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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stet" data-source="post: 2316710" data-attributes="member: 103554">Frank,I was wondering when you would get around to posting this.  As I mentioned before, this paradigm really helped me clarify and sort out what I was looking for in a binocular.  It's nice to have the terminology to sort out and organize your experiences in such a way that you could then stand back and look at it and get a clearer idea of what your after.  David's idea of practical performance is another one I find very useful also.  I''ll have to say, that at the time that I was experiencing the dissatisfaction with the hazy donut on the edges at the hawkwatch, I was not even aware of edge sharpness, field curvature, pincushion or what have you.  I just knew it was taking away from my overall experience of the day.  I rather enjoy the spectacular views from the hawkwatch and part of the enjoyment is enjoying those views through a nice pair of binoculars while scanning for birds.  True the objective experience of those binoculars were spectacular when I got on a bird, but I want the whole enchilada.  By the way, that requirement in a binocular is only needed for me when I intend to use it on the hawkwatch.  Otherwise edges don't matter to me.  Of course I give up some field of view, which is a compromise, but I enjoy the overall experience more.  I believe I am experiencing something similiar to what looksharp is suggesting also.  I wear contacts when using binoculars and find with the eyecups fully extended I get a tunnel vision, like I'm very aware of the circular outline of the binocular view.  Yet when I turn the eyecups down as far as I can without getting blackouts and I rest the eyecups on my eyebrows and tilt the bino up slightly, I get a more expansive field of view.  Almost as if my awareness of the circular outline all but dissappears.  I prefer this viewing technique and feel it gives me a better field performance on all of the binos I've used, with the exception of my se's, because of the non adjustable eyecups. (practical performance)  I also find that practical performance could definitely have an effect on objective performance.  If I am having trouble holding a peticular binocular steady because it's not comfortable in my hands, or too light or too heavy etc. it definitely has a detriemental effect on my objective experience.  Anyway, nice thread Frank, I like it.John</blockquote>

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