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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Two Weeks with an 8X30 W Habicht (1 Viewer)

M

Maljunulo

Well-known member
I have been using this little jewel for about five hours each day, while seated on a third-floor balcony.

An occasional comparison with an 8X32 SF shows no significant difference, to my eyes.

This is not to say that the two views are identical, because they are not, but one does not show anything the other does not. The both resolve the same details of the same objects. They are both quite remarkable and astonishing. Just as an incidental, the air is a bit trembly this morning.

I did not expect to see and follow dragon flies in flight at 75 yards, and be able to see that they have four wings. The distance at which I can ID familiar birds is surprising. Of course, if I have no clue what it is, it gets written off as a “generic bird”.

The Habicht is my first choice, for my “sit still and see who shows up” style of observing, because I like the crisp image (which frequently doesn’t look like an image at all) the compactness, and the way it just snuggles down into my hands. I can hold it much steadier than I can hold the Zeiss. The Zeiss focuser is much better, as everyone knows.

One treat from this morning. I was following a dragon fly, and a generic little brown bird rose up out of the weeds, and snatched it out of the air. Must have been quite a surprise for the insect.
 
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chill6x6 said:
I'm glad you are enjoying these! I sure tried to make them work for me, probably about 10 years ago. In fact I've tried every Habicht. Really nice looking binoculars. My current "Habicht" that does work for me is a E-2 8X30.
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The Habicht 8x30 W does not have enough eye relief for those that wear eyeglasses at only about 13mm. The Nikon E2 8x30 does. That is one of its shortcomings.
 
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Maljunulo said:
I pick it up for the sheer delight of looking through it.
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You don't expect a binocular that is as small as the Habicht 8x30 W and that has such a small objective lens to be that bright and that transparent. It is shocking every time you look through one.

You expect an NL or SF to be good, so it is not really surprising when they wow you when you look through one. The Habicht simply exceeds your expectations.
 
[email protected] said:
You don't expect a binocular that is as small as the Habicht 8x30 W and that has such a small objective lens to be that bright and that transparent. It is shocking every time you look through one.

You expect an NL or SF to be good, so it is not really surprising when they wow you when you look through one. The Habicht simply exceeds your expectations.
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Same with the Leica retros.
 
Maljunulo said:
No clue.

First off, it was very quick, and secondly I am hopeless at sparrows. Male House Sparrows, I’m good at, but everything else are just generic little birds.
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it probably was a sparrow - sparrows are difficult. Sparrows and fly-catchers....very hard to discern some of the different species.
 
It was five weeks yesterday, and nothing has changed.

The same crystalline view, beautiful contrast of color and shading, hard and sharp field stop, still an absolute joy to use.

The Habicht makes it easy to see more and better.

The two best sights were the Red-tailed Hawk diving, and after the Sharp-shinned Hawk snatched a bird right out of the air. I didn’t see the snatch through the Habicht. (too quick)
 
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I’ve deleted my semi-nasty comment, since Dennis has apparently removed his snide remark about the Habicht.
 
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Addendum: Seven weeks yesterday, and still makes me say “Wow!”

As an afterthought, I think the crystalline transparency is the overall biggest “Wow!” closely followed by the contrast and shading in the image.

Daily use, for at least a few hours each day, for those seven weeks.
 
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Maljunulo said:
Addendum: Seven weeks yesterday, and still makes me say “Wow!”

Daily use, for at least a few hours each day, for those seven weeks.
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The Habicht 8x30 is my favorite of the three i own. I have the IF version and use it daily from my house, everyday time i use it i get sensational views and nice memories from my trip to Nepal where i watched raptors, mountains and buildings in Kathmandu with it. Enjoy yours in good health!
 
Final addendum: Eight weeks today, and time to end this.

I’m using the Habicht at least 95% of the time, and I’m more than satisfied with it.

On the rare occasion when I look through the Zeiss SF, the impressive thing is the field of view, which jumps right out at you.

If you can overlook its “shortcomings” and “flaws” or if they don’t affect the way you observe, I couldn’t recommend this little glass more enthusiastically. It is a charmer.

To anyone who has ever wondered if they would like, or should buy, an 8X30 Habicht, I would say to make absolutely certain you are willing to accept the things which folks gripe about, and do it! You may be absolutely delighted, and keep wanting to pick it up just to look through it.
 
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