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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mfunnell" data-source="post: 3369495" data-attributes="member: 134332">No, I just don't like them all that much, even though in many ways they really are good bins.  They're just not for me. But given the cost of international shipping all the way to and from Oz, there's no returning: only passing them free to a good home or finding a use for them.  The use I'm putting the 8x32 Diamondbacks to is replacing 8x28 Diamondbacks in the bag I take with camera and binoculars I can live without if I lose them (ie. when drinking or going to dodgy areas or both).It's a bit more than that.  I bought a Victory 8x32 FL, even though the cost seemed well over the odds, because I couldn't find anything remotely likely to do what I wanted any other way.  All the physically small non-alpha 8x32s I could find had views which disappointed.  All the non-alpha 8x32s I could find with good views were too large - even when climbing to the $1,000(+/- +++) range.  So I bit the bullet and decided between the Leica HD+ and the Zeiss FL (the only two small-enough alphas), with the Zeiss winning in a number of areas (for me): the $hundreds in lower price (here in Oz) being a huge chunk of that.In compact(ish) bins I now have:* Diamondback 8x28 (old) as a glove-box bin and will see if it survives the Australian summer (it has, so far, but will it make the next?).* Diamondback 8x28 (old) I'm giving away, but which hasn't gone yet.* Diamondback 8x28 (new) I'll put in a laptop bag I've grabbed and gone with, forgetting to put binoculars inside.  Even if I forget, I won't now.* Diamondback 8x32 (new).  Goes in my "boozy" camera bag along with a Canon G1XmkI.  I'll live if I lose it (though of course I don't want to).* Meade Rainforest 8x32.  I don't and won't use it, since it's a glare-monster.  I probably won't even afflict it on someone else, even for free.* Sightron SII "Blue Sky" 8x32.  Really nice bins.  A friend has them with her on a trip.  I'll probably use these for many a "loaner" application.  Or let Marie have them if she's keen.* Zeiss Victory 8x32 T* FL LotuTec.  New (late 2015 production, as near as I can tell; full Oz warranty), and now used for 90% of my compact bin requirements and 80% of my total requirements.  Which, for their swingeing cost, they d*mned well ought to be useful for.  A wonderful optical instrument, and I'll no doubt appreciate their quality long after I've forgotten their price (at the price, that'll be a few decades).  Clive, let me know how that goes.  As noted above, I kind of gave up.   ...Mike</blockquote>

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