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Message: <blockquote data-quote="OPTIC_NUT" data-source="post: 3164496" data-attributes="member: 121951">I've discovered sleepers many of which seem to orbit/compete around the ~1970 7x35 Kowa Prominar.The criteria are a similar depth of contrast, sharpness, and especially sharpness across almost the whole field.The best, actually seems a little better than the Prominar, is the 7x35 Tower 7.1-deg "Featherweight".There are Swift and Bushnell Promiar equivalents, but the price is elevated for those already.There is a Bushnell Banner 7-D 10-min that is very close to the Prominar in all ways but the contrast,  which is still very good.  (nothing like the x-wide Banner)The Scope Mark IV 7x35 367ft....not as mech. solid as the Prominars, but intensely deep contrast.The Scope "Custom" 7x35, 396ft (7.5D) fixes the focuser and goes one better, to a precision-ss piston.They use sand-blast/lamp-blacking and have the obsessive beryllium-copper black-linedhoods on the prisms..that keeps the contrast high even with traces of dust.A decent front hooding too.The Streamline/Peterson 7x35, a real brickhouse mechanically, super-quiet contrast.Field not quite Prominar, slightly dim, but the most extravagant mechanicals...think "Custom-plus"Lavish eyecup adjustment, big smooth diopter on  the front of the objective.------------And the erratic/rare sleepers...A pair of 7x50 precision-focused "SeeFars" from Tokyo Kogaku...amazing resolution.A pair of "Regency" 7x50 // 7.1 from perhaps 1947-48 (pre-occupied and pre-JTI)   with an amazing sharpness, extra tunneling, and those rare prism hoods.  They took a lot if fixing but they are my main 7x50 now...they are lighter than the SeeFars.  (Well, they are IF so that helps weight) Actually portable-feeling 7x50s.  Very easy on the eyes and shoulders.The Vega Minerva 6x30 is uncanny. It gets overlooked because it's 6x30 and pre-Swift, but the field is special.I can't call the old Bushnell Customs sleepers, since the price is always pretty decent for used.They also have nice eye comfort but not as much of a sweet spot as the "Prominar chasers".If the contrast and usuable-sharpness-width are extremely good and they are kind to the eyes, and cheap,they are rare and worth holding for a while.   Because Selsis were bright and neutral and mechanically good,I thought they were sleepers....but they usually don't have a 'breakthrough' field of view like theProminar+competition set or a few oldies. More ordinary eyepieces.</blockquote>

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