Product Review: The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 8 x 42 Binocular (3 Viewers)

[Dipperdapper]

Morning all,

Please find attached a link to my newly completed review of the high-performance Sky Rover Banner Cloud 8 x 42 APO binocular:

Product Review: Sky Rover Banner Cloud APO 8 x 42. | Neil English.net

I hope you find it enlightening!

Sincerely,

Neil English

 

[Geordiestew]

Thank you Neil.

Any idea where I could buy some of these? Seem to be missing from their Aliexpress store. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

 

[KaterinBortle9]

Any idea where I could buy some of these? Seem to be missing from their Aliexpress store. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

Appears to be sold out at their english Sky Rover Optics website, even for the 10x42.

 

[Dipperdapper]

Thank you Neil.

Any idea where I could buy some of these? Seem to be missing from their Aliexpress store. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

Good Morning,

Thanks for your reply. I ordered mine via Aliexpress directly. I ordered mine on March 15 and it took about three weeks to get to Scotland.
Unfortunately, they are selling rapidly. So I guess the only thing to do is keep an eye out for when they are restocked and then place your order then. It might help to contact them directly at [email protected] to ask about their availability and maybe to notify you when they become available again.

I suspect it might take a wee while to settle down.

With best wishes,

Neil

 

[Geordiestew]

https://skyroverofficial.aliexpress...e=bestmatch_sort&shop_sortType=bestmatch_sort

Available now (in small quantities) if anyone interested.

 

[Binocollector]

Considering that amounts to around 730€ incl 19% tax plus shipping, I'm very much not interested.

 

[Geordiestew]

Plus £25 delivery.

 

[Binocollector]

Plus £25 delivery.

Plus 19% taxes in Germany.
582.13€ + 35.36€ shipping = 617.49€ x 0.19 (tax) = 117.32
617.49 + 117.32 = 734.81€ all together.
For that price I am definitely looking at other options. Thats 200€ more than what I paid for my Made in Japan Fuji HC 8x42. For a few extra degrees of FoV? Nope.

 

[Canip]

My own experience with the Sky Rover, for what it‘s worth:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/911776-sky-rover-8x42-apo-banner-cloud-91°-fov/?p=13425881

Canip

 

[jgraider]

Nice review Canip. I've been following that thread, as this binocular really has my interest, and I've never really been afraid of taking a chance (Tract, Maven, etc). You mention build quality not up to the premium Euro's, but how does it compare to others in it's $500 price range? I've messed around with several in that price range and wonder how these compare. Thanks.

 

[Canip]

Build quality, if mechanics work , is certainly competitive in the class $ 500 and above.

Finish (body armour, joins, gaps etc.) is good, the focus wheel is nicely finished, the eyecups with clickstops are not perfect but work well.

I have already talked about focus and diopter, but that was about my own sample.

Let me say it this way: if quality control eliminates faulty and „sloppy“ samples, this binocular appears overall well built. No long time experience yet, of course, but if the Sky Rover holds up over time, with optics as we have seen them now, this thing will be a success.

 

[jgraider]

Build quality, if mechanics work , is certainly competitive in the class $ 500 and above.

Finish (body armour, joins, gaps etc.) is good, the focus wheel is nicely finished, the eyecups with clickstops are not perfect but work well.

I have already talked about focus and diopter, but that was about my own sample.

Let me say it this way: if quality control eliminates faulty and „sloppy“ samples, this binocular appears overall well built. No long time experience yet, of course, but if the Sky Rover holds up over time, with optics as we have seen them now, this thing will be a success.

Thanks. I know nothing about the Sky Rover company, or whatever company is backing them. Do you see it as another potential Zen Ray, or is the Sky Rover company legit?

 

[dries1]

It depends, how much effort (which translates to $$$) is put forward for quality control. To get there the price will have to go up.
Time will tell, most globally will buy a Nikon 7, and be quite satisfied.
Additionally a roof is more complicated than a porro to manufacture in large numbers.

 

[Canip]

or is the Sky Rover company legit

Yes. It is a division of famous KUO (Kunming United Optics), China‘s largest optics manufacturer.

 

[SuperDuty]

My own experience with the Sky Rover, for what it‘s worth:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/911776-sky-rover-8x42-apo-banner-cloud-91°-fov/?p=13425881

Canip

Basically, from what I’ve read in multiple reviews, it seems the general consensus is that the optics in these are at least fully the equal of the EL and NL, not almost, but fully, is that correct ?

 

[Canip]

Basically, from what I’ve read in multiple reviews, it seems the general consensus is that the optics in these are at least fully the equal of the EL and NL, not almost, but fully, is that correct ?

I will have to do much more detailed comparisions with top end European binos (including EL / SV / SF) to confirm this, but yes, so far, based on my cursory examination of the Sky Rover, I consider its optics equal, meaning that the correction of aberrations, control of stray-light, color fidelity, image brightness, sharpness / contrast and size of FOV are on an similar level.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I will have to do much more detailed comparisions with top end European binos (including EL / SV / SF) to confirm this, but yes, so far, based on my cursory examination of the Sky Rover, I consider its optics equal, meaning that the correction of aberrations, control of stray-light, color fidelity, image brightness, sharpness / contrast and size of FOV are on an similar level.

To say that this statement is a WOW moment, would be an understatement imho.

 

[Dipperdapper]

NL Cure

 

[dries1]

NL Cure
View attachment 1577200

Until it needs service, LOL. (I have to give credit though, that was a very good play on words).

 

[Westley]

Più del 19% di tasse in Germania.
582,13€ + 35,36€ spedizione = 617,49€ x 0,19 (IVA) = 117,32
617,49 + 117,32 = 734,81€ in totale.
Per quel prezzo valuterò sicuramente altre opzioni. Sono 200€ in più rispetto a quanto ho pagato per la mia Fuji HC 8x42 Made in Japan. Per qualche grado in più di FoV? NO.

Ho il Fuji, se 7,7 gradi contro 9,3 sono pochi..Oltre che più corretti..