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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fireform" data-source="post: 1428753" data-attributes="member: 65457">I've often wondered the same thing caesar.  An ED version of the SE with twist up eyecups would be amazing.  FWIW, fluorite is far too soft and easily scratched to be a practical objective material in a birding binocular.I have to say, I think there may be a certain amount of kool-aid being drunk by the chinese ED binocular fandom (or "irrational exuberance" in another memorable phrase).  They ARE very good binoculars, especially for the money.  I had an evening with the Zens, and that pair was very sharp and well corrected, on a par with the Leupold golden ring HDs (and that's saying something).  They aren't as bright as the dielectric coated bins I've looked through, or my a-k prism Zeisses.  They are way heavier than the 8x32 SEs and if they have a brightness advantage in that comparison I couldn't see it.  Although the accessories are almost junk, the bins themselves feel very good in the hand.  I am also among the luddite faction that harbors serious unease about supporting chinese industry with my dollars when other good options are available.  Will they support your bins in 5 or 10 years?  What are the labor standards in these plants?  Is their manufacture government-subsidized to undercut non-chinese brands in the market?  Questions like these don't necessarily affect my view of a bird, but they weigh on my mind later.  The counter-argument that capitalism is transforming chinese society and that we support that transformation by buying quality chinese goods is perfectly valid.  Everyone has their own comfort zone.Different strokes for different folks.  I've decided I'd rather have $1400 in one superb glass that I use all the time than to have it spread over 4, 5 or 6 glasses, only one of which I will use at a time and none of which will give me an alpha view.  "Saving money" on a slew of midrange glass is an experiment I've given up on.</blockquote>

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