WJC
Well-known member
Binocular forums thrive on the search for the affordable "Alpha" binocular. In a sense, this is a good thing offered up by folks looking for the best binocular available for the price they have to spend. Sometimes that's a great amount; sometimes not nearly so much. Sometimes what I have to say about the hunt for the "Alpha" is taken in a way I had never intended.
So, for my own edification, I would like to ask three questions of those who keep the search alive.
1) First, EXACTLY where is the line drawn between "Alpha" binoculars and the incredibly good binoculars that fall short of being "Alphas"? Is it dollars spent that make the difference? And ...
2) EXACTLY WHO has the necessary skills and experience to make that determination? I have spent my life repairing, restoring, and collimating binoculars and I am certainly not qualified to do so. And ...
3) Are those who lack qualifications in optical engineering (thus not understanding how Seidel aberrations are interconnected) or never having held a focus mechanism in their hands to see its strengths, weaknesses, and complexities really qualified to make pronouncements about what is really the quality level of the binoculars they write about-enough to be seen as gospel?
With today's dearth of qualified consumer-level optical techs, ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE DOING US A GREAT SERVICE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST WAS NOTHING MORE THAN TO CAUSE FOLKS TO THINK A LITTLE DEEPER, LOOK A LITTLE FARTHER, AND EXPECT A LITTLE MORE. :cat:
Cheers,
Bill
So, for my own edification, I would like to ask three questions of those who keep the search alive.
1) First, EXACTLY where is the line drawn between "Alpha" binoculars and the incredibly good binoculars that fall short of being "Alphas"? Is it dollars spent that make the difference? And ...
2) EXACTLY WHO has the necessary skills and experience to make that determination? I have spent my life repairing, restoring, and collimating binoculars and I am certainly not qualified to do so. And ...
3) Are those who lack qualifications in optical engineering (thus not understanding how Seidel aberrations are interconnected) or never having held a focus mechanism in their hands to see its strengths, weaknesses, and complexities really qualified to make pronouncements about what is really the quality level of the binoculars they write about-enough to be seen as gospel?
With today's dearth of qualified consumer-level optical techs, ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE DOING US A GREAT SERVICE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST WAS NOTHING MORE THAN TO CAUSE FOLKS TO THINK A LITTLE DEEPER, LOOK A LITTLE FARTHER, AND EXPECT A LITTLE MORE. :cat:
Cheers,
Bill
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