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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kittykat23uk" data-source="post: 1261804" data-attributes="member: 55291">Hi everyone, Just updating you on my search, yesterday I went to the little cleyspy shop at Cley nature reserve and they had quite a few bins that I could try out including the Vortex diamondback, viper, Minox 8x42 BL/BR, Opticron Porros and the Nikon Monarchs. My impressions were that optically the nikons did not seem as clear as the Diamondbacks or the minox. I didn't get on well with the opticrons, or the Vipers (not surprisingly). So far it has come down to the diamondbacks or the Minox BLs. I think I might see if I can try out the 8X32s (I should have asked whether they had them in stock actually). The Minox are quite a bit more expensive than the diamondbacks, but the views through both were quite similar, with the diamondbacks apprearing marinally more contrasty- though not convinced this is necessarily a plus point when you are looking for a view that is true to life. Speaking to the guy in the shop he reckoned that the minox were optically better, particularly in high contrast scenes where the diamondbacks can experience some colour fringing. The light was good so couldn't really compare their low light performance.  Anyone got any experience of the two Minox models and the diamondbacks? Next stop Birdfair!! All the bestJo</blockquote>