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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Troubador" data-source="post: 3581771" data-attributes="member: 109211">Hi DanI have just returned from 3 weeks nature observing down in the Languedoc in the south of France and as well as visiting the local causses and rivers and wetlands also went to the Pyrenees, Alps and Vercors. This was our 6th visit to the region.I took an SF 8x42 and Conquest HD 8x32 but mostly used the Conquest. Why? Because we are interested in insects like butterflies and dragonflies as well as birds, lizards and snakes and fish and everything else that can appear suddenly at a short distance while in habitats where birds like Harriers and Bee-eaters and Rollers can also suddenly pop up but much further away. So for me these habitats demand a wide field of view and a fast acting focuser. The Conquest has these and excels at this job. The optical quality is excellent but if you want better and with a focuser that is very nearly as fast then go for Zeiss's FL 8x32.The SF is definitely a step up in optical quality and I enjoyed it every evening from our veranda but it's focus speed is not up to the demands that I need in the south of France. Back in the Western Isles and Inner Islands of Scotland which are our second home, the SF excels with its wide field of view and precise focuser that make it easy to grab eagles and otters and everything else. If you really insist on a 42 for your French holidays then I will put a vote in for the SF 8x42 as its wide field of view is fantastic and gives you great opportunities to grab not only zooming dragonflies but circling eagles and alpine swifts and so on. Its wide FOV would make it a great spotter for your scope too.Good luckLee</blockquote>

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