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So you gotta go alpha? |
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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Posted: September/04/2009 at 07:12 |
If I was going that route, I'd get the Swarovski SLC 7x42s. The more I read about and experience myself with optics, the more I realize that magnification isn't everything. In fact, it can be downright detrimental. The issue with magnification is that the higher up you go the harder it is to keep them steady and depth of field and field of view decrease. I can keep 10X bins steady just fine, but I'd still consider the better low-light performance and much better depth and FOV. The Swaro 7x42s are a good size and weight. While not their finest glass, compared to the Zeiss and Leica offerings @ 7x42, the price is significantly lower and it is still some great glass.
Of course I'd like to see some 7x42 offerings from the likes of Vortex in their Razor line. Offhand, the only ones I can think of that interest me are the 7x36s from Zen-Ray, but the exit pupil isn't as good. Edited by jonoMT - September/04/2009 at 08:53 |
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Reaction time is a factor...
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mwyates
Optics Master Joined: June/15/2004 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1196 |
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The older you get the better 7X looks. The meopta 7X42 should always be considered; love mine. They, and my 6X Katmai's are all I ever use. Gave my 8X binocs to my kids. I've never even considered 10X
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No man on his deathbed ever said "I wish I'd made more money".
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308WIN
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/28/2009 Status: Offline Points: 120 |
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yep great Binos a little weight but they hold well. I also am liking the 8.5x42 EL WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A LARGER "APPARENT" FOV AND THE DIFFERENCE IN FOV BETWEEN it and the 7x42 @ 100 yards is 3 feet and 1.5 feet @ 50 yards (ex. woods...)
the depth of field is slightly better in the 7x42 but the 8.5x42 provides a "larger" image not just more magnified the actual circular image area is larger to the eye Edited by 308WIN - September/06/2009 at 10:46 |
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308WIN
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/28/2009 Status: Offline Points: 120 |
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pahuntnut
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/20/2008 Location: Pa Usa Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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To answer you question i would say yes you gotta go alpha. I keep reading how this glass is a good as __________ (insert alpha name in blank). Or these bins rival european glass. But it seems eventually everyone who can and some who cannot afford alpha glass end up buying a pair. How many on this forum have had alpha"s and sold them to get something far cheaper because the glass was just as good as alphas? So what I am going to personally do is to quit pussy footing around and buy a pair of alpha's. After all, your wife can only get so mad.
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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If you went with the SLCnew 7x42's I don't think you'd be disappointed at all. The differences I've found between them and the Swaro EL's are the focus wheel, weight, and feel. Edited by mike650 - September/08/2009 at 13:09 |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
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Edited by FrankD - September/09/2009 at 20:11 |
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Frank
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Klamath
Optics Master Joined: May/20/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1308 |
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Frank is smiling, but I believe it is because he has done exactly that.
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Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron |
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pahuntnut
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/20/2008 Location: Pa Usa Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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I would be interested Frank, what did you replace and with what?
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FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
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I sold a Swaro 8x32 EL and an 8.5x42 EL for a Promaster Infiniti Elite ELX ED. It is one of several of the new open-hinge ED binoculars currently on the market.
I also sold a Zeiss 7x42 FL for a Zen Ray ED 8x43.
And seeing as we are talking about less expensive than an "Alpha", I have almost sold another Zeiss 7x42 FL for a Meopta Meostar. The auction ends today on Ebay.
Now I am not going to sit here and paint the picture that one is "as good as" the other for everyone out there. You have to determine specifically what your needs are and then buy appropriately. Based on my experiences with optics I simply do not believe that a majority of hunters from our neck of the woods needs to be toting around "alpha" glass.
For one, the optical and build quality of the mid (and even some of the low priced) glass has risen dramatically. Two, a majority of hunters that I am acquainted with do not use and abuse their glass to the point where the difference in optical or build quality would be noticeable when going from a mid-priced to a high priced piece of glass. That would also apply to the type of environment that most hunters here place themselves in. I can just as easily see an 8-pointer walking past my stand at 50 yards with a Leupold Yosemite 6x30 as I could with a Swaro SLC 8x30. It would not even surprise me to find that the centerfield image quality on both of those binoculars would be arguably similar for that type of application.
Just my opinion. Edited by FrankD - September/12/2009 at 08:32 |
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Frank
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pahuntnut
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/20/2008 Location: Pa Usa Status: Offline Points: 65 |
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Thanks, for you reply
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John Barsness
Optics Optimist Joined: January/27/2009 Status: Offline Points: 785 |
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My guide on a recent (August) bear hunt in Alaska is going home and sell the alpha 10x40 he just purchased at Cabea's before this season because of the Zen Ray 8x43 ED I had on the hunt.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I've had just about every alpha binocular over the years and I sold them all. My favourite alpha was Swaro SLCneu 7x42.
Looking at what I have right now (that I own; I always have a few binoculars on hand that are evaluatin samples and need to be returned), I do not see anything expensive. Here is what I currently have: Leupold Yosemite 6x30 (porro), Vortex Viper 6x32 (roof), Russian 7x30 military binos (porro), Hawke Frontier ED 8x43 (roof), Swift Ultralite 10x42 (porro). None of these binoculars cost more than $500. The difference between the alphas and cheaper binoculars is getting smaller every year. It is still there and for some it makes a difference. That difference is not only optical, but also mechanical: focuser quality, eyecup construction, etc. ILya
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John Barsness
Optics Optimist Joined: January/27/2009 Status: Offline Points: 785 |
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Forgot to mention a very successful lawyer that I know. Last year he gave away his well-used alpha binocular to an African PH as a tip, and when he got back to the U.S. was startled to find out how much the price had gone up. Now, this guy can definitely afford the alphas, but $2000 still created incredible sticker shock.
I was shooting praire dogs with him this spring, using a Hawke 10x. My friend used them quite a bit himself and when he got home bought TWO, just so he could have a back-up--and figured he was still more than $1000 ahead.
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cajunhunter
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/08/2007 Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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I am not going to by alpha again, but I don't think I will sell my Zeiss 7x42 Victory T*FL.
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