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Pentax SP 8x43

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cropslx View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cropslx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Pentax SP 8x43
    Posted: August/13/2011 at 15:56
I have a pair of Pentax SP 8x43's. I use these for deer hunting in woods and fields. Is it worth upgrading to another binocular in the $500 price range or would there not be much improvement? I have had these for about 5 or 6 years and have no complaints. Just wondered if there has been a big break through in bins :)
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FrankD View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/13/2011 at 17:01

I have owned the Pentax SP 8x43 and 8x32. Excellent binoculars and certainly one of the benchmark roof prism binoculars from 5 or 6 years ago. They were the proverbial step-up from the Nikon Monarchs. In many ways they were compared directly with the Alpha binoculars of their time. I do believe they originally sold right around the $600 price point.

The two improvements you are going to see in comparing the SPs with any of the current high-performers at/around the $500 price point is in the field of view and in color fringing control. Nowadays the mid-price, high end performers all incorporate some type of ED (extra low dispersion) glass in the objectives to produce an image with low levels of chromatic aberration. This typically produces a sharper image. In addition many bins at or under the $500 price point incorporate dielectric coating on the roof prisms. This increases apparent brightness and contrast. Lastly, most of the 8x42(3)s have a noticeably wider field of view. The SP had a 330 foot field of view at 1000 yards. The newer models now have 420-430 foot fields of view.
 
So, to summarize, I would say there has been a big breakthrough in bins at this price point in the last two or three years.
Frank
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cropslx View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cropslx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/13/2011 at 17:20
THANKS FrankD!!!! That is good info right there. If I remember correctly I paid $425 delivered. I found a site that sold them at a low price and SWFA did the 110% price match. How much do you think I could sell them for and get a new pair? The wife is going to love this one :)
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Bitterroot Bulls View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/13/2011 at 22:18
The Pentax SPs are still a fine-performing bin, save the mentioned FOV and CA issues.  There is still a used market for them.  See what they are going for on that giant auction site.
-Matt
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FrankD View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/14/2011 at 07:31
I agree. You should be able to get $250-$300 for them if they are in very good condition.
Frank
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