Hi,
I've seen a few different specs for the FOV on the 10x42 Noctivid.
Can someone please confirm the correct FOV.
Also, this is a flat field bino like the the Swarovski EL, correct ?
Thank you.
Hi Realtree,
I looked at the specs on Allbinos, as well as a few online retailers, and they match what Leica has in their own brochure. However, it looks like a typo occurred in the original specs, when they converted Meters to feet. Leica and everyone else lists the FOV in meters as 112 @ 1000 meters, and in feet as 376 @ 1000 yards. Converting meters to feet (112 x 3.281) yields 367 feet, but I always thought the rule of thumb on conversion here was multiplying 112 x 3, and turning 1000 meters into 1000 yards. The latter would yield 336 feet at 3,000 feet. So, unless I'm completely misrepresenting things, there is a typo that originated with Leica, which nobody has subsequently corrected. However there doesn't seem to be any dispute over the degrees 6.4 (I think rounding up from 6.39)
As for the flat field question, the answer is mildly 'no'. The image has a large sweet spot that progressively softens out near the edge. Whether you'll notice it or not you'll have to find out for yourself. I've had a 10x42 for over a year and a half, and don't notice it all. I don't even think about it. If you wear glasses, you'll find the eye relief to be generous, and the apparent field of view (AFOV), somewhere between 58-63°, depending on how you calculate it, to be quite immersive.
For me, this binocular is essentially a perfect fit, while others here have reported varying results. No surprise there! We're all built differently. I do recommend you try one if you can.
Edit: The Nikon 8x42 MHG actually says 'Field Flattener' below the eyepiece on the left barrel. Does it have a flat field? No, but its field character is similar to the Noctivid. They both have mild field curvature near the edge that can be focused out. In comparison, the Victory SF is sharper near the edge, but there's also some funny business going on with image compression, and color shift in those outer reaches.
In practical experience, I haven't noticed any of this when I'm out looking at nature.
Cheers,
Bill