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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ksbird/foxranch" data-source="post: 1314687" data-attributes="member: 37413">I have all of the Russian binoculars mentioned by Holger Merlitz and many others. The Tento, Berkut and Ukrainian Yukon models are also excellent, but the Baigish 8x30 and 10x40 and unbelievably good for their low cost. I also have the 7x30 and it does use Sfgr3 radiation responsive glass that has a very strong yellow tint. The normal Baigish models with CF use a less yellow version of this glass in their complex eyepieces. The Tento, Berkut and Yukon binoculars seem to use less complex (Zeiss copy) eyepieces and standard multicoatings, so the yellow tiny is not obvious (if it is there at all). Other eastern bloc binoculars from CZJ and D&D (then becoming Vd/Meopta) don't seem to demonstrate this coloration. IOR Valdosta bins from Rumania are in the same quality range and the Polish 8.5x45 bins are quite good as well. In spite of the yellowish cast the Russian bins show I think that they are at the top of my list for quality porros at low prices, along with Yukon Futuras (the 7x50W is spectacular) and CZJ late model bins are nearly as good and nearly as low in price. Newcom marketed some of the Russian roofers that were/are rugged, waterproof and ultra-lightweight but much more expensive than their porros. I have a pair of the 7x35 Newcom roofers and they are super multi/phase/coated and weigh less than 7 ounces, but I am not much of a roofer fan and the Tento and Berkut 7x35 porros are as good (though much heavier).The Tento 20x60 is an excellent bin even though I haven't kept the pair I once had. The objective tubes are quite long and the internal reflections are kept to a minimum due to multiple baffles. The multicoatings are excellent as well and with a very high FR (about F8) the image is sharp across the field. Pentax makes an excellent 20x60 now and Yukon's 20x50 is very good too,. The older Bushnell 20x60 Custom was only heavily single coated all the way through, but it's performance is still great by today's standards. All of these bins work best on a tripod from a firm surface, and they have an advantage over 20x80 bins (or 20/25x100 bins) if you intend to move around with the bins mounted on your tripod. All of these are much more relaxing on the eyes than spotters.</blockquote>

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