Which binocular(s) did you use today? (7 Viewers)

[Pinewood]

Took out my Ziess 8x32 SF. Love these bins. Downside 3rd straight day of fog, clouds and misty rain. Tough to get any detail of any birds up in the trees. Been contemplating SF 8x42 or 10x42 to add to collection

Hello Pauhana,
I was a great fan of the 8x32FL, but the 8x32SF is better, at the expense of larger size. Five year ago, I started a on the 32mm Zeiss FL glasses. I think much of what I wrote could be written about the SF. The SFL seems to have a nice market as well.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[Binocollector]

DDoptics Lux HR 10x42 today. Watching the birds gathering to fly south through the living room window.

 

[Patudo]

I brought it in the fire-sale when Zen-Ray went bust, I think I got it for about $200.

I was getting my scope out of the car boot(trunk) but the binocular strap caught on the tripod. The binoculars got dragged out as well. They fell to the floor and it knocked one of the barrels out of alignment.

So they worked fine for you for how many years before they were damaged by (essentially) mishandling?

 

[Mono]

So they worked fine for you for how many years before they were damaged by (essentially) mishandling?

They were my goto birding binocular for all the time I had them.

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

I returned to my modern, up to date Zeiss 8x32SF:
Today's sightings were:
A carolina wren,
a black throated blue warbler,
a phoebe,
mallards,
mourning doves,
a pine warbler,
a male Northern cardinal,
a glue jay,
a red tail hawk having a squirrel for breakfast,
a ruby crowned kinglet and
an overbird.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

Today, I used a Leica 7x42BA. This model was modified to accommodate closer focussing and was labelled as the 7x42BN. It lacks dielectric mirrors but it is true to Leica reputation for excellent suppression of glare. I use it rarely because I my 7x42 Zeiss Dialyt ClassiC to better in field of view and in ergonomics.

With this binocular, today's sightings were:
American robins,
Northern cardinal, female,
Yellow bellied sapsucker,
Red belly woodpecker,
Mourning dove,
Gray catbird,
Yellow billed cuckoo,
Swainson's thrushes,
Blue jay,
Whit throat sparrows and
a mallard.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[Thotmosis]

Hello,

I returned to my modern, up to date Zeiss 8x32SF:View attachment 1605431
Today's sightings were:
A carolina wren,
a black throated blue warbler,
a phoebe,
mallards,
mourning doves,
a pine warbler,
a male Northern cardinal,
a glue jay,
a red tail hawk having a squirrel for breakfast,
a ruby crowned kinglet and
an overbird.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur
View attachment 1605432

At a certain moment we all desire for a squirrel for breakfast…

 

[Thotmosis]

At a certain moment we all desire for a squirrel for breakfast…

Sorry i meant breakfast WITH squirrels

 

[Maljunulo]

At a certain moment we all desire for a squirrel for breakfast…

They do fry up nicely.

 

[PatR]

Sorry i meant breakfast WITH squirrels

I for one was not in the least bit suprised at your breakfast speciality. 😀

I recall several colleagues in the KTC enjoying the odd squirrel or two when we did survival exercises together.

Anyone who tells you they ‘taste like chicken’ is talking through their……..

 

[Thotmosis]

I for one was not in the least bit suprised at your breakfast speciality. 😀

I recall several colleagues in the KTC enjoying the odd squirrel or two when we did survival exercises together.

Anyone who tells you they ‘taste like chicken’ is talking through their……..

My grandfather teached me how to catch rabbits, haze and pheasants but as this is birdforum im not gonna tell what we did with them 😅 but I always ate good that’s for sure

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

Back to my longtime companion, the Zeiss 8x32FL, a true powerhouse in a small package, which still has plenty of eye relief and decent field of view. Many were critical of its fibre glass reinforced polymer body, which has stood the test of time. This is an early model without the Lotutec coatings.
With the FL, I had the following sightings:
American robins,
Blue jay,
mourning doves,
gray catbird,
great blue heron, male,
hermit thrush,
red belly woodpecker,
white throat sparrow and
mallards.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[MiddleRiver]

Hello,

Back to my longtime companion, the Zeiss 8x32FL, a true powerhouse in a small package, which still has plenty of eye relief and decent field of view. Many were critical of its fibre glass reinforced polymer body, which has stood the test of time. This is an early model without the Lotutec coatings.View attachment 1606454
With the FL, I had the following sightings:
American robins,
Blue jay,
mourning doves,
gray catbird,
great blue heron, male,
hermit thrush,
red belly woodpecker,
white throat sparrow and
mallards.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

I sold my 8x32FL's and have regretted it... I'm enjoying the SF's, but there's something about those tubby little FL's that was just 'right' :-/

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

This morning, I was looking at my three Bausch & Lomb 8x30 binoculars, which are very similar looking. Unfortunately, since they look alike, I picked the oldest and uncoated unit from 1937. I am not sure if this was the same glass, which I used, but aside from the one labelled "Zephyr," they are lookalikes.

Nevertheless, I had a good bird watching day. Without my eyeglasses I could not focus farther that about 15 meters, but I made do. I actually saw or heard the following:
Ruby crowned kinglet,
Northern shovel(l)ers,
Mallards,
A great blue heron,
Blue jays,
downy woodpecker female,
Red belly woodpecker
Black capped chickadee,
White breast nuthatches,
Tufted titmice,
American robins,
American crows, by call,
Mourning does,
Northern cardinal, male,
and white throat sparrows.

Autumn is going very nicely!

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[w.travis]

Kowa YFII 8x30, that's it.

 

[Trinovid]

Viper 12x50 HD, and as much as I had zero interest at first, I'm so glad to have these!

 

[Paultricounty]

Used two today, the GPO 10x42 Passion HD and the Leica Trinovid Classic in 7x35.

The GPO is almost an optical clone of the Zeiss Conquest , except in an alpha body. The optical similarities are almost non-distinguishable. Although the focuser is super fast just like the Conquest it’s smoother and has a better feel.

The Retrovids probably don't need much description. These are just beautifully delicious in and out. Although these have more noticeable pincushion distortion and slightly more CA on the edges than UV’s, it makes up for it in the color saturation. An absolutely gorgeous image character, more color pop than Ultravids, imo. I’ve never handed these binoculars to anybody that wasn’t blown away by the image quality. Unfortunately I believe they stop production on these, It was definitely kind of a niche market buyer.

 

[mwhogue]

Saw two killdeer patrolling the park across the street for 5 or 6 minutes this afternoon. Zeiss Victory FL 7x42. Missed the barred owl after dark that called out several times from close by but always out of sight.

Mike

 

[PatR]

Used two today, the GPO 10x42 Passion HD and the Leica Trinovid Classic in 7x35.

The GPO is almost an optical clone of the Zeiss Conquest , except in an alpha body. The optical similarities are almost non-distinguishable. Although the focuser is super fast just like the Conquest it’s smoother and has a better feel.

The Retrovids probably don't need much description. These are just beautifully delicious in and out. Although these have more noticeable pincushion distortion and slightly more CA on the edges than UV’s, it makes up for it in the color saturation. An absolutely gorgeous image character, more color pop than Ultravids, imo. I’ve never handed these binoculars to anybody that wasn’t blown away by the image quality. Unfortunately I believe they stop production on these, It was definitely kind of a niche market buyer.

Must admit that the sublime little 7x35’s are gorgeous with a capital G.

My wife was taken aback with a friends pair and made it reasonably clear that she would love some for herself.

I understand orders and managed to get a 2 year old pair off EBay that were literally as new……and Leica honoured the remaining 8 years warranty.

They are the loveliest bino’s I have ever seen or held.

The quest is on for the other Retrovids.

 

[Thotmosis]

Yesterday the older brother of my Zeiss 15 x 60 BGAT from 2002 arrived. Just called Zeiss and they told me he is from 1983. Very good condition in and outside and prima facie I don’t see any defects. Lovely piece of old school Zeiss machining, 41 years old and no play in focus whatsoever, even better than in the younger BGAT. Honestly I don’t see much difference when looking through them. The BGAT has more comfortable eyecups though.