Post by: ZRS-8x42 on October 12, 2008, 08:08:09 PM
Post by: Ray on October 13, 2008, 12:04:46 PM
I don't know the difference between Porro, Reverse Porro, Roof, Open Hinge. Do you happen to have any pictures for the low brow folks like me?
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on October 13, 2008, 06:54:02 PM
How about describing the techno part :dunno:
I don't know the difference between Porro, Reverse Porro, Roof, Open Hinge. Do you happen to have any pictures for the low brow folks like me?
Sorry, I should have explained before starting the poll.
Porro and Roof refer to two different prism systems that erect the image in the binoculars so you can see the object upside up, instead of upside down like astronomer telescope. The prisms also serve to fold the optical path so we can make the binoculars more compact.
Porro binoculars has its distinctive Z-shape. Our Neptune giant binoculars are Porro type. http://www.zen-ray.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_76&products_id=210
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zen-ray.com%2FImg%2FNeptune-1.jpg&hash=9c8d1ac94a446ed31bcb7330cb000a19685ef704)
Reverse Porro reverses the shape of traditional Porro binoculars with Objective lens closer than eyepiece. This is seen on compact binoculars.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zen-ray.com%2Fphotos%2Freverse.jpg&hash=8b78763e64dca8a7a2a623d4040713e112b8ea17)
Roofprism binoculars are more streamlined in design. Zen-Ray VISTA and Nikon Monarch both belong to this category. Typically, if the objective lens is larger than 40mm, it is called fullsize. Below it, it will be either compact or medium size.
The open hinge binoculars is different roofprism style. Swarovski EL is one example. Here is one picture of an open hinge design
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zen-ray.com%2Fphotos%2Fzen.jpg&hash=d1af19dd737bf0b54c31c927952b7ea41daff2bf)
Post by: columbiaman on October 14, 2008, 11:03:46 AM
The open hinge binoculars is different roofprism style. Swarovski EL is one example. Here is one picture of an open hinge design
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zen-ray.com%2Fphotos%2Fzen.jpg&hash=d1af19dd737bf0b54c31c927952b7ea41daff2bf)
This one looks great! Will I look more like a birder than a hunter with this? :chuckle:
Post by: columbiaman on October 17, 2008, 09:17:48 AM
Post by: BIGBULLBALLS on October 17, 2008, 03:55:38 PM
Post by: Charlie on November 29, 2008, 10:47:06 PM
Post by: MountainWalk on November 30, 2008, 01:22:16 AM
Post by: 270Shooter on November 30, 2008, 08:54:26 AM
(http://C:\Documents and Settings\Shelly\My Documents\My Pictures\1\SI_Conquest_8-10x30.gif)
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on December 30, 2008, 12:44:24 AM
We are also running a special promotion for forum members here.
Post by: 270Shooter on December 30, 2008, 08:40:27 PM
Are you guys going to be making a spotting scope with ED glass?
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on December 30, 2008, 09:28:26 PM
Hey ZRS-8x42,
Are you guys going to be making a spotting scope with ED glass?
Short answer is "Yes". But it might take a while! We are not too happy with the prototype ED spotting scopes the engineers come up with. Optically, they are excellent. But it is little too heavy. So tweaking those details will take some time. From my own experience, ED glass in binoculars provide more benefit than the one in spotting scope. Scopes typically have long focal length that are excellent for color aberration. Adding an ED glass will see some improvement on color fidelity, but not as much as on the short focal length binoculars.
Post by: 270Shooter on December 30, 2008, 09:32:44 PM
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on December 30, 2008, 09:59:17 PM
However, there are some excellent ED scopes that have superior optical design. What you get is not only the color fidelity, but also the overall image quality and resolution. My favorite is Kowa TSN-770. They are more expensive too. This is the type of ED scopes I would spend my money on and also it is the type we are working to make them more affordable.
Post by: Steve C on January 15, 2009, 09:24:12 AM
Interesting comment about focal length and ED glass. I had it pretty much in my head that the lower magnification of the typical hand held binocular received less benefit from ED glass than the higher power of the more typical spotting scope. In other words, what I had always heard was that the ED glass benefit occurred with increase in magnification. I wonder if you could comment a little further there? I'm much more of a binocular guy and prefer a relatively higher power binocular on a tripod when I want to look long. Less strain on my eyes and I can see better with a 12x+ tripod mounted binocular than I can from 25x spotting scope.
As to the poll, I have and use all of the types, so there is no good answer for me. However I have come to really like the full size roof prism with open bridge, like the ZEN ED (and others) and have always liked mid sized porros like the Yosemite. I have a wish for a dream roof prism binocular in 7x35, with ED glass and about an 8.5* fov. I have a Swift Eaglet 7x36 which is really close to the ideal, but not quite.
Post by: swanny on January 15, 2009, 09:49:47 AM
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on January 15, 2009, 10:10:39 AM
Charles,
Interesting comment about focal length and ED glass. I had it pretty much in my head that the lower magnification of the typical hand held binocular received less benefit from ED glass than the higher power of the more typical spotting scope. In other words, what I had always heard was that the ED glass benefit occurred with increase in magnification. I wonder if you could comment a little further there? I'm much more of a binocular guy and prefer a relatively higher power binocular on a tripod when I want to look long. Less strain on my eyes and I can see better with a 12x+ tripod mounted binocular than I can from 25x spotting scope.
As to the poll, I have and use all of the types, so there is no good answer for me. However I have come to really like the full size roof prism with open bridge, like the ZEN ED (and others) and have always liked mid sized porros like the Yosemite. I have a wish for a dream roof prism binocular in 7x35, with ED glass and about an 8.5* fov. I have a Swift Eaglet 7x36 which is really close to the ideal, but not quite.
Steve, Welcome to Hunting-WA!
There are two focal lengths (one for objective lens group, the other is for ocular lens group). To support 20x magnification power, a long objective focal length is required. It is much easier for light to converge with longer focal length optics (less aberration). However, when the light travel through ocular lens group with short focal length, the color abberation will get worse. The higher the magnification, the shorter the ocular focal length, the worse the color abberation gets. So your comment about higher magnification is absolutely accurate.
One reason you might feel eye strain from spotting scope is probably because it is not comfortable to view through one eyepiece vs two through binoculars. I have used some high quality 25x100 binoculars. They are as comfortable as the ZEN ED.
Post by: Steve C on January 15, 2009, 12:52:54 PM
Steve, Welcome to Hunting-WA!
There are two focal lengths (one for objective lens group, the other is for ocular lens group). To support 20x magnification power, a long objective focal length is required. It is much easier for light to converge with longer focal length optics (less aberration). However, when the light travel through ocular lens group with short focal length, the color aberration will get worse. The higher the magnification, the shorter the ocular focal length, the worse the color aberration gets. So your comment about higher magnification is absolutely accurate.
One reason you might feel eye strain from spotting scope is probably because it is not comfortable to view through one eyepiece vs two through binoculars. I have used some high quality 25x100 binoculars. They are as comfortable as the ZEN ED.
Thanks for the focal length and magnification comment. I should have had that figured out.
Also, you are right about the tripod mounted binoculars. Using two eyes is less stressing than using one, and that is a large reason I prefer the binoculars. Another equally large reason for me is the fact that a 12-15x binocular handles heat mirage a whole lot better than the 25-60x range of typical spotters.
Post by: blindpig on February 05, 2009, 01:30:41 PM
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on February 23, 2009, 09:40:16 AM
10x42's for me.
Maybe I should start a size/magnification poll too. :)
Post by: Coyote Control on February 26, 2009, 11:08:44 PM
The 10x50 are truly a good pair of optics, a little heavy, but very tough......
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg9.imageshack.us%2Fimg9%2F4678%2Fbinocular.jpg&hash=5b670431d190a2ad00ed748109c9f19d9f8c0210)