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

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

Tell the Difference

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12
Author
Message
koshkin View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Dark Lord of Optics

Joined: June/15/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 13182
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/27/2006 at 11:58
For my personal use I would probably take Minox porros over any binocular onthe list.  Only the Audubons can compete with Swifts optically, and I think Minox are built tougher and sealed better. 

Also, if you do not mind individually focusing eyepieces, Fujinon Polaris (FMTR-SX) binoculars have absolutely stunning glass for the money.  I've been trying to set up a comparison between Minox porros and Fujis, but not time yet.  Fuji is my go to binocular though.

ILya
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: December/27/2006 at 13:12
Originally posted by nksmfamjp nksmfamjp wrote:

 

Then I read that $400 roof are about like $150 porros. . .While, I would disagree, as far as I can tell.  I do still agree that for the money porros usually represent the greater optical value...

 

Actually, I would tend to agree with that comparison of roof to porro prices vs. value. (At least, generally speaking.)  The super cheapo Tascos, Bushnells, Simmons, etc. are of course, worthless but, once you jump to the $100+ mark and are dealing with quality instruments like Nikon Action Extremes, Pentax PCF WP IIs, Bushnell Legends, etc. you really do get many times the optical quality for much less $$$$. Of course, the trade off is that the porro prism binocular is going to be much larger, heavier, etc.

 

Originally posted by nksmfamjp nksmfamjp wrote:

So far, I have been most impresseed with the Bushnell Discoverers which I tried out.  They just looked and felt like high dollar glass to me... Why were they discontinued?    

 

As has already been pointed out, only the porro prism B&L Discoverer was discontinued. I have one in 10x42 (it was also made in an 8x42 configuration) and it is a superb binocular. I would imagine that only a few people at Bushnell can give the authoritative/definitive reason for it being discontinued but, I can venture a guess.  This binocular retailed for a bit over $400 (putting it into the same class as the current Minox porro offerings) and it is worth every penny.  The problem is, this is a rough spot in the market for a porro to try to hold. For $400 there are a lot of very good roof prism binoculars available and they will all be smaller, lighter, more compact, and more comfortable to pack around.  They are certainly not as good optically as the porro prism binocular but, (as I already mentioned) most people won't be able to initially see those differences. What's more, those who do will often still choose to sacrifice that little bit of optical quality for the convenience of the smaller roof prism package.  Heck, if it were strictly a function of optical quality, no one would ever buy Swarovski ELs, Zeiss FLs, Leica Ultravids, etc. Why, do you ask? Because both Zeiss and Swarovski make super-premium ($1000+) porro prism binoculars that put those others to shame. How many of them have you seen lately, though?  Not many, if any I would bet.  I would even dare venture that 95+% of the optics consumers in the world are blissfully unaware of their very existence.

 

Porros seem to do pretty well in the $100 - $200 range where their optical advantages tend to be more obvious and the budget-conscious consumer tends to be more willing to accept the greater size of the porro prism design. Jump to the "high-dollar" arena for porros however, and they have a much harder "row to hoe" to make the sale.

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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/27/2006 at 19:30
koshkin and lucznik,

Do either of you know if there is any connection between the Swift 8.5x44 and the Kowa Genesis 8.5x44 binocular. Does the Swift come out of Japan?

Have either of you heard anything about the Kowa mid-range to top-of-the-line binoculars?

The Genesis 10.5x44 costs around $1,400.
The Genesis 8.5x44 costs around $1,260.


Edited by Bird Watcher
Back to Top
Acenturian View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: September/07/2004
Status: Offline
Points: 543
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Acenturian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/27/2006 at 21:16

Bird Watcher:

I don't know if there is any connection between the Kowa genesis or the Swift Audubon, but yes, my Swifts were made in Japan.

 

 

AC

If You're In A Fair Fight, You Didn't Plan It Properly

- Anonymous

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/27/2006 at 21:51
Great...Thanks!
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: December/28/2006 at 21:24

Originally posted by Bird Watcher Bird Watcher wrote:

koshkin and lucznik,

Do either of you know if there is any connection between the Swift 8.5x44 and the Kowa Genesis 8.5x44 binocular. Does the Swift come out of Japan?

Have either of you heard anything about the Kowa mid-range to top-of-the-line binoculars?

The Genesis 10.5x44 costs around $1,400.
The Genesis 8.5x44 costs around $1,260.

 

Sorry, I don't know the answer to your questions.

 

I have very limited knowledge about Swift products and absolutely none about Kowas. (I've actually never even seen a Kowa optic.)

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12
  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 0.266 seconds.