Curio 7x21 vs. CL 8x25 pocket (2 Viewers)

[aix123]

I'd complain. Looks used.

Maybe used. It was good to get your opinion, as it all helps. But apart from the lack of paint on that bit everything is absolutely pristine. Not a speck of dust, fingermark, etc. I checked very closely on receiving it. Straps still in original packaging. Box entirely unmarked inside and out, etc. It's no problem because they're returnable. It's a reputable UK seller. They've offered £50 off. Deciding tomorrow whether to keep them. I don't really need the money, tbh.

I again tried out the Curio and the CL Pocket, today, for quite some time. After everything I wrote in my long comment above, I now prefer the Curio, and in fact am very much warming to it. If it didn't exist, I'd probably be fairly happy with the CL Pocket though. But on balance the Curio is preferable for me. I'll either keep the one I have, or get a replacement. Today I got used to using it - found it easier to hold and also easier to see through than I initially thought. I found myself resting my thumb against the side of my nose which really improved stability and getting the eye distance right. And regarding getting the focus right at long distances it's little or no different to other binoculars (not sure why I didn't realise that yesterday). And the small size and low weight really tip the balance for me, because I'd be taking them on trips where I'm also carrying a camera and lenses. One video review on YT, says the pouch on the CL Pocket is better and more snug, but the Curio pouch, while fairly big, is also very nice, though a zip would be preferable.

Another thing I noticed today is what's shown on the photo below. During manufacture (I assume), one part of the rubber around one of the eyepieces has been set nearer to the barrel than it is on the rest of the eyepiece. There's far less of a gap, in other words. The barrel is not central within the rubber casing. Anyone else come across this? On the other eyepiece, the gap is the same all the way around. This issue doesn't affect using the binocular. The optics seem perfect.

 

[PatR]

Another thing I noticed today is what's shown on the photo below. During manufacture (I assume), one part of the rubber around one of the eyepieces has been set nearer to the barrel than it is on the rest of the eyepiece. There's far less of a gap, in other words. The barrel is not central within the rubber casing. Anyone else come across this? On the other eyepiece, the gap is the same all the way around. This issue doesn't affect using the binocular. The optics seem perfect.

Glad you like the Curio, it is a fantastic bit of kit.

The chip on the paintwork is annoying but something you could do yourself unless you cotton-wool your bino's. I would accept the £50 but that is absolutely your call.

I have just checked my Curio's and there is a very slight difference/gap on the left ocular. The rubber armour that continues to the eyepiece is unsupported and thus flexible which may explain a reason for the 'gap'.

If you unscrew both eyepieces off the body you will see what I mean, the armour is very flexible and the circle of rubber where it meets the eyepiece in its down position is not quite concentric on my left barrel and I suspect that you will find similar once you have removed the eyepieces from your Curio. As you say it has no effect on the optical quality.

 

[Trinovid]

Just to the left of the focus wheel. I'm pretty certain these are brand new. Apart from the missing paint, the pouch, box and everything in it is in that condition when you can tell it's highly unlikely to be an item that has been returned...

I'm with Dyrlege on this; definitely a pre-owned binocular there.
Not unusual either for someone to use a product, but never even take the accessories out of the box.

 

[ReinierB]

I still love them both very much... don't know which one I will keep. The bigger size of the CL 8x25 is slightly more comfortable for me. Keeping both doesn't really make sense. Maybe I well keep the Curio and later add the CL 10x25...

 

[Dyrlege]

I'm keeping my curio for much the same reasons: it is truly pocketable, excellent optics and really useful.
It does not replace a good scope or larger bins, but it certainly complements them, and certainly gets more use!
Per

 

[aix123]

Glad you like the Curio, it is a fantastic bit of kit.

The chip on the paintwork is annoying but something you could do yourself unless you cotton-wool your bino's. I would accept the £50 but that is absolutely your call.

I have just checked my Curio's and there is a very slight difference/gap on the left ocular. The rubber armour that continues to the eyepiece is unsupported and thus flexible which may explain a reason for the 'gap'.

If you unscrew both eyepieces off the body you will see what I mean, the armour is very flexible and the circle of rubber where it meets the eyepiece in its down position is not quite concentric on my left barrel and I suspect that you will find similar once you have removed the eyepieces from your Curio. As you say it has no effect on the optical quality.

Thanks for checking yours. It sounds similar to mine, except that the narrower gap between the rubber and eyepiece is on part of the right ocular, rather than the left. In fact, as you may be able to see on the photo above, there's almost no gap at all on the top half. Maybe yours is like that, with hardly any gap.

I'm sure it would be fine to do, but I don't think I'll unscrew the eyepieces, as I've not done that before any binocular, and I may be returning them for a replacement. To some extent I can see that the armour is indeed very flexible. If I opt for a replacement and they're the same, it won't be a problem.

 

[aix123]

I still love them both very much... don't know which one I will keep. The bigger size of the CL 8x25 is slightly more comfortable for me. Keeping both doesn't really make sense. Maybe I well keep the Curio and later add the CL 10x25...

For a while today I thought the same. But as you say, for a binocular of this type keeping both doesn't make sense or feel right, because they have virtually the same application. Not sure if that's the right word.

It is a difficult decision if you like both - and I don't entirely dislike the CL Pocket, far from it. It's very nice. I haven't tried the 10x Pocket. Could be interesting.

 

[PatR]

For a while today I thought the same. But as you say, for a binocular of this type keeping both doesn't make sense or feel right, because they have virtually the same application. Not sure if that's the right word.

It is a difficult decision if you like both - and I don't entirely dislike the CL Pocket, far from it. It's very nice. I haven't tried the 10x Pocket. Could be interesting.

The 10x is a great little bino and it compliments the Curio perfectly. The magnification difference twixt 7x and 8x is negligible to my eyes at least and though I do have several pocket Bino’s, the Curio’s are the ones that invariably end up in my jacket pocket or slung around my neck. They are my favourite.

I note that you are reluctant to unscrew the eyecups, it will do absolutely no harm and you will see the reason for the gap. It can happen either side or both and I suspect that your replacement, chip free I hope, will be exactly the same.

 

[Rg548]

Get a Lowepro Tahoe cs20 case, its better than anything Swaro, Leica or Zeiss make. Perfect fit for small pocket binos, and superb protection.
And you keep your original case un-used if you decide to sell them.
It's always worth playing around with binos to get the right feel.
I couldn't settle with my fiddly UV8x20 for a bit, but now i'm all good with them.
I had the CL8x25.... i prefer the Curio absolutely no question and would have bought some, but I got a great deal on my Ultravids.
I've said before, 7's to 10's is a big difference, but 7's to 8's is marginal.
Curios are really spectacular for a pocket bino.

 

[Rg548]

8x25's were too big to be truly pocketable. And the superb Zeiss VP8x25 in my opinion are not close to pocketable.
Mine were left behind regularly.
But 8x20 or 7x21really can disappear on you.
You just have to accept the awkwardness..... it's part of the deal.
I chose small pockets, and one full size bin. Job done.

 

[aix123]

8x25's were too big to be truly pocketable. And the superb Zeiss VP8x25 in my opinion are not close to pocketable.
Mine were left behind regularly.
But 8x20 or 7x21really can disappear on you.
You just have to accept the awkwardness..... it's part of the deal.
I chose small pockets, and one full size bin. Job done.

The awkwardness was something I hadn't borne in mind enough when I first tried the Curio. Now I can deal with it pretty well - and the payoffs in terms on size and weight are great.

I do find the small eye cups a bit frustrating (but only a bit). I hold them slightly away from my eyes, because - believe it or not - I find the eyecups give me a tickling sensation on my eyelashes. Maybe I could fit extensions, if they exist. I'm not sure if I'm joking or not. Maybe generic ones exist.

 

[aix123]

The 10x is a great little bino and it compliments the Curio perfectly. The magnification difference twixt 7x and 8x is negligible to my eyes at least and though I do have several pocket Bino’s, the Curio’s are the ones that invariably end up in my jacket pocket or slung around my neck. They are my favourite.

I note that you are reluctant to unscrew the eyecups, it will do absolutely no harm and you will see the reason for the gap. It can happen either side or both and I suspect that your replacement, chip free I hope, will be exactly the same.

I might unscrew them tomorrow. After your comments I'm no longer worried about the gap, thanks. Also, I looked at a few photos and one video which showed similar. In fact in the video, filmed in 2022, of the burnt orange colour, both eyepieces are way off centre. They make mine look almost perfect.

 

[aix123]

In my case the focuser of the CL 8x25 is better, smoother. The focuser of the Curio is dryer and has just a bit more friction.

Do you find the Curio's focuser is dryer when turned anti-clockwise than when turned clockwise? Especially when turning anti-clockwise when focusing at nearer distances.

Clockwise it's smooth, anti-clockwise dryer, as you put it.

That's how I experience it on the Curio I have. It's not a problem, but I wondered if you or others experience the same thing.

 

[mwhogue]

Mine is perfectly smooth and uniform in both directions throughout the range.

Mike

 

[PatR]

Mine is perfectly smooth and uniform in both directions throughout the range.

Mike

+1

 

[pm42]

+1

+2

 

[ReinierB]

Do you find the Curio's focuser is dryer when turned anti-clockwise than when turned clockwise? Especially when turning anti-clockwise when focusing at nearer distances.

Clockwise it's smooth, anti-clockwise dryer, as you put it.

That's how I experience it on the Curio I have. It's not a problem, but I wondered if you or others experience the same thing.

It's in both directions. Smooth, but just a little bit dryer than the one of the CL 25. But then, the one of the CL 25 is very fluid, almost spongy.
They both have really nice focusers.

 

[Dyrlege]

+2

+3

 

[Sky2goflying]

+3

+4

 

[mwhogue]

It's in both directions. Smooth, but just a little bit dryer than the one of the CL 25. But then, the one of the CL 25 is very fluid, almost spongy.
They both have really nice focusers.

Reading this I just directly compared my previous gen CL 8x25 and the focus function is very similar to the Curio, but the Curio is slightly even more consistent. Agree both are excellent. This is probably down to sample variation.

Mike