Binocular ramblings (1 Viewer)

[Tero]

Well, I pretty much have all I wanted, except the alpha 8x20. Which I admire but hate the double hinge part, as a poor investmetn that gets loose and floppy.

Plus I need a tripod base, 140 dollars. My head is holding up OK, fairly new.

 

[Tero]

Well, I could always welcome a new 8x32 into the collection. It does not seem to be a favorite with hunters, so I only find these to look at in camera stores. Mostly Pentax locally. I sort of would prefer a Pentax to a ProStaff if the products are simialr and not too far priced. The ProStaff ED line does not offer a 8x32 yet.

 

[Alexis Powell]

Well, I pretty much have all I wanted, except the alpha 8x20. Which I admire but hate the double hinge part, as a poor investmetn that gets loose and floppy.

I've not known the hinges of alpha pocket roofs to get floppy, and if they did, it would be fixed under warranty, so you've nothing to be concerned about there. The Zeiss Victory are a single hinge design, and the Leica Ultravid have a positive stop on each side, effectively making them as consistently settable as a single hinge.

--AP

 

[Tero]

Could be. But the real problem is the coat pocket issue. I actually leave mine in a coat poceket, currently an 8x28 Excursion. It is only a 100 dollar loss if my coat is stolen. Plus 50 dollars for the coat.

 

[Tero]

Ok, no more investing. The 8x Vipers have joined the 8x collection in my night stand drawer. If I sell the 10x Monarch, I will be down to one 10x.

 

[Sancho]

Binocular soccer in Japan ... funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dqP84VUVDY

I wonder if they're Pentax or Nikon? Narrow FOV or wide FOV?

Your link didn´t work, so I found this one. Thanks! LOL, I´d love to play that.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cwvVh0_ZelI

 

[Sancho]

But I always look for more. I have a feeling it can be obtained only by the Nikon 10x SE porros or by going over $1000.

Have you thought about Nikon EII 10x35? I love mine, big wide FOV, very light, comfortable in my hands, sharp as a razor. Cheap-ish, too...279 sterling from the UK (that´s about 315 euro, don´t know about dollars). Availability limited but they can still be had.

 

[Tero]

Yes, on and off. I buy from about 4 dealers, I do not know if they carry them.

 

[Tero]

So now I have two 8x full size pairs. The fall warblers went so quickly, did not really get to use the 8x42 porros much. The other is now the 8x42 Viper. Time will tell if the Viper wins among those two. Mostly a weight issue with the porros.

But I also use 8x32s, much of the year. Now I am thinking I would be best off with just 8x32 ED glass. Or the ProMaster 8x42. In which case I would sell the Viper.

 

[Tero]

from another thread

Tero
Kevin is right, you need to try a set of Promasters. Seems like you have hundreds of posts going through binoculars looking for the ultimate low cost, good binocular. When it shows up in plain sight in the form of the Promaster, you give it the cold shoulder. Not complaining or flaming, but an observation. Lord knows I went through more than my fair share of "optical stuff", so that's common to lots of us. I'd be interested in your opinion of them. It seems to me to be the ideal one choice binocular for the serious user with some budget constraints.

While the Promaster does require some fiddling (for lack of a better term) to get the diopter adjustment right the first time, I have yet to have to fiddle at all with mine outside the initial set up. It does not have the annoying "diopter drift" sometimes seen on "almost there" value price binoculars.

I just recently got the Pentax Sp 10x42 to replace and improve my 10x Monarchs. I am now as comfortable with the Pentax as I was with the Monarchs for 3 years. So I tend to defend that purchase.

The ProMasters of course came to attention after I got the Pentax.

The 8x Vipers I got to see how they compare, used. Warranty was good, I already used it. So I am still attached to the Pentax, but the Vipers could easily be replaced by a proMaster, as I have other 8x pairs to cover there. So maybe I should replace the Vipers. But I am enjoying the Vipers with glasses on, more than other pairs, very generous ER.

You can't keep them all. I don't.:eek!::storm::stuck:

 

[FrankD]

Tero,

I would suggest you give the Promasters a go. Order from Doug, with his usual return policy, and compare them directly to the Vipers. I would be genuinely surprised if you did not find the Promasters better optically. You might prefer the handling and/or overall size and weight of the Vipers but the Promasters might impress you enough optically for you to forget that.

Just a thought.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

For Tero the interesting shootout might be the 8x42 Legend porro versus the Promaster. Is it 5x better?

A bit like a lower cost version of the Promaster versus the "Top Bins" argument

 

[Tero]

Tero,

I would suggest you give the Promasters a go. Order from Doug, with his usual return policy, and compare them directly to the Vipers. I would be genuinely surprised if you did not find the Promasters better optically. You might prefer the handling and/or overall size and weight of the Vipers but the Promasters might impress you enough optically for you to forget that.

Just a thought.

A plan is shaping up. I am selling the Vipers and will get the 10X ProMaster. If the 10x is not as ideal in any way that I think, then I will exchange them to the 8x.

I am down to one 10X Pentax so I do not mind having two at 10x.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Tero have a look at the Bargains thread there is a link to Mike's Camera who have the PM 10x for $450. Asking Cameraland for a price match or a close match may get you a good result (and often free shipping too ... they are often limited by minimum advertized prices).

Just an idea.

 

[DHB]

Tero have a look at the Bargains thread there is a link to Mike's Camera who have the PM 10x for $450. Asking Cameraland for a price match or a close match may get you a good result (and often free shipping too ... they are often limited by minimum advertized prices).

Just an idea.

Tero - Take Kevins' advise.

 

[Tero]

Thanks, no rush, I need to assemble the funds. I only do cash or money order with my optics. I rarely use credit. I use credit if it is the last item on a bargain.

 

[FrankD]

Tero,

I am curious. Why get rid of the 8x Viper and pick up a 10x Promaster? Is it because you now prefer the 8x Legend in that magnification?

I have a feeling the 8x Promaster would impress you more than the 10x. Trust me on this one.

 

[Tero]

Yes, I really do prefer 10x42 and 8x32 in roofs. The 8x42 was a bit of an oddity in my collection. The pentax ED 8x32 is a front runner to improve on my 8x32 some day.

The 8x42 Excursion/Diamondback was almost a fit, due to wide fov, but there was something lacking compared to the rest of my bins.

Meanwhile, a comedy story...link below at the humor blog..for you binocular dudes.

Boston, MA —Birder no longer interested in birds.

Formerly avid birder Stan Lobovski claims birds do not interest him anymore. However, he can’t stop buying new models of binoculars. He keeps talking about Swarovski, Leica, Nikon, Swift and other brands, ED glass, coatings, depth of field, field of view and other measurable qualities of binoculars. Occasionally he looks at birds at his bird feeders in order to discuss the binoculars at birding message boards.

 

[FrankD]

Ok, now that is scary. I resemble that remark.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Ok, now that is scary. I resemble that remark.

You ... and most of the rest of the regulars on this subforum.

That said I now prefer to evaluate my bins by looking at the birds. They're excellent targets: easily availible; at all ranges and all orientations to the sun; variety of colors and contrasts; nice high res detail in the feathers. Very handy.