New low light weatherproof binoculars (1 Viewer)

[Rufus1401]

I’m in the market for a new pair of low light weather proof binoculars, either 7x50 or 8x56. I have a very nice pair of 1980s CZJ Dekarems 10x50 which I use in the summer in nice weather, but not being nitrogen purged etc, nice pair of winter binos required. So far I am looking at
Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX - I know they are IF but I can’t envisage myself using them for close range stuff. Weight not bothered.
Opticron marine Pro Series II 7x50 - from what I have read, Opticron produce some decent stuff, and yes, these do come with a 30year warranty, but I can’t find any reviews at all of these beasties.
Hawke Endurance 8x56 - unlimited warranty and I haven’t read anything bad about Hawke.
GPO Passion 8x56 - seems to be decent enough.
Nikon 8x56 Monarch 5
I could possibly reach as far as Zeiss Conquest 8x56, or Swarovski 7x42 Habicht GA, but for the money that Swarovski want I think they are skinflinting on the accessories (no objective lens covers).
Any views or advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

 

[Paultricounty]

Imo it’s important not only to consider the objective size and magnification (exit pupal) but also the quality of the glass and coatings. I have/had quite a few inexpensive and mid priced 7x50’s that under low light we’re not better than a good 10x42.

That being said I can’t see nothing bad about the Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX, but I think you can do better and more versatile all around choice.
I feel the 8x56 Conquest or the Habichts in 7x42 , which are my dedicated low light bins with my Vortex 8x42 UHD (with AK prisms). You will be amazed how bright those three are in low light conditions. They also are very versatile all around binoculars, not so much the Conquests, which are bricks.

Good luck.
Paul

 

[Paultricounty]

I’d like to ad don’t sweat the accessories. Of course at these prices we would hope they would supply us with what is needed, but I guess it’s all about cost cutting. It’s cheap enough to get some aftermarket covers and straps if needed, don’t let that affect your purchase

Paul

 

[PatR]

I’m in the market for a new pair of low light weather proof binoculars, either 7x50 or 8x56. I have a very nice pair of 1980s CZJ Dekarems 10x50 which I use in the summer in nice weather, but not being nitrogen purged etc, nice pair of winter binos required. So far I am looking at
Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX - I know they are IF but I can’t envisage myself using them for close range stuff. Weight not bothered.
Opticron marine Pro Series II 7x50 - from what I have read, Opticron produce some decent stuff, and yes, these do come with a 30year warranty, but I can’t find any reviews at all of these beasties.
Hawke Endurance 8x56 - unlimited warranty and I haven’t read anything bad about Hawke.
GPO Passion 8x56 - seems to be decent enough.
Nikon 8x56 Monarch 5
I could possibly reach as far as Zeiss Conquest 8x56, or Swarovski 7x42 Habicht GA, but for the money that Swarovski want I think they are skinflinting on the accessories (no objective lens covers).
Any views or advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

If you are after a pair of 8x56 have a look at the Meopta offers at:

South West Optics

Welcome to South West Optics, your ultimate destination for nature enthusiasts. Home to the widest selection of Binoculars and Spotting Scopes in the UK. Located in Paignton, Devon, South West Optics was established in 1996 by Steve Rogers, an avid bird watcher and optical specialist.

swoptics.co.uk

They have all grades from the entry level HD Plus to the Meostar B1 Plus and at what looks like some very good discounts. I am tempted by the B1 Plus as I have the Geco/GPO Passion 8x56 and whilst excellent, they are large and heavy because of the AK prisms.

I have heard good things about the Meopta's and all the reviews point to a brand, like GPO, which punches well above its weight.

If you are interested in the GPO's then James Bix at Stealth Birding is an excellent man to do business with.

As for the accessories on the Swarovski's I too feel that objective covers should be included on the Habichts but the annoyance at their scrooge like policy gets long forgotten when you look through them. I bought a pair of Opticron covers for both my Habichts and they are perfect and cheap.

 

[[email protected]]

I think the Swarovski SLC 8x56 is about the best 8x56, and it is hard to beat for low light with 93% transmission. The Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX is about the best 7x50 around, if you don't mind IF but it is pretty much useless for birding. The Zeiss Conquest HD 8x56 is nice, but it has a smaller FOV than the SLC 8x56, and it doesn't have as sharp of edges. The GPO Passion's never impressed me that much, and I have tried several of them.

The Habicht 7x42 is exceptional in low light, but the tight focuser makes it almost unusable for birding and the FOV is very narrow and tunnel like, which isn't good for fast moving bids. The Meopta Meostar HD B1 8x56 is a high quality binocular, but again has a much smaller FOV than the SLC 8x56. I found Meopta's to have poor resale also after trying to sell quite a few.

My choice for the best low light all around binocular is the SLC 8x56 first if money is no object, and the Zeiss Conquest HD 8x56 2nd if your budget is limited.

 

[William Lewis]

I’m in the market for a new pair of low light weather proof binoculars, either 7x50 or 8x56. I have a very nice pair of 1980s CZJ Dekarems 10x50 which I use in the summer in nice weather, but not being nitrogen purged etc, nice pair of winter binos required. So far I am looking at
Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX - I know they are IF but I can’t envisage myself using them for close range stuff. Weight not bothered.
Opticron marine Pro Series II 7x50 - from what I have read, Opticron produce some decent stuff, and yes, these do come with a 30year warranty, but I can’t find any reviews at all of these beasties.
Hawke Endurance 8x56 - unlimited warranty and I haven’t read anything bad about Hawke.
GPO Passion 8x56 - seems to be decent enough.
Nikon 8x56 Monarch 5
I could possibly reach as far as Zeiss Conquest 8x56, or Swarovski 7x42 Habicht GA, but for the money that Swarovski want I think they are skinflinting on the accessories (no objective lens covers).
Any views or advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

Swarovski will send you a set of objective covers for the habicht ga, usually for free.

Have you had a look at the hawke marine 7x50's they are thoroughly decent, not too massive and do have a lifetime no quibble warranty...

 

[Rufus1401]

Swarovski will send you a set of objective covers for the habicht ga, usually for free.

Have you had a look at the hawke marine 7x50's they are thoroughly decent, not too massive and do have a lifetime no quibble warranty...

Yes, I did see the Hawke Marine 7x50s, decent price and as you say they have a lifetime no quibble warranty. Does your “..they are thoroughly decent…” come from personal experience ?

 

[William Lewis]

Yes. I've had a go with them.

Basically your traditional 7x50 porro but in a modern sp body!

Not a wide fov and a noticeably narrow afov, nice and comfy eye box though without being too heavy. Probably late 80's/early 90's % transmission, doesn't have a noticeably small sweet spot but isn't going to be as well corrected or as bright as the Fuji.

Worth checking how much your pupil dilates to as a 7x42 may be just as bright as a 7x50 or 8x56.

 

[Patudo]

If you're birding (which seems like a silly question to ask, given the name of this website/forum, but so many folks in this Binoculars subsection don't seem to have any interest in birding, and some in fact actively despise birders), 7x50 and 8x56 are very specialist binoculars. Without meaning to teach you to suck eggs - it may be worth stepping back, before you get too deep into the minutiae of brands/models, and figuring out whether those formats are really needed for what you intend to do. Just like the 10x50 (like your Dekarem) has largely been replaced for birding by 10x42s with better coatings, 7x50 is now very rarely used indeed. One used to see the odd pair of 8x56 Dialyt in the field, but that's very very seldom now.

Now if you are stalking, shooting, lamping, boating etc. the requirements may be different - but I dare say you'll get better advice at forums that focus on those activities. The Fujinon would certainly be a good choice for boating.

 

[Scott98]

If you're considering 7x42 I will make my broken record-like endorsement of the Nikon EDG 7x42's. Wonderful optics and focuser and rock-solid in all weather - same price as Habicht.

However, for low-light use they were smoked by my 10x56 Swaro SLC's. WAY brighter in the 56's at dusk. I don't mind the weight of the 56mm because I have several other lighter binos for when I have to carry them. I'd probably look to one of the other 8x56's on your list....maybe the one with the lightest weight.

 

[wllmspd]

APM now sell sealed individual focus 8x56 binoculars. The 10x50 model is well regarded as close to the Fuji 10x50 but much cheaper.

Peter

 

[Rufus1401]

Thanks for all the great feedback - given me plenty to think about 😊

 

[[email protected]]

APM now sell sealed individual focus 8x56 binoculars. The 10x50 model is well regarded as close to the Fuji 10x50 but much cheaper.

Peter

I tried the MIC APM and I didn't think they compared well to the MIJ Fujinon either optically or quality wise. You get what you pay for.

 

[[email protected]]

If you're considering 7x42 I will make my broken record-like endorsement of the Nikon EDG 7x42's. Wonderful optics and focuser and rock-solid in all weather - same price as Habicht.

However, for low-light use they were smoked by my 10x56 Swaro SLC's. WAY brighter in the 56's at dusk. I don't mind the weight of the 56mm because I have several other lighter binos for when I have to carry them. I'd probably look to one of the other 8x56's on your list....maybe the one with the lightest weight.

You can beat a 8x56 or 10x56 for low light, especially one with high transmission like the SLC 8x56 which has 93% transmission. They will even outperform the Habicht 7x42, despite your age. The 56mm aperture takes in 2x the light that the 42mm does.

 

[Maljunulo]

Think seriously about either stretching your budget, or saving more, or buying used, and get the Fujinon FMT-SX.

 

[tenex]

with my Vortex 8x42 UHD

Does Vortex focus CW or CCW to infinity? (My caution list of CCW includes GPO, Maven, Tract; feel free to add.)

 

[[email protected]]

Think seriously about either stretching your budget, or saving more, or buying used, and get the Fujinon FMT-SX.

The Fujinon FMT-SX are the best 7x50's and 10x50's if you can use IF outside of the Nikon WX. The best 10x50's with CF are the Swarovski EL 10x50. The two best 8x56's are the SLC and the FL, with the edge going to the SLC for the sharper edges and less distortion.

 

[Bentley03]

Does Vortex focus CW or CCW to infinity? (My caution list of CCW includes GPO, Maven, Tract; feel free to add.)

Almost three full turns CCW to infinity.

You can add Vortex to your list.

 

[Binocollector]

some in fact actively despise birders),

WHO in this forum ever said anything like that?
Why did I only click "show ignored content"? I really should have known better by now.

 

[Rufus1401]

Think seriously about either stretching your budget, or saving more, or buying used, and get the Fujinon FMT-SX.

Currently, anything up to £700 is fair game. The Fuji’s come in at £690. The Zwarovski Habichts are £1040 and the Zeiss Conquests £1299 - doable if I changed my diet to bread and water for two months and gave up the pub. Anything for than that will require me selling a kidney or something.