The same thing happened here as well 😂 At least am trying not to think about buying more binoculars. Perhaps.... I will stop thinking about it after buying one more 😁😁I have a wife to keep happy as well. That's why I have the 4th and the 5th.
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Having 2 pairs of binoculars. Which would you choose? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ReinierB
- Start date
Excluding the Habicht I'm currently advertising, I'm firmly in the two pairs camp. One is the Swaro 8x25 CL, which I use when out for a stroll or when weight is an issue - eg walking in the mountains or travel. For their size they have a great view and they're the ones I'd choose if I had to go down to just one pair.
The other pair is a Pentax 8x42 DCF CS, which are entirely serviceable but don't have any wow factor. I've been auditioning many of the alpha / sub-alpha options in 8/10 x 32/42 as a possible replacement for these but have yet to find a pair I really bond with. The closest so far have been the Zeiss SFL 8x40 and the Leica 10x42 Ultravid. Sadly many bins are out as I find the eyecups just too big for my face shape. So the hunt continues!
PS In an ideal world Swaro will release something to compete with the SFL but sadly I can't see that happening any time soon.
The other pair is a Pentax 8x42 DCF CS, which are entirely serviceable but don't have any wow factor. I've been auditioning many of the alpha / sub-alpha options in 8/10 x 32/42 as a possible replacement for these but have yet to find a pair I really bond with. The closest so far have been the Zeiss SFL 8x40 and the Leica 10x42 Ultravid. Sadly many bins are out as I find the eyecups just too big for my face shape. So the hunt continues!
PS In an ideal world Swaro will release something to compete with the SFL but sadly I can't see that happening any time soon.
Have you ever considered the CL companion 8x30 or 10x30? They have quite narrow eyecups. If you like the CL 8x25 you might like the CL 8x30 or 10x30 too.
Thanks for the suggestion and yes I did indeed. You're absolutely right about the eyecup fitting really well. And I found them a decent bit of kit (albeit with a slightly narrow field of view. However I just couldn't get past the awful design of the dioptre! If they re-designed that feature and made it in a 40mm lens I'd have one in a heartbeat
Thotmosis
Well-known member
If my ever growing bino collection would be a car i would get non stop speed limit tickets….
So the Habicht 10x40 didn't work for you and I get that. Very nice binoculars, but it has its restrictions for being purely for bird watching. The SFL 10x40 would have been nice, but the eyecups are too wide for your liking?Thanks for the suggestion and yes I did indeed. You're absolutely right about the eyecup fitting really well. And I found them a decent bit of kit (albeit with a slightly narrow field of view. However I just couldn't get past the awful design of the dioptre! If they re-designed that feature and made it in a 40mm lens I'd have one in a heartbeat
I have the NL Pure 10x32 and really like it, althought it is a bit heavy for a 32mm. The eyecups are pretty wide, but has 6 or 7 positions (I always loose count) and I like that. I found a perfect position for my eyes.
I think eyecups are very important. They can make or break the comfort of a pair of binoculars. (I do not wear glasses, only for reading.)
A Swarovski CL 8x40 or 10x40 would be very nice (hey Swaro, do you hear us?). I think it is a gap in their assortiment.
I am a fan of the eyecups of the SLC 42's. I prefer them over the NL's and EL's. A bit narrower and I like this. They look a bit oldfashioned, but the optics are good and they are not too heavy for a 42mm. Unfortunately not produced under the name Swarovski anymore, so a CL 40 could fill that gap.
Sadly the SFL rubs the bridge of my nose just a bit too much. Didn't stop me trying them a few times trying to convince myself they're fine
The NL 32 is right on the borderline of what's ok for me.Totally agree with you re eyecups being absolutely critical. They are the interface between the optics and two very nerve-dense parts of the human body - the eye and the face. Which means that little issues with fit that wouldn't be noticed if they affected other parts of the body are immediately magnified and become problematic.
The Zeiss Conquest eye-cups are fine for me but mechanically they really aren't very impressive. I'm fully aware that's me being picky but in general I find Zeiss quite utilitarian without the engineering quality of Leica or the design skills of Swaro. Just my personal take of course...
jafritten
Well-known member
I try to keep a collection of not more than 5 pairs. Currently I own 6 pairs, shed bin and beach bin not included. My limits could be expressed in numbers but this is more practical for me: I rule out any binoculars that I would not take out into the hills, field or woods. That means that I wouldn't buy anything larger or heavier than a Swarovski EL x42. Neither would I buy anything that does not seem robust enough for my purposes.
I'd love a Leica 8x50, for example. But it's just too much of a beast for me to carry.
Which pairs do you have then?
Do you have experience with 50mm bins? I did a lot of birding on Helgoland last week and carried the EL 12x50 all the time, with an harness. EL and UHVD 50's are just 150 g heavier than the EL 42's and with an harness I found carrying them rather comfortable. I didn't even miss a scope because I had 12x.
However, If you really like the idea of the Leica 8x50, give them a try
.A collection of 5 pairs is my limit as well, so I have room for one more pair at the moment. I don't want to waste it, so I give myself 1 or 2 year to really sort out what I am "missing" at the moment, before I will pull the trigger.
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Elkhornsun
Well-known member
Even when I have the 12x50 binoculars in my truck I will often grab the Swarovski 10x25 Pocket Mountain ones instead. They are light enough to hang off my neck while driving or carrying a camera in the field. For me this is the perfect combination and I have been selling my other ones.
Somehow I still feel some attraction to the CL 8x25 and the CL 10x25, unless I already have the curio 7x21. Why do you exactly have the moutain edition instead of the wild nature?
I see that you don’t mention your Habicht, what of it?
I returned it and bought the Curio instead.
I think the 10x40 will be the one I will add in the future.
The thing was: the Habicht 8x30 was not really that much smaller/lighter than my NL 10x32. I wanted something smaller I figured.
I don't need an Habicht, but since I like 10 and 12 power, I think I will buy a 10x40 some day. (Should have 1mm more eye relief, 0.25 larger exit pupil and a bit less glare and since it has 10 power it will be the one for me.... someday, in the future, soon, tomorrow... don't know yet when
)And it's right: I don't need a CL 25 either.
I have 7x21, 8x42, 10x32 and 12x50. So all grounds all already covered. The CL 25 and Habicht will be nice wannahaves...
Thanks for the response.
I am quite smitten by mine, and it is pretty much my primary glass now. (I think)
I just did a careful comparison with my 8X32 SF, and except for the hard focuser, I don’t see a nickel’s worth of difference. The Zeiss may be a tiny bit “mushier” as you go through focus. When you get down to the shadings and textures level, I think the Habicht has a slight edge. Fewer lens elements perhaps? Habicht is slightly more “transparent” I think.
The Zeiss costs $1,000 more, but the Habicht is not (officially) sold in North America, nor serviced there. It has to go to Austria.
I find the Zeiss a bit harder to hold steady, and it is noticeably heavier. (600 gm vs 540 gm) and the Habicht weight lies wholly between your two hands, in a more compact package.
The Habicht is now my glass of choice, and I’ll use the Zeiss for under 25 yards.
I am quite smitten by mine, and it is pretty much my primary glass now. (I think)
I just did a careful comparison with my 8X32 SF, and except for the hard focuser, I don’t see a nickel’s worth of difference. The Zeiss may be a tiny bit “mushier” as you go through focus. When you get down to the shadings and textures level, I think the Habicht has a slight edge. Fewer lens elements perhaps? Habicht is slightly more “transparent” I think.
The Zeiss costs $1,000 more, but the Habicht is not (officially) sold in North America, nor serviced there. It has to go to Austria.
I find the Zeiss a bit harder to hold steady, and it is noticeably heavier. (600 gm vs 540 gm) and the Habicht weight lies wholly between your two hands, in a more compact package.
The Habicht is now my glass of choice, and I’ll use the Zeiss for under 25 yards.
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I find the wider field is good when the birding action is hot & heavy with lots of targets flying all over the place. With longer looks at fewer targets you don't miss the wide field and easier focusing and you enjoy the extra clarity more IMO....although Habicht is no slouch at wide field w/ 7.8 degrees
Well, around 18 months later I reckon I've finally nailed it:
8x32 UVHD+
10x32 EL (Field Pro)
I own and use plenty of other binoculars, but these two are a perfect fit, have become my most used and cover my usage and preferred binocular characteristics profile in combination best.
TheGreyman
Member
Narrowed down to 2 binoculars: My Swaro 8.5X42 FP, and Zeiss 8X25 Victory compact. Would be well served with these two together.
Popeyethesailor
Well-known member
I have both and love them but probably use the 8x32 NL the most
Nice! If you had to nominate a supplementary pair to the 8x32 what do you reckon you would go with?
