That is interesting! I always wondered if there were any objective covers that would fit those Canons.
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I tried a slug of $1K roof-prism binoculars and I think the Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32 is still the best for the money! (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dennis Mau
- Start date
Interesting divergent views on the Conquest HD eyecups. I've been using a pair of 8x32 and 10x42 Conquest HDs for about 8 years. I installed the longer cups that Zeiss sent to me when I bought the bins way back then. I don't find the need to be constantly twisting the eyecups in and out again. So, for all these years, I've been quite pleased with the Conquest HD eyecups. Some folks may have the need to frequently turn the cups in and out, while other folks can set and forget. The few times I have turned the cups, yes they were somewhat stiff to turn, but they turned in and out just fine anyway. That the eyecups don't turn as "luxuriously" as some other binoculars eyecups may turn, may be a big deal to some users, but to many users, I don't see that this aspect is a big deal. To each, his or her own. Could the eyecups on Conquest HDs turn more smoothly? Sure, the design could be improved. But in my experience, that isn't a factor that devaluates my appreciation for the binoculars.
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Trusting your "gut" sense is one of the smartest things a person can learn do! And, doing so helps to avoid "over thinking" or "paralysis by analysis". For some people, it seems to take almost a lifetime to learn this.
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I agree, Beth. While the color quality differences are subtly apparent between the various binoculars, the differences are not great enough as to be dramatic - but they are there!
Leica's color quality philosophy with the Ultravid HD+ lines appears to be quite similar to Nikon's characteristic color philosophy - slight bump in the red-range transmission, saturated color overall, with snappy contrast. That's a visual quality that I find especially enjoyable (what I would call "delicious") when viewing through my UVHD+ binoculars.
Over the decades, working as a commercial photographer, I've often found Nikon camera glass to characteristically be a bit more contrasty, a bit more warm (red range), and a bit more saturated than Zeiss camera glass, for example, which appears a bit more neutral, or "flat" in the transmission response curve. Similarly, different film types (back in the good-old film days) would also render images with varying color and/or grain qualities.
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CG... that's about the same time I bought my Conquest HD 8x32 and 10x42. And, my impression of the objective covers is the same as yours - not really good. That hasn't reduced my personal opinion/valuation of Conquest HD binoculars, though - they're awesome and a wonderful choice at the $900 price point.
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Indeed. I had a pair of NL 8x32s for a couple of weeks. I quite enjoyed the optical qualities, but the handling (specifically, the pinched waist tubes and comparatively semi-slippery armor) were not agreeable to me. I sent them back.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
That goes directly to what many of us talk about in these threads. You have a way with your verbiage that cuts through in a good way. I felt a similar way about the conquest, very much enjoyed the optical qualities, but the eye cups felt very inadequate for the price point and not agreeable to me, a personal thing. As for the NL, I also preferred the armor because it wasn’t so rubbery and didn’t attract so much dust as the Zeiss rubber.
Heres an interesting side note, just came back from a little bay/beach walk on long island in a birders favorite area. A fellow birder I was talking to had the 10x42 Zeiss FS and just recently acquired a conquest he had in his car. He said he thinks he likes the conquest better.
A lot is said here about all these personally perceived quirks on all these optics, and so many of us enjoy all the back and forth banter.
Paul
Indeed, one begins to wonder after a time, if the quirks are in the binoculars or in the users.
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Conndomat
United States of Europe
Binoculars could be so beautiful if only these useless accessories not were included.
The manufacturers come up with many subtleties that don't work in the end.
For me it is often a nuisance, lids that fall off by themselves, do not fit properly or smear the optics!
When it comes to the cheapest accessories, there are "innovatist" considerations, just put the cover on and good doesn't seem to make sense anymore.
Andreas
Every user has quirks.
Every binocular has quirks.
When a user's quirk lines up with a binocular's quirk... that's when the baby is at risk of getting thrown out with the bathwater.
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Indeed... since I seldom adjust my Conquest HD eyecups, the design is perfectly fine for me.
For someone who may adjust them in and out regularly or frequently, I can see how that user may be less than perfectly pleased with the design. Displeased enough to reject using the bins? Perhaps so. Perhaps not. Individual matter.
As for Conquest HD vs SF, I have 8x32 and 10x42examples, from both lines. I'm quite happy using them all interchangeably, though I do experience a slightly higher level of optical performance with the SFs. Mechanically, the focusers are great on all of them - light resistance and fast action, which is exactly what I like.
There wouldn't appear to be all that much for binocular users to ramble on and on and on about, in a forum such as this. But somehow, we always seem to find ways to chat about binoculars when we're not busy using them. A more than ample amount of idle time, I'd say.
In use, most of the binoculars that most of us use regularly are wonderful products that get the need met quite nicely, even if there are micro-issues that we readily find fault with.
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Oh no... That cant possibly be. Take glare for instance....Every user has quirks.
Every binocular has quirks.
When a user's quirk lines up with a binocular's quirk... that's when the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater.
I agree with everything you said. Your exactly correct, as far as, the colors, contrast and saturation of the different brands of binoculars. Interesting coming from a photography viewpoint.
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Perfect example of of personal preference. You can't please all the people all the time. Just because a pair of binoculars is the most expensive doesn't mean they are the best for everybody. Good thing we have different choices.
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I found the objective covers perfectly good on the Conquests.
I didn't think that for the first day or so, but it was user error.
If they are placed on a flat surface, objectives down, and pressed, the covers snap in perfectly. Out in the field, a flat palm of your hand works fine.
What I liked is that they NEVER came off accidentally, once seated correctly. Good design was my final thoughts on that!!!
I didn't think that for the first day or so, but it was user error.
If they are placed on a flat surface, objectives down, and pressed, the covers snap in perfectly. Out in the field, a flat palm of your hand works fine.
What I liked is that they NEVER came off accidentally, once seated correctly. Good design was my final thoughts on that!!!
Conndomat
United States of Europe
I've had my 10x32 Conquest for many years, the lens caps fall off when the glass hangs down, they just don't fit!
The SF lids have the same principle, here they are a little more precise.
The old FL lids are perfect for me, just put them on and it's good, there were never any problems with that, but why keep it simple when it can be complicated?
Andreas
Exactly! I use the flat surface technique to install them also. That way you apply even pressure, and they go on easily.
Maybe you need a new pair of objective covers. They could be worn out. I am sure Zeiss would send you a set.
Conndomat
United States of Europe
Then the lens caps were worn out from the start!
They never fit.
By the way, the opposite problem with the lens caps on the Swaro 8x5x42, I have to fumble these things in and out, they don't fit either.
Andreas
Dennis, that's sure not what you said when you made your 50+ "review" posts on the NL's is it?
