OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Other Optics > Binoculars
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - New binos
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

New binos

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
chmcmm View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/15/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 15
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chmcmm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: New binos
    Posted: November/27/2006 at 15:26

I'm looking for a good pair of 8x32's to top off my "collection". Used for hunting. I've narrowed it down to the following:

 

Minox BD or BL's (any appreciable difference?)

Zeiss Conquest

Pentax DCF SP's or PCF XP's

 

I've looked through the Zeiss Conquests. Very clear but light gathering wasn't any better than Nikon Monarchs. I have other Pentax binos. Very nice glass for the money. Opinions?

Back to Top
lucznik View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master


Joined: November/27/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1436
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2006 at 16:05

Pretty much all of the binoculars you have on your short-list are high quality units.  I would think that the decision is going to have to be made primarily on the basis of their ergonomics and only you can decide which feels better in your hands.

 

For me it would come down to a choice between the Minox BD and the Pentax SP, with the Minox probably having a slight edge. (I might have gone for the somewhat more expensive Minox BL but, SWFA lists this binocular as having a very narrow 243 ft FOV.  I would want to confirm this as it seems like it must be a typo but if true, it would definately knock that binocular out of the running.)

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
Back to Top
FrankD View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman


Joined: November/11/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 686
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/01/2006 at 11:43
The Minox series does have a narrower field of view (not sure about that published number you posted) than some other competing models. It was my understanding that it is the result of their use of aspheric lenses in the eyepiece. This does cut down on field of view but creates a sharper image from edge to edge. I have not tried the 8x32 configurations of the BD or BL series (I think field of view was between 390 and 400 feet). However, I did own a 8x32 DCF SP and I was very happy with them. They were actually my favorite sub-$1000 8x32 model. I liked their brightness, sharpness, flatness of field and general handling charactertistics. At the $350 price point I think they are the cat's meow. I have owned the Conquest 8x30 and Pentax XP 8x33 and I would choose the SP over both of them.
Frank
Back to Top
Bird Watcher View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: August/30/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 1523
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/04/2006 at 21:52
Minox BD 8x32 BR has a FOV of 133m, which should translate to around 436.35'.
Back to Top
chmcmm View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/15/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 15
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chmcmm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/05/2006 at 20:20
Thanks for the replies. I ended up going with the Minox 8x42 BL - green edition. They're only about a 1/2 inch longer and 4 ounces heavier than the 8x32. Got a fantastic deal that I couldn't pass up.
Back to Top
Tero View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: December/04/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 135
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/05/2006 at 20:39
Sounds good. I have an 8x32 roof prism, and it is kind of a toy, but smaller than my 8x40 Actions. I use both, though. 
Back to Top
FrankD View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman


Joined: November/11/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 686
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2006 at 06:38

Originally posted by Bird Watcher Bird Watcher wrote:

Minox BD 8x32 BR has a FOV of 133m, which should translate to around 436.35'.

 

I would like to hear more about your experiences with them after you receive them. I see them priced right around $250 and others have suggested they offer better optical performance than the Monarchs.

Frank
Back to Top
chmcmm View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/15/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 15
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chmcmm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/19/2006 at 21:50
They arrived. Initial impressions are very favorable. For around $250 I'm very impressed. Nice blend of smaller size and weight. I'll have to do more optics testing but so far so good.
Back to Top
FrankD View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman


Joined: November/11/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 686
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/20/2006 at 05:54

Thanks chmcmm.

 

Let us continue to know your experiences with them as Minox is one of the brands trying to break through into the market here more.


Frank
Back to Top
chmcmm View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: July/15/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 15
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chmcmm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/13/2007 at 13:36

I thought I'd give a little field report. I didn't use the binos until the 2nd archery/muzzleloader season after Christmas. Most of my hunting was done in the deep woods. Overall, I'm very pleased. Even though they're 8x42's the binos are lightweight, compact, and easy to use. I highly recommend the bino buddy straps. Optically they're excellent. Very clear and bright way after legal hours. The thing I liked the most was depth perception they provided trying to pick out deer between the trees. I compared them to Monarch's and Conquests. For the money I don't think you could do better in the $300-500 range.

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.158 seconds.