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What's a really nice pair of porro 7x50 binos ?

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Category: Other Optics
Forum Name: Binoculars
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URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=39613
Printed Date: March/28/2024 at 08:57
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Topic: What's a really nice pair of porro 7x50 binos ?
Posted By: trublu
Subject: What's a really nice pair of porro 7x50 binos ?
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 07:53
Hi there. Well thanks to everyone here for recommendations on Zenray ED3 8x43 and Vortex Viper HD 6x32 in roof prism binos. Very happy with both !!

Now - next pair I want to buy will be a classic 7x50 porro. What's a really nice pair ? Steiner ? Other ? These will not be carried so weight and size are not issues. Money is always an issue of course but buy once cry once hey.  Thanks everyone for your input.


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optics (so far): SightronIII 3.5-10x44, Zeiss conquest 3-9x40, Eotech 552, Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50, Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36, Zenray ED3 8x43, Vortex Viper HD 6x32.



Replies:
Posted By: coyote95
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 08:03
 These would be really nice! 
http://swfa.com/Zeiss-7x50-Marine-Binocular-P42619.aspx - http://swfa.com/Zeiss-7x50-Marine-Binocular-P42619.aspx


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"Life is like riding a bicycle . To keep balance you must keep moving" Albert Einstein


Posted By: FrankD
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 10:52
My favorite, reasonably priced, current production 7x50 porros are the Vixen Foresta 7x50s. Exceptional image quality in just about every optical area. I did a review on them a year or so ago.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=223931&highlight=Vixen+Foresta+7x50


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Frank


Posted By: David from NC
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 10:55
And just a tip here but with 7x50 porros, BE SURE you know the focus type on the binocular before you buy. 

MANY 7x50s-because of their naval/military/law enforcement heritage-use "individual" focus, where each eye piece is focused for the user and then usually left in place, and NOT center focus as many would expect when buying sight unseen.  For yachting or ships at sea, you would seldom have to refocus, so this is preferred, and probably more reliable/waterproof.

If your use however is general household/birds/wildlife watching, then this is likely NOT the best focus system for you.  It can not be focused quickly on birds or anything close up, and while Steiner pushes the "sports auto focus" (stating that once set, everything from 20 meters out is in focus) my experience with a couple of pair was that it wasn't a super sharp crisp focus like I was used to with lesser priced birding binocs.  The IF focus rings are usually much tighter (actually individual diopters, possibly?)

Center focus 7x50s are rare, and quality ones are rarer still.  If birds or general use is your main desire, you may need to expand your search to 7x42 also.  Just a heads up from someone who once made the assumption (and costly oversight) that an expensive porro would have a quick center focus wheel... Bucky


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 12:05
Originally posted by FrankD FrankD wrote:

My favorite, reasonably priced, current production 7x50 porros are the Vixen Foresta 7x50s. Exceptional image quality in just about every optical area. 

The major complaint, regarding the Vixen Foresta 7x50 Porro prism binoculars, is that they are not very rugged. 

They have plastic? barrels and are known for breaking off where they thread into the prism housings.

Not exactly your ideal sturdy 'hunting' binocular. Thumbs Down



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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 12:17
Originally posted by trublu trublu wrote:

Now - next pair I want to buy will be a classic 7x50 porro. What's a really nice pair ?
These will not be carried so weight and size are not issues. 
Money is always an issue of course but buy once cry once hey. 

When money is always an issue.............

http://swfa.com/Nikon-7x50-Action-Extreme-ATB-Binocular-P42216.aspx - http://swfa.com/Nikon-7x50-Action-Extreme-ATB-Binocular-P42216.aspx

If Individual Focus is not an issue for you & with 7x it does not have to be, and you don't mind
spending the money for the very best Porro prism 7x50 binocular, then take a look at the 
Fujinon 7x50 FMT-SX or FMTR-SX series. The MT series is a little cheaper.

https://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/binoculars/ - https://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/binoculars/




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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: Klamath
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 13:55
I guess I'm stuck on what you mean by classic.  It could be a classic in terms of longevity or age.  Or it could be design.  I suppose the classic 7x50 is the marine Military style with IF. 

With today's stuff there is a lot of lower price stuff, where lots of modern porros live today.  An exception is Stan's Fujinon.

IF should not be an issue if you don't need it for viewing closer than about 40 yards or so.  I recently scored for about $40.00 a Military style Bushnell from Kamakura that I have to admit is kind of nice.  Focus is just not an issue past the close focus point of 40 or so yards.  If you are looking for owls at night, I'd go for a center focus.  But for longer distance stuff IF is fine, at least in the one I have.

I got if for a knock around farm ATV, tractor rig.  It is sealed, nitrogen purged and easily collimated, and seems to be what i was after.  View is much better than I thought it would be.

You might surf some sites an look for some classic vintage age 7x50 wide field units.  Sears made some pretty spectacular ones that you can't find the likes of today.


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Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron



Posted By: stickbow46
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 14:38

+1  Fuiji 7x50 FTMR-SX,only difference between the FTM-SX & the FTMR-SX is the R stands for rubber.

Money was no object Doctor Nobilem 7-50 B/GA
 


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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken


Posted By: stickbow46
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 14:40
You might want to take a look over at allbinos.com reviews.They are pretty thorough..........

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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 15:45
Originally posted by stickbow46 stickbow46 wrote:


You might want to take a look over at allbinos.com reviews.They are pretty thorough..........


I like reading allbinos reviews for the individual components and transmission graphs, but their rating system is arbitrary and useless, IMO.

Fujinon has been producing excellent 7X50s for a long time. If you can handle IF, they are awesome.

The Swarovski Habicht 7X50 is an excellent binocular as well.

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-Matt


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 17:31
Originally posted by trublu trublu wrote:

Money is always an issue of course but buy once cry once hey. 

Not very many people willing to $pend the money on this one. (Lexus)

http://swfa.com/Nikon-ProStar-Binoculars-C10025.aspx - http://swfa.com/Nikon-ProStar-Binoculars-C10025.aspx  




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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/12/2014 at 17:38
Originally posted by stickbow46 stickbow46 wrote:

Money was no object Doctor Nobilem 7-50 B/GA

http://www.docter-germany.de/en/products/prod/cat/porro-prism-binoculars/prod/docter-nobilem-series.html - http://www.docter-germany.de/en/products/prod/cat/porro-prism-binoculars/prod/docter-nobilem-series.html


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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: FrankD
Date Posted: March/13/2014 at 10:10
Originally posted by Bird Watcher Bird Watcher wrote:

Originally posted by FrankD FrankD wrote:

My favorite, reasonably priced, current production 7x50 porros are the Vixen Foresta 7x50s. Exceptional image quality in just about every optical area. 

The major complaint, regarding the Vixen Foresta 7x50 Porro prism binoculars, is that they are not very rugged. 

They have plastic? barrels and are known for breaking off where they thread into the prism housings.

Not exactly your ideal sturdy 'hunting' binocular. Thumbs Down



I would be curious as to where you got the information that they aren't rugged? I have owned three Vixen Forest porros and did not have a single issue with any of them in terms of durability and construction. My oldest even managed to nudge one off of a patio table onto the floor. Collimation was spot on and there weren't any mechanical complaints either.

The last time I checked Cloudy Nights they were one of the most often recommended "current production" 7x50 porro models....following the Fujinon models.


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Frank


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/13/2014 at 10:26
Originally posted by FrankD FrankD wrote:

I would be curious as to where you got the information that they aren't rugged? 

The last time I checked Cloudy Nights they were one of the most often recommended "current production" 7x50 porro models....following the Fujinon models.

Some of the guys on CN ordered the Vixen 7x50 Foresta and received it broken in the box.

Here's another of the more recent examples:

http://www.cloudynights.com/profile/374815349518642256">mountain monk http://www.cloudynights.com/profile/374815349518642256 - mountain monk  offline
Sputnik
February 4, 2014 2:39 PM
My experience:

I own a pair of Vixen 7x50 Foresta, A great bino, in my view, incredibly sharp and light. I kept them on a small stool at my side when observing, a stool exactly 13 1/4 inches high (I just measured it). I usually set them on their side, but last fall I set them up, with the objectives down. I was a little spastic after two surgeries. I knocked them over. They fell and one barrel broke off! I wish I could post photos!. Not quite "armored!" They were no longer under warranty, but I called anyway. Vixen was not particularly supportive. They sit on my desk now, and I'm about to buy a pair of Nikon 7x35 AE's. Very disappointing. Caveat emptor. Perhaps I'll try again.

Dark skies.

Jack



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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/13/2014 at 10:32
Here's another example:

http://www.cloudynights.com/profile/374815349517669416">plyscope http://www.cloudynights.com/profile/374815349517669416 - plyscope  offline
Lift Off
February 4, 2014 9:16 PM
I like the Foresta 7x50 too, however I do think it is a little fragile. When I ordered mine from an Australian online supplier the first example arrived with one of the objective barrels broken at the base where it connects to the prism housing. It had not been packed very well. I returned it and a second example arrived in good condition with better packaging. 

I have read of a couple of cases of them going out of alignment and having to be replaced under warranty. For an inexpensive Chinese binocular I think they are good value with better than average optics however the build quality is average. The ocular bridge is plastic and flexible though I have not noticed a problem in use. 

I think the same optics in a tougher body with better quality control would be worth paying extra for. I also own a Japanese made Ultima 9x63 which I purchased new over 15 years ago. It is still in excellent condition other than the leatherette covering which is slowly disintegrating.
 

Andy

 



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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/13/2014 at 10:41
Here's an example that I found on the Bird Forum:

Tuesday 21st December 2010, 22:25
Well, I'm not getting the 7x50s after all. I got an email today saying that they had an accident in the warehouse and the 7x50s were damaged beyond repair. The left barrel is cracked and the objective was damaged. They're going to give me a refund.


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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/13/2014 at 12:02
One more for the road:

http://www.cloudynights.com/profile/374815349517413740">Stacy http://www.cloudynights.com/profile/374815349517413740 - Stacy  offline
Messenger
February 5, 2014 1:11 AM
I owned a Foresta briefly. I will say they are in no way marine or hunting binoculars. I actually returned mine as they did seem quite sub par as far as build quality. I think the best policy is "handle with care".
 

Mr. Stacy          From: Seattle, WA          Proud to be a Cloudy Nights Member since 9/15/02Current Moon Phase

* Celestron NS11 GPS - Stellarvue Raptor 90mm APO
* Vixen Ultima 8X56 - Fujinon 10X50 FMT-SX - Nikon 7X50 ProStar - Vanguard Endeavor ED 8X42 - Nikon Action Ex. 7X35
More cowbell please!



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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: FrankD
Date Posted: March/14/2014 at 10:57
After posting my last comment I did head over to Cloudy Nights and read the thread you are pulling those comments from. Interesting, really. I never received the impression that they weren't rugged. Thankfully, Vixen customer service came through for the gentleman that posted in that thread. A three week turn around time and a new binocular isn't bad in my opinion.

Still, despite the posts above, I would have no hesitation in taking the Vixen out hunting with me. It is notably larger of a binocular than I would prefer but if size and weight aren't an issue then I would certainly still recommend it. The optical quality is just that good.


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Frank


Posted By: Bird Watcher
Date Posted: March/14/2014 at 11:42
Originally posted by FrankD FrankD wrote:

Still, despite the posts above, I would have no hesitation in taking the Vixen out hunting with me.

Sounds like an excellent idea.

A work in progress, a review in the making.

Let us know the final results. 


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I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)


Posted By: stickbow46
Date Posted: March/14/2014 at 15:03
"Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken"

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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken


Posted By: FrankD
Date Posted: March/18/2014 at 08:07
Originally posted by Bird Watcher Bird Watcher wrote:

Originally posted by FrankD FrankD wrote:

Still, despite the posts above, I would have no hesitation in taking the Vixen out hunting with me.

Sounds like an excellent idea.

A work in progress, a review in the making.

Let us know the final results. 

Will do...next fall. ;)


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Frank



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