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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kabsetz" data-source="post: 1260121" data-attributes="member: 10167">Henry,I may be completely off the mark here, but concerning the objective element that looks like it is outside of an o-ring, could it be that that the o-ring is a method for having simple and "infinitely" adjustable spacing between that element and the doublet after it? It is conceivable that the design requires very precise spacing that could not be obtained by a reasonable set of machined spacers.Please do set me right if you think this makes no sense.As for other general impressions, I quite like what I see and read here. I have been rather fond of the original EL, especially in the 8.5x version, and the few gripes I have had with it have nearly all been addressed. Aside the obvious - the fluoride glass elements and promise of reduced CA - the increase in focus past infinity and diopter correction range will be welcome, as will be flatter field and better sharpness throughout the field. Also, the new thumb recesses look a lot like those on the 32mm EL's, which I find much more comfortable than the original design. Likewise, rubber armoring inside the barrels will add comfort in cold weather. The only shortcomings I see in the specs and images (without having ever seen or handled the binocular) are the omission of a tripod adapter thread for us who almost always use finnsticks, and, of course, the lack of image stabilization. Kimmo</blockquote>