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Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: ZRS-8x42 on October 12, 2008, 08:08:09 PM


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Title: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on October 12, 2008, 08:08:09 PM
It's not a scientific poll as I haven't talked to my statistician yet. :) If you have multiple pairs of binoculars, please pick one of your most favorite.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: Ray on October 13, 2008, 12:04:46 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?
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
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)
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
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:
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: columbiaman on October 17, 2008, 09:17:48 AM
I like my Nikon Monarch and Zen-Ray VISTA. Both should fall into the fullsize roofprism. They are both nicely balanced in light weight, ruggedness, and brightness.  I would like to get a compact pocket binocs in the future so I can take it wherever I go.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: BIGBULLBALLS on October 17, 2008, 03:55:38 PM
Swarovski SLC 10x42 roofprism.  The best glass on the market, second only to the EL.  IMO
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: Charlie on November 29, 2008, 10:47:06 PM
Bausch & Lomb Elite 10x42 roof prism.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: MountainWalk on November 30, 2008, 01:22:16 AM
Swaro SLC's, whatever they are.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: 270Shooter on November 30, 2008, 08:54:26 AM
I use Ziess 8x30 conquests.
(http://C:\Documents and Settings\Shelly\My Documents\My Pictures\1\SI_Conquest_8-10x30.gif)
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on December 30, 2008, 12:44:24 AM
wow.. 34% voted for open hinge design. We will be coming out with ZEN with ED glass next month. It has 65 degree AFOV, which delivers 426 ft field of view at 1000 yards for an 8x model.  More details can be found here http://www.zen-ray.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=240

We are also running a special promotion for forum members here.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: 270Shooter on December 30, 2008, 08:40:27 PM
Hey ZRS-8x42,

Are you guys going to be making a spotting scope with ED glass?
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
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.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: 270Shooter on December 30, 2008, 09:32:44 PM
Thats cool. So if you had a choice would you get a scope with ED glass or not? Is it worth it?
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: ZRS-8x42 on December 30, 2008, 09:59:17 PM
I have seen some spotting scopes on the market with two models in one series: one with ED and one without ED. In those cases, there is no major optical system change between those two models other than changing out objective lens with ED glass.  I would not spend more on ED version on those scopes because the benefit is minimal. 

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.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: Steve C on January 15, 2009, 09:24:12 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.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: swanny on January 15, 2009, 09:49:47 AM
Alpen Shasta Ridge 8x42's. Great glass for less money!
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
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.

 
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
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.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: blindpig on February 05, 2009, 01:30:41 PM
10x42's for me.
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
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.  :)
Title: Re: Poll: Binoculars Style
Post by: Coyote Control on February 26, 2009, 11:08:44 PM
These are what I use now - don't know how much longer I will have them, seems my son has his eye on the Geovid. But the 10x50 Leica I will keep until "death do us apart"!!
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)
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