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opinions needed on kahles 10x42

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bigdave2006 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigdave2006 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: opinions needed on kahles 10x42
    Posted: November/08/2006 at 21:58
likes / dislikes of kahles 10x42

looking for new hunting binos in the $800 range

also, kahles compared to steiner predators 10x42


thanks
dave

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birdhunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote birdhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2006 at 06:48
Kahles are much better the Steiner Predators.  Kahles are in about the same class as Swarovski SLCs and Leica Trivoids but are less money.  I would look at the Sample list and save yourself about $200.  I bought a pair from Chris at SWFA and never regretted it.  Great optics for the money.  If you don't buy the Kahles I would look at the Leica Trivoids or Swarovski SLC's on the sample list you would have to spend a little more but these three are binoculars for a lifetime.  Let us know what you do.  Thanks
Birdhunter
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bigdave2006 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigdave2006 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2006 at 12:52
thanks birdhunter

question - do the sample list binos have warranty as a new pair?

dave
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2006 at 13:17
Yes, but it will vary according to the manufacturer.
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birdhunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote birdhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2006 at 12:05
Kahles are like Swarovski binoculars.  No matter who ownes them they are warrented for 30yrs unless you run over them with a truck or throw them down a mountain.  Kahles are great binos for the $$.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Acenturian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2006 at 18:49

Ok, as a potential buyer  how would the Kahles compare to say the Swarovski SLC?? I would expect that their is a significant differnece between the Kahles and the Swaro El's at least there should be for the difference in price.    ???????

 

 

AC

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/13/2006 at 20:50
Originally posted by Acenturian Acenturian wrote:

Ok, as a potential buyer  how would the Kahles compare to say the Swarovski SLC?? I would expect that their is a significant differnece between the Kahles and the Swaro El's at least there should be for the difference in price.    ???????

 

AC

 

Perhaps there should be, but there isn't.

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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birdhunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote birdhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/14/2006 at 06:56
The Kahles and Swarovski SLC's are really close in brightness, color, ect.  For the extra $$ I wouldn't pay the difference for the Swarovski EL's.  Your talking $800-900 difference.  It definately isn't worth that much money.  The EL's are a little brighter at dark and a bit clearer but thats it.  Once you get over the $500 price tag for binoculars there isn't alot of difference in the quality of glass that your looking through.  Unless your a hunting guide or you use the binoculars for your life's work you'll be very satisfied with the Kahles.  I wished I would have never sold mine    Call Chris at SWFA and get him to pick you out a nice pair from the Sample List and save even more $$.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/15/2006 at 11:45
Quote

Ok, as a potential buyer  how would the Kahles compare to say the Swarovski SLC?? I would expect that their is a significant differnece between the Kahles and the Swaro El's at least there should be for the difference in price.    ???????

 

 

AC

 

I am not disputing anything stated earlier by the other posts but would offer that the Kahles models have a considerably narrower field of view when compared to some of the high end bins of the same configuration. It would seem that there must be some optical design utilized by many manufacturers that allows them to offer certain optical characteristics with a particular sacrifice in one area or another. In the case of many of the mid/high mid price range roof prism binoculars the compromise seems to be field of view. Take a look at any of the 8x42 offerings from Nikon, Bushnell, Pentax, Kahles, etc... They all offer a 330 foot field of view. Now there is some obvious optical differences between many of these models which I am sure could be attributed to higher quality of glass, better lens coatings or tighter manufacturing tolerances but the overall end results in terms of specs seem so similar.

 

On another note, it has been often said that at some point you hit diminishing returns. In other words you end up paying alot of money for only slightly perceptible improvements in optical quality. I think that could very well be said in making the comparison between a Kahles model and a Swaro model. The Swaro will have a wider field of view with a slightly brighter or sharper image. It might offer truer color representation or less edge distortion. There are alot of little issues that might add up in the end. However, whether or not that justifies a significant price increase is entirely up to you as a consumer. We all have our own standards on what we can live with and without.

 

I will get off the soapbox now. ;)

 

 

Frank
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howler View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote howler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/20/2006 at 23:46

I too was looking at a new pair of Kahles Bino's,  I found a site that has a scorecard you type in the info and they rate the bino's for your preferences and the Pentax 10x43 SP's  came out on top, It surprised me is there something I am missing

here is the scorecard site

 

www.optics4birding.com/scorecardintro.aspx

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/21/2006 at 11:14

Originally posted by howler howler wrote:

I found a site that has a scorecard you type in the info and they rate the bino's for your preferences and the Pentax 10x43 SP's  came out on top, It surprised me is there something I am missing?

 

The O4B scorecard is interesting and perhaps even a good conversation starter but, it suffers from some definite problems:

 

1. It's too generic.  For example, it scores binoculars offering extra-wide fields of view lower because they claim that; "Frequently, truly wide-angle binoculars suffer somewhat in clarity and sharpness because of the optical compromise made in the design in order to provide that panoramic field. Accordingly, we have given the widest field binoculars somewhat lower scores to reflect this tendency."  [emphasis added] This tendency may truly exist but, there will be exceptions, especially with high-end models. However their scoring system still punishes any and every binocular that doesn't follow this assumed tendency with a lower score.  This flawed/generic scoring bias applies to most of their categories.

 

2. They score some things that I don't believe are legitimate.  The best example is in their "prisms" category.  Their top-scoring level is for "Exotic Phase Coatings."  Now, I may have missed something but, in all my reading about lens coatings, I've never heard anything about "exotic phase coatings."  It is absolutely true that some companies provide better/higher quality coatings (of all types) than do others and O4B might be trying to account for this quality gap but, how and where they are assigning this category is fairly questionable and would be the highly subjective product of much individual bias.

 

So, in short, if the scorecard gives you something to think about, use it.  Just remember that it is only valuable as a generic tool and that it reflects the personal preferences and biases of the individuals who created the scoring system - which may or may not reflect your own preferences. Also keep in mind that it cannot represent the very subjective elements of binocular selection like external ergonomics, color bias, build quality, etc. Finally, it does not measure actual brightness (i.e. light transmission,) resolving capacity, the presence and/or absence of optical abberations, etc., all of which are incredibly important aspects of optic design. Thus although it might be used as a starting point for some interesting generic discussions, it cannot be expected to accurately rate specific/individual units.

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Rusty View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rusty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/22/2006 at 08:53
I have compared the Kahles to Pentax in some optical stores, and the Kahles were better optically, but more expensive.  For birding, the Pentax may be better, for other purposes the Kahles is better (better in lower light conditions).
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