BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Staedtler" data-source="post: 3181707" data-attributes="member: 124548">I have a pair of the last Victory FL 7x42s (lotutec).Somebody earlier said 7x42 Porros are 'almost non existent'.  I also have a pair of Swarovski Habicht 7x42s. Which are porros and still current. Swarovski's first ever bins, apparently.For pure optical quality I don't think you'll beat a pair of Habichts. I think the quoted transmission is 96%, and I expect the 7x42s might be higher than that, as they have the simplest eyepieces out of the three models in the range.They are extremely sharp, right across the (narrow) FOV. Colour is very accurate and neutral. I can't see any CA at all. Stereo 'depth' is very realistic, if that's an appropriate word to use. I paid £325 for a used pair in utterly mint condition. I expect you would have to pay 5 times that for a pair of new roofs of equal (optical) quality. And maybe not even get it. And they're waterproof.Out of the Swarovski Habichts the 7x42s are the least popular (there's 8x30 and 10x40s). So they come up used reasonably often. The 8x30s hardly ever.So if you are sold on the idea of 7x42s I'd get a pair of good condition used Habicht 7x42s. You can work out the age from the serial number. You add 30 to the first two digits to get the year. Or take 30 away. Or something. But if it's a recent pair you're getting the latest glass and coatings, but in a very tried and trusted design, one that is far easier to get right. Plus a lightweight body, waterproof etc.Only downside is the narrow focus wheel which is stiffish, and gets stiffer in cold weather (but it still works). Plus the small eyepiece annoys some people. If you don't like them just sell them for what you paid.The Zeiss FL Victory 7x42s are great too. Not quite as optically perfect as the Habichts (colours a bit redder, I feel). But the main difference is in the handling. Looser focus wheel, which is faster, but slows down at birding distances. Bigger. Bigger eyepieces. A bit heavier. Ridges on the armouring, which I don't actually like. And all the usual guff of objective covers, ridiculous neoprene strap, faffy rain cover. The Habichts are beautifully simple. If you like old film cameras and rear wheel Volvos you'll like them. I do.</blockquote>

Verification