Docter 8x42 B/CF (1 Viewer)

[Star Farmer]

Took them hunting this past weekend. Loved them.

View is very comparable to the 8x32 Zeiss Fl. Same wide AFOV. A little warmer and more neutral. A little heavier and bigger, not by much.

Compared to the Zeiss, I could not detect any difference in "sharpness". Might be a bit more CA but not sure. Compared to Nikon Premier LX 8x42, it's got noticeable higher resolution and more neutral color, with a wider view in a smaller package.

The Docter has a stiff focuser. The eyecup has no detente and slips now and then.

Would I recommend the Docter to fellow hunters? Not yet. I could not find any game with them.

 

[chartwell99]

Took them hunting this past weekend. Loved them.

View is very comparable to the 8x32 Zeiss Fl. Same wide AFOV. A little warmer and more neutral. A little heavier and bigger, not by much.

Compared to the Zeiss, I could not detect any difference in "sharpness". Might be a bit more CA but not sure. Compared to Nikon Premier LX 8x42, it's got noticeable higher resolution and more neutral color, with a wider view in a smaller package.

These are wonderful binoculars, big time underrated. I sold (and regret doing so) my 8 x 42 but thankfully held onto the 10 x 42.

 

[brocknroller]

Took them hunting this past weekend. Loved them.

View is very comparable to the 8x32 Zeiss Fl. Same wide AFOV. A little warmer and more neutral. A little heavier and bigger, not by much.

Compared to the Zeiss, I could not detect any difference in "sharpness". Might be a bit more CA but not sure. Compared to Nikon Premier LX 8x42, it's got noticeable higher resolution and more neutral color, with a wider view in a smaller package.

The Docter has a stiff focuser. The eyecup has no detente and slips now and then.

Would I recommend the Docter to fellow hunters? Not yet. I could not find any game with them.

What's surprising is that Docter's top roof, the 8x42 ED, only has 6.6* vs. the B/CF's 7.4*. I don't get why a less expensive model would get a wider FOV than their top of the line.

I'm surprised that the B/CF is "sharper" than the Nikon 8x42 PLX. Haven't seen the "Premier," which I assume is the same as the HGL, but I did try the original 8x42 LX and was very impressed with its resolution and contrast, though not with its weight!

OTOH, the ED has 19.5mm ER vs. the B/CF's 16mm, which might affect which one an eyeglass wearer might choose. About a $250 difference, which is not bad for the addition of ED glass in German roof. If it is German. I have my doubts about "Made in Germany" claims since Germany doesn't seem to have any rules about how that label should be applied. There was talk about them changing that, but I haven't read any news to that effect.

If I got to go down to 6.6* for the ED roof, I'd rather go down a bit more to 6.4* and get the 8x56 Nobilem, which is probably a great hunting bin, particularly if you are hunting from a tree stand or blind.

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[Star Farmer]

Pure speculation: The B/CF has a 4 element objective that's expensive to manufacture. The ED, while containing more expensive glass, is a simpler design. So cost considerations might be the reason for replacing the B/CF with the ED.

I did a nightime indoor comparison with the Zeiss FL, in dim light. I could not detect the advantage of the 42mm glass of the B/CF over the 32mm of the FL. Might be the Zeiss builtin night vision is not limited to the HT line. Or, may be I need to see my optometrist.