Brief comparison between Zeiss 8 power binos (2 Viewers)

[jackjack]

Really brief (literally) comparison of 5 Zeiss 8 power bino.


I displayed them by length

FL 8x32 / SFL 8x30 / CHD 8x32 / SFL 8x40 / HT 8x42


(only FL has the blue shield on the right side of the tube)

stated weight
SFL 30mm : 460g
TFL 32mm : 560g
CHD 32mm : 630g
SFL 40mm : 640g
HT 42mm : 830g


CHD 8x32


FL 8x32


SFL 8x30


SFL 8x40


HT 8x42


CHD 8x32


FL 8x32


SFL 8x30



SFL 8x40


HT 8x42


CHD 8x32


FL 8x32


SFL 8x30


SFL 8x40


HT 8x42



Brightness

CHD < FL < SFL30 < SFL40 << HT42

HT deserve one more '<'

Real Field of View

HT42 < SFL 40 < FL < SFL 30 < CHD

CHD 8x32 doesn't have 8 degree fov as stated. it offer bigger FOV approx 8.2~8.3

Apparent Field of View

 HT42 < FL 32 < SFL 40 < SFL 30 < CHD

FL and HT has significantly small magnification then other.

Central sharpness

CHD < SFL30 < FL < HT < SFL40

Edge sharpness

HT < FL << CHD < SFL40 < SFL30

approx

73% < 78% < 83% < 85% < 87%

Color fidelity

CHD < FL < HT < SFL40 < SFL30

all of the bino's color biased to green side.

CHD and FL is bit yellower making the bino little mintish.

SFL 30 have bit better color fidelity (more red) compared to SFL 40

Chromatic abberation

CHD < HT < SFL30 < SFL40 < FL

Distortion

HT < FL < CHD < SFL30 < SFL40


+ I have made more closer comparison between

CHD 8x42 / SFL 8x40 / SF 8x42

just put a more briefer result

Brightness

CHD < SFL < SF

FOV

CHD < SFL < SF

Central sharpness

SF < CHD < SFL


Edge sharpness

CHD < SFL < SF

Color fidelity

SF < CHD < SFL

Chromatic abberation

CHD < SFL < SF



Center

CHD / SFL / SF

Edge
(though SF shows highest CA at edge)


Distortion

SF < SFL < CHD


Among the 7 binos SF 8x42 is the least sharpness and have strongest CA at the edge.

but FOV, edge sharpness, color satuation, glare suppression and ergonomics is the best between the comparison

The bino I prefer best in this group is HT 8x42 followed by SFL 8x30

 

[Foss]

Outstanding comparison, jackjack

 

[MiddleRiver]

My takeaway: pick-your-poison (or pleasure) ;-)
And I must add: those little SFL's really are amazing, particularly given the overall package! More proof that bins just keep getting better...

 

[Hermann]

The bino I prefer best in this group is HT 8x42 followed by SFL 8x30

The heaviest and the lightest, with totally different strengths and weaknesses. Interesting.

Which one of the five binoculars would you choose if you could only choose one for your birding?

Hermann

 

[quincy88]

Holy smokes! Thanks for the post jackjack. Very cool.

 

[jackjack]

The heaviest and the lightest, with totally different strengths and weaknesses. Interesting.

Which one of the five binoculars would you choose if you could only choose one for your birding?

Hermann

for birding, sfl 8x40.

highly recommend SFL for birding. allround lightweight player

if I choose only one bino for birding,
I choose between those

NL 10x42 (or EL 8.5x42)

for maximum optics

SFL 8x40

for compactness & lightness

Leica Duovid 42mm

it has two bino in it

Nikon EDG 8X42

most comforting 8 powet under brightlight with fantastic focusing

 

[jackjack]

My takeaway: pick-your-poison (or pleasure) ;-)
And I must add: those little SFL's really are amazing, particularly given the overall package! More proof that bins just keep getting better...

my freind have one look at the new SFL and planned to buy it and get rid of 25mm he have.

Zeiss made a wise decision to down sized the binos for birding use.

200g differ from NL 32mm can make a difference even though SFL is optically not good as EL or NL

 

[MiddleRiver]

I'love to see you do an 8x30/32 review

my freind have one look at the new SFL and planned to buy it and get rid of 25mm he have.

Zeiss made a wise decision to down sized the binos for birding use.

200g differ from NL 32mm can make a difference even though SFL is optically not good as EL or NL

We own two 8x30SFL and an 8x40SFL. I might like them! LOL
That said, I recently acquired 8x32SF and tho I miss the bigger eyebox of the 8x40, I do think the SF is a step up. Conflicted as to which to keep long term. Which is to say the SFL is THAT good

 

[jackjack]

I'love to see you do an 8x30/32 review

We own two 8x30SFL and an 8x40SFL. I might like them! LOL
That said, I recently acquired 8x32SF and tho I miss the bigger eyebox of the 8x40, I do think the SF is a step up. Conflicted as to which to keep long term. Which is to say the SFL is THAT good

I haven't seen SF 8x32. in fact, I haven't even heard of one using it in Korea...

I'm doing a comparison between CHD 8x32 and ELSV 8x32 instead.

 

[Maljunulo]

Answer was right in front of me.

I posted a question, which you had already answered.

 

[jackjack]

Answer was right in front of me.

I don't know what you mean sorry

I haven't seen 32mm SF.
it is then only big 3 32mm after 2005 that I haven't had my hands on.

(have experienced 32mm Leica uvhd, uvhd+, swaro el, nl, zeiss fl)

never even heard of one using or have used them. I think it is rarer then Leica 50mm duovid in Korea...
SF 32mm never even appeared in second hand market in Korea
even SLC 42 and genesis 44 have appeared once few year ago...

 

[tenex]

Zeiss made a wise decision to down sized the binos for birding use.

The small bin that is still not pocketable is of course a matter of personal taste, and not to mine. I find even UV 32 just a bit too small for real comfort in use, whereas FL or BN work well. That seems such a modest difference, and may depend on hand size (mine are rather medium).

 

[Scott98]

my freind have one look at the new SFL and planned to buy it and get rid of 25mm he have.

I had the same reaction. Finally! Compact/pocket binoculars that are actually good. I love light weight and the focuser in the SFL seems to be one of the very best. That's how I would describe the SFL series. The very finest mechanics and ergonomics available. Optically not quite the very best, but only in the area of a little CA as far as I can see. They appear very sharp and bright and good edge correction.

 

[Rg548]

The bino I prefer best in this group is HT 8x42 followed by SFL 8x30

Why is the HT your favourite?
I own the HT but I was very impressed with the SFL in your test.
But when I looked through an SFL in a shop... I wasn't blown away.
When I looked through the HT I bought it on the spot.
I'm interested why you favour the HT?

 

[jackjack]

Why is the HT your favourite?
I own the HT but I was very impressed with the SFL in your test.
But when I looked through an SFL in a shop... I wasn't blown away.
When I looked through the HT I bought it on the spot.
I'm interested why you favour the HT?

brightness.

which is the biggest asset of Zeiss

 

[NDhunter]

Jack:
You are quite opinionated, and that does not mean you know it all. Much of it is subjective personal opinion.

You mentioned you have not tried the Victory SF 8x32, I think it is the best one out there. Too bad for you.

Jerry

 

[jackjack]

Jack:
You are quite opinionated, and that does not mean you know it all. Much of it is subjective personal opinion.

You mentioned you have not tried the Victory SF 8x32, I think it is the best one out there. Too bad for you.

Jerry

yes I haven't seen all of the bino and I definitely won't managed to see every bino during my whole life.

though I tested some bino in multiple samples but there still can be a diversity in same binos because of diffrence of quality control

also human eye differ from individual to other.

And, is there are any review that have none personal opinion in it?

I'm just a newcomer reviewer in this forum not just wanting to say such rough praises like 'It is crystal clear in my eyes', 'good purchase for the price because it is just good for the price', 'It is alpha in every way because it is priced alpha'
'it's good because it is a renowned brand' and extra 😊

 

[Maljunulo]

Jack:
You are quite opinionated, and that does not mean you know it all. Much of it is subjective personal opinion.

You mentioned you have not tried the Victory SF 8x32, I think it is the best one out there. Too bad for you.

Jerry

He did mention that the 8X32 SF is not found in South Korea, I think.

As for his being opinionated, I suspect we all are, but worse than being opinionated is unwillingness to change an opinion having seen evidence that it is wrong.

 

[jackjack]

The small bin that is still not pocketable is of course a matter of personal taste, and not to mine. I find even UV 32 just a bit too small for real comfort in use, whereas FL or BN work well. That seems such a modest difference, and may depend on hand size (mine are rather medium).

yes although 30mm is small, it can't be folded up like double hinged 25mm.

and it can feel too small for big hands.
but size does matter if one have many thing to carry duing trip(such as camera) and use for women and kids who doesn't have enough strength and size of hands to carry 42mm.

poket binos are for that reason. despite their low apparent brightness, bad ease of view

 

[NDhunter]

Jack:
I agree with you, it is fun to talk about binoculars. There are lots of choices out there, and that is
a good thing.
Jerry