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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. B

    NL >=50 mm versions?

    Is the NL 14x52 intended to replace the SLC 15x56 as the premium mounted big-eye binocular, or is the idea similar to the 12x42 - i.e. to push the boundary of what can be done with a handheld binocular through the improved ergonomics and headrest? I don't know. I'm sure some people will be able...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    Once you're down the rabbit hole of wanting THE BEST set up, those questions are probably never going to leave you.
  3. B

    NL >=50 mm versions?

    14x52?!? I love the NL 12x42 because it's the only 12x binocular I've found to be really usable handheld. I still think a 14x52 would be too much for me handheld, but it would be fun to try. The prices, if right, are welcome, but I guess that will still translate to US prices at the $4,000...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    In my case, when I say I'd want to mount the 10x52, I don't mean all the time - I'd want them to perform both mounted and hand-held. I have a pair of SLC 15x56, which I enjoy owning because they're a lovely optical instrument, but I struggle to find practical reasons to carry them. They need to...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    I haven't compared the EL 10x42 and 10x50, but apart from those two scenarios I mention, I wouldn't expect to see any appreciable difference. Even in terms of dusk use, my eyes don't see a lot of difference between comparable 40 and 50mm binoculars. It's only when trying to pick out faint...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    I haven't tried it, but my understanding of the issue with installing the studs on the NL42s is that the threaded socket is very shallow - only around 3 turns. Seems it wasn't designed to be used to install a stud, and such use may be precarious. I don't need a stud pre-installed, I just would...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    The other thing I'd like to see on the NL52s is compatibility with standard tripod adapters. If Swaro don't put a regular 1/4"-20 socket on a single hinge 52mm binocular, that would really be spitting in the eye of their customers (what they have on the SLC56s works just fine). And yes, I know...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    As another point of comparison, the NL 10x42 is only 0.5" longer than the NL 10x32. Whenever I hold a pair of NL42s, it seems to me that the platform could readily accommodate a 50mm version without adding much, but that's just my brain interpreting the form, and has nothing to do with any...
  9. B

    NL >=50 mm versions?

    I'm hoping that the NL 52s won't have a much larger physical footprint than the NL 42s. The EL 10x50 is only about half an inch longer than the El 10x42. If that is the case, and the weight is similar to the EL 50s, they'll certainly be field-usable. The WX is really a dedicated astro binocular...
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    NL >=50 mm versions?

    If you can make it over to Japan, you can buy the WX 10x50 for less than $4,000, VAT-free. So the new NL 10x52 will probably end up being more expensive than the WX (although obviously a lot more convenient for everyday use).
  11. B

    Astronomical eyepiece compatible with Kowa 883?

    I'm necromancing this thread because I wanted to know if anyone is aware whether the 88A behaves the same way with astro EPs as the 883. Kowa have a table of astro EP compatibility which suggests they're the same, and based on that and various discussions, I bought a Pentax XW5 to go with a new...
  12. B

    Ethiopia and binoculars

    I can confirm no issues for transit passengers at Bole airport (Addis). It's only when your bags are scanned as you come out of the airport on arrival. Addis is a major transit hub, and given the volume of wildlife tourists to East Africa, they'd really be shooting themselves in the foot if they...
  13. B

    Roger Vine Zeiss 10x30 SFL review

    I was worried about blackouts with the SFL 10x30 until I read in Roger’s review that they are better than the SF 10x32 in that regard. Now I finally have my 10x30, I’m very happy. Early days, but they seem to offer excellent compact optics without any of the blackout issues that ruined the MHG...
  14. B

    Swarovski ATX/STX vs Kowa 88A/S

    Kowa does have a better FOV, but only with the fixed-mag TE-80XW, as already mentioned. There's nothing equivalent for the ATX, and the FOV on the fixed-mag BTX is not particularly impressive either.
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    Swarovski ATX/STX vs Kowa 88A/S

    I'm not sure that's right. The ATX has a 57-71 degree AFOV. I'd be surprised if the TE-11WZ has a much wider AFOV. Kowa does offer the new TE-80XW, however, which has a fixed 35/40x magnification and a 80 degree FOV, giving a slightly wider real FOV than the ATX or TE-11WZ at the bottom of their...
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    What did you see in your binoculars today?

    Blue-breasted Bee-eater and Tacazze Sunbird on power lines just outside my window. Both common here, but nice to see them together.
  17. B

    New ATC/ STC 17-40x56 Telescope

    As others have said, the point is not to carry a bag with you for that purpose, but to use a bag you’re carrying anyway. The other alternative is to have some kind of lightweight pocket that you can fill with rocks, etc. The other thing is, I wouldn’t use a freely swinging bag. At least in high...
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    What did you see in your binoculars today?

    Unless the answer is something like CA, astigmatism or kidney beaning, there's literally the entire rest of Birdforum to talk about it :devilish:o_O:unsure: Only joking - carry on . . . :whistle::censored:
  19. B

    Happy owners of a pocket 10x25?

    I haven't looked through the 10x30 yet. It is stuck somewhere in the USPS system.
  20. B

    Zeiss trade-in offer

    I think April 30 is the cut-off for purchases. You have until May 20 to submit the rebate request and then another couple of weeks to send in the old binoculars once the request is accepted. Don't take my word for it, though.
  21. B

    Happy owners of a pocket 10x25?

    I have a pair of Zeiss VP 10x25. I think they're just as good, optically, as the VP 8x25. I'm not convinced I can see more detail in them compared to the 8x25, due to the extra shakiness, but that detail is probably easier to see (if that makes sense). I just bought a pair of SFL 10x30, and...
  22. B

    SFL or Trinovid/Ultravid?

    If CA is your biggest issue, neither the SFL or the UV is ideal. They're not bad for CA, but they're not the best. I suggest looking around for a good deal on either a Zeiss SF 8x42 or a EL 8.5x42. Either model will probably be available in like-new 2nd-hand condition for well under Euro 2,000...
  23. B

    Yawn, just another SFL 40 comparison...

    Very interesting. I should have a SFL 8x40, SF 8x32 and a SFL 10x30 waiting for me when I get back to the US this summer. I already have the NL 12x42, and it's my favorite full-sized binocular.
  24. B

    Ethiopia and binoculars

    Currency and import controls present lots of juicy opportunities for those with the privilege to evade them (much more so than binocular rental). That's why those in power are typically so reluctant to let go of them.
  25. B

    Ethiopia and binoculars

    I live in Addis and can confirm that this is a thing. I think it became an issue in the last couple of years due to the war in Tigray, as binoculars are considered to have potential military utility. I don't know if it will get better as the peace process continues - these things often have a...
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