You are correct..fluoride is just glass with fluorite added to the mix. OTOH Kowa does make a 'binocular' with fluorite as opposed to fluoride. I agree if you want a roof prism binocular the AK prism system is more efficient than the SP roof prisms...but a pedestrian porroprism is even better yet. One reason why the Nikon SE's do so well. Personally prefer porroprism although that is because I remember how crummy some of the older roof prism binoculars were before multi coating and phase correction.
Binoculars - What is good these days?
- Thread starter Kelly Timoffee
- Start date
I have been driving the local shop owners crazy. I have taken out and returned nearly every binocular in the 4-1200 dollar range.
The problem with reading the birding forums for hours is that a person starts being bothered by things they might never have noticed.
The Nikons have a reputation of stray light causing a veiling effect under certain light conditions. The cause apparently is unpainted or shiny paint on some internal parts. Never would have thought about it, but sure enough in fading light this veil or halo appears. It is especially noticeable when compared to other binoculars that don't have the issue and once noticed it becomes distracting. The certain light BTW is overcast days with reflection from snow like ideal days for hunting deer. It almost looks like it is foggy when there is none to be seen. The size of the Prostaff 7s and Monarch 7, 8x30 is perfect but both have the haze.
The 10 and 8x43 top end Pentax are awesome. They are at the very top of my price range however and the ones available in 32 and 28mm literally pale in comparison. I am determined to find a mid sized or I know I will hate lugging them around. I would love to keep the DCF SP 8x43 but they are not exactly what I want and I can only afford one.
The Zeiss Terra were crisp but dark compared to the others, again in the mid size. No stray light or hazing with these and in normal daylight they are awesome.
I tried some Hawke et al of the Chinese knock off type and although impressive I guess I am a brand name guy. I know many brand names are Chinese as well but there is no cost savings going with these. Their flagship models are often more money than brand name.
Here is where things get a little strange. Having all these different binoculars home, I was able to compare them directly to several pairs I have on hand. My son's Bushnell Excursion EX 8x36 were as good as many, better than most and almost as good as the very best binoculars I tried. Sooo off to Canadian Tire I go and grab a pair of Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x36 with Prime ED glass to try. They are suppose to be an upgrade to the Excursions and the same glass as the Elites. I did try the new Elites as well but they only come in 8x42 or 10x42 if you want the good ED Prime glass. I found them very good optically but heavy with a narrow view. The diopter adjuster was not appealing to me either and was cheap feeling compared to all others.
The Legends not going to be mistaken for a pair of Swarovski but they are crystal clear in the center, have a large sweet spot and very little fall off considering an enormous field of view. I was watching deer until dark with several pairs in the truck and I am extremely impressed with how these compared to glasses costing double and even quadruple the price. No hazing or stray light to be seen, even when looking just off the sun. In daylight they are awesome. They are easily carried in a pocket and the depth of field when in the bush is great. These can be had for $250 to $299 and I had to go over $600 to see any glass that was even slightly better.
I am going to return a few pairs tomorrow and bring home some of the Vortex offerings to compare but I think for me the ED glass on these Legends will be more than good enough. I was determined to get better than the Bushnell but really shouldn't be surprised. I have Elite scopes on the two rifles I hunt and all they do is hold zero, never fog up and help kill a $#!% load of deer.
The problem with reading the birding forums for hours is that a person starts being bothered by things they might never have noticed.
The Nikons have a reputation of stray light causing a veiling effect under certain light conditions. The cause apparently is unpainted or shiny paint on some internal parts. Never would have thought about it, but sure enough in fading light this veil or halo appears. It is especially noticeable when compared to other binoculars that don't have the issue and once noticed it becomes distracting. The certain light BTW is overcast days with reflection from snow like ideal days for hunting deer. It almost looks like it is foggy when there is none to be seen. The size of the Prostaff 7s and Monarch 7, 8x30 is perfect but both have the haze.
The 10 and 8x43 top end Pentax are awesome. They are at the very top of my price range however and the ones available in 32 and 28mm literally pale in comparison. I am determined to find a mid sized or I know I will hate lugging them around. I would love to keep the DCF SP 8x43 but they are not exactly what I want and I can only afford one.
The Zeiss Terra were crisp but dark compared to the others, again in the mid size. No stray light or hazing with these and in normal daylight they are awesome.
I tried some Hawke et al of the Chinese knock off type and although impressive I guess I am a brand name guy. I know many brand names are Chinese as well but there is no cost savings going with these. Their flagship models are often more money than brand name.
Here is where things get a little strange. Having all these different binoculars home, I was able to compare them directly to several pairs I have on hand. My son's Bushnell Excursion EX 8x36 were as good as many, better than most and almost as good as the very best binoculars I tried. Sooo off to Canadian Tire I go and grab a pair of Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x36 with Prime ED glass to try. They are suppose to be an upgrade to the Excursions and the same glass as the Elites. I did try the new Elites as well but they only come in 8x42 or 10x42 if you want the good ED Prime glass. I found them very good optically but heavy with a narrow view. The diopter adjuster was not appealing to me either and was cheap feeling compared to all others.
The Legends not going to be mistaken for a pair of Swarovski but they are crystal clear in the center, have a large sweet spot and very little fall off considering an enormous field of view. I was watching deer until dark with several pairs in the truck and I am extremely impressed with how these compared to glasses costing double and even quadruple the price. No hazing or stray light to be seen, even when looking just off the sun. In daylight they are awesome. They are easily carried in a pocket and the depth of field when in the bush is great. These can be had for $250 to $299 and I had to go over $600 to see any glass that was even slightly better.
I am going to return a few pairs tomorrow and bring home some of the Vortex offerings to compare but I think for me the ED glass on these Legends will be more than good enough. I was determined to get better than the Bushnell but really shouldn't be surprised. I have Elite scopes on the two rifles I hunt and all they do is hold zero, never fog up and help kill a $#!% load of deer.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Not being an ass here but nothing anybody can say or do or show me will ever convince me to consider a Bushnell product.
If the Meoptas are not sufficient I will upgrade, I don't think I will need to though.
If the Meoptas are not sufficient I will upgrade, I don't think I will need to though.
gstprecision
Regular
- Location
- Frankford, On
In all the reading I have done, the Meopta is well rated. I wish there was somewhere nearby to try them. The biggest issue I am having is finding the 7 or 8 power in 28-32mm. It seems popular elsewhere but not here in Alberta. I just don't hunt the open country enough to justify the higher power. It is not so much the weight but the size of them.
I understand a brand bias as well. When I purchased my dream rifle it was topped with a new Z3 Swarovski. It fogged up ever time I went out of the house. I returned it and it came back with literally a page full of repairs they had done as if they just had a little routine they followed. It was winter when returned so I put it outside and within an hour you could see frost on the inside of the lens. I know they make good product but I have a really hard time taking them seriously after that, especially considering the price.
Want badly to try the Celestron Granite Series 9x33 as they get outstanding reviews on several sites. They look to be the size I am after but have not been able to track them down.
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
I like my Leupold Cascadia 10X42's.
That is their big problem, they are not available in stores as easily as some other brands. I got them off the web (from a canadian site) after reading reviews, but it was a risk. Very happy I did it though.
Definitely want to try the Granites vs my Bushnell Elite ED, which I love. Only reason being the celestrons have the size I want 7x33. Hard to find as mentioned but apparently one store around here (metro van) has a show room. Hopefully can check them out first.
You can pick up a set of ex-CF Elcan 7x50s for 4-800 on eBay. One of the highest quality glasses ever built and Canadian, sort of. The civy version was over $2000 retail 35+ years ago. Quite heavy though. On the other hand, I have a pair of Zeiss Binoctar 7x50s from the late 30s that are very comparable and that's without the coatings: amazing field of view and brightness for their age.
Roof prisms allow the straight tube we all expect now, but the old porro prism system with off-set objectives is simpler, stronger and IIRC inherently superior optically due to the light having a more direct path from object to eye.
The DF 7x40s made for the East German Army are excellent value, the later EDF 7x40s with roof prisms not so much IMO. I've looked through them and don't think they are any better than the DFs, in fact the inferior depth perception of the roof prism and the somewhat fragile looking hinge did not impress. Yellow tint too. They're over a grand new now, when the DFs are available for $300 and up.
The IOR Bucharesti 7x40s are excellent value. Schott glass as well. ht tp://www.armslist.com/posts/426846/portland-oregon-tactical-gear-for-sale--new-ior-sa-valdada-7x40-range-finder---ir-detector-binoculars A bit heavier than the DF7x40s IIRC. Again, $300 and up.
The most important characteristic other than optical quality is the exit pupil diameter: the ratio of the objective lens diameter to the magnification. We get hypnotized by magnification, but brightness is more important. All else being equal, I'd go for a 6x56.
Roof prisms allow the straight tube we all expect now, but the old porro prism system with off-set objectives is simpler, stronger and IIRC inherently superior optically due to the light having a more direct path from object to eye.
The DF 7x40s made for the East German Army are excellent value, the later EDF 7x40s with roof prisms not so much IMO. I've looked through them and don't think they are any better than the DFs, in fact the inferior depth perception of the roof prism and the somewhat fragile looking hinge did not impress. Yellow tint too. They're over a grand new now, when the DFs are available for $300 and up.
The IOR Bucharesti 7x40s are excellent value. Schott glass as well. ht tp://www.armslist.com/posts/426846/portland-oregon-tactical-gear-for-sale--new-ior-sa-valdada-7x40-range-finder---ir-detector-binoculars A bit heavier than the DF7x40s IIRC. Again, $300 and up.
The most important characteristic other than optical quality is the exit pupil diameter: the ratio of the objective lens diameter to the magnification. We get hypnotized by magnification, but brightness is more important. All else being equal, I'd go for a 6x56.
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The Legend Ultra ED have the Prime ED glass just like the Elites. It seems the Elites are 8x42 or 10x42 and the new Legends are the smaller ones. They also have the 25mm Elites but they are not water proof and not ED glass. I suspect they will drop those as there is an 8x25 Legend that is water proof and looks better on paper.
I ended up keeping the Legend Ultra ED in 8x36. They are as good or better than anything up to double the price through my eyes. I was prepared to buy the Swarovski 8x30 or the new Monarch 7 8x30 but I liked the Bushnell better. Everyone should at least try these before making a decision on reasonably priced glass.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Unpacked them on the weekend, once I felt them in my hands I knew it was what I was after.
They feel tough , they are a no frills solid unit.Hold a pair and you will know.
Optically, I like them very much from what I have seen so far, need to get them out in the field to really tell.
I don't see myself needing to upgrade at all.
They feel tough , they are a no frills solid unit.Hold a pair and you will know.
Optically, I like them very much from what I have seen so far, need to get them out in the field to really tell.
I don't see myself needing to upgrade at all.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
to the guys who love to compare glass how is the leupold acadia? im looking at the 10x42
