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Message: <blockquote data-quote="scillyfive" data-source="post: 3240585" data-attributes="member: 1917">Just to close this thread, in case it is of help to others looking to upgrade from compact binoculars. Having previously tried 8x32 Vortex Diamondbacks, Hawke 8x32 Endurance PC CF and Opticron Savanna 6x30 at a high street retailer, I was amazed at the performance of the Savanna particularly in terms of sharpness when viewing text on a sign on the opposite side of the street. The movement of the focus wheel was a bit heavier than the roofs, but in all other respects I found the Savanna 6x30 to be much better.Recently we went to the WWT site at Slimbridge and tried out a range of binoculars at the In-Focus shop. These included the Opticron Savanna 8x30, Opticron Veranno 8x32, Opticron Traveller 8x32, Opticron Discovery 8x32, Hawke Endurance 8x32 and Delta SL2 8x32 ( In-Focus own brand ). Watching Avocets at about 50 - 100 feet, the Savanna 8x30 provided a very clear and bright view. To my eyes a very good wide view, with for me very good ergonomics. Once again the Hawke Endurance was a bit of a dissapointment, with the Avocet bill in particular not appearing sharp and in focus. I had high hopes for the Opticron Discovery 8x32 as these are compact and light in weight, but the sharpness when watching the Avocets fell short of the Savanna in my opinion. The Delta, Veranno and Traveller were better, though as they are at least twice the £99 price of the Savanna were really outside of my revised budget. In addition, apart from the Traveller these are all over my 500 gram weight target. The Traveller I felt had a rather narrow field of view and I still had difficulties with the front mounted focus wheel. Ended up buying the Savanna 8x30.Having spent a day at Slimbridge using the binoculars and comparing them with my partners Swarovski 8x25, we both thought the Savanna 8x30 was optically very very good. The Swarovski's provide an excellent performance in a compact package. The Savanna provides a great optical performance at a bargain price. In one particular instance we managed to spot a Skylark ascending and then parachuting into the long grass, much more easily spotted with the wider field of view compared with my compact binoculars.To sum up, the Opticron Savanna 8x30 for me offer a great view, in a small and light weight package and a bargain price. Only real downside for me and this is minor is that the focus wheel is slightly heavy, probably due to the waterproofing. Won't know about reliability for a few years yet, but they do come with a 10 year warranty and I normally give my optics an easy time.Thanks once again to all those forum members for helping me to sort out the upgrade of our compact binoculars.</blockquote>

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