I use binos more than I have before (which of course says nothing about my usage really, just pretend it makes sense) and live where there is enough wildlife to warrant a pair or two "for life". I have three binoculars at the moment and I find I am juggling them around too much and would like to settle on two.
Since there was a power out at work today I slipped into town to eyeball me some fine rubberized coke bottles.
I keep telling myself I am in the market for a pair of 12x binos and was hoping to look through a pair of the 12x42 NL's but they were out of stock and perhaps a full month or more away. They did stock the 10x42 NL and I thought they might give me an indication of the 12x performance.
I brought my Zeiss Victory FL 10x32 and compared to the Swarovski NL Pure 10x42's. I was very impressed by them NL's, I liked pretty much everything about them. Sticker shock was present - which is on par for the course. Brought up my Zeiss FL's and was pleasantly surprised at how well the Zeiss performed against the Swaros. To be honest I would not trade "up" but I got me some confirmation on the stellar performance of the Victory FL's which are an aging design but still packs a punch and in a very small package.
Though I did not have the opportunity to view anything very far out (store is in the city) I didn't find the field of view to be "exceptionably" better on the NL Pure but overall I thought them excellent for viewing with glasses on. One of the best binos I have looked through for sure, if not the best! But I am not looking for a 10x.
I did look through a pair of Leica Ultravid 10x and Noctivid 10x as a comparison, the former not doing "it" for me and the latter excellent but not the right feel for me.
I have previously looked at Zess Conquest for higher magnifications but found them lacking for my purposes, wishes and wants.
The "downside" of looking through the NL 10x42 is that it got me thinking I would love to try the 12x and there is a store that had two of them in stock - so I placed an order for one of them. I have a return option on them and now I am rattling my brain around going from my current trio; Victory FL 8x25, FL 10x32 and Meopta 15x56 HD to a set up of (insert brand name) 8x32/42 and a Swaro NL 12x42.
Some would argue that I already have a great trio with a small 8x, a compact 10x and a great 15x tripod bound brute. And that is true. I do enjoy all three but to be honest I hardly ever use the 8x25, which was meant to be a travelling companion but now mostly sits around unused, which is a pity as it is a fine piece of glass.
The Zeiss FL 10x32 has been a "for life" companion as it does it all really: sharp, great with glasses and compact, virtually ca free and great field of view.
The Meopta 15x56 HD is a pleasant surprise for sure. As sharp as the Zeiss 10x32 - with 5x more magnification and excellent ca control and just outside of the top three usual Alpha suspects - "reasonably" priced. The Meopta renewed my interest in optics in a way that might see me replace it though (!) and I want to hear some input from the forum members as I know you guys are experienced and can pick apart my fuzzy logic and help me decide if I am thinking straight. I know for sure many of you have gone through this - or are still going through similar gear anxiety. Anxiety is a life style someone once told me!
My train of thought is still boarding at the station but here it goes.
I have three excellent binoculars, 8x25, 10x32 and 15x56.
The 8x25 hardly sees use. Could be replaced by other 8x but still too close to the compact 10x I have. I would still reach for the 10x for the extra magnification. The 10x and 15x are so good they ought to be keepers for sure. At times the 10x becomes a little wobbly hand held for longer periods but for the most part fine. The 15x is tripod mounted and great as such - but not as rewarding freehand.
I would like to slim down to two binos in circulation - two that I will use all the time - instead of three or even four that see intermittent use. I am no longer a hoarder/collector nor do I have sufficient funds to sustain a long term commitment to a holy trifecta of alpha glass... Keeping one that I have, selling two and getting a new one would work. Replacing all three with two well thought out binos would work too.
I could either
A) sell the 8x25 and keep the others. 10x and 15x is a good spread. The 10x can be hand held and the 15x stays on the tripod. And be done. It will not cure my GAS bloated mind but it would make financial sense. All paid, said and done.
or
B) Trade all of them towards a top notch 7-8.5x32/42 and the 12x42 NL.
The reason would be that I could benefit from a 7 to 8.5x binocular for extended hand held use - and there are plenty of great ones to be found both new and used. Almost too many to choose from!
7-8.5x and a 12x is also a good spread for a power duo. The NL 12x I think I can hand hold pretty well with some support and I am sure it will be superb on a tripod and I could trade the excellent Meopta 15x reach for the slightly lower 12x magnification and benefit from the NL's wide field of view, approaching 10x field of view territory with 12x magnification. A trade off from the 15x I might find worthwhile even though I am very impressed with the detail provided by the Meopta 15x56 HD.
I would not consider trading the Meopta for any other 12x to 18x magnification other than the NL 12x as none of the 12x or higher mag binoculars I have looked through has been as good as or bettered the Meopta, regardless of price and brand.
I am also on one hand very reluctant to see the Zeiss 10x32 go but I can't see myself having a 10x and a 12x at the same time so if the NL Pure 12x42 is as good as the 10x42 NL I will have to sober up and realize I should look for a 8x-ish replacement. The 15x56 HD is literally new and very impressive but I think I will be ok with stepping down a notch in magnification.
There is also an argument for C)
Get rid of both the 8x25 and 10x32, get the "best" 8x32/42 and keep the Meopta 15x56 HD. 8x and 15x is quite a spread but when you need magnification, more is more.
Pausing my rant for input!
Since there was a power out at work today I slipped into town to eyeball me some fine rubberized coke bottles.
I keep telling myself I am in the market for a pair of 12x binos and was hoping to look through a pair of the 12x42 NL's but they were out of stock and perhaps a full month or more away. They did stock the 10x42 NL and I thought they might give me an indication of the 12x performance.
I brought my Zeiss Victory FL 10x32 and compared to the Swarovski NL Pure 10x42's. I was very impressed by them NL's, I liked pretty much everything about them. Sticker shock was present - which is on par for the course. Brought up my Zeiss FL's and was pleasantly surprised at how well the Zeiss performed against the Swaros. To be honest I would not trade "up" but I got me some confirmation on the stellar performance of the Victory FL's which are an aging design but still packs a punch and in a very small package.
Though I did not have the opportunity to view anything very far out (store is in the city) I didn't find the field of view to be "exceptionably" better on the NL Pure but overall I thought them excellent for viewing with glasses on. One of the best binos I have looked through for sure, if not the best! But I am not looking for a 10x.
I did look through a pair of Leica Ultravid 10x and Noctivid 10x as a comparison, the former not doing "it" for me and the latter excellent but not the right feel for me.
I have previously looked at Zess Conquest for higher magnifications but found them lacking for my purposes, wishes and wants.
The "downside" of looking through the NL 10x42 is that it got me thinking I would love to try the 12x and there is a store that had two of them in stock - so I placed an order for one of them. I have a return option on them and now I am rattling my brain around going from my current trio; Victory FL 8x25, FL 10x32 and Meopta 15x56 HD to a set up of (insert brand name) 8x32/42 and a Swaro NL 12x42.
Some would argue that I already have a great trio with a small 8x, a compact 10x and a great 15x tripod bound brute. And that is true. I do enjoy all three but to be honest I hardly ever use the 8x25, which was meant to be a travelling companion but now mostly sits around unused, which is a pity as it is a fine piece of glass.
The Zeiss FL 10x32 has been a "for life" companion as it does it all really: sharp, great with glasses and compact, virtually ca free and great field of view.
The Meopta 15x56 HD is a pleasant surprise for sure. As sharp as the Zeiss 10x32 - with 5x more magnification and excellent ca control and just outside of the top three usual Alpha suspects - "reasonably" priced. The Meopta renewed my interest in optics in a way that might see me replace it though (!) and I want to hear some input from the forum members as I know you guys are experienced and can pick apart my fuzzy logic and help me decide if I am thinking straight. I know for sure many of you have gone through this - or are still going through similar gear anxiety. Anxiety is a life style someone once told me!
My train of thought is still boarding at the station but here it goes.
I have three excellent binoculars, 8x25, 10x32 and 15x56.
The 8x25 hardly sees use. Could be replaced by other 8x but still too close to the compact 10x I have. I would still reach for the 10x for the extra magnification. The 10x and 15x are so good they ought to be keepers for sure. At times the 10x becomes a little wobbly hand held for longer periods but for the most part fine. The 15x is tripod mounted and great as such - but not as rewarding freehand.
I would like to slim down to two binos in circulation - two that I will use all the time - instead of three or even four that see intermittent use. I am no longer a hoarder/collector nor do I have sufficient funds to sustain a long term commitment to a holy trifecta of alpha glass... Keeping one that I have, selling two and getting a new one would work. Replacing all three with two well thought out binos would work too.
I could either
A) sell the 8x25 and keep the others. 10x and 15x is a good spread. The 10x can be hand held and the 15x stays on the tripod. And be done. It will not cure my GAS bloated mind but it would make financial sense. All paid, said and done.
or
B) Trade all of them towards a top notch 7-8.5x32/42 and the 12x42 NL.
The reason would be that I could benefit from a 7 to 8.5x binocular for extended hand held use - and there are plenty of great ones to be found both new and used. Almost too many to choose from!
7-8.5x and a 12x is also a good spread for a power duo. The NL 12x I think I can hand hold pretty well with some support and I am sure it will be superb on a tripod and I could trade the excellent Meopta 15x reach for the slightly lower 12x magnification and benefit from the NL's wide field of view, approaching 10x field of view territory with 12x magnification. A trade off from the 15x I might find worthwhile even though I am very impressed with the detail provided by the Meopta 15x56 HD.
I would not consider trading the Meopta for any other 12x to 18x magnification other than the NL 12x as none of the 12x or higher mag binoculars I have looked through has been as good as or bettered the Meopta, regardless of price and brand.
I am also on one hand very reluctant to see the Zeiss 10x32 go but I can't see myself having a 10x and a 12x at the same time so if the NL Pure 12x42 is as good as the 10x42 NL I will have to sober up and realize I should look for a 8x-ish replacement. The 15x56 HD is literally new and very impressive but I think I will be ok with stepping down a notch in magnification.
There is also an argument for C)
Get rid of both the 8x25 and 10x32, get the "best" 8x32/42 and keep the Meopta 15x56 HD. 8x and 15x is quite a spread but when you need magnification, more is more.
Pausing my rant for input!