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Message: <blockquote data-quote="John Dracon" data-source="post: 1426468" data-attributes="member: 14799"><p>Sollas - I have had a number of pairs of the EII's and the SE's. The EIIs are probably the best buy for the buck here in the USA, going used for under $200. (for a very carefull user who doesn't bang them around.) They have a wider field than than the SEs. And I find their over all optical quality excellent. They suffer from a really poorly thought out chassis which is stubby, and marginally protected. The synthetic rubber is glued to the body in recessed sections. And the rubber covering always come loose. What is called the beauty rims by some are light weight metal which is subject to dings as are the raised surroundings of the body plus the metal lids expose the binocular to unnecessary damage from accidental dropping and bumping. If you are a careful user, you will find the EII to be very useful, although like the SE, it is not water proof. On the otherhand, the SE is superbly constructed, with excellent ergonomics, rubber covered and optically as good as it gets. I use the Zeiss FL 8x32, too, and it is even more compact than the SE, but for off axis resolution (to my eyes anyway) the SE 8x32 is even slightly better than the FL. Water proof binoculars are not really an essential feature here in Montana, which is for the most part a semi-arid climate with percipitation from 11-13 inches. I'm assuming Scotland has more rain. The porro glass with the oculars moving in and out creates a bellows effect, and in even with carefull construction, gradually causes internal hazing. 50 year old Zeiss porros often exhibit this. Given my wordiness, the SE is simply overall a better binocular than the EII. John</p></blockquote><p></p>

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