw my pair in a second hand store here locally and did not know much about them. I bought them even though they had an infinity focus defect ( Would not go all to end of focus range), because they had a really good view and the price was right. And, other than the focus part- they were in very good condition. I sent them off to Pentax for repair of the focus mechanism and they came back fantastic. I understand from others that the focus on these Pentax ED binoculars is stiff for them. But I have not had the experience that others have mentioned. The focus on my has always been smooth- even before sending them off for repair. They came back also silky smooth.
I really did not know what I had until I got them back and compared them to other binoculars that I had and others I have bought since. The more I compared the Pentax to other really fine binocular's- the more I realized that what I had was one very good binocular. The Pentax ED's were better than the 7x30 Swarovski SLC's that I had. I also compared the Swarovski 8x30 SLC NEU- of which the Pentax ED to me were noticeably better, and Swarovski 8x32 EL- of which the Pentax was not very far behind as I stated in my review; I came away with a strong impression that the Pentax were not far behind the EL's at all. Certainly not enough to be 2x more the price.
Every time I compared these Pentax ED's to other really good binoculars-I kept on thinking how can they be this good when they do not cost that much and especially I kept thinking- they can't be that good if I bought them in a second hand store. But they kept proving themselves
As far as the others in this review- I have never owned a Nikon EDG. But I have compared 3 different samples of Nikon 8x32 SE's since I have owned the Pentax ED. Based on glowing reports and reviews- I have bought (2) different samples of 8x32 SE's at different times. And after selling the first pair I had- six months later I regretted and thought I would give them another shot and bought another. I will have to say I was strongly lured by the positive feedback about them. That is not to disparage them- it was just that I had to try them for myself. In the end the Nikon's found a new home, but that is not to say that they were not simply superb. They were just not what I was looking for in my desire for a rugged everyday carry binocular.
I will not give a detailed comparison between the two since I do not have both the Pentax ED and the SE's right now. But, while I had the SE's I spent a ton of time comparing the 8x32 ED's and the SE's. Both gave great center field sharpness, brightness and contrast. Both are very bright (slight edge to the SE's) and the SE's had the edge on the edge sharpness. The fact that the Pentax 8x32 ED gave the venerable SE's a good neck and neck run in these optical categories showed me that this Pentax ED was indeed a good binocular.
I am first and foremost using binoculars as a hunter. In the end, as a hunter, and taking into account where I live- the waterproof factor was important to me. Regarding putting weight to the center field and sharpness and contrast- I tend to side to what Frank alluded to earlier with his comment:
AB,
..... To correlate the two, your comments about centerfield performance was something I wanted to call "Object Performance". In other words when we are focused on a specific object then issues such as apparent centerfield sharpness, contrast, brightness, etc... all tend to outweigh other optical performance parameters such as edge performance and also, to a lesser extent, the size of the sweet spot (the latter depending on how much of the field of view the object takes up in the image).....
And for me that is what is really important; and as Frank states- I can let that
"outweigh other optical performance parameters " - because to me that ( center field optical quality) is where these Pentax ED's are really good. To think that they can even hold their own when compared to the Swarovski's, the best that Nikon has to offer, and as others have said also compare well to the Zeiss FL's- that is saying something. And to think we are even giving serious consideration that a binocular that cost about 1/3 of these others and still being right there (as I believe Kammerdiner stated in another post)-
hot on their heels is really something.
I know that there are other binoculars that are better in a total package- but for me, I would rather have a couple pair of really good binoculars- rather than throw all my eggs in one basket. Could I afford 2K+ for a binocular- yes, but I could never justify in the end paying that for one binocular. Not to mention for that kind of $$- I would probably end up unloading others because of the cost justification or the repetition.
So in the end I am good with my main binocular stable- Two roofs- a 8x32 Pentax ED, and a 7x30 Swarovski SLC. And a couple Porro's- a Leupold Cascade Porro 8x42 and a 6x30 Leupold Yosemite. And a small compact reverse porro- my Bausch and Lomb 7x26 Custom Compact.
With those I am covered for most situations and I am happy and content.
As they say- different stokes... and different choices. And we all weigh them according to our own desires. Gives variety to the world and makes it less boring.
