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  1. Zedster

    Recommendations for a binocular harness

    I have a RY harness and there are things I like and dislike about it. But ultimately I find the shoulder carry much more comfortable all around. Instead of the strap around my neck I wear it over my left shoulder with the binoculars across my body and in front of my right chest. This is much...
  2. Zedster

    Clean bins from fine sand and salt

    Vacuum then dish soap and water. No rubbing until multiple washes remove all the sand. No compressed air either, it can force the grains places and scratch the lenses
  3. Zedster

    Zeiss SFL8x30 vs Swarovski CL Companion 8x30

    For me it is the close focus. 2.6m for the CL is terrible. It’s an absolute deal killer as a forest bird watcher.
  4. Zedster

    Problems with donating binoculars

    I donate mine to bird research groups. Point Blue Conservation Science and The Institute for Bird Populations. Both have a lot of interns who often have poor optics and are also poor.
  5. Zedster

    Equipment observations , what do others see.

    I went to a memorial on Saturday for David DeSante, an amazing friend and ground breaking ornithologist. At the memorial were a bunch of former coworkers and colleagues. I looked at the binoculars of the people who had them out (most of us of course) and they were a fairly even split between...
  6. Zedster

    How do you carry your binoculars?

    Wow, that's amazing. I've never even scratched a pair. Worked in dense PNW US forests to Eastern Sierra dry lake beds to scrub steppe and more. I have done a number to rubber armor on my Swarovski SLCs though. That sage brush is brutal on stuff. Though I did once break a pair of Nikons that...
  7. Zedster

    First time binocular buyer, getting myself all tied up in knots

    Nice choice. Enjoy the new views.
  8. Zedster

    How do you carry your binoculars?

    In decades of field work in some nasty conditions I’ve never once scratched the objective lenses and I don’t use a cover for them. The ocular lenses I always cover. Most of the debris is falling down onto the ocular side and even when bushwhacking through manzanita and vine maple the binoculars...
  9. Zedster

    How do you carry your binoculars?

    For my new SF 10x32 I got the RY harness and while there are things I like about it I'm not 100% sold on it. I've used a harness on my SLCs for decades and they were softer and simpler. Not adjustable on the fly though. I do like that about the RY. I just don't really care for the material. I'm...
  10. Zedster

    Asking for advice on pocket binocular

    There are plastic caps on the ocular side that pop off then there are screws that you can adjust the tension with. The hardest part is getting the caps back on. I used a tiny bit of rubber cement to hold them on
  11. Zedster

    Asking for advice on pocket binocular

    If you can find the Nikon 8x20 HG-L I would highly recommend them. I have a pair that have been well loved and they are still going strong 12 years later. Small size but with a big view. The only issue I’ve had was the hinges loosening but it’sa simple fix
  12. Zedster

    Looking for comparisons between 8x32 SF and 8x40 SFL.

    I think it’s too easy blaming China. The issues are pervasive everywhere in my experience. I had some of the worst issues with well established American manufacturers. I’ve also seen some amazing work from smaller US based companies.
  13. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    That was a joke
  14. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    I think we need an 8X33 😳
  15. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    Even when weight is an issue there are still trade offs that need to be considered. Obviously the 8x20s are going to be the smallest and lightest but the view is usually too compromised. So a lightweight 8X30 is a better option. This is the beauty is the SFL.
  16. Zedster

    Looking for comparisons between 8x32 SF and 8x40 SFL.

    Well yeah. If only manufacturers would actually DO this. And in process QC checks. And key and critical characteristics identified and controlled. It’s such basic stuff that I’m always astonished at how poorly many manufacturers do this. The arguments I’ve had with engineering have been epic
  17. Zedster

    8x32 protective harness?

    I wouldn't worry about the elements. Let them get wet. That's why they're waterproof/fogproof. I took my SLCs to Costa Rica without any type of protection beyond the stock objective covers. They've been to Ecuador as well. In fact, they went white water rafting in Ecuador. No issues whatsoever.
  18. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    We are saying the same thing. Longer, heavier, more complicated glasses lead to sharper images and wider FOV. That's the tradeoff. We're well aware that you prefer the longer heavier side. Rather than comparing to the UVHD+ at 19oz I am comparing to the SFL or the MHG or the Traveller at 160z...
  19. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    I already got the SF. And I’ve experienced rolling ball in them. Plus 23 ounces for an 8x32 is quite heavy and the SF and Nal are huge
  20. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    Sorry, I was unclear. I meant that the correlation was the rolling ball I’ve experienced correlated with bins that were flat field. Wasn’t implying that they always went together. Hence the comment.
  21. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    Huh, well another instance of correlation I suppose.
  22. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    Of course there are always side effects to optical choices. Weight, size, rolling ball are all side effects of flat field. Obviously you think the trade offs are worth it but others prefer the other way. It’s great to live in an era with such excellent choices
  23. Zedster

    SFL 8x40: impressions after 20 years with Swarovski EL's

    Interestingly, I recently got a pair of Victory SFs and compared them to my Opticron Traveller EDs. So the SFs are FAR sharper at the edges compared to the Travellers. Of course the Travellers have a fairly big sweet spot and without that my opinion would likely be different. Here's the GIANT...
  24. Zedster

    Looking for comparisons between 8x32 SF and 8x40 SFL.

    Interestingly the Prime is longer than the regular prius but has less interior room. It's fairly roomy though tight in the rear for people 6' tall. Much much bigger than the C. But ergonomics is a hard fail in the prius. It's like they TRIED to make it hard to use. From the gear shift to the...
  25. Zedster

    Looking for comparisons between 8x32 SF and 8x40 SFL.

    My mileage is around 120mpg. But it's a Prius Prime so I'm kinda cheating. Mostly electric in town. :) My experience is that collimation is more problematic in Porro's but maybe that's due to the lower end ones I had that went out of alignment. But I've had a pair of Nikons and Pentax porros go...
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