Habicht for birdwatching? (1 Viewer)

[Paultricounty]

I have also a Zeiss 8x56 FL but i still have to compare them in the field. The weight advantage of the Habicht is undoubtedly clear ofcourse.

That should be an interesting comparison, I’d like to hear your thoughts after you compare them. I did some of my testing over a few nights with the 10x56SLC, Zeiss 8x42 FL, Vortex 8x42 UHD and Ultravid 7x42 HD. I look down a few streets in my neighborhood ,using whatever light source is available, house porch lights, street pole lights and property landscape lighting. We try to read license plates, house numbers and anything else we can make out differences.

 

[PatR]

Yes it is a very unique and superlative pair of binoculars indeed. I would also like to add that in my limited experience i think it has no reflections like the other two can give sometimes under certain light conditions.
Did you compare it under low light and/or in the evening with a 8x56?

The little 7x42's are just phenominal in all light conditions.....its a recurring theme with all my Habicht's.

By a strange coincidence I compared them against my Geco and Meopta B1 8x56's last evening and must admit that the underated and undervalued (by some) Meopta's were brighter than both. Just.

However they are relatively heavy and that is where the wonderful Habicht's excel. Their compact build, lightness and sheer optical excellence make them ideal bins for the fading light.

 

[Thotmosis]

That should be an interesting comparison, I’d like to hear your thoughts after you compare them. I did some of my testing over a few nights with the 10x56SLC, Zeiss 8x42 FL, Vortex 8x42 UHD and Ultravid 7x42 HD. I look down a few streets in my neighborhood ,using whatever light source is available, house porch lights, street pole lights and property landscape lighting. We try to read license plates, house numbers and anything else we can make out differences.

I will take a bunch of binoculars with me when i go to Sweden (hopefully) end of August. I like to sit down and try them out watching whatever i can get my eye on.

 

[Maljunulo]

My 8X30 W Habicht is not quite as good as my 8X32 SF at peering into shadows.

The difference is “slight, but noticeable”.

You can definitely see more.

 

[Thotmosis]

The little 7x42's are just phenominal in all light conditions.....its a recurring theme with all my Habicht's.

By a strange coincidence I compared them against my Geco and Meopta B1 8x56's last evening and must admit that the underated and undervalued (by some) Meopta's were brighter than both. Just.

However they are relatively heavy and that is where the wonderful Habicht's excel. Their compact build, lightness and sheer optical excellence make them ideal bins for the fading light.

Just brighter…imagine the outstanding quality of the little Habicht if you take into account the huge objectives of the Meopta.

 

[PatR]

Just brighter…imagine the outstanding quality of the little Habicht if you take into account the huge objectives of the Meopta.

I know, they are a masterpiece of optical genius wrapped in a body of elegance, purpose and wickedley handsome good looks. A bit like......

 

[ReinierB]

Shoot...
Which one should I take then? The 7x42 or the 10x40? 🙈🙉🙊

 

[ReinierB]

I know, they are a masterpiece of optical genius wrapped in a body of elegance, purpose and wickedley handsome good looks. A bit like......

This applies for both...

 

[dorubird]

Shoot...
Which one should I take then? The 7x42 or the 10x40? 🙈🙉🙊

7x42 without hesitation. It has a small AFOV which makes it paradoxically unique. It resembles an orthoscopic eyepiece for astronomy. I like this small AFOV very much because I can see the entire visual field much more easily up to the edges. It is a binoculars full of strong essences. By far the Habicht 7x42 has the strongest personality of all the Habichts.

 

[Ignatius]

Shoot...
Which one should I take then? The 7x42 or the 10x40? 🙈🙉🙊

Shoot (at) what?
10x40 without a doubt. It has the same clear sharp image as the other Habichts with a good FOV and the unique advantage of being a 10x that is excellently hand-holdable due to the good ergonomics of a porro.

 

[ReinierB]

Shoot (at) what?
10x40 without a doubt. It has the same clear sharp image as the other Habichts with a good FOV and the unique advantage of being a 10x that is excellently hand-holdable due to the good ergonomics of a porro.

It was just an exclamation of despair. I see the virtue of both and I am torn apart 😉

 

[Thotmosis]

Because you have already very nice 8x, 10X and 12X i would choose the 7x.

 

[ReinierB]

Because you have already very nice 8x, 10X and 12X i would choose the 7x.

I have the Curio 7x21 too 🙃

 

[Thotmosis]

I know, they are a masterpiece of optical genius wrapped in a body of elegance, purpose and wickedley handsome good looks. A bit like......

….Gina Lollobrigida?

 

[PatR]

….Gina Lollobrigida?

She was (stunningly) beautiful, not handsome,......like me (006.5, shaken and stirred). 🤪

 

[rran6136]

The 7x42 habicht is my “Buddhist binocular”, it illuminates, it gives reality sharpening clarity, but it refuses to be rushed and unfolds the image in its own time.

 

[Maainel]

I love my 8x30. Would never part with them. Enjoy them for birding as well. The DOV is so deep, that in practice you don’t have to turn much to jump large distances.

 

[ReinierB]

As original poster of this thread, I want to try to answer my own question. I tried the 8x30 (twice), the 10x40 and the 7x42.

I kept the 7x42. Why? These were the most comfortable in use for me. All the Habichts have a slow focuser. I loosened them a bit, by moving the focuser a couple of nights while watching a movie and it helped, a bit. Still not really fast focusers. However, it is less of an issue with the 7x42, because it has the largest DOF and there isn't a lot of need for fast focusing. One reason I kept the 7x42.

Another reason is the large exit pupil. Habicht is known for being one of the brightest binoculars available, with a stated 96% transmission, and to get the most of this feature a large exit pupil makes sense. The Habicht 7x42 is my low light glass.

The 7x42 has the least glare of the three, although the glare of the 8x30 didn't really bother me much.

The 7x42 has the largest eye relief, although it is just 1 or 2 mm more, it makes the 7x42 the most comfortable in use. I added an o-ring underneath the eyecups, which adds in comfort as well. I also have the green eyecups of the GA version and they are the most comfortable in use. However, since the aesthetics were partly a reason why I wanted to add an Habicht to my line-up, I prefer the original black eyecups. It looks so much nicer and the original black rainguard fits on it too. The Habicht is standing on a shelf in the living room, because it is an eye-catcher (at least for me) and I can grap it when I need it.

The 7x42 (and 10x40) fits my hands nicer than the smaller 8x30. The 8x30 tend to dangle a bit more too, because of the different centre of gravity. I had a hard time deciding which one I liked more: 7x42 or 8x30, but the 7x42 will get more use.

And what about the very small AFOV? I hear you asking this question. An AFOV of just 46 degrees sounds horrible and put my off at first. But in reality it isn't that bad. It is comfortable in a way that is hard to describe.

So would I recommend an Habicht for birdwatching? Not really, but an Habicht can be used for it for sure. For 10 power, I prefer binoculars with a faster/smoother focuser. The Habicht 7x42 will be my low light glass. For that it really shines.

I tried the GA green rubber variant as well. Although I liked the eyecups, I prefer the ergonomics, the weight and the looks of the leatherette versions.

 

[Hermann]

I tried the GA green rubber variant as well. Although I liked the eyecups, I prefer the ergonomics, the weight and the looks of the leatherette versions.

The GA is nicer in cold weather. I personally use the green eyecups only, they're much nicer in use than the narrow black eyecups. The 7x42 works very well for birding, I find, despite the stiff focuser. The 10x42 is more "difficult" IMO.

Hermann

 

[ReinierB]

In cold weather, I actually don't like using an Habicht that much. The focuser gets stiffer and when wearing gloves the focuser is practically unusable.