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Message: <blockquote data-quote="chill6x6" data-source="post: 3437778" data-attributes="member: 130888">A couple of additions....I had always PLANNED on buying the Swarovski Habicht 7X42....  Basically it was the ONLY Habicht porro that had even the SLIGHTEST chance to work with me and glasses.  I've had the 8X30s for a while...they are just useless for use with eyeglasses.  The 7X42 has CLOSE to enough listed eye relief to WORK, so I thought I'd at least give them a try.  So at the end of the day, I'll keep either the 8X30s for back door non-eyeglass use or the 7X42s for use with or without glasses.The Habicht 7X42 arrived.  If you are a binocular aficionado, it's hard to NOT like these binoculars.  If a binocular could be sexy, this one ranks up there.  A BEAUTIFUL binocular!  It weighs in at 23 ounces and handles the way a binocular should.  Initial viewing with eyecups rolled down and eyeglasses on yields pretty good results.  HUGE exit pupil certainly helps.    Around the same time I ordered the Habicht I came across a Meopta Meostar B1 7X50 for a GREAT deal NIB.  I hee-hawed around, sold some motorcycle stuff, and just ordered it too.  It arrived in perfect/new condition.  A ROBUST binocular for sure!  Weighs in at 36 ounces.  No way would I have guessed it weighed THAT much.So the last few weeks I've birded with two binoculars.  ALWAYS the FL 7X42 and then either the B1 7X50 or the Habicht 7X42.  So first up was the Swarovski.  Optically, nothing can be said about the Habicht 7X42 that hasn't all ready been said.  BRILLIANT optically.  MARGINAL eye-relief for eyeglass wearers.  Less than spectacular FOV.  Swarovski says 342ft, I measured 340ft.  Close enough for government work!  On this day, everything came together for this binocular.  I found that the VAST majority of the time, the eye relief was sufficient.  The image is fantastic.  Seriously.  Nothing added, nothing subtracted.  I honestly wonder if this isn't the brightest binocular I have?  Today was full of surprises.  I didn't expect to see a spotted sandpiper.  I also didn't expect to see a yellow-billed Cuckoo.  Very recognizable sound but I don't always actually get to see them.  The biggest surprise was when I saw something in a mimosa, a Prothonotary Warbler!  I thought they had all left!  So this trip I found the Habicht 7X42 a VERY serviceable binocular.  Not optimum, but a fun birding binocular.I started out with the Habicht on my next birding trip.  This trip was in a different area...more closed in, more trees, more undergrowth.  Saying this, it was not the best environment for  using a binocular with low in class FOV AND marginal eye relief.  Plainly put, it didn't work.  I couldn't find anything with it.  I rarely seemed to ever get the complete FOV which you NEED on this binocular.  I returned to the truck and swapped the Habicht for the Meopta B1 7x50.  MUCH better!  This is a full-sized binocular.  36 ounces makes the Meostar B1 7X50 the heaviest binocular I own.  Meopta says the FOV is 378ft...I measured 381 ft.  I have to say I was surprised with this instrument.  For one thing, it reeks of quality.  Optically, it is WAY better than I expected.  WAY better.  The focus adjustment is a little slow for me, especially when used back to back with the FL...but the adjustment is as good as it gets...one smooth focus adjustment with just the right amount of tension.  Once I got used to the adjustment, no more issues.  This binocular was MADE for folks that wear eyeglasses.  HUGE exit pupil is SO easy to find AND an abundance of eye relief.  I had to actually crank out the eye cups.  For me, this binocular was an absolute pleasure to use.  I liked everything about it.  Today's birding surprise was getting to see a downy, hairy, a flicker, and a PILE of red headed woodpeckers!  I can't imagine someone picking up the B1 and not being pleased.  So for about a month I've used nothing but 7X binoculars.  At no point did I ever find 7X insufficient magnification.  I found the magnification a joy to use.  But of course there are times/instances/situations where more magnification is preferable, maybe even necessary.  I'll give three of those four binoculars a pass unconditionally.  I feel the 7X42 Habicht is conditionally useable for me but in no way could it ever be my primary birding binocular.</blockquote>

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