Help me choose something in between my Zeiss pocket 8x25 and my SF 8x42. (3 Viewers)

[ZDHart]

Much has been made of the ergonomic design of the NL Pure's, but I'm seriously wondering if, in reality, certainly in x32 form, it's actually a step back...?

Enjoy your new bins! 🙂

The pinched waist is, for me, a step back. Add in the comparatively slippery armor and the NLs lost a lot of points from me. Optically, yes, they are quite nice. Haptically, however, they were inferior to Leica and Zeiss in my personal experience.

Had I also had a pair of ELs to sample, in my comparison, I may have landed in the EL x32 camp, rather than landing in both the SF and UVHD+ camps, in both 8x32 and 10x32 patterns!

I think Swarovski would be wise to continue the EL line, along side the NL line. Of course, this would rob some sales from NL as some people would prefer EL. But even in that case, the sale may still land within the Swarovski fold. 🧐

 

[DrewskiMT]

The pinched waist is, for me, a step back. Add in the comparatively slippery armor and the NLs lost a lot of points from me. Optically, yes, they are quite nice. Haptically, however, they were inferior to Leica and Zeiss in my personal experience.

Had I also had a pair of ELs to sample, in my comparison, I may have landed in the EL x32 camp, rather than landing in both the SF and UVHD+ camps, in both 8x32 and 10x32 patterns!

I think Swarovski would be wise to continue the EL line, along side the NL line. Of course, this would rob some sales from NL as some people would prefer EL. But even in that case, the sale may still land within the Swarovski fold. 🧐

I have been thinking exactly the same thing. The loss of the 32 EL is just a huge hole in the Swaro lineup.

 

[dorubird]

"Help me choose something in between my Zeiss pocket 8x25 and my SF 8x42"
my quick answer is: Nikon HG 8x30
It has top optics at a reasonable price!
The resolution is a bit better than Victory 8x25, it has much higher FOV than Victory 8x25 being almost similar to Victory 8x42 (8.3 deg. Vs 8.4 deg.). The ease of looking in front of the eyepieces is extraordinary. It is brighter than the Victory 8x25 but not much larger in volume. For me, the Nikon HG 8x30 is a Victory 8x25 killer. (I have both)
The Zeiss Victory 8x32 has a slightly larger field of view than the Nikon HG (8.8 deg. vs 8.3 deg.) but in much larger body. For an 8x32 it is very big, and it is close in size more to Victory 8x42. So instead of Victory 8x32 may be the option it is directly Victory 8x42

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

GPO passion ED 8x32: has roughly the same specifications as the Leica Ultravid HD+ and is quite abit lower in price (its price is below 400 euros) and for that reason more attractive as higher priced binoculars . Optically and with respect to user comfort it is a very attractve binocular and highly under valued, see also our test results of this binocular on the WEBsite of House of Outdoor.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[mulligatawny owl]

"Help me choose something in between my Zeiss pocket 8x25 and my SF 8x42"
my quick answer is: Nikon HG 8x30
It has top optics at a reasonable price!
The resolution is a bit better than Victory 8x25, it has much higher FOV than Victory 8x25 being almost similar to Victory 8x42 (8.3 deg. Vs 8.4 deg.). The ease of looking in front of the eyepieces is extraordinary. It is brighter than the Victory 8x25 but not much larger in volume. For me, the Nikon HG 8x30 is a Victory 8x25 killer. (I have both)
The Zeiss Victory 8x32 has a slightly larger field of view than the Nikon HG (8.8 deg. vs 8.3 deg.) but in much larger body. For an 8x32 it is very big, and it is close in size more to Victory 8x42. So instead of Victory 8x32 may be the option it is directly Victory 8x42

I'm still quite happy with my Field Pro 8x32 EL, though I do now see the dreaded glare!
I don't think I've even used the Zeiss 8x25 since getting the EL's. I have actually been tempted to swap them for some HG 8x30 so your comparison was very interesting.

 

[Dennis Mau]

How about Nikon HG 8x30. Very small, compact and excellent optics.

 

[DrewskiMT]

I'm still quite happy with my Field Pro 8x32 EL, though I do now see the dreaded glare!
I don't think I've even used the Zeiss 8x25 since getting the EL's. I have actually been tempted to swap them for some HG 8x30 so your comparison was very interesting.

I'll buy your 8x25 Victorys if you want to sell them.

 

[Dennis Mau]

I'm still quite happy with my Field Pro 8x32 EL, though I do now see the dreaded glare!
I don't think I've even used the Zeiss 8x25 since getting the EL's. I have actually been tempted to swap them for some HG 8x30 so your comparison was very interesting.

The Zeiss just don't compare to the EL.

 

[mulligatawny owl]

I'll buy your 8x25 Victorys if you want to sell them.

Thanks for the offer. I'm in the UK though so probably not worth your while after costs I would have thought.
I'm actually really happy with my 3 bins now and have no need or real desire for anything else but I might well swap the Zeiss 8x25 for a little 8x30 for the extra ease of view as I don't really need pocketable as such.

 

[Dennis Mau]

Thanks for the offer. I'm in the UK though so probably not worth your while after costs I would have thought.
I'm actually really happy with my 3 bins now and have no need or real desire for anything else but I might well swap the Zeiss 8x25 for a little 8x30 for the extra ease of view as I don't really need pocketable as such.

How about a porro? The Nikon E2 8x30 and the Habicht 8x30W are both superb and would give you the 3D view you are missing with your two Zeiss roofs.

 

[dorubird]

[email protected]​

"How about a porro? The Nikon E2 8x30 and the Habicht 8x30W are both superb and would give you the 3D view you are missing with your two Zeiss roofs".

I'm looking for a 7 or 8x to slot in between these two for when one is too big and one is too small. The obvious answer might be an SF 8X32 but I wasn't that keen on a brief test ( possibly not enough eye relief) and I don't really want to spend that much either ( max maybe £1300)

Candidates so far are used EL SV 8x32 ( love the NL pure) - Nikon HG 8x42 ( very light for a 42) never tried one though, not sure about eye relief for glasses? - Used Leica Ultravid +7x42 ( maybe not that much weight saving over my SF but much more compact) - Opticron's new Aurora 8x42 ( wow! these are impressive for the price!) but again not a huge amount smaller and lighter than the SF. - Leica retrovid 7x35, really intrigued by these( never tried them) but I like lots of eye relief so maybe not enough?

Also more than open to much cheaper options, I don't mind compromising on FOV etc. as long as a bin is razor sharp or thereabouts and has good eye relief ( Conquest HD 8x32 for some reason doesn't work that well for me).

I'm a bit out of touch these days, any cheap, razor sharp, hidden gems with a cult following? I'm definitely up for saving some money as long as they are alpha killers!

Sorry for being so non specific!

So, the Nikon E2 with its 14mm eye relief limitation may be is not a option for mulligatawny owl who wants a bigger eye relief. He already said twice in the initial post that he like lots of eye relief. Habicht it is out of the question because has an eye relief even shorter than E2 (12mm)

 

[Dennis Mau]

How about an Opticron Traveller BGA ED 8x32? It is about the size and weight of an M7, and it is a 32 mm, so eye placement would be easier with the bigger exit pupil, many have said glare control is better than the M7, it would be a little brighter and the armour is superior. The price is about the same as the M7.

Review: Opticron Traveller ED 8x32

The second Opticron review is the Traveller ED 8x32. This is a pretty similar in appearance to most of the 30-32 mm mid price offerings out today. Like its contemporaries, it uses Schmidt-Pecan prisms. Details and specifications can be found here at the Opticron USA site...

www.birdforum.net

Traveller BGA ED 8x32 | Opticron

Click to view this page on www.opticronusa.com

redirect.viglink.com

 

[mulligatawny owl]

This thread has a life of its own even though I'm sorted for binoculars now 😆. If I didn't wear glasses I'd definitely be up for some E2's though.