Don't the Victory SF series have field flatteners? I never looked through them, but I have read in this forum that they have one of the flattest fields.It might be worth remembering the SF isn't intended to be sharp all the way to the edge: if that's important to you, you might want to look at something like a Swarovski EL or NL. Good luck in your hunt for the perfect binocular!
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Zeiss SF 8x30 vs SFL 8x40 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tian1227
- Start date
Just wanted to report that after some more testing, I decided to go with the SFL 8x40 for its easier eye placement and color profile.
One thing that I didn't mention about the SF 8x32 that I just recently noticed .. my wife has even worse nearsightedness (-10) than me (-7) and when I had her look through the SF 8x32 without eyeglasses, even after she turned the focus wheel all the way, she could not see far away images clearly. For me, the SF 8x32 has just enough "range of focus" (I don't know what the proper term is here). The SFL on the other hand, has more range and my wife didn't have an issue with that.
I'll for sure miss the "pop" of the SF though!
Thanks again for everyone's input!
One thing that I didn't mention about the SF 8x32 that I just recently noticed .. my wife has even worse nearsightedness (-10) than me (-7) and when I had her look through the SF 8x32 without eyeglasses, even after she turned the focus wheel all the way, she could not see far away images clearly. For me, the SF 8x32 has just enough "range of focus" (I don't know what the proper term is here). The SFL on the other hand, has more range and my wife didn't have an issue with that.
I'll for sure miss the "pop" of the SF though!
Thanks again for everyone's input!
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Of course 😉
Yeah, i wanted it to correct it but you can't edit after 30 min of posting
I find it strange when I read people's struggle with eye placement. With a smaller exit pupil you need to be more precise to get it right. But that is for all optics. And you will get used to it. 3,8mm is not as easy as 5mm. But it's significantly easier than 2,5mm.
I am not yet familiar with that different binoculars with same exit pupil are more or less difficult than other.
I probably have not yet thought about it when
I compared binoculars.
But I have noticed this is not rapported to be an issue among experienced binocular reviewers.
Neither reviewers like mr Salimbeni or the couple Porter have mentioned that SFL 8x30 would be difficult in this respect.
Well, I will see soon when I receive it!
I am not yet familiar with that different binoculars with same exit pupil are more or less difficult than other.
I probably have not yet thought about it when
I compared binoculars.
But I have noticed this is not rapported to be an issue among experienced binocular reviewers.
Neither reviewers like mr Salimbeni or the couple Porter have mentioned that SFL 8x30 would be difficult in this respect.
Well, I will see soon when I receive it!
Last edited:
I don't think there is any comparison between the SFL 8x40 and the SF 8x32. The SF is an alpha and the SFL is a good mid-priced binocular, I think the SFL is more comparable to the Nikon MHG or Zeiss Conquest HD.
In fact, I found the Nikon MHG 8x42 superior in many ways to the SFL 8x40, and I personally prefer it for less money. The Nikon MHG 8x42 has a much bigger FOV, a bigger aperture and no 'Blue Ring of Death' like the Zeiss SFL 8x40.
I know if I had to choose between the SFL 8x40 for $1500 and the SF 8x32 for only $500 more, I would take the SF every time. The SF has much better build quality and far superior optics with a much larger FOV, and if you bird mostly in the daytime, there won't be much difference in brightness between the two.
I find the SFL vastly overpriced for what it is. You are paying for the Zeiss name.
In fact, I found the Nikon MHG 8x42 superior in many ways to the SFL 8x40, and I personally prefer it for less money. The Nikon MHG 8x42 has a much bigger FOV, a bigger aperture and no 'Blue Ring of Death' like the Zeiss SFL 8x40.
I know if I had to choose between the SFL 8x40 for $1500 and the SF 8x32 for only $500 more, I would take the SF every time. The SF has much better build quality and far superior optics with a much larger FOV, and if you bird mostly in the daytime, there won't be much difference in brightness between the two.
I find the SFL vastly overpriced for what it is. You are paying for the Zeiss name.
Last edited:
tenex
reality-based
Eye placement is a three-dimensional issue: depth is also involved. Due to optical design (independent of exit pupil), some models have a more generous "eyebox" for comfortable viewing than others. When you try one that doesn't, you'll know.
I myself have always been surprised when people complain about exit pupil in this regard, because I only find smaller ones challenging in difficult (unstable) conditions. Is it possible that proper alignment is trickier when wearing glasses, as I don't?
I picked up SFL 8x30 a few hours ago and have carefully inspected it.
The very first thing I tried was (as usual) how it works with my eyeglasses. I tried step for step until fully folded down. At the second step from bottom I started to discern the edges. And it is ~4mm left to go. Then at the bottom: yes. Fully open view. 1-2mm less had been just a tad too short to be satisfying. But this is satisfying.
After that I investigated the view through both barrels in order to see that they are equal. It passed my test.
Followed by a test of internal reflections. It is rainy and cloudy today so I have not tried it with sun from aside. But I find observing indoors through the window use to reveal flares. I also observed against my ceiling lamp which has 3 bulbs. Looking through binoculars is pretty dazzling. It handled the light pretty well.
Distorsion. The image is very free from as well barrel and pincusion distorsion.
It's not sharp to the edges, though. Which is not expected, anyway.
I have not yet noticed a blue ring.
The eyecup design is good. As first noticed, it allows you make use of as much as possible of the eye relief, when using eyeglasses. And at the outermost level it's enough to give me a good view without eyeglasses without blackout.
There are 4 fixed steps, and they could be more in order to give more exact distance. But there is a certain amount of friction between so it is a certain possibility to adjust stepless.
I find SFL 8x30 being very comfortable in the hands. Yes, the eye placement and hold comfort is not as good as a 8x42. But WAY better than any 20-25mm compact.
The focusing range is more than enough for my nearsightedness. I have -4 on the left eye and -2,5 on the right, and it was margin even on the left eye. So I can use the binocular without eyeglasses if I want to.
The focusing wheel has no play and with same resistance to both directions.
I have read some find the placement of the wheel a bit too much towards the objective. It is very much in the middle of the tube length. It's completely ok for me. I use the middle finger and it works good.
When it comes to optics there are always different opinions and this binocular is no exception.
SFL 8x30 has got very good points by as well Mr Salimbeni and the couple Porter.
Some users at this forum don't agree.
I understand it is not an alpha glass, but I definitely think it is a sub-alpha. Yes, for the price it should be.
Following can be said about SFL 8x30:
*the eye relief is one of the best ever for a 8x30 size. Only Swarovski EL 8x32 is in par. Ok: I guess NL Pure 8x32 as well, have not tried it.
*Zeiss' design team really nailed it. It's one of the best looking binoculars out there. In my opinion.
Which of course is not really important. But still a plus.
Conclusion:
SFL 8x30 is the binocular I waited for since long time. It is what I hoped Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 and Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32 should have been.
I am glad it is size and weight-wise more like the Nikon. Conquest HD 8x32 is very bulky for a 8x32.
One can discuss the pricetag. I think it optically is pretty much in par to Conquest HD 8x32, which is slightly more than half the price. Which is a very good binocular. But maybe it has been the price for getting the same performance in a significanty more compact size. And the improvement of the eye relief. Bear in mind it's ~65deg AFOV in a 8x30.
Do I need to say I will keep it?
The very first thing I tried was (as usual) how it works with my eyeglasses. I tried step for step until fully folded down. At the second step from bottom I started to discern the edges. And it is ~4mm left to go. Then at the bottom: yes. Fully open view. 1-2mm less had been just a tad too short to be satisfying. But this is satisfying.
After that I investigated the view through both barrels in order to see that they are equal. It passed my test.
Followed by a test of internal reflections. It is rainy and cloudy today so I have not tried it with sun from aside. But I find observing indoors through the window use to reveal flares. I also observed against my ceiling lamp which has 3 bulbs. Looking through binoculars is pretty dazzling. It handled the light pretty well.
Distorsion. The image is very free from as well barrel and pincusion distorsion.
It's not sharp to the edges, though. Which is not expected, anyway.
I have not yet noticed a blue ring.
The eyecup design is good. As first noticed, it allows you make use of as much as possible of the eye relief, when using eyeglasses. And at the outermost level it's enough to give me a good view without eyeglasses without blackout.
There are 4 fixed steps, and they could be more in order to give more exact distance. But there is a certain amount of friction between so it is a certain possibility to adjust stepless.
I find SFL 8x30 being very comfortable in the hands. Yes, the eye placement and hold comfort is not as good as a 8x42. But WAY better than any 20-25mm compact.
The focusing range is more than enough for my nearsightedness. I have -4 on the left eye and -2,5 on the right, and it was margin even on the left eye. So I can use the binocular without eyeglasses if I want to.
The focusing wheel has no play and with same resistance to both directions.
I have read some find the placement of the wheel a bit too much towards the objective. It is very much in the middle of the tube length. It's completely ok for me. I use the middle finger and it works good.
When it comes to optics there are always different opinions and this binocular is no exception.
SFL 8x30 has got very good points by as well Mr Salimbeni and the couple Porter.
Some users at this forum don't agree.
I understand it is not an alpha glass, but I definitely think it is a sub-alpha. Yes, for the price it should be.
Following can be said about SFL 8x30:
*the eye relief is one of the best ever for a 8x30 size. Only Swarovski EL 8x32 is in par. Ok: I guess NL Pure 8x32 as well, have not tried it.
*Zeiss' design team really nailed it. It's one of the best looking binoculars out there. In my opinion.
Which of course is not really important. But still a plus.
Conclusion:
SFL 8x30 is the binocular I waited for since long time. It is what I hoped Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 and Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32 should have been.
I am glad it is size and weight-wise more like the Nikon. Conquest HD 8x32 is very bulky for a 8x32.
One can discuss the pricetag. I think it optically is pretty much in par to Conquest HD 8x32, which is slightly more than half the price. Which is a very good binocular. But maybe it has been the price for getting the same performance in a significanty more compact size. And the improvement of the eye relief. Bear in mind it's ~65deg AFOV in a 8x30.
Do I need to say I will keep it?
Last edited:
It may be trickier with eyeglasses because without eyeglasses the eyes will easier adjust in the eyecups
tenex
reality-based
Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking. Anyway, very glad you like the SFL so much! And I hope you will enjoy it for a long time.
What do you think about this review? It may be the most positive opinion about SFL 8x30 I have read.
www.rokslide.com
Zeiss SFL 8x30 Compact Binocular Review
Compact binoculars used to be laughable. They were almost like toys and I ignored them for years. Zeiss has changed my mind with their new Zeiss SFL 8×30 binoculars. Backing up to 2021, Zeiss released their SF (Smart Focus) Binoculars, and then in 2022, their SFL (Smart Focus Light) Binoculars...
www.rokslide.com
Paultricounty
Well-known member
I think the guy had a defective Swaro 42. 😆What do you think about this review? It may be the most positive opinion about SFL 8x30 I have read.
Zeiss SFL 8x30 Compact Binocular Review
Compact binoculars used to be laughable. They were almost like toys and I ignored them for years. Zeiss has changed my mind with their new Zeiss SFL 8×30 binoculars. Backing up to 2021, Zeiss released their SF (Smart Focus) Binoculars, and then in 2022, their SFL (Smart Focus Light) Binoculars...
It seems indeed his impression of SFL 8x30 is a bit too good. SFL has stated 90% light transmission, which is good but not spectacular. And does not the Swaro 8x42, even if it's older, have around 90% as well?
Glad to hear you like it! Enjoy!
Paultricounty
Well-known member
I think they’re both close in transmission but thats not what separates these two. Imo the EL’s in 32mm are superior to the SFL in almost every way. The 32EL was brighter under low light conditions than the 8x30SFL I compared. I’d say the same for the Leica Ultravid but to a lesser degree.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Sweetpat, It wasn’t my intention at all to demote the quality of the SFL. I feel these are phenomenal binoculars and they’re opening up a whole new genre of high quality ultralight compact binoculars that are almost pocket size, they actually are pocket size. These check so many boxes for so many people. I hope the trend continues.
Hi Paul!
No problem! I did not at all perceive your words in that way.
There are a few better binoculars in this configuration and SFL is still a very good binocular.
The format and good looking design are very attractive features. And the long usable eye relief places it in the very small group of eyeglasses friendly 8x30s. Since only a few years there were no one or maybe only one which worked very well with eyeglasses.
At least if we are talking about WA eyepieces. And of some reason wide angle seems always has been priorized before eye relief when it comes to 8x30/32 configuration.
Regards, Patric
Last edited:
