Well performing roof binocular on a budget? (1 Viewer)

[Oskar Moilanen]

I'm looking into buying a new binocular for my old man come christmas. I really want to give him the best quality I can get for a limit of about 300€. I was thinking of a roof-prism in the 7x30-42 range, with an eye-relief that would be enough for wearing eyeglasses. I was looking at some Opticron models that look pretty good, but I need advice.

Some thoughts on this matter in here?

 

[Ratal]

Opticicron ten by fourty twos phase corrected bins are a steal. Brought a pair for my dad, and the eye relief is huge for glasses wearing folks. Below two hundred pound in the UK so well inside your budget.

There is an eight power version with even longer eye relief so yeah, give them careful consideration.

 

[typo]

I've tried the three 7x pairs that Opticron offer. The 7x36 Classic and Imagic 7x42 roofs are normally quite a bit over budget unless you get very attractive deals over there. More later.

Both are Japanese made and have a high quality feel and good ergonomics. The Classic is a much older design with a simple 3-lens eyepiece related to the Swift Eaglet. We believe it was originally designed for police surveillance work. I've reported on it in the Opticron section.

The eye relief is generous on the 7x36 with room to spare with my glasses, and very generous on the 7x42. Though the view is only a little narrower I felt the longer eye relief contributed to a more tunnel like view on the latter. If I remember rightly there was a little less field curvature on the x42 so a slightly wider sweet spot, but the 7x36 view appeared a little more three dimensional. Neither are particularly heavy but the 7x36 feels significantly more compact.

The Classic is on offer in the UK at £250. I make that 312 Euro.
http://www.devoncamera.co.uk/index.cfm/product/opticron-bga-classic-7x36-binoculars-5656

The Imagic 7x42 is on offer at £225 or 281 Euro.
http://www.uttingsoutdoors.co.uk/Product/232/107435/opticron-imagic-bga-se-rp-7x42-binoculars-30478/

Both are fantastic deals on excellent binoculars. I preferred the 7x36 when I tested them side by side, but I'm sure others might differ.

David

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

Appreciate the input!

I have decided to narrow it down to 42mm at least. So I'm looking at the Countryman 8x42, the Imagic 7x42 and the Explorer 8x42, it's really hard sorting out the differences in this model line jungle.

 

[typo]

Oskar,

No problem. (Well I might sulk a little . )

Do you mean the recently discontinued Countryman with a 109m FOV or the newer Countryman HD with 122m FOV? I think the numbers speak for themselves. The old one was a very nice binocular in most respects but I found the view rather claustrophobic.

The Imagic 7x42 and the Countryman HD 8x42 both have a 122m FOV. Not wide by modern standards, but it seems wider on the Countryman HD than the Imagic. Again there is a difference in the field curvature. The more expensive Imagic has the flatter view, though both are sharp to the edges. (The curvature was even more pronounced on the old countryman). It could be the lack of accommodation in my old eyes or something, but I personally prefer the impression of a greater depth of field with a bit of field curvature on these lower powers. Others will disagree. At least on the examples I've tested the Countryman HD was a little sharper though few would have cause to complain about the Imagic.

In spite of my general preference for a 7x (I love my 7x36) I have to say I preferred the Countryman HD.

I know I have tried the Explorer but I'm sorry I can't recall much about it. The view was usefully wider and I'm pretty sure it wasn't one of the flatter field designs, but that's about all. I would note that is doesn't have the 'Oasis' prism coatings which we think means dielectric so probably not quite quite as bright as the others. I don't know the country of origin but Opticron usually gives a 30 year warranty on it's Japanese made pairs, the Explorer is 10.

David

 

[typo]

Oskar,

If you prefer to stick with a lower power the Meopta Meopro 6.5x32 might be worth considering. It's similar to the very popular but discontinued Vortex Fury. At least one member has owed both and thought the Meopter better. On a very short try out I thought the same. I believe they were both assembled in the USA.

David

PS. Available in the UK within budget.
http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/meopta_binoculars/meopta_meostar_binoculars_fs.htm

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

Yes I noticed it was the old Countryman I was looking at, and the HD is a bit over budget. I do have smaller aperture binoculars in mind too, as he takes binoculars with him on hikes. The deal on the 7x42 Imagic seems really good though, can't rule that out of the equation. Might have to make a decision in the near future if the deal ends. And although the Countryman HD was just a little bit over budget I'm eyeing the 8x32, seems quite fitting.

 

[typo]

Oskar,

There is a Norwegian web site that has ranked some of the Opticron range against others. I think all here would agree that the results are pretty bizarre, but they did like the Countryman HD.
http://www.kikkertspesialisten.no/p...0_8x56_binoculars_review_kikkert_test8x40.pdf

David

 

[14Goudvink]

Or look for a Vortex Viper 8x32 non-HD. You can get them second hand for about 300 euro.

 

[momotych]

I really think the best binos for that a budget for "old man wearing eyeglasses" are Zen Ray 7x36ED2 or 7x43ED3.

 

[NWBirder]

Zen-Ray has some demo 7x36 ZEN ED2 for $275. It is probably the best deal out there for a fine binos like ED2. I also have good experience with Zen-Ray VISTA and Vortex Diamondback binoculars. They perform rather well for their price. They are the same binoculars with different enclosures.

 

[Chosun Juan]

Oskar,

The Zen-Ray ED3 is a step up from the ED2, and is hard to beat optically for the money (top end, or just a smidge over your budget depending on mag.). It's got ED glass, and 2nd generation 40 layer dielectric coatings on the roof prisms, giving a neutral, fantastically bright view. If a 6.1mm EP for deep woods, or those long twighlights, using eyeglasses is your father's bent, it would be hard to get a better view optically for the money in a roof design, than the 7x43 ED3.

The 7x43 ED3 has 58.4* AFov, and 18mm ER http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened3/zened3-8x43-37.html

The 8x43 ED3 has 64.6* AFov, and 16.8mm ER http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/zened3/zened3-8x43.html

I have the 8x43 ED3, and it handles very well (check out the threads on the 7x43, and 8x43 ED3 here on BF to get the full skinny). You can buy direct from the Zen-Ray website, and they stand by their products.

Another quality 7x bin just above your budget is the Swift Eaglet 7x36, which has 50* AFov, and 16mm ER http://www.opticsplanet.com/swift-7x36-hwcf-eaglet-waterproof-binoculars.html It may be a bit light on for AFov, and ER?, but the 8x42 is better in that regard, although more outside your budget again.

Good luck!
Chosun :gh:

 

[ceasar]

Oskar, here are a couple more to consider,

The Swift 8.5 x 44 Model 828 Audubon roof prism binocular is a real good binocular for it's price. It's Japanese made. It has long eye relief, 19mm. It's lightweight. It has a large exit pupil and is easy to use. It's FOV is a bit narrow at 336' at 1000 yards but it is more than adequate. I have one and like it very much. In fact, I consider it my best low cost roof prism binocular.

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/swift/swift-audubon-8-5x44-roof-prism-binocular

Another good Japanese made Roof prism in the same price range is the Leupold Hawthorne. The 7 x 42 has a wider FOV than the 8 x 42. They both have long eye relief of 18mm. I have an older model of the 7 x 42 and it is real good. The current ones are fully multi coated now.

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/leupold/leupold-hawthorne-8x42-binocular

Bob