Hello
Just a quick footnote to say thank you for all the great advice.
I tried the kowa 8x33 genesis as suggested and they were excellent in terms of feel, mechanics and sharpness/ca control. Really nice bin but when comparing them back to back with there 8.5x44 big brothers I could see a significant difference in brightness as you'd expect which put me off a bit as I tend to do a lot of birding at dawn and dusk. If I didn't only have one bin at a time though I'd definitely consider them as a second pair. At £877 new though with very few coming onto the used market I had to rule them out unfortunately.
I sold the trinovid 10x42 hd's for £500 however at that point the wife said that was all I was allowed to spend on replacements, happy wife happy life so £500 it was.
As mentioned I managed to get hold of some 2004 vintage habicht 7x42ga's for £430 which I believe as they are late from that year definitely have swarobright, they certainly seem very bright! They were reconditioned in Absam 3 weeks ago with new eye cups, eye lenses and alignment. There are some very slight marks on the objectives but you can only notice them if you use the bins the wrong way round, I've cleaned them up as usual, lens brush followed by breath and lens cloth.
Ive been out birding with them for the first time this afternoon and am very content with them.
Within the field of view the optics are pretty much perfect, bright, clear as a bell, 3d at close range, no blackouts or flair - just excellent. I havent got much of an issue with the lack or field of view as the view within it is so good and the large exit pupil means the edges as such don't really show, I personally don't find it tunnel like at all.
The controls all have a nice mechanical weight to them, not quick by any means, I'd say fluid but firm, all with about the same mechanic resistance whether its the focus wheel, diopter or bridge which is nice. You can't move them by accident.
Maybe being a 2004 model the focus has eased up, maybe it was tightened up again during the reconditioning, either way it's not unpleasantly stiff to me.
Overall I think as a poster mentioned binoculars are always a compromise but having looked through a fair few bins over the last few weeks the habichts will be the compromise for me for a good many years.
Thanks again to all, really good advice for and an excellent companion to the ctc 30x75. Birding kit complete!
Will