Maven B3 VS the world (2 Viewers)

[timmay]

Ok so Ive posted way too many indecisive threads on which 8x32 to get
But From what Im reading it may be the best idea to save a bit and get the maven B3. Its less expensive than the Viper HD 8x32 I was interested in and they seem to have the same exact kind of warranty. But more the size and weight of the Monarch 7, but I "hear" better optical quality than both of those.

So is the Maven B3 the best 8x30-32 there is for less the price of a viper hd?

 

[Steve C]

IMO, the B3 is better than anything up to $1,000 and that includes the Zeiss Conquest HD.

 

[FrankD]

It's been awhile since I compared the B3 to the Conquest HDs but when I did I certainly didn't think the HDs were an improvement over the Maven. The only bin that bettered it slightly was the Leica Ultravid HD and then only in the area of a slightly wider sweet spot.

The B3 is better overall optically than the previous Swarovski EL 8x32 in terms of contrast and CA control.

 

[timmay]

Hows the Kite Lynx HD 8x30? It looks like it is the Maven but with an even higher FOV??

 

[Steve C]

Hows the Kite Lynx HD 8x30? It looks like it is the Maven but with an even higher FOV??

Tim,

You are going to drive yourself nuts . There is likely nobody who has experience with both the Kite Lynx and the Maven B3. The Lynx and the Maven are both manufactured by Kamakura in Japan. They undoubtedly have the same housing, but I'd bet on a different internal optical formula. The Maven lists a 95% overall light transmission. I don't know how accurate that is, but higher than the listed figure for the Lynx. The Maven is the single brightest 8x 30-32 mm glass I have experience with, and that is a bunch of that size binocular. I do not have any doubt the Maven is the brightest one of the lot. I may change my tune if I ever get my hands on a Lynx, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

You are not talking about any binocular that is not a pretty decent, field worthy glass. Nobody can tell you which is best for you. That is totally up to you in the final analysis.

 

[timmay]

Tim,

You are going to drive yourself nuts . There is likely nobody who has experience with both the Kite Lynx and the Maven B3. The Lynx and the Maven are both manufactured by Kamakura in Japan. They undoubtedly have the same housing, but I'd bet on a different internal optical formula. The Maven lists a 95% overall light transmission. I don't know how accurate that is, but higher than the listed figure for the Lynx. The Maven is the single brightest 8x 30-32 mm glass I have experience with, and that is a bunch of that size binocular. I do not have any doubt the Maven is the brightest one of the lot. I may change my tune if I ever get my hands on a Lynx, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

You are not talking about any binocular that is not a pretty decent, field worthy glass. Nobody can tell you which is best for you. That is totally up to you in the final analysis.

LOL, you're right, Im driving myself nuts on this...I just need to pick one and be happy with what I get and quit posting so many threads about it |:x|

 

[kkokkolis]

If Maven are so good, it is a pitty they aren't offered in Europe and other markets also (like Australia/ New Zealand, North Africa and the rest of the world). There are still some barriers regarding trade between our continents. I would be happy if they could found a warehouse somewhere in Europe and sell them around with European FAT included, they would still be cheap compared with German and Austrian Optics. If they do I might buy a B2.

PS: I meant South Africa. Even Maven are way too expensive for regular people of North Africa I'm afraid, as is the case for about 6 billion people on Earth who have to fight daily with poverty, hunger, thirst, absolutism and/or wars of some kind.

 

[Ontario]

If Maven are so good, it is a pitty they aren't offered in Europe and other markets also (like Australia/ New Zealand, North Africa and the rest of the world). There are still some barriers regarding trade between our continents. I would be happy if they could found a warehouse somewhere in Europe and sell them around with European FAT included, they would still be cheap compared with German and Austrian Optics. If they do I might buy a B2.

A couple Maven reviews you might be interested in ...

B3 review. http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-05-09-42/optics/337-maven-optics-b3-review

B1 review. http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-05-09-42/optics/329-maven-b1-10x42-binoculars

Here is Matt's review of the Meostar (for added perspective) ..

http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-05-09-42/optics/251-meopta-meostar-b1-10x42-hd-binocular