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Zeiss Victory FL 7x42 - will I regret it if I sell them? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Staedtler
- Start date
I remember thinking at the time that trading my 2021 Habicht 8x30W in for a SFL 8x30 for the Mrs was a clever idea because I always found eye placement on the civilian CF 8x30 Habicht to be a bit of a pita. I have regretted it ever since, especially in the light of discovering that there is a clever solution to my 'problem'.
Learning from that I will never ever in a year of Sundays sell my NOS 2012 7x42 FL T*.
Learning from that I will never ever in a year of Sundays sell my NOS 2012 7x42 FL T*.
SeldomPerched
Well-known member
Patudo, whenever I pick up my Dialyt ClassiC 7x42 B/GA T*P*,to show off its full title (!), the thing that immediately impresses me is how it is perfect to hold: balance, size, weight, barrel diameter. Even the big rubber eyecups are perfect. I wish in a way that I had never carried on down the road of trying and buying FLs (42 & 56), Ultravids etc etc. With all those later buys the ones that in a way impress most are the small sizes — thinking of FL 8x32, UVHD Plus 8x32 and EL 8x32 F/Pro — because they share that supremely comfy hold, especially the EL in that 8x32 format.
Pinewood
New York correspondent
Hello SeldomPerched,
Yes , yes, yes!
Surely, I can perceive improvements in the 8x32SF, especially wider field of view, but those two older Zeiss binoculars are special in several ways, in including the ergonomics.
Happy bird watching,
Arthur
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
In a fit of madness I sold off my 8x32FL and have regretted it since! I have better bins, but they were such a sweet thang
Pinewood
New York correspondent
Yes,In a fit of madness I sold off my 8x32FL and have regretted it since! I have better bins, but they were such a sweet thang
The 8x32FL is nice combination of size, weight, FOV and optical performance, including eye relief. Did any other binocular do as much in such a small package?
Happy bird watching,
Arthur
Zeiss SFL 8x30. Smaller than the FL 8x32, lighter, FOV the same at 8.0 degrees and more eye relief with 18mm SFL versus 16mm on the FL. The FL would probably best the SFL on CA control.
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MiddleRiver
Well-known member
I've owned both side by side. I won't try to bore you with the reasons why I miss my little FL's (still own the SFL's ;-).
To me, the change from the FL 8x32 to the SFL 8x30 has been like a godsend. I had also owned them side by side for a while. The SFL is smaller, more convenient to handle because it has no ribs, and despite its smaller objektive diameter it is noticeably brighter. The latest change I made is adding o-rings (28 mm diameter) to the eyecups. Thus the nasty occasional blackouts have been completely eliminated. As I wear eyeglasses, the eyecups are left retracted. But for my personal glasses this seems to be a little too much. The o-rings provide about a half step extension.
tenex
reality-based
Do others have this impression? FL had around 93% transmission compared to SFL's 90, and less contrast which often feels brighter.
Here is a quickly made picture. Sorry for the orange color cast. It should still show what you want to see. My O-rings are much thinner than what RG548 has used. Thus they don't protrude. For the photo, I pulled out the upper eyepiece to the first stop. the other one is with fully retracted eyepiece, the way I use them.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
No. I have to respectfully disagree. The FL with AK prisms is noticeably brighter than the SFL. What I do notice is the SFL can give a feeling that they are slightly brighter because they’re more neutral in color tone than greenish tint on the FL. Where you can clearly see the brighter FL is in lower light conditions, very overcast or late afternoon early evening.
tenex
reality-based
The discussion involved FL 32 (vs SFL 30) which of course had SP prisms. Would you still say the same?
Paultricounty
Well-known member
My apologies I thought they were talking about the FL 7x42 in comparison to the SFL 8X40. I never had the pleasure to compare the 32’s side by side. Personally I didn’t get along with the form factor of the SFL30’s, the focuser position in relation to the body kept making my pinky falling over the objective. Though both are very nice glass to be sure.
True. But what is your point 🤔
