"It’s not that I actively dislike my 8x30 EII, it's just for me that it’s lacking in comparison to other binoculars
In particular, for whatever reason the width of the FOV is a distraction rather than a delight - in marked contrast to my 7x42 FL’s
(it’s hard to pin down why, but the view is not ‘homogenous’ in the same way that it is with the Zeiss)"
I agree with you on that point. The EII view is not as homogenous as other large FOV binoculars I own. I understand what you mean about the big FOV being almost distracting. I enjoy the view on the new WA Kowa BD XII 6.5x32 more than the EII I think. It could be the difference in the porro and roof view when you start getting a really big FOV. I don't think the EII has hugely different transmission values compared to the Habicht although they are lower. I feel a large part of why the EII appears darker to many people than the Habicht is the red bias that Nikon chooses to use for whatever reason. It is kind of like Leica in that maybe Nikon chooses the red bias because they like the image quality better.
https://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=695397&d=1558116954
In particular, for whatever reason the width of the FOV is a distraction rather than a delight - in marked contrast to my 7x42 FL’s
(it’s hard to pin down why, but the view is not ‘homogenous’ in the same way that it is with the Zeiss)"
I agree with you on that point. The EII view is not as homogenous as other large FOV binoculars I own. I understand what you mean about the big FOV being almost distracting. I enjoy the view on the new WA Kowa BD XII 6.5x32 more than the EII I think. It could be the difference in the porro and roof view when you start getting a really big FOV. I don't think the EII has hugely different transmission values compared to the Habicht although they are lower. I feel a large part of why the EII appears darker to many people than the Habicht is the red bias that Nikon chooses to use for whatever reason. It is kind of like Leica in that maybe Nikon chooses the red bias because they like the image quality better.
https://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=695397&d=1558116954
Last edited: