The best 7X42 is...
FL glass in a Leica housing with a Swarovski sweet spot.
Too bad it doesn't exist.
I have the SLC new in 7x42
If you could get any 7x42 which would it be and why? which have you actually seen?
308
When you have one alpha class glass and really like it, I advise you to just stick with it and enjoy it. When you get up to that class of glass, personal preferences dealing with how well your eyes match the optical system of the binocular are a lot more important than whether it is Z, L, S, Nikon or Meopta. That, and how it feels and handles for you. That is kind of a how many angels can dance on the head of a pin argument. The 7x EL would be nice to see, but I think they they would shoot a hole their market for the 7x42 SLC. Look at whatever you can find and listen to what your eyes tell you.
All of the alpha 7x42 are pretty heavy, except the Ultravid is lighter. So is the Nikon EDG.
Do you consider a Swarovski SLC an alpha? To me alpha's are Zeiss FL's, Swarovki EL's, Nikon EDG's and Leica Ultravid HD's. I would call Swarovski SLC's, Zeiss Conquest's, Nikon LXL's ,Leica Trinovids and Ultravids semi-alphas. The rest of the binoculars we should term sub-alphas. What do you think?
Dennis
Dennis,
Yes the SLC is an alpha. Same glass as the EL, different package. So the Nikon SE isn't even sub-alpha? I look at it as image quality and build, not price. Seems like you are defining alpha on the basis of what is newest and most expensive. YMMV.
I agree with Frank. These are all Alphas to me. Especially the Nikon EDG after looking through NDhunter's 10x42EDG.:t:
So you could have an alpha like Nikon SE that is only $500.00. So price does not define an alpha. I didn't know the Swarovski SLC's had the same optics as the EL's. Same coating too?
What about the other smaller manufacturers like Minox, Opticron, etc. I think we need to define what really is an alpha binocular.
Dennis
Pianists waste a ridiculous amount of time discussing the ratings of brands and their models given in Larry Fine's "The Piano Book", which has annual supplements where small ranking changes of instruments in tiers and sub-tiers can provoke traumatic debate.
God forbid anyone ever publishes "The Binocular Book" o
Meopta, Kowa, Steiner, Docter being that tier right below but not of the same overall build...
Yea Frank I am impressed with the hot water, frozen etc. These guys must have super vision to see 3.7 without a booster though .
CL,
Respectfully I have to disagree with this statement at least from the standpoint of the Meopta. I have seen these binoculars withstand conditions (personally and in the link below) that totally blew me away. I have no doubt in my mind that they would stand up to any abuse that a Leica Ultravid, Zeiss FL or Swarovski EL would.
Truth be told, I would not be entirely surprised if they bettered at least one of those three in terms of overall durability.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...res/photos/pages/pf_eurobinoculars_large.html
Granted, the above link is just a glorified infomercial with questionable data in the first minute or so of the presentation but it was what occurred after 1:15 that impressed and continues to impress me about these binoculars.
Also interesting are the 120+ reviews that these binoculars have received. Though you have to take them with a grain of salt because you don't know the reviewers experience level/background the simple fact that 120+ people took the time to post about them says quite a bit about their performance and price in my opinion.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/reviews.jsp?productid=712421