BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="mayoayo" data-source="post: 1439542" data-attributes="member: 16781">I have been looking around in camera shops ,here in Portland,first to buy a new digital compact and then some adapters and accessories...Here and there i take a quick look at the binocular shelve  when i am in a camera shop,but i  never take the time to ask or try any (im not really curious about binos since i use the ZEN<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />),But the other day i saw a pair that caught my attention ,and i couldnt help but to ask..They had two different sizes of a Roof prism binocular called Dakota Elite..A semi compact 7x28,(the one that caught my eye)and a fat 8x32.Both Phase coated,waterproof ,nitrogen purged ,fully-multi ...and costing respectively 109$ and 129$!!!!...i took a fast look and they seemed nice for the price,..rubber armored,shinny green/blue coatings,screw up eyecups...they looked OK ,but didnt really evaluated the view or specifications...The shop didnt have the adapter i was looking for ,but they sent me to another store,downtown,and there i saw the binos again.This time i took a better look and noted specifications..The Shop is Ritz camera,which is associated with Wolf camera,and i know they (wolf)sell the Promaster ED(right..?).Curiously the Dakotas showed some details in their design that made me think they can be out of the same factory that makes the ZEN...They are cheap binoculars and the build quality is a bit rougher..the eyecups were not too smooth to raise(although they worked fine)and the diopter adjustment was quite stiff(not necessarily a bad thing).The diopter ring shared the double dot line that the ZEN use,and that is probably a factory design...All in  all ,decent build for the price..The 7x28 has a 7˚ FOV(374 feet) and the 8x32 ,8.1˚(425 feet!!!!).Let me tell you something..The view was quite satisfactory ,in fact both binos  are quite sharp in the center,and with very good control of CA,(please note that this was a fast look through,although i put some thought in the few minutes i held each unit)..The 7x28 was quite soft in the edges,showing some sort of distortion ,but  the sweet spot was adequate in size,and the image seemed bright and contrasty.Still a nice compact bino in an unusual size,waterproof and Phase coated ,and costing 109$!!!The 8x32 was as fat as any 8x42 ,but shorter ,and weighted a good 1.1 pounds but the view was nice,(sharp in the center,wide and expansive).Edge performance was better than the 7x28 and center image was sharp,contrasty and bright..Waterproof,Phase coated and 129$..not bad...I probably will end going to the camera shop some other time soon..Ill keep you posted,...but really, if you need a budget glass,maybe worth to take a look at these..</blockquote>

Verification