Thanks for the reply Paddy7,
First off, let me say I really don’t know squat about most of the optic qualities talked about here on this forum relative to binoculars. My only experience has been with a pair of my father’s U.S. Navy 7X50’s, probably manufactured in the early 1940's, late 1930's and those went to my brother when he passed and a pair of Steiner 7X50’s that I purchased about 30 years ago – I’ve looked through a couple pair of Zeiss and Nikons over the years and was thoroughly impressed with their brightness, sharpness and price tag. This site has almost turned me into an optics junkie but so far I’ve been able to maintain my impulses, somewhat.
I'm not a birder per say, as I use the binoculars mainly for spotting & identifying game animals, ducks and various other animals & birds. I also need them while shooting prairie dogs, as when those little creatures just poke their heads up at 200/300 yards, I can hear them but can’t see them and searching with a rifle scope isn’t nearly as easy as with a pair of 7X50’s. I also enjoy looking over old trapper cabins/campsites etc when river/lake fishing in Northern Ontario, Canada as well as observing various eagles, osprey and animals encountered on those DIY trips. I’ve found over the years I usually leave my big 7X50’s home and hope someone else brings a pair of "smaller" binoculars that I can share.
I sold my 7X50 Steiner’s a couple weeks ago to afford an upgrade binocular purchase from a site member here – they are the 8X32 HD’s. Really looking forward to receiving them.
I currently have the opportunity to purchase a brand new Kowa 22 for $590, the exact price he paid for the 10X22 model that Eagle Optics sold recently. He doesn't like the 10X and would have preferred the 8X? I'll have them for another week to play with - then I either give them back or shell out more money than I really want to for this excellent pair of mighty mites.
I find that when looking at birds/squirrels/rabbits in the back yard – these puppies are super bright and extremely sharp compared to my 30 yoa Steiners. I find them just amazing, as to the sharpness and clarity compared to what I was used to seeing - probably due to the power increase as well as the lens upgrade.
I find the focus adjustment is just fine for me but I find they need constant adjustment when scanning from say 100 to 500 yards – seemed like the 7X50’s stayed in focus longer? Not a problem and I will learn which way to turn the knob when scanning further out and when coming in – right now, I’m 50/50, as I either guess right or wrong.
The FOV is a lot smaller than my ole 7X50’s but I can get on my target goal PDQ with these mighty mites, so I doubt that will ever be a problem – trying to observed an eagle on the wing might be a bit of a challenge, but I doubt that will happen but a couple times a year.
As far as color-cast, CA issues, rolling ball effect etc – I wouldn’t know what those conditions were if they hit me on the noggin – and that is another reason I asked for thoughts, as if these binoculars had any such issues – I would look for them, so I would at least know what they looked like. So far in my opinion, they are perfect in every respect.
If I decide to purchase these binoculars, I would probably use them mainly for camping trips and other such activities where I can just carry them around in a jacket or pants pocket to observe Nature in action - up close.
One minute I'm about to give them back as being too expensive for the few times I'll be using them - then the next minute I really like these mighty mites for the sharpness and the thought of having an excellent pair of super small binoculars for walk abouts. What I was previously planning on purchasing prior to purchasing the 8X32 HD's was the Nikon 8X42 MHD's for about $850.00, which would be about $600.00 out of pocket, after selling my Steiner's. I'm thinking the Viper 8X32 HD's will do everything I need done and should be small enough for walk abouts/camping etc - BUT BUT - these Kowa's are talking to me - I should never have accepted his offer to "give them a try".
Like I indicated - if I would have never found this forum and read threads concerning "quality" binoculars - I'd have been perfectly content with my big 7X50 Steiner Military Marine binoculars. I've even given serious thought in the past to selling a rifle, in order to afford an "Alpha" binocular purchase - now that's probably some sort of aliment.