A lot of the older porro's with huge prism housings had huge FOV's with 10 degree fields. Problem was the edges were not usually very good. I was trying some of them when I made that post.
Which one do you prefer? The FL has a bigger FOV than the Ultravid HD.Well to be more specific, between these two.
A.W.
Just for a bit of fun I thought I would find out the street prices in the UK for a few 'alpha' binos and calculate their fields of view in terms of area and then work out the cost per unit of area to see which are most price efficient from a fov point of view. Here are the costs in £GBP per square metre:
Nikon EDG 8x42 £0.098 ie almost 10p per square metre
Leica Noctivid 8x42 £0.132 ie just over 13p per square metre
Swarovski EL 8.5x42 £0.131 ie just over 13p per square metre
Zeiss SF 8x42 £0.087 ie almost 9p per square metre
I hearby declare Zeiss and Nikon the joint winners and wonder if the guys at Leica and Swaro discuss pricing :-O
Lee
Mike
I never realised how cheap binos are today :-O
Lee
Which one do you prefer? The FL has a bigger FOV than the Ultravid HD.
Noctivid? Do you get any blackouts with the UV? So you would rather have a little smaller FOV and a bigger exit pupil for eye placement with the 42mm?The UV hands down, I prefer viewing with a 8X42 these days and the UV though lacking a bit of FOV is so much more relaxing to look through IMO any premium 8X32.
The EDG is still my fav 8X42, and after looking through glass from the European three premiums I find Leica the best built by far. I am looking forward to my next Leica, this one for Astro, coming soon.
A.W.
Noctivid? Do you get any blackouts with the UV? So you would rather have a little smaller FOV and a bigger exit pupil for eye placement with the 42mm?
Have you ever tried the 8x32 SV? Just curious. It is a lot like 8x32 FL that you like.Dennis,
Sorry to have not answered your question, No not the Noctivid, it is slightly larger from an objective lens standpoint.
No blackouts with the UV, the eye relief is quite sufficient at 16mm or so. The eyecups do fit my face perfectly and I feel they are the best design for me.
I use the 8X32 in the field, and when I turn to the 42s, viewing is so much more relaxed, so yes my eyes appreciate the larger exit pupil.
I do however appreciate the EIIs for panoramic viewing, and the 10X35 EII as well-I am impressed with the 7 degree FOV. For a 10X it is quite rare.
A.W.
I use the 8X32 in the field, and when I turn to the 42s, viewing is so much more relaxed, so yes my eyes appreciate the larger exit pupil.
A.W.
Yes, the EDG 8x32 is pretty much the equivalent of the SV 8x32. The SV's have really climbed in price with the FP package.Yes I have used one in the field, but among some minor ergonomic issues i.e the bridge, (I only have one the Bushnell Legend M), It's the price that was not right when looking for one, additionally since I have the EDG 8X32, I really don't need another 8X32 at present.
A.W.
It is funny how all those adjustments like IPD and eye cups affect blackouts isn't. Then some binoculars even of the same size are more finicky than others. Why couldn't somebody make you a custom made binocular based on your facial structure, eye socket depth, known eye relief and measured exit pupil so it would fit you like a glove.I am really aware of a relaxed view with my Ultravid BR 7x42, as I can actually roam my eyes a bit toward the edges of the field, something that I can't do at all in, say, an 8x32 format, without rapidly encountering blackouts. I am quite comfortable with an 8x42 view as well, as long as I can set the IPD to the center of my accommodation. Some of the bins I own are on the fringe of that.
It is only by owning and using several bins over time that one becomes aware of the subtle complexities of fit and ease of view for the individual. Part of the fun of it!
-Bill
Dennis
The question of how much fov I want has a different answer depending on the habitat I am visiting.
Lee
I agree but I also think the tunnel like view 370ft@ 1000 yard at 8x gives you can just be unappealing to some people including me regardless of the habitat. Give me 400ft@ 1000 yard at 8x or better and I am a happy camper.Lee got it right. In most cases an 8X with 370ft@1000 yard FOV is just fine. But there are times when the birds are close or in heavy cover when I want all I can get.
I agree but I also think the tunnel like view 370ft@ 1000 yard gives you can just be unappealing to some people including me regardless of the habitat. Give me 400ft@ 1000 yard or better and I am a happy camper.