8x32 binocular with the most 'wow!' effect (1 Viewer)

[takitam]

Howdy folks. Let's try something purely subjective. Which of your alpha binoculars of this size has made the best impression on you? I'm asking because it seems to me that a lot of companies focus on 10x42 format, where the 'wow!' effect is often present, and in the eyes of designers all the others are lesser cousins who need to fit in the bigger cousin's shoes. I mean that the eyepieces and the optical train were designed with 10x42 in mind, and compromised for everything else.

Does what I imagine make sense, and is there any 8x32 or similar that was designed from the ground up and wows you more than its bigger brothers? I'm mostly interested in the optics, not haptics.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

I would have to say the Swarovski 8x32 NL Pure. That's why it's my go to. I went with the orange one cause, why not lol

 

[Scott98]

Does what I imagine make sense, and is there any 8x32 or similar that was designed from the ground up and wows you more than its bigger brothers? I'm mostly interested in the optics, not haptics.

yes, the 8x32 Zeiss SF's. Amazing optics, no CA, sharp to the edge. however I prefer 7x35 to the 8x32 size and so that's what I use.

 

[Isthatascratch?]

yes, the 8x32 Zeiss SF's. Amazing optics, no CA, sharp to the edge. however I prefer 7x35 to the 8x32 size and so that's what I use.

Have to agree on the 8x32 Zeiss SF’s …

 

[Cest]

I have the old Zeiss 8x32 Conquests and they are a delight to use.

 

[Maljunulo]

My 8X30W Habicht makes me say that just about every time I look through it.

(and I also have an 8 X32 SF, which has been returned to the shelf in the closet)

 

[Isthatascratch?]

They are slightly different animals, do you feel the Habicht completely has all the same bases covered. Just interested, thanks

 

[binolover]

old Zeiss 8x32 Conquests and they are a delight to use

@Cest Do you prefer them to the newer Conquest HD? If yes, why?

 

[Maljunulo]

I’m not sure what’s going on in post #7.

 

[Dennis Mau]

My 8X30W Habicht makes me say that just about every time I look through it.

(and I also have an 8 X32 SF, which has been returned to the shelf in the closet)

You like the Swarovski Habicht 8x30W better than the Zeiss 8x32 SF? I understand. Even though the SF has a larger FOV, the Habicht just has that porro magic. They are very bright, transparent, sharp on-axis and have the stereoscopic view of a porro. It is almost an easier view, I believe because of the simpler optical train of the porro, and you can see and feel it when you use them.

 

[litebeam]

Swarovski Swarovision 8x32. Awesome, haven't tried the Pures, but they are probably sensational.

 

[Dennis Mau]

I would have to say the lowly Nikon HG 8x42, which I consider a 8x32 because it is just as light. It is considerably brighter than the NL 8x32, being a 42mm but yet it weighs about the same, and doesn't have the glare in the bottom of the FOV like the NL does. It has a 435 foot FOV, which is almost as big as the 450 foot of the NL 8x32, with slightly less sharp edges. It handles great and doesn't have those goofy FP strap attachments. What really wows me about it is it less than1/2 the price of the NL 8x32.

 

[ReinierB]

My 8X30W Habicht makes me say that just about every time I look through it.

(and I also have an 8 X32 SF, which has been returned to the shelf in the closet)

Do you actually wear glasses or have some extra eyecups to make the eye placement more comfortable? Or do you push lean them on your eyebrows? Or do the standard eyecups just work for you?

 

[binolover]

Do you actually wear glasses or have some extra eyecups to make the eye placement more comfortable? Or do you push lean them on your eyebrows? Or do the standard eyecups just work for you?

Small cups might be the most comfortable eye cups to use for some users, because all the users that have their IPD in the range of that binoculars’ specifications can use the binoculars by looking through the center of the oculars lens so they can get a perfect overlap for all images.

Large cups guarantees that only the users that have the IPD in the upper part of the range of that binoculars’ specifications can use them properly (without double image), the rest of the users that are also in the range of the binoculars’ specifications will not be able to position their eyes in the center of the eye cups. Why is that? Because they didn’t calculate that the users have noses that might block the adjustment for the specified range, so in the real life will almost never be like in their specifications.

Small cups with overlapping image are better than large cups with double image.
From small cups is easy to make large because it means adding just some extra plastic or rubber. Adding plastic or rubber outside of the binoculars doesn’t affect the optics quality or their waterproofing. Is like adding extra buds to the earphones.
From the large cups is harder or impossible to make them small. A company, when designing a product, first should avoid creating bulk, because bulk can be added when needed.

Anyway, how large is the outer diameter of 8x30W Habicht eyecups?

Photo: eyecups are like replacement earcups (or replacement earbuds).

 

[Maljunulo]

Do you actually wear glasses or have some extra eyecups to make the eye placement more comfortable? Or do you push lean them on your eyebrows? Or do the standard eyecups just work for you?

I stick then far enough into my eye sockets that I can steady them by resting on the underside of my eyebrow ridge. (or the upper inside of my zygomatic arch) If I go in any more, I get too close to the lenses (inside the exit pupil) and get beans and blackouts)

I do not wear glasses while using optics, only for reading.

It’s pretty steady.

 

[Paultricounty]

The most wow effect will always be subjective, but in my opinion, there's a small group of the most wow in 8×32/30. The NL, SF, EL, Habicht's, and the UVHD+ (huge color saturation in the Leica). I might throw in a late model Nikon SE as well.

 

[Bentley03]

My 8X30W Habicht makes me say that just about every time I look through it.

+1

But it's a very close run thing with 8x32 UVHD+ for biggest wow. Probably depends which side of the bed I get out of in the morning...

 

[Paultricounty]

+1

But it's a very close run thing with 8x32 UVHD+ for biggest wow. Probably depends which side of the bed I get out of in the morning...

And just as pretty looking at them as is looking through them 😉.

 

[Bentley03]

The most wow effect will always be subjective, but in my opinion, there's a small group of the most wow in 8×32/30. The NL, SF, EL, Habicht's, and the UVHD+ (huge color saturation in the Leica). I might throw in a late model Nikon SE as well.

And your list demonstrates another element of the subjective wow factor, because whilst some may be more wowed by flat field, others will be more wowed by a view with some field curvature. Consider the 8x42 SLC owner picking up and looking through an 8.5x42 EL when it first appeared on the market. There would inevitably be a 'wow' or an 'eek'. My first look through an EL was an eek and the binocular was immediately repacked and posted back for a full refund. Today, my default everyday binocular of choice is a 10x32 EL. Go figure... 🤔

 

[Bentley03]

I stick then far enough into my eye sockets that I can steady them by resting on the underside of my eyebrow ridge. (or the upper inside of my zygomatic arch) If I go in any more, I get too close to the lenses (inside the exit pupil) and get beans and blackouts)

I do not wear glasses while using optics, only for reading.

It’s pretty steady.

I use exactly the same point of contact, and have added a 1.5mm o-ring for increased viewing comfort. There may just be enough space for a 2mm o-ring, which is something on my list of things to try.