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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

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  1. B

    Monoculars - anyone use these things ?

    I wanted a monocular for some mundane uses like spotting people and off-leash dogs on trails. I tried a few nice ones, but ended up with a cheap Opticron T4 8x25. It's slim and cylindrical, and easily slips into a pocket. The view is nowhere near as good as my binoculars, but it gets the job...
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    8x32 Dilemma?

    No, unfortunately they have the same issue with blackouts as most binoculars in the 8x30 class. However, the eyecups unscrew easily, and have enough thread to accommodate an M2 o-ring, which is just enough to make them significantly more comfortable for me. They're extremely compact, so I tend...
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    New Maven B7, 8/10x25 compact - $600

    It is definitely a hard sell for me compared to the VP and other excellent 8x25 options. Shipping from Maven is also an issue for Canada given they don't sell most of their products on Amazon. I ordered my B.3s during one of their extremely infrequent sales to help offset the shipping cost.
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    New Maven B7, 8/10x25 compact - $600

    The price seems reasonable enough. My main concern is they seem bit big for this size class. The dimensions unfolded are nearly the same as the B.3 8x30, and significantly larger than most 8x25 competitors.
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    Any sub-alpha 30-32mm class binoculars that still feel like an alpha ones?

    The other benefit of the B3 is the eyecups come off easily, and have enough thread to add o-rings to increase their length. It's the difference between constant blackouts and a relatively comfortable view for me. I'm not sure about the current M7 but the previous version didn't allow this...
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    Pocket binoculars that fit in your pocket!

    I've come close to ordering one of these quite a few times over the last year. It's probably my favourite monocular available right now, but I'm just not sure how it would fit into my usage. I got an Opticron T4 8x25 monocular because I needed the smallest size that would be practical and only...
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    Monarch M7

    This is a problem with many binoculars in the 8x30/32 size class. The eye cups just don't extend far enough to match the eye relief for non-glasses wearers, leading to blackouts, kidney beans, and generally extreme difficulty finding a comfortable eye position. The normal "solution" is to...
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    Maven 7x28 review

    Thanks for the review. I've always wanted to try the 7x28, but the low AFOV is a turn-off for someone who really values a wide view. 43.35° (ISO) vs. 60.27° for the M7 8x30 is a pretty big difference. It's comparable to the Vortex Diamondback 8x28 at 46.85°, or maybe the Zeiss Terra 8x25 at...
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    Help me choose a monocular

    I found out many monoculars don't come with caps when I was looking for one earlier this year, but I agree it's particularly baffling for the Pentax since the case doesn't protect the optics.
  10. B

    Looking for a compact budget monocular

    I thought I would post a little update now I've been using the Opticron monocular for a couple months. All my previous comments about the optical quality still stand, and both my binoculars absolutely blow it out of the water, but this little monocular is almost annoyingly adequate for my...
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    Athlon Midas 8x42 vs. Viper HD vs. Vanguard ED II

    I'm pretty sure that's not what Steve was implying. The Athlons absolutely compare favourably to many "much more expensive" binoculars in the $300-500 range, but the trade-off is dealing with increased sample variance and likely poor warranty support. Nobody is using a $2000 alpha as their...
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    Maven B3 8x30?

    Yes, they have the standard threading direction; just twist them up and keep turning and they should come off fairly easily. You'll see a little channel you can slip the o-ring into, then lightly snug the eye cup back down onto it.
  13. B

    Maven B3 8x30?

    A couple of M2 x 29 o-rings will get you exactly what you want. The eyecups have standard threading and come off easily, and there's enough space to add an o-ring and snug them back down with plenty of thread. It adds just enough to the eyecup length to make them much more comfortable for me to...
  14. B

    Choosing a new pair of 8x42 binoculars: Vortex Vipers vs. Zeiss Terra EDs

    Also consider the FOV: 375' vs. 409' isn't an insignificant difference.
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    dust or something else inside Nikon Mikron 6x15? easy to repair/clean internally?

    I'd be interested to see what the prisms look like under the covers, but realistically these are only $200 USD brand new, so I would probably just return them and get a new pair.
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    Duel at sunset: Opticron Traveller ED 8x32 vs Kite Lynx HD+ 8x30 (and ELSV, Conquest HD)

    The CL-P and MHG seem like the most obvious competitors to the Kamakura clones in terms of size and weight. The Ultravid is getting up there at 535g, but certainly still comparable. When you hit the 600g range, the Conquest HD 8x32 and maybe Kowa 8x33 are appealing since they're at least still a...
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    Duel at sunset: Opticron Traveller ED 8x32 vs Kite Lynx HD+ 8x30 (and ELSV, Conquest HD)

    Thank you for this comparison. Glare is definitely the main optical issue with all the various Kamakura-based 8x30s. I would have considered the Kites over the Mavens I ended up with if I had access to this post last year. I did also try the M7, but returned it mostly due to eye placement issues...
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    Show us your Pocket Monocular

    My little pocket monocular: Opticron T4 Trailfinder WP 8x25, beside a compact set of 8x30s. Useful enough for the price.
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    Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 vs Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42

    FWIW I also initially ordered the Monarch 5 8x42 as my first serious set of binoculars, and I also returned them after trying binoculars with a wider FOV. The view is so much more comfortable I would never go back, and I'd absolutely take the Diamondbacks over the M5.
  20. B

    What are the best really "CHEAP" birding binoculars?

    It's tempting to get a pair of those Athlons just to leave in the car. At $60 I wouldn't even care if someone stole them.
  21. B

    Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 vs Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42

    Probably just just the narrow FOV of the Monarch 5 playing tricks on your brain. It really is a fairly constricted view.
  22. B

    Looking for a compact budget monocular

    In conclusion, I ended up just re-ordering the Opticron WP 8x25 from Amazon when they finally got it back in stock. I wasn't able to field test the first one because I knew it had to be returned, and after trying the new one a couple times I think it will work ok for my purposes. Optically it's...
  23. B

    Ultra light 8 x 32 dak < 400 gram

    I urge you to try the Traveller ED as well, if possible. That would give you a proper idea of whether 71 grams and 21mm in length is worth the large compromise in optical characteristics.
  24. B

    Ultra light 8 x 32 dak < 400 gram

    My mistake, I hope you get on ok with them, though I see Opticron discontinued that line last month. The arbitrary 400g weight limit is rather unfortunate since there are so many better options around 450g.
  25. B

    Ultra light 8 x 32 dak < 400 gram

    FWIW the Opticron Traveller 8x32 actually has an exceptionally good field of view for its magnification. It's certainly not alpha level, but the combination of size, weight, and performance are an excellent value. I use my very similar Maven 8x30s more than my larger more expensive binoculars.
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