-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Product Review: Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED. (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dipperdapper
- Start date
Ah, thanks. I am not very knowledgeable in this matter, but what I read is that an eye relief of 15 mm could be bothersome for people wearing glasses (and have to use them).
Of course, I could always order them and if I can't use them, send them back.
Last edited:
Swig Waltersson
Member
I wear glasses with my Oberwerk 8x32s, and find the eye relief more than enough. I use elastic hair bands (poor man's O-rings) to keep the eyecups a little above the lowest position. Works just fine for me.
I bought this binocular about three months ago for birding and like it very much. It seems quite a bit sharper and brighter than the Opticron SR.GA 8x32 that I had to retire because of its limited eye relief (the old Opticron is in bad need of a service, so the comparison might not be fair). The only fly in the ointment with the Oberwerk is the focuser. It is perfectly smooth, as you might expect from an old-school greased mechanism. But as others have also noted, it is stiff and there is considerable slack in my sample. I am mulling send it back to the European distributor with a request to tighten things up. Don't know what my chances are. If only the Oberwerk had the quite perfect SR.GA focuser.
I bought this binocular about three months ago for birding and like it very much. It seems quite a bit sharper and brighter than the Opticron SR.GA 8x32 that I had to retire because of its limited eye relief (the old Opticron is in bad need of a service, so the comparison might not be fair). The only fly in the ointment with the Oberwerk is the focuser. It is perfectly smooth, as you might expect from an old-school greased mechanism. But as others have also noted, it is stiff and there is considerable slack in my sample. I am mulling send it back to the European distributor with a request to tighten things up. Don't know what my chances are. If only the Oberwerk had the quite perfect SR.GA focuser.
Swig Waltersson
Member
p.s. I tried the Genesis 8x33 during my recent bino search and I could not see the whole field of view while wearing glasses.
Swig Waltersson
Member
Following up on post #143 for anyone interested, I recently returned my 8x32 SE to Oberwerk's EU distributor in Italy after the diopter ring became detached. It was made of quite lightweight plastic and seemed to have been just glued to the metal ring underneath it. It didn't seem like a very durable construction, so I would advise anyone who owns the binoculars to move it gently and sparingly.
I also complained about the significant slack/play in the focus mechanism.
The distributor has now sent me a new pair that has a quite perfect focuser (and a solid-feeling diopter). I can't detect any slack at all, so can go back to enjoying the excellent view.
If I was buying again, I'd point out in advance that for the intended use (birding) a tight focus wheel is a must. Could prompt the seller to do proper quality control and cut out the hassle of returning a sub-standard product.
I also complained about the significant slack/play in the focus mechanism.
The distributor has now sent me a new pair that has a quite perfect focuser (and a solid-feeling diopter). I can't detect any slack at all, so can go back to enjoying the excellent view.
If I was buying again, I'd point out in advance that for the intended use (birding) a tight focus wheel is a must. Could prompt the seller to do proper quality control and cut out the hassle of returning a sub-standard product.
pat mitchel
Well-known member
Oberwerk recently changed the limited warranty to original owner to 5 yrs (from 2 yrs)
Well, in the end, I decided to go to a store to try some of the binoculars there. Purchased the Kowa BDII 8x42. To my untrained eyes, they are perfect. Sharp and a very nice, smooth focus. For something like binoculars, I prefer to go to a store. Strange, perhaps, when I look at the stuff I order online.
But thanks for your post here regarding the eye relief. That was one of my concerns, and you took the time to post a message.
Swig Waltersson
Member
Just to complete the circle for anyone interested: I returned my SE 8x32 to Oberwerk's European distributor because of the faulty diopter ring and slack focus action, and they sent me a new pair without any fuss, so good service there.
The focuser on this sample is as stiff as widely reported, but it has zero slack, which is a big improvement. So, if anyone out there gets an Obie with a dodgy focuser, they should not consider it an acceptable downside of a cheap MIC product, because very good ones do exist.
On the other side, however, this one seems a bit more susceptible to (crescent) glare than the first one I had, though of course I cannot do a side-by-side comparison. That's about the last feature where I expected to experience the sample variation much discussed with all kinds of optics on this forum.
The 8x32 SE is still a great product, especially if like porros, wear glasses and have other plans for your money.
The focuser on this sample is as stiff as widely reported, but it has zero slack, which is a big improvement. So, if anyone out there gets an Obie with a dodgy focuser, they should not consider it an acceptable downside of a cheap MIC product, because very good ones do exist.
On the other side, however, this one seems a bit more susceptible to (crescent) glare than the first one I had, though of course I cannot do a side-by-side comparison. That's about the last feature where I expected to experience the sample variation much discussed with all kinds of optics on this forum.
The 8x32 SE is still a great product, especially if like porros, wear glasses and have other plans for your money.