Used habicht advices (1 Viewer)

[Ce2613]

Hi there, I’m new to the forum.
Lately I’ve become interested in a nice pair of bins to have with me for some casual bird watching, plane spotting and general panoramic views.
Since I believe that the more you spend the less you spend I’ve put my eyes on the habicht model for its excellent performance, waterproof capabilities and repairability.
So the question, I’ve found a used 10x40 w ga from 2010 and since I’m far from being an expert what should I look for when trying it?
Probably the nitrogen has all gone since manufacturing date so what are the main drawbacks of this? What are the costs of purging it again?
Sure I’ll look for scratches on the glasses, the focus capabilities and the hinge stability. Anything else?
Lastly, a new pair sells for 1000€ here, would 600€ be a good deal?
Thank you advance for your time.
Regards
Denis

 

[Mono]

Unless you are absolutely determined to get some Habichts there are many better options for €600.

 

[Thotmosis]

Unless you are absolutely determined to get some Habichts there are many better options for €600.

Please specify, thank you.

In my opinion: if you can find a good Habicht 10x40 preferably with armor and supplied with the latest coatings for 600,- euro you have found a very good binocular but it’s not everybody‘s cup of tea so better try first and compare with the other bino’s Mono will hopefully suggest very soon

Would be very nice if the Habicht still has guarantee, they used to give 30 years, so check it.

 

[yarrellii]

Please specify, thank you.

600 € can buy a lot of glass these days, even more so in the used market. A 30 second look at the Birdforum "For sale" subforum shows that at the moment there is a pair of Zeiss FL 10x42 for 550 GBP (635 €). And there's also a Conquest HD 8x42 for 475 GBP (548 €). If I was looking for an allround birding bino I would personally consider both before the Habicht. As a matter of fact, one of the key areas where the Habicht shines (see what I did here) is light transmission, at a whooping 96 % for latest models. But then, I don't know if a 2010 model will reach that. On the other hand, the FL series is no slouch, with AK prisms and very nice coatings that grant them a measured transmission of 94 - 95 % (Allbinos - Gijs van Ginkel), plus an impressive resolution and sharpness.

Since the OP mentions "casual birdwatching" and other activities, then the Habicht may find its place, but it's a very particular device. Both Zeiss seem more "mainstream", in the sense that they might fit the purposes of a wider audience. I personally love the view through the Habicht (I've had 8x30 -my favourite- and 7x42, not the 10x40), but as birding binoculars go, in my opinion "there's air above" (room for improvement, as Germans say.

@Ce2613 If you have the chance to try it, I'd definitely look into the "usability" bit, which is the are where the Habicht differs greatly from other contemporary competitors. Check how the focus wheel works for you; try to change focus from a near object to one further away. See how you like the eyecups and its position. Spend some time scanning and see how you like viewing comfort. And, if possible, compare it to other binoculars to see what you gain where and what you lose in other areas. Good luck!

 

[Ce2613]

Hi there again and thank you all for the quick and exhaustive replies.
I haven’t specified that I’m from Italy and based on what I’ve read online probably the warranty is only 10 years which is a disappointment to me. Nevertheless I asked the owner for any warranty card and honestly it doesn’t say anything interesting. I’ll attach a pic for you all. I also retrieved the serial number present on the box and I’ve already sent an email to Swarovski to get some news.

Maybe it’s worth spending some words on my binoculars experience.
I’ve always had something for bins since I was a small kid so now that I’m 26 I’d like to have a pair that fulfills my dreams.
Last year I’ve tried some Celestron Trailhawk 8x30 and I haven’t fallen for them. It wasn’t bad but I wasn’t never really able to see one big nice image through them (maybe a collimation issue) and I also found that the weight reduction of the 30mm lens comes with the drawback of a smaller bin which degrades ergonomics. I wasn’t able to hold it nicely and therefore steadily.
I’ve had a pause for a year with bins.
Last week I’ve made two purchases based on a well known online reviewer. A Papilio ii 6.5x21 and an Opticron Savanna 8x30.
The Papilio is nice but it has its flaws. The materials are really nice for its price point as the view through it. I really hate CA and honestly I couldn’t see any with them. No disturbing glares or flares. Focus is nice, not the best in poor light conditions. Focus knob is silky (or “buttery” if you prefer butter metaphors) smooth and not too fast (too fast means micrometer adjustments and focus on the focus knob rather than on the view to me).
The drawbacks are: somewhat poor depth of field (at close focus it’s in the millimeters range, which gets almost useless with quick ants), shaky image (not absolutely speaking but shakier than Opticron 8x) due to low mass and a narrow AFOV. The latter is the biggest upgrade I’ve noticed using the Savanna (48 vs 60 degrees).
With the Savanna I get a nice big image fully merged and a steady view thanks to the awesome form factor. Resolution and brightness are higher than with the Papilio. Unfortunately though the Savanna has too many flaws to be a keeper.
The materials used are awful, the rubber armor sticks and stinks, the eye cups make my eye’s sockets itchy. The focus wheel is hard and has some weird feeling. Black beans experienced due to long eye relief I suppose. Image at close range look kinda fake. The CA are unbearable and are the deciding factor for a return to amazon.
Based on this experiences I’m looking for a bin with a nice AFOV (60 is fine), low CA, nice ergonomics for steady views (porro is comfy, but haven’t tried a x42 roof to compare honestly). With these needs the price increases quite a lot therefore I’d like also some ruggedness or repairability.
I don’t wear spectacles so eye relief shouldn’t be a problem.
That’s why I’ve considered the used Habichts (which are kinda the only used binos I can try before buying)
I’ve considered the Zeiss victory pocket 8x25 but shakiness due to ergonomics might be a deal.
Nikon eii 8x30 are overpriced at the moment in my opinion.
Nikon se impossible to find.
Nikon m7 I feel it might have worse optics than the Zeiss.
All the other brands like vortex, vanguard, Meopta, etc get all mixed reviews.
I know it doesn’t make any sense but Canon 12x36 IS are really interesting to me. Plane spotting would be awesome as long as astronomy and panoramic views but birdwatching would probably become a pain. Unfortunately seems like CA are bad and more than anything else I’m worried something could brake quite easily and rapidly.

@yarrellii I didn’t know about the for sale section, seems like there are some good deals too. Import taxes might be a caveat though. Also bin retailers are very rare here so it’s a high chance of a “no” try it before you buy it.
I’ll try to find and try those models you’ve advised me. Thank you

 

[NDhunter]

Welcome to the forum. The Swarovski Habicht porro models are very good. There are some good recommendations
above, so try other models before you decide to buy.
This post could be moved to the Swarovski subforum, so it receives more recommendations.
Jerry

 

[KC Foggin]

I've moved your thread to the Swarovski section and you'll be notified when someone posts

 

[William Lewis]

With the habichts you need to check they've got the more recent coatings, ie swarobright in the case of the habicht. A 2010 model should have them, I wouldn't go for one without.

It's very much worth making a trip to a binocular shop with a decent range, most specialist retailers will hold a stock of second hand optics, even if it's a train journey away it will save you time and probably money in the long run.

There are many downsides with the habichts, that you can only really see if your comfortable with by giving them a go. Roger vines review - Swarovski 10x40 Habicht Review is comprehensive however.

The downside that you may not notice on a nice warm day is that they do mist up quite readily in cold conditions, my set has brand new eye pieces so have all the latest coatings on them but still suffer from it, you can avoid it by not resting your eyes right up in the eye cup but it's still an inconvenience. I haven't noticed this happening so much with modern roof binoculars with twist up eye cups.

 

[Viraj]

With the habichts you need to check they've got the more recent coatings, ie swarobright in the case of the habicht. A 2010 model should have them, I wouldn't go for one without.

It's very much worth making a trip to a binocular shop with a decent range, most specialist retailers will hold a stock of second hand optics, even if it's a train journey away it will save you time and probably money in the long run.

There are many downsides with the habichts, that you can only really see if your comfortable with by giving them a go. Roger vines review - Swarovski 10x40 Habicht Review is comprehensive however.

The downside that you may not notice on a nice warm day is that they do mist up quite readily in cold conditions, my set has brand new eye pieces so have all the latest coatings on them but still suffer from it, you can avoid it by not resting your eyes right up in the eye cup but it's still an inconvenience. I haven't noticed this happening so much with modern roof binoculars with twist up eye cups.

I have the same eyepiece fogging issue in my Habicht 10x40 GA specially after use of eye shields to avoid flare problem. I think this fogging issue is also related to the change of coating in Swarovski optics. Due to a sustainable manufacturing concept they removed hydrophobic and oligophobic coatings of their entire optics range to avoid environmental release of PFAS compounds.

Many members of the BF think Habicht is not a good model for birding because of many flows it has. However, the major flow they mentioned, the stiff focuser was not a problem at all at least for me. Neither the outdated design however I can keep them as steady as my NL 8x42. So I can see more details than NL 8x. I can see some CA closer to the field edge but it is not a big problem for me because I mainly look at the center area. The only issue I have with it is I see flares when I use it under some extreme situations. However it is not a problem when I use it in open areas. All of these are subjective experiences of me and at it is a good birding binocular at least for me. I prefer it over my NL 8x due to increased magnification and the steady build of it. However, it is strongly advices to check and compare with other roofs if possible prior to buying it.

 

[Ce2613]

Hi,
I think the question has solved itself.
The job place I have been promised is no longer available. Shame to the interviewer who was telling me I’d have the job 100%.
Consequentially, I’ll stick with the Papilio.
In any case, thank you for your advices, I really appreciated them.

 

[Viraj]

I don't have experience with many binoculars however, Papillio will not serve you as a good birding binocular. It is very good for close-range observations though. You can think about a mid-range roof such as Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 which is light and a huge improvement compared to the Papillio for birding. I don't miss much with it even when compared with NL 8x42.

 

[Ce2613]

It’s becoming off topic but, I took a glance on Amazon at the monarches based on your post and to my surprise I’ve found some nikon monarch 3…?! What in the world are these?

 

[Thotmosis]

The downside that you may not notice on a nice warm day is that they do mist up quite readily in cold conditions, my set has brand new eye pieces so have all the latest coatings on them but still suffer from it, you can avoid it by not resting your eyes right up in the eye cup but it's still an inconvenience. I haven't noticed this happening so much with modern roof binoculars with twist up eye cups.

Had also some fogging with the Habicht 10x40 when i used it in combination with the Binoshield, while hiking last summer in Crete. But this also happened with my Leica's, but not so bad as whit the Habicht.

 

[Viraj]

I think Monarch 7 is a better option than Monarch 3. Monarch 3 has a limited field of view and I am not sure whether it has dielectric coatings. However, recently Nikon released the Monarch M7 series which is an updated version of the original Monarch 7. If the field of view is not a big concern monarch 5 is also a lower-priced option for birding. Another option below that price category is Vortex Diamondback HD 8x32. It has many good reviews in BF. However, it didn't work out for me.

 

[yarrellii]

In the line of what @Viraj says (without wanting to make your head explode with options), if the Monarch 7 or new M7 are too pricey, the brand new Prostaff 7 (P7) 8x30 seems like a nice affordable, light option with great FOV.

 

[Swissboy]

Hi there again and thank you all for the quick and exhaustive replies.
I haven’t specified that I’m from Italy and based on what I’ve read online probably the warranty is only 10 years which is a disappointment to me. Nevertheless I asked the owner for any warranty card and honestly it doesn’t say anything interesting. I’ll attach a pic for you all. I also retrieved the serial number present on the box and I’ve already sent an email to Swarovski to get some news.

Maybe it’s worth spending some words on my binoculars experience.
I’ve always had something for bins since I was a small kid so now that I’m 26 I’d like to have a pair that fulfills my dreams.
................................

@yarrellii I didn’t know about the for sale section, seems like there are some good deals too. Import taxes might be a caveat though. Also bin retailers are very rare here so it’s a high chance of a “no” try it before you buy it.
I’ll try to find and try those models you’ve advised me. Thank you

Hi, looks like you have really done quite a bit of homework already! Since you have the Papilios for the moment, take your time with the upgrades. I have Papilios as well, but I don't use them all that much because my other models fulfill most needs most of the time. Nevertheless, I find this a great type of model and when the Papilio II came out, I upgraded. Quite an improvement, in my opinion. Wishing you lots of luck to find a job you like as well!

 

[Viraj]

Hi,
I think the question has solved itself.
The job place I have been promised is no longer available. Shame to the interviewer who was telling me I’d have the job 100%.
Consequentially, I’ll stick with the Papilio.
In any case, thank you for your advices, I really appreciated them.

I am really sorry that I understood your post in a different way. I misunderstood that the Habicht owner didn’t want to sell his binoculars anymore. I wish you all the best and good luck to find a better job position 🍀 Anyway, using any binocular for birdwatching gives you much more advantages than doing it by naked eyes. I used to use Celestron outlander X 8x25 binoculars bought for 30 euros for few months before I buy any of other binoculars. Still I could use it for more than 85% of cases to identify a bird in distance compared to the higher models. I am not using Papillio much because it lacks waterproofing. However, you can still use it for birdwatching. The difference is more expensive models give you a more comfortable use and eye pleasing view to enjoy the image. I heard somewhere “the best binoculars in the world is one you have in your hands”. Wish you all the best again for finding a better job position and for continuing your journey with birdwatching.

 

[Ce2613]

Hi again, because of the spending review based on the recent news and because I’ve found the savanna type of binoculars quite good if it wasn’t for the sum of the various issues with my particular bino, I’ve thought that I might try the Kowa YF 8x30, from the pictures seems like it’s much more refined than the Opticron. Hoping the CA and the reflections I’ve experienced were just a lemon

 

[William Lewis]

I wouldn't get too caught up with optical and mechanical perfection, enjoy the time you have to get out and enjoy the world before the next opportunity comes knocking. When you've seen a few nice things through whatever your looking through they'll always be worth more then you paid for them- especially if their cheap!

I used a pair of old opticron 8x40 porro's for 20 odd years, you soon find you don't miss much, experience is worth much more than optics - they can't tell you the calls. I still use an old set of 7x42 porro's actually!

 

[Ce2613]

Just for the folks out there reading threads, Swarovski replied me telling me that they offer 10 years of warranty. Surprisingly the binos were purchased in November 2009 based on the warranty card picture but the serial number says they were manufactured 2010. The email screenshot is attached to the post. Nice customer service gotta say