Looking for some pocket binos I'm curious about the curios. (3 Viewers)

[truculenter aspicientis]

Are the SW 7x21 curio really as good as everyone seems to say, I can't find a bad post.. would I see much difference between these and say Leica 8x25, ( I know they are larger ) but how much does the 25mm make on a small alpha against a 21mm, or are the curios that good you can't tell?

Any input appreciated.

Thanks Gary

 

[pm42]

Are the SW 7x21 curio really as good as everyone seems to say, I can't find a bad post.. would I see much difference between these and say Leica 8x25, ( I know they are larger ) but how much does the 25mm make on a small alpha against a 21mm, or are the curios that good you can't tell?

Yes they are as good as everyone seems to say and there is a reason you could not find a bad psot.
I'm not aware of Leica 8x25, only 10x25 and Zeiss 8x25.

I have the Curio, the Leica UV 8x20 and the Zeiss Victory 8x25. I use the Curio exclusively since I received them and even prefer them to the Zeiss as they are more compact with more pop but this this is really a matter of taste.

 

[ReinierB]

What about the eyecups of the curio? Are they smaller compared with say CL 8x25? I am in for a pocket bin as well. But ergonomics/comfort are important for me as well. I know the CL 8x25 had eyecups that fit my sockets (a bit narrow though, the eyecups of the CL 8x30 are narrow as well, but that's what you get with small bins) and don't want them to be narrower/smaller. The Zeiss 8x25 is really nice optically, but without glasses I had to hold them a bit away from my eyes to see the whole FOV. The Leica 8x20 was a bit tiny for my liking and has a small FOV. The Zeiss Terra 8x25 is a nice option as well, especially considering the price.

 

[Mike Crawley]

Gary

In my humble opinion the best thing to do would be to find an optics shop somewhere and test them.
Might be a day out from Staffordshire, but the RSPB reserve where I volunteer in Cheshire (Burton Mere) certainly has a pair for testing in their optics cabinet. Likewise, my local optics shop Focal Point Optics (near Antrobus - a couple of miles off the motorway and about 45 minutes from Stoke) is an authorised Swarovski dealer.

it's free to pop in and test the binoculars

 

[Mono]

I have the Curios are they are wonderful, but...

The Curios are very expensive for their market segment.

A 25mm binocular will out perform a similar quality 20mm, but at the expense of being larger.

Curios are marvellous if you want a genuine pocket binocular but if you are just going to hang them around your neck all day then a larger objective will be better.

 

[mwhogue]

What about the eyecups of the curio? Are they smaller compared with say CL 8x25? I am in for a pocket bin as well. But ergonomics/comfort are important for me as well. I know the CL 8x25 had eyecups that fit my sockets (a bit narrow though, the eyecups of the CL 8x30 are narrow as well, but that's what you get with small bins) and don't want them to be narrower/smaller. The Zeiss 8x25 is really nice optically, but without glasses I had to hold them a bit away from my eyes to see the whole FOV. The Leica 8x20 was a bit tiny for my liking and has a small FOV. The Zeiss Terra 8x25 is a nice option as well, especially considering the price.

Reinier,

The Curio eyecups are @ 1mm smaller than the (previous generation) 8x25 CL.

Mike

 

[mwhogue]

Are the SW 7x21 curio really as good as everyone seems to say, I can't find a bad post.. would I see much difference between these and say Leica 8x25, ( I know they are larger ) but how much does the 25mm make on a small alpha against a 21mm, or are the curios that good you can't tell?

Any input appreciated.

Thanks Gary

Gary,

The Curio has the largest FOV of any modern high end pocket. But with 7x mag, the AFOV is generally smaller. In addition to that and which model works better for you in terms of handling it may come down to whether you prefer the typical image characteristics of a 7, 8 or 10x

Mike.

 

[truculenter aspicientis]

Thanks for replies, I can get a mint pre owned pair of 8x20b think there 2011 manufacturer, but mint and just £300 in the UK of a dealer.
Are they any good and worth getting?
Thanks Gary

 

[mwhogue]

Thanks for replies, I can get a mint pre owned pair of 8x20b think there 2011 manufacturer, but mint and just £300 in the UK of a dealer.
Are they any good and worth getting?
Thanks Gary

Gary,
Do you mean an UV 8x20 or a Trinovid 8x20? And is it a BR (black rubber armor) or BL (black leather armor)? I'm not aware of and "8x20b" model. Even honest experienced merchants will sometimes get the nomenclature wrong with the numerous various somewhat confusing Leica 8x20 models. In any case that seems a good price especially for a mint example from @ 2011. Note that a Trinovid has slightly less ER than an UV so if you want to use with glasses the UV may be a better choice.

Mike

 

[truculenter aspicientis]

Sorry here are the photos of them, if anyone can fill me with confidence buy getting these I'll be happy.

 

[mwhogue]

Sorry here are the photos of them, if anyone can fill me with confidence buy getting these I'll be happy.

Ah, sorry I thought you were describing a Leica 8x20. The Swaro 8x20B pictured is a good one and over here tend to go for @ USD $400 so still a good buy. But, this model is a little too short on ER for me to get full FOV with glasses though not a deal breaker. And the focus knob is on the front of the bridge so you will have to adapt to focusing with either your ring or middle finger as opposed to index finger. Not a big problem for me and especially if it will be your only pocket model you will probably adapt quickly with some practice. They still deliver a very competitive image for an 8x20 IMO.

Mike

 

[truculenter aspicientis]

Ah, sorry I thought you were describing a Leica 8x20. The Swaro 8x20B pictured is a good one and over here tend to go for @ USD $400 so still a good buy. But, this model is a little too short on ER for me to get full FOV with glasses though not a deal breaker. And the focus knob is on the front of the bridge so you will have to adapt to focusing with either your ring or middle finger as opposed to index finger. Not a big problem for me and especially if it will be your only pocket model you will probably adapt quickly with some practice. They still deliver a very competitive image for an 8x20 IMO.

Mike

Thanks Mike..
Appreciate your reply and thoughts on them, I hope some others can reply and tell me what they think too, and I'll bite the bullet 😁

Thanks Gary

 

[Mike Crawley]

Personally, I wouldn’t buy any optics without holding them to check the ergonomics and looking through them to be sure I was as impressed as everyone else.
I guess if you can’t physically get to see them, make sure the seller will take them back if you aren’t happy

Good Luck

 

[truculenter aspicientis]

Personally, I wouldn’t buy any optics without holding them to check the ergonomics and looking through them to be sure I was as impressed as everyone else.
I guess if you can’t physically get to see them, make sure the seller will take them back if you aren’t happy

Good Luck

Thanks, yes that's not a problem.. I'll try them.😁👍

 

[truculenter aspicientis]

Personally, I wouldn’t buy any optics without holding them to check the ergonomics and looking through them to be sure I was as impressed as everyone else.
I guess if you can’t physically get to see them, make sure the seller will take them back if you aren’t happy

Good Luck

Oh by the way Mike, I grew up in burnage at Parrswood road. 😉

 

[Brumfield5026]

So I must be the odd ball here. I have never had any experience with a pocket bino but liked the idea of having one. I ordered one based on all of the reviews here. I should have listened to Jace at sport optics when he told me all pocket binos leave much to be desired. I ordered them anyway and I thought they were horrible. They were unusable to me. I sent them back the next day. Not sure what I expected cause obviously I’m in the minority here. Maybe I just didn’t understand the limitations of pocket binos but they are not for me.

 

[Trinovid]

I have never had any experience with a pocket bino...Maybe I just didn’t understand the limitations of pocket binos but they are not for me.

Your post could have been more useful if you'd actually understood the importance of mentioning what binocular it was that you tried, but apparently to you all pocket models are the same, which any of us that have more than one can readily attest to. Never had any experience indeed.

The binocular this thread started around just happens to be one of the best and easiest to use though.

 

[John M Robinson]

Are the SW 7x21 curio really as good as everyone seems to say, I can't find a bad post.. would I see much difference between these and say Leica 8x25, ( I know they are larger ) but how much does the 25mm make on a small alpha against a 21mm, or are the curios that good you can't tell?

Any input appreciated.

Thanks Gary

I’ve had mine for a month now. I’m on an extended trip in California and use them side by side with my 7x35 Retrovids. I love the Retrovids, but other than a slightly easier view out of the 7x35s, the Curios are optically equal. Actually a tiny bit brighter than the Leica’s.

 

[John M Robinson]

What about the eyecups of the curio? Are they smaller compared with say CL 8x25? I am in for a pocket bin as well. But ergonomics/comfort are important for me as well. I know the CL 8x25 had eyecups that fit my sockets (a bit narrow though, the eyecups of the CL 8x30 are narrow as well, but that's what you get with small bins) and don't want them to be narrower/smaller. The Zeiss 8x25 is really nice optically, but without glasses I had to hold them a bit away from my eyes to see the whole FOV. The Leica 8x20 was a bit tiny for my liking and has a small FOV. The Zeiss Terra 8x25 is a nice option as well, especially considering the price.

The Curio eyecups are larger, or at least feel that way, than my 7x35 Retrovids.

 

[John M Robinson]

Thanks for replies, I can get a mint pre owned pair of 8x20b think there 2011 manufacturer, but mint and just £300 in the UK of a dealer.
Are they any good and worth getting?
Thanks Gary

In my opinion, definitely! Woops, I thought you were talking about the 7x21 Curio.