Dennis,
Thank you for sharing your comments.
I would agree with Vespo that the better apparent low light performance is most likely the result of the choice of emphasis in colors of the transmission curve. The Therons definitely favor the warmer side of the spectrum as opposed to the colder blue/green bias of the Swarovski SVs.
Since you did purchase the Therons I have a few questions for you. I am assuming you took some notes on the comparison as you mentioned already having returned them. How long ago was it that you had them in your possession? The pics look like summer time or early fall based on the background in Colorado.
You focused in on low light performance in much the same way that you did with the Maven. Do you do a great deal of low light birding? Owls perhaps? Or do you use your Swaros for hunting where low light performance is more critical.
You didn't mention any other optical characteristics besides low light performance. Did you compare the flat field performance? Size of sweet spot and or the transition from the center of the field to the edge? Rolling ball? Was the image more similar than not between the two models?
How about apparent sharpness? Apparent contrast? CA control?
Glare/stray light control?
Enough about optical traits, how about ergonomics/mechanics? If I remember correctly your particular Swaro SV 8x32 has a smooth focuser. How did you find the focusing speed and tension on the Theron by itself and then in comparison to the Swaro?
I certainly can understand differences in opinion on the feel of the rubber armor. That, in particular, can be highly individualized. I find I prefer a smoother finish to that of a textured one in much the same way that I prefer a slightly slower focuser with more tension in comparison to a faster one with less tension though I know others do not.
I did have the opportunity to briefly compare the SV 8x32 to the Theron back in late September on a bird walk. I also had the opportunity to compare the Theron to the Swaro SLC 8x42 a couple of days ago. The latter was the latest version as it was just purchased this past weekend at the Lost Creek Shoe shop.
Lots of good questions for you to answer Dennis. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
"Since you did purchase the Therons I have a few questions for you. I am assuming you took some notes on the comparison as you mentioned already having returned them. How long ago was it that you had them in your possession? The pics look like summer time or early fall based on the background in Colorado."
I believe I purchased them right after your review which was in about August of 2015.
"You focused in on low light performance in much the same way that you did with the Maven. Do you do a great deal of low light birding? Owls perhaps? Or do you use your Swaros for hunting where low light performance is more critical."
Probably not ton's of low light birding but I do look at low light performance when I compare binoculars because I feel it is a good indicator of coating quality and transmission. I probably personally don't like the warm color bias of the Theron's because to me it appears darker even in daylight especially when you look into shadows. When I would look under our Blue Spruce trees for example the Theron was darker than the Swarovski's even in day light. I didn't like that.
"You didn't mention any other optical characteristics besides low light performance. Did you compare the flat field performance? Size of sweet spot and or the transition from the center of the field to the edge? Rolling ball? Was the image more similar than not between the two models?"
Yes, at first I liked the flat field performance because it was similar to my Swarovski's and they did have similar edge sharpness but the sweet spot wasn't quite as big as my SV's and the transition from the cof to the edge was not as smooth. It seemed more abrupt. I saw no RB to speak of and I don't see any in my SV's either. The image in the Theron's was similar but not as good. It was kind of like they tried to copy the SV's but they didn't quite get it right. The view through the Theron's seemed strained while the SV's were more relaxed.
"How about apparent sharpness? Apparent contrast? CA control?'
I felt the SV's were slightly sharper and had a little better contrast. CA control was abut the same with none on axis and some on the edges like most binoculars with ED glass.
"Glare/stray light control?"
I know the SV's aren't known for being good at this but I did compare it and I didn't think the Theron's had any significant advantage in this area. Both showed some glare when getting close to the sun or at sundown.
"Enough about optical traits, how about ergonomics/mechanics? If I remember correctly your particular Swaro SV 8x32 has a smooth focuser. How did you find the focusing speed and tension on the Theron by itself and then in comparison to the Swaro?"
I didn't care for the ergonomics because I like an open bridge design of the SV. The Theron felt bulky and blocky to me. It didn't fit my hands like the SV. I like to wrap my fingers around the open bridge design which is my preference. I didn't care for the armour on the Theron either. It does not have the quality feel that the SV has. It feels like a cheap thin rubber stretched over the binocular and the feel of it is sticky almost. The focusing tension was a little to hard in my opinion. I prefer a little less tension. Overall the Theron struck me as this bigger more cumbersome binocular that didn't perform, as well as, the lighter, slimmer and more comfortable SV. Focus speed was similar on the two.
"I certainly can understand differences in opinion on the feel of the rubber armor. That, in particular, can be highly individualized. I find I prefer a smoother finish to that of a textured one in much the same way that I prefer a slightly slower focuser with more tension in comparison to a faster one with less tension though I know others do not."
The smoother finish of the Theron felt cheap to me as if the rubber was too thin. Almost like a cheap bicycle inner tube. The SV's armour is thicker and has a quality feel to it. Kind of like the interior of a Kia Rio compared to a Mercedes.
"I did have the opportunity to briefly compare the SV 8x32 to the Theron back in late September on a bird walk. I also had the opportunity to compare the Theron to the Swaro SLC 8x42 a couple of days ago. The latter was the latest version as it was just purchased this past weekend at the Lost Creek Shoe shop."
I prefer the SV over the SLC design because I like sharp edges. The SV's have the sharpest edges of any binocular on the market I believe.
The Theron's do a pretty good job of imitating the Swarovision's for their price point but they don't quite make it. It is difficult to produce a binocular even in China for $400.00 that equals a $2000.00 binocular. Their are quite a few areas where the Theron's are lacking. If I were shopping in this price range I would go to the Nikon SE's and EII's porro's. I think they are the only binoculars that come close to matching the top alpha's for under $600.00 and the newer alpha's have even left these great porro's behind in my opinion.
