On forums like Birdforum, members sometimes deplore the fact that not many good 7x binoculars are to be found. In fact, 7x used to be a more popular format in former times.
If you look at the binocular market today and just ignore for a moment some “aberrations” like 6.5x, 8.5x and 10.5x magnifications which overall are a tiny fraction of the market, we seem to have settled with binoculars magnifying 8x, 10x or 12x. Why is that?
Is it pure coincidence, comparable to the oddity that many countries, such as Switzerland, have general speed limits outside city centers of 80 km/h (main roads), 100 (minor motorways) and 120 (motorways), whereas other countries such a France have limits at 90, 110 and 130?
Would 9x magnification be a good compromise between the easy handling of an 8x and the further reach of a 10x? Or what about 11x, the amalgamation of advantages of a 10x bino and a 12x bino??
Only a few companies make/sell 9x binoculars today, most prominently Pentax (several different models), Celestron (1 model), Bresser (1 model) and Maven (1 model).
With 11x, some astro binoculars feature that magnification (Helios, APM, TS Optics, etc.), only Maven seems to be selling a 11x bino for the birding and hunting markets (in fact, Maven with their “B.2” line seems to be the only one selling both 9x AND 11x binos).
In terms of optical/mechanical quality and pricing, I would place the Maven B.2 models in the upper part of the market, somewhere in the neighborhood of models such as Conquest HDX. They have gotten positive user reviews on forums like CloudyNights. Assembled in the USA (probably in Lander, Wyoming?) from parts made in Japan (Kamakura?), the B.2 line (9x45, 11x45) figures somewhere Maven’s B1.2 (8x42, 10x42) and B.6 (10x50, 12x50) lines on the one hand and the B.5 line (10x56, 12x56, 15x56, 18x56) on the other hand.
I have been using both the 9x45 and 11x45 for some time to my full satisfaction. Well built, clear and bright image, good performance in all relevant optical disciplines (the 11x exhibits a tiny bit of CA off-axis, while the 9x has virtually none), pleasant panning experience, etc etc. Both models are relatively heavy, so that is something to keep in mind if weight is an issue. On the other hand, they appear very sturdy.
I have not done a review (as I did some time ago with the Maven B.6 10x50 (New Maven B.6 10x50: A brief comparative review) and the B1.2 8x42 (Maven B1.2 8×42 – Binoculars Today , scroll down), but you will find reviews by other forums members of the 9x45 (see, e.g. Maven B2 9x45's vs a few others (adhoc review)) or third parties (see, e.g., Maven B2 9x45 - my thoughts). For me, the 9x feels more like an 8x than a 10x.
For the 11x45, there are not so many reviews around, so I may do one sometime, esp. to answer the question whether a magnification between 10x and 12x makes as much sense as the 9x seems to make between 8x and 10x. The higher up you go in numbers, the less a step of one magnification up or down can be felt in practice. Still, perhaps I will understand why Maven make an 11x.
Specifications of the two B.2 models can be found here:
By the way, I have ordered four times from Maven and had each time an impeccable customer experience; binoculars were dispatched within 2 business days and shipped to my location in Switzerland within less than a week form ordering.
fwiw Canip
If you look at the binocular market today and just ignore for a moment some “aberrations” like 6.5x, 8.5x and 10.5x magnifications which overall are a tiny fraction of the market, we seem to have settled with binoculars magnifying 8x, 10x or 12x. Why is that?
Is it pure coincidence, comparable to the oddity that many countries, such as Switzerland, have general speed limits outside city centers of 80 km/h (main roads), 100 (minor motorways) and 120 (motorways), whereas other countries such a France have limits at 90, 110 and 130?
Would 9x magnification be a good compromise between the easy handling of an 8x and the further reach of a 10x? Or what about 11x, the amalgamation of advantages of a 10x bino and a 12x bino??
Only a few companies make/sell 9x binoculars today, most prominently Pentax (several different models), Celestron (1 model), Bresser (1 model) and Maven (1 model).
With 11x, some astro binoculars feature that magnification (Helios, APM, TS Optics, etc.), only Maven seems to be selling a 11x bino for the birding and hunting markets (in fact, Maven with their “B.2” line seems to be the only one selling both 9x AND 11x binos).
In terms of optical/mechanical quality and pricing, I would place the Maven B.2 models in the upper part of the market, somewhere in the neighborhood of models such as Conquest HDX. They have gotten positive user reviews on forums like CloudyNights. Assembled in the USA (probably in Lander, Wyoming?) from parts made in Japan (Kamakura?), the B.2 line (9x45, 11x45) figures somewhere Maven’s B1.2 (8x42, 10x42) and B.6 (10x50, 12x50) lines on the one hand and the B.5 line (10x56, 12x56, 15x56, 18x56) on the other hand.
I have been using both the 9x45 and 11x45 for some time to my full satisfaction. Well built, clear and bright image, good performance in all relevant optical disciplines (the 11x exhibits a tiny bit of CA off-axis, while the 9x has virtually none), pleasant panning experience, etc etc. Both models are relatively heavy, so that is something to keep in mind if weight is an issue. On the other hand, they appear very sturdy.
I have not done a review (as I did some time ago with the Maven B.6 10x50 (New Maven B.6 10x50: A brief comparative review) and the B1.2 8x42 (Maven B1.2 8×42 – Binoculars Today , scroll down), but you will find reviews by other forums members of the 9x45 (see, e.g. Maven B2 9x45's vs a few others (adhoc review)) or third parties (see, e.g., Maven B2 9x45 - my thoughts). For me, the 9x feels more like an 8x than a 10x.
For the 11x45, there are not so many reviews around, so I may do one sometime, esp. to answer the question whether a magnification between 10x and 12x makes as much sense as the 9x seems to make between 8x and 10x. The higher up you go in numbers, the less a step of one magnification up or down can be felt in practice. Still, perhaps I will understand why Maven make an 11x.
Specifications of the two B.2 models can be found here:
By the way, I have ordered four times from Maven and had each time an impeccable customer experience; binoculars were dispatched within 2 business days and shipped to my location in Switzerland within less than a week form ordering.
fwiw Canip
Overall a very high quality instrument. Also eye placement seemed fairly difficult. Everything else....10 out of 10. Super nice body design and build, eyecups, excellent focuser.
