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Low Light Binoculars (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Equipment
- Start date
Hi. There are plenty of low light binoculars that have an exit pupil of 5mm or greater.
What are you using them for and what is your budget. The binoculars for astronomy would differ from those used for twilight hunting or birding.
For example Vixen makes a 9x63 that some like.
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kestrel1
Well-known member
I have Docter Nobilem 8x56 for low light observation,
and it is performing very well. Important for low light observation
is maximal dilatation of eye pupil, which is in relation with age, and mst
match with exit pupil of binocular.
Older hunters buying 10x50 format because of 5mm eye pupil at the age of 50.
Maybe you know this sites with reviews:
http://www.binomania.it/wordpress/?p=3117
http://www.allbinos.com/allbinos_ranking-binoculars_ranking-8x56.html
Light transmission is important for low light observation,
and I think that 90%+ is required for good vision.
It can be achieved by porros at better price than roofs,
but there should be some exceptions on the market.
Roofs are better with Abbe-Koenig prism like Zeiss dialyt, victory 8x56
but top Schmidt-Perchan roof prism with dielectric mirror should be also good
(Swarovski SLC 8x56).
In Slovakia hunters buying mainly Steiner Ranger Pro 8x56, because of price lower than 500€ and good design and mechanical durability.
Maybe Fujinon FMT 7x50 should be very good, but with lower magnification.
Magnification is important on longer distance ~500m.
I have friends which buyed Nikon Action EX 7x50 at good price, but they are not so critical low light observers.
Best regards Kestrel
and it is performing very well. Important for low light observation
is maximal dilatation of eye pupil, which is in relation with age, and mst
match with exit pupil of binocular.
Older hunters buying 10x50 format because of 5mm eye pupil at the age of 50.
Maybe you know this sites with reviews:
http://www.binomania.it/wordpress/?p=3117
http://www.allbinos.com/allbinos_ranking-binoculars_ranking-8x56.html
Light transmission is important for low light observation,
and I think that 90%+ is required for good vision.
It can be achieved by porros at better price than roofs,
but there should be some exceptions on the market.
Roofs are better with Abbe-Koenig prism like Zeiss dialyt, victory 8x56
but top Schmidt-Perchan roof prism with dielectric mirror should be also good
(Swarovski SLC 8x56).
In Slovakia hunters buying mainly Steiner Ranger Pro 8x56, because of price lower than 500€ and good design and mechanical durability.
Maybe Fujinon FMT 7x50 should be very good, but with lower magnification.
Magnification is important on longer distance ~500m.
I have friends which buyed Nikon Action EX 7x50 at good price, but they are not so critical low light observers.
Best regards Kestrel
Hi, welcome to the forum.
You may this already, but whether a 7mm exit pupil is the right answer does depend on your age. Youngster pupils will dilate to 7mm, or even 9mm, allowing more light to enter the eye, but this reduces with age and might be something to check for yourself (or optician).
In low light, our eyes cannot see nearly as much detail as daylight. Paying a premium for the sharpest optics may not be worthwhile. You may find a higher magnification helpful, though obviously reducing exit pupil may be counter productive.
We don't see the Nighthunter Extreme at birding outlets, but it's supposed to have a high transmission value, maybe 5 or 10% more than cheaper alternatives, which is useful, but not as beneficial as a wider pupil. It it is also individual eyepiece focus, which may not be a problem for you, but obviously not as quick as centre focus.
There is a report on Allbinos. Some here question some of their scoring/methods but it will give you a pretty good idea.
http://www.allbinos.com/235-binoculars_review-Steiner_Night_Hunter_Xtreme_8x56.html
A similarly priced alternative, the Docter 8x56 is reviewed here:
http://www.binomania.it/wordpress/?p=251
Note, the translation from Italian can be perplexing at times.
You may find much cheaper roof prism pairs like the Hawke Prostalk 8x36 or the Eden XP 8x56 adequate for your needs. Possibly not the match on transmission, but a bit lighter and smaller. You'll find good comments on both on the forum.
David
You may this already, but whether a 7mm exit pupil is the right answer does depend on your age. Youngster pupils will dilate to 7mm, or even 9mm, allowing more light to enter the eye, but this reduces with age and might be something to check for yourself (or optician).
In low light, our eyes cannot see nearly as much detail as daylight. Paying a premium for the sharpest optics may not be worthwhile. You may find a higher magnification helpful, though obviously reducing exit pupil may be counter productive.
We don't see the Nighthunter Extreme at birding outlets, but it's supposed to have a high transmission value, maybe 5 or 10% more than cheaper alternatives, which is useful, but not as beneficial as a wider pupil. It it is also individual eyepiece focus, which may not be a problem for you, but obviously not as quick as centre focus.
There is a report on Allbinos. Some here question some of their scoring/methods but it will give you a pretty good idea.
http://www.allbinos.com/235-binoculars_review-Steiner_Night_Hunter_Xtreme_8x56.html
A similarly priced alternative, the Docter 8x56 is reviewed here:
http://www.binomania.it/wordpress/?p=251
Note, the translation from Italian can be perplexing at times.
You may find much cheaper roof prism pairs like the Hawke Prostalk 8x36 or the Eden XP 8x56 adequate for your needs. Possibly not the match on transmission, but a bit lighter and smaller. You'll find good comments on both on the forum.
David
james holdsworth
Consulting Biologist
If money is no object and you can manage a big binocular - Zeiss 8x56 FL.
If you want something smaller but nearly as bright - Zeiss 8x42 HT.
If you want something smaller but nearly as bright - Zeiss 8x42 HT.
kestrel1
Well-known member
On the market is also some "masterpiece" from Fuji
which is used in military/Law enforcement range.
http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/Fuji/night-vision-binoculars.html
but it so high priced, that I think there is not many people
who buyed them for low light observation.
I could recommend Docter Nobilem 8x56, at 10pm yesterday I watched
boars at 500m, image was dark , but in smaller format binocular I would not see anything. Nobilem is quite bulky and heavy around 1,5kg, has 110m/1000m field of view, but is good corrected to 85% (~100m sweetspot).
Maybe Zeiss Victory FL with 130m/1000m with better compactness should be usefull for combined day/night observation, but at price of two nobilems.
Best regards Kestrel
which is used in military/Law enforcement range.
http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/Fuji/night-vision-binoculars.html
but it so high priced, that I think there is not many people
who buyed them for low light observation.
I could recommend Docter Nobilem 8x56, at 10pm yesterday I watched
boars at 500m, image was dark , but in smaller format binocular I would not see anything. Nobilem is quite bulky and heavy around 1,5kg, has 110m/1000m field of view, but is good corrected to 85% (~100m sweetspot).
Maybe Zeiss Victory FL with 130m/1000m with better compactness should be usefull for combined day/night observation, but at price of two nobilems.
Best regards Kestrel
Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
The Zeiss HT is indeed optimised for transmission in low light, particularly dark, however is only available in 8x42 (giving a 5.25mm exit pupil) - it will however, as James said be smaller and lighter than the alternatives.
Accepted wisdom states that you need the maximum exit pupil size that your dark adapted eyes will allow, which for those under 40ish is still likely to be ~7mm - so an 8x56 is the starting point. However, depending on what you're viewing, and how you're viewing it - more magnification may be helpful, such as with a 10x56, which although offering only a 5.6mm exit pupil, has a greater Twilight Factor (TWF). 9x63, and 10x70 are better still and offer a 7mm exit pupil brightness advantage too.
It will all depend on your preferred weight, mobility, stability compromise, usage conditions, and eyesight preferences. In the smaller sizes Zeiss and Swarovski are king of the crop with their high levels of blue light (night time) transmission. In the larger x63, and x70 sizes, you're probably looking at a good astro porro.
The best bet will be for you to try the different formats /bins out, and see.
Chosun :gh:
Accepted wisdom states that you need the maximum exit pupil size that your dark adapted eyes will allow, which for those under 40ish is still likely to be ~7mm - so an 8x56 is the starting point. However, depending on what you're viewing, and how you're viewing it - more magnification may be helpful, such as with a 10x56, which although offering only a 5.6mm exit pupil, has a greater Twilight Factor (TWF). 9x63, and 10x70 are better still and offer a 7mm exit pupil brightness advantage too.
It will all depend on your preferred weight, mobility, stability compromise, usage conditions, and eyesight preferences. In the smaller sizes Zeiss and Swarovski are king of the crop with their high levels of blue light (night time) transmission. In the larger x63, and x70 sizes, you're probably looking at a good astro porro.
The best bet will be for you to try the different formats /bins out, and see.
Chosun :gh:
Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
That's an interesting animal .....
Spat my cornflakes out when I saw the price though !! :eek!: .... from .... 10,000 British Pounds !!!
Aaargh - and - egads !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chosun :gh:
. I think the Fuji dualpurpose binocular may be closer to £20,000.
there are also other makes at about this price level.
After all it is only the cost of a good car and you don't have to fill it with petrol.
There are generation 2+ image intensifying monoculars and binoculars much cheaper than this.
There are also digital versions which don't use image intensifying tubes and are quite reasonably priced. I forget what the best one is called.
I think that the top binoculars makers also make good quality image intensifiers.
You may well see more with these then with even the best lowlight ordinary binoculars.
I've used some older generation 2+ and they can give good views but I think the modern ones are much lighter.
It would probably be much cheaper to train an owl to help you out.
Or even a cat.
I suppose that they can see in perhaps a quarter or a 10th the light we need.
there are also other makes at about this price level.
After all it is only the cost of a good car and you don't have to fill it with petrol.
There are generation 2+ image intensifying monoculars and binoculars much cheaper than this.
There are also digital versions which don't use image intensifying tubes and are quite reasonably priced. I forget what the best one is called.
I think that the top binoculars makers also make good quality image intensifiers.
You may well see more with these then with even the best lowlight ordinary binoculars.
I've used some older generation 2+ and they can give good views but I think the modern ones are much lighter.
It would probably be much cheaper to train an owl to help you out.
Or even a cat.
I suppose that they can see in perhaps a quarter or a 10th the light we need.
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tpcollins
Well-known member
I've been fortunate to own good optics, including 3 different Swarovski bins a while back. Now I have a Zeiss T* FL in 8x42 and just got the 8x32 recently. Haven't checked the 8x32 in low light but for the 8x42 Zeiss, it is almost stupid how good these are in low light.
Chosun Juan
Given to Fly
That would make the Zeiss Victory HT 8x42's almost ridiculously good then! |8.| 3
Chosun :gh:
The Steiner bins you've mentioned are certainly not a bad choice for low light use. AFAIK they are the bins with currently highest light transmission in their class.
Steve
Doctor Nobilem 8x56 is probably the brightest binoculars you can buy. Great looking bins, but quite heavy. For static observations maybe no problem, but when you are strolling around the field maybe a bit to much.
A good alternative are the Swarovski Habicht 7x42. Really nice and bright binoculars and really lightweight.
A good alternative are the Swarovski Habicht 7x42. Really nice and bright binoculars and really lightweight.
Granted Zeiss Victory is the leader in its class when it comes to Low Light viewing, but they themselves claim 95% light tranmission and Steiner claim ~90% light transmission for theirs,
So although money isn't a problem, that doesn't mean I wish to pay a mountain of gold for 5% extra transmission!
Though I would like the Binoculars to work well in Low light, it isn't the ultimate consideration, ultimately it is more for the outdoors, hunting and general purpose...
It seems that the Steiners are similar to each other, just a change in name, marine binoculars and their hunting ones and outdoors ones are the same, just the naming is different.
I considered the Doctor Nobilem, but as has been pointed out, it is over the top in terms of size and weight.
As side from the optics, it seems that the Steiners are more solid and rugged for heavy use outdoors?
So I think I might consider a pair of hunting binoculars, though not hunting specific like the steiner cobra or predator, but more general like the Steiner Ranger Pro 8x56..
I suppose I am looking for a pair of binoculars that can do a bit of everything.
Look forward to your advice.
Thanks...
So although money isn't a problem, that doesn't mean I wish to pay a mountain of gold for 5% extra transmission!
Though I would like the Binoculars to work well in Low light, it isn't the ultimate consideration, ultimately it is more for the outdoors, hunting and general purpose...
It seems that the Steiners are similar to each other, just a change in name, marine binoculars and their hunting ones and outdoors ones are the same, just the naming is different.
I considered the Doctor Nobilem, but as has been pointed out, it is over the top in terms of size and weight.
As side from the optics, it seems that the Steiners are more solid and rugged for heavy use outdoors?
So I think I might consider a pair of hunting binoculars, though not hunting specific like the steiner cobra or predator, but more general like the Steiner Ranger Pro 8x56..
I suppose I am looking for a pair of binoculars that can do a bit of everything.
Look forward to your advice.
Thanks...
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RJM
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
Funny when folks say "money isn't an issue" when it pretty much always is.
Daddy Warbucks likes the Swaro 10x50 SV or the Nikon EDG 7x42.
Scrooge likes the Bushnell Legend 8x42 Ultra HD.
Buddha takes the middle path with the Nikon 10x42SE or CZ Conquest 8x42HD
Daddy Warbucks likes the Swaro 10x50 SV or the Nikon EDG 7x42.
Scrooge likes the Bushnell Legend 8x42 Ultra HD.
Buddha takes the middle path with the Nikon 10x42SE or CZ Conquest 8x42HD
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