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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kevin Conville" data-source="post: 1368223" data-attributes="member: 63161">Ornitho-optics? Sounds more like a diction exercise for actors than say, birding bins. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />Anyway, the heyday of 35mm bins is 30 years past and with just a couple of exceptions were porro prism bins. I think everyone here is thinking of a modern roof prism type. To your point though, I think it's several things that us 'mercans (if you say so) find appealing about those configurations. The promise of a wider angle optic vs a 42mm in a package that approaches a 32mm bin combined with neat math. With a 36mm objective, and 7 and 9x, one gets either a  5 or 4mm exit pupil. Add a 6x and you can get a 6mm exit. It's all rather tidy. Maybe it has something to do with our puritanical roots :h?:BTW I'm one American who prefers fixed EPs on scopes. It's my observation that most people DO love their zooms though!</blockquote>