Pentax AD 7x32 ED (1 Viewer)

[yarrellii]

@greekgeek Yes, it's a real pity, because the view is otherwise very nice. But (for me) there is something wrong with all the viewing experience that simply ruins the view.

As for 7x32, yes, it is somehow a forgotten format, especially in the roof format. It is so convenient, more compact than a 7x35 (which I love in Porro), but very capable. At least in Europe there is indeed an alternative. I don't know how easy it is to source Hawke binoculars, but they do make a relatively new 7x32, the Marine ED. I bought it sometime ago, but that one let me down in the optics area. I found the build quality on the Hawke surprising, the focus wheel was so good, and it felt every bit as robust as the Pentax (although Pentax wins in the subconscious feeling of build quality with its "Volvo" look). It is obviously impossible to compare by memory, but enough to say that in the 7x32 Pentax I've found what I was looking for in terms of depth of field, sense of space, amazing contrast, etc., while the Hawke simply let me wanting. However, that's just me, there's people who seem very happy with the Hawke. Having had both, I consider the Pentax to be optically on a different level in terms of sharpness and "pop". I noticed a bigger than expected difference in magnification between the Pentax and my Traveller 8x32, so I wonder if the Pentax is -7x and the Hawke is 7x or +7x, which could explain partially the difference in that sense of depth in the view. Recently I've also tried the 6.5x32 APM, but that's a completely different animal. I think optically is far superior to the Pentax, with a stunning field of view and a better sharpness and brightness. However, at 740 g it goes beyond what many would consider for a 32 mm binocular.

 

[yarrellii]

Got the 7x42.
They are fairly compact for a 42 mm, nearly the size of a Swarovski EL 8x32.



Just like the 7x32, they feel well made, solid, but just like the 7x32, they give me a very awkward problem while viewing that I have never experienced in any other binocular. I don't know what's going on with these series and binoculars and my facial features, but I feel there is something odd with the "eyebox". I don't seem to get a comfortable viewing position, and many times I get the feeling that I simply don't perceive a neat and round circle of an image surrounded by a black background they way I do with any other binocular. I'm not talking about misalignment, it's not that.

Let's see if I can convey what I see. You probably know they way viewing through binoculars is portrayed in films, where they don't show a circle but two circles merging together and cutout from a black background. What I perceive is a little like that, but not as extreme, as if I could notice that I am looking through two tubes and not one. Again, it's not alignment, I can see a perfectly defined unique image, but not in a perfect circle, but in two circles that nearly merge, but that are "fighting not to merge completely" (so to speak). There is something in the way the eyecups, field stop and other things in between are positioned that makes me have this weird feeling, it's awkward and quite annoying, and makes for anything but a pleasant view.

Otherwise, the view is as sharp and contrasty as the 7x32, shares that lovely depth of field that we love in 7x and is quite bright. Obviously not as bright as an ELSV. The colour bias makes image tone on the EL feel quite yellow in comparison. The 7x32 gave me the impression of being quite neutral, but here I'd say they err (very very slightly) on the purple/magenta, and thus enhance the yellow when you switch to the Swaro.

The focus wheel is the same as my second 7x32, not perfect. It takes more than 3 turns and is a little sticky, lazy to change directions. Close focus is quite amazing, I think I've measured it at a hair under 1,5 m (5 feet), which is quite impressive to be honest.

I'm all in for a 7x42 (although what I'm looking for is a light 7x32), but I don't think this series is made for me. Some binoculars you just love the moment you hold them in your hands and look through them, some others you have to fight with to get a pleasant view, some times due to awkward ergonomics (like my Canon 12x36 ISIII), but I just don't get this with a pair of 7x42, that in my opinion should feel like putting a couple of old and worn comfy slippers when you get back home from a hard day's work. But again, that's just my personal unfortunate experience with these. It's not the first binocular I don't get on well, but I've never encountered this particular issue.

 

[yarrellii]

I keep comparing the two models (42 and 32) between each other...



And one thing that keeps intriguing me is that I consistently see the 7x32 as displaying a smaller magnification. I saw it first when comparing it to the 8x32 Traveller (as I explained above, I found a huge jump for just a 1x difference), but now even comparing the 7x32 to the 7x42 I think I can see a noticeable difference in magnification. Yes, it could be the difference in FOV, yes, it could be the difference in overall eyepiece design, but it keeps surprising me. I would be certain that the 7x32 is somehow less than 7x.

As for the view, both are very comparable, you can see they are siblings. However, the 7x42 displays an even enhanced sense of depth, which is really pleasing and, to my eyes anyway, puts it in a different level. Both 7x give you this lovely depth, but the 7x42 is able to "sculpt" the volumes in space the way I remember some other lovely (and much pricier 7x42) do. So congrats to Pentax for that. As for brightness. Funny enough, on a sunny day, I'd say the 7x32 seems a hair brighter, or to put it in another words, the contrast on the 7x42 is so mighty, the blacks and darks are so black and dark, that the 7x32 just can't keep up.

One thing on the 7x42, besides the awkward eye position/comfort, is really tiring for me, and that is the very slow focus. The 7x32 has little more than 2 full turns of throw, while the 7x42 has a whooping 3,5 turns. I wonder why the huge difference in these similar models.

All in all, I prefer the 7x42 by more than I anticipated, despite the very slow focus.


I then compared the 7x42 to the 7x50 Vixen Foresta Porro, and was surprised to find that the Pentax could compete with the Vixen in sharpness, contrast and overall image quality. I found the Vixen a little brighter, which is probably not that surprising, being a porro, but the overall depth and stereopsis was not that far off, surprisingly comparing the offset between the objective and eyepieces of each model. The Pentax 7x42 does offer a really engaging view. Between these two, I think I still prefer the Vixen, given that it can double as a low light specialist, but the Pentax is a really nice 7x42. I've had other nice but not top of the range 7x42, like the Minox Aspheric, or the Opticron Imagic, but the Pentax really seems to stand out in the middle class. If it was not for the awkward viewing experienced I described yesterday (inner reflections, difficulty to find a relaxing view), it would be a keeper. Since it was such a nice deal, I'm still deciding wether to send it back or not. The two 7x32 are going back.

 

[greekgeek]

First I am sorry to hear of the difficulties in eye positioning ergonomics. There is something unique about these Pentax, also for my face shape.

The 7x42 does sound like an excellent view. I will keep my eye out on a pair, in case they have some sale. How do you feel about the FOV difference for the 42 vs 32?

And wow, not to make it always personal, but I had the very similar debate with myself on whether or not to keep the 7x32. In the end, I kept them and adapted to them. The other factor of course was I stopped to consider everything critically, after deciding they are "good enough", focus on the good and not the flaws. Optically the view is very good, so I no longer am bothered by what they cannot do.

I will see if I can pull up something I wrote at the time, while also comparing them side by side with the Retrovid 7x35.

 

[yarrellii]

You make very interesting remarks, @greekgeek and your advice seems wise enough. It's true that many times we demand a lot from binoculars, and sometimes the more you use something, the more you like it and the more you get used to its quirks.

I've kept testing the 7x42 Pentax (the two units of the 7x32 are already returned). I've compared it to another old but trusty 7x42 I have, the 20 year old Opticron 7x42 Imagic BGA PC ASF T that retailed for around 370 British Pounds back in 2007. Mind you, the exchange rate GBP/Euro in those days was nearly 1.5 to 1, so you would have paid more than 500 € for the Opticron, which 20 years ago was quite sum for a pair of binoculars. I would dare to say that the Imagic sat in a superior quality/price bracket in the overall scheme of things compared to the Pentax, that you can find in 2024 for less than 350 €.



I remember reading the very interesting comparison by @dwatsonbirder (from whom I bought the Imagic) between the Opticron and a Swarovski 7x42, it's here. I think I agree with most of what he says, and now comes the interesting bit. I've found the Pentax to deliver an image that is basically superior in most relevant areas: it's brighter, sharper, has more contrast and a wider FOV (although in use, I find this is no game changer). So I can only wonder how close would the Pentax be to the Swarovski, or say a Trinovid BA 7x42 from the same era. I had a BA 7x42, and I remember the image was sweet, really engaging, if a bit dimmer than current offerings. So I really wonder how would a middle class 7x42 like the Pentax fare against the BA.

In fact, I really find little to complain about the image quality, I paid around 330 € for the Pentax, and for that price the image is just stunning. But the viewing experience is a different story. Using the Opticron is simple, easy and pleasing. You bring it to your eyes and you look through them. I don't have to fight to get a comfortable view, or to fine tune my focus action every time to get a snap focus... and instead of more than 3 full turns, the focus throw of the Opticron is little more than 1 turn. So, I'm afraid that, despite all that the Pentax has to offer on the purely optical side, all the drawbacks have a bigger weight on the balance.

Heck, the Pentax is so compact it fits (like the UV 7x42) on the case of the Nikon Monarch 7 8x30, my favourite case (which is important for me)...



... but I think the compromises are too many, at least for me, for my hand, my eyes and my taste. I'm sure many other users will enjoy the great views the Pentax offers.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Thanks for the tag @yarrellii , I have quite fond memories of those Opticron 7x42's, indeed they came along as a back-up pair on a trip to Ethiopia, I can't say that I thought I missed out on very much when I used them.
These Pentax have passed me by, I shall have to see if there is a UK stockist nearby where I can try them out. The FOV appears to be wider (7.5° v 7°), though the ocular lenses look to be quite recessed, perhaps cutting some of the usable eye-relief for those of us with glasses.

 

[yarrellii]

@dwatsonbirder To be honest, the 7 vs 7,5º difference was the thing I noticed the least when comparing them side by side. It didn't make a huge difference to me. On the other hand, the sheer contrast, the transparency and the way things seemed "sculpted" in space like when you use a top of the range did catch my eye, quite a nice view, especially considering the price.

 

[greekgeek]

You make very interesting remarks, @greekgeek and your advice seems wise enough. It's true that many times we demand a lot from binoculars, and sometimes the more you use something, the more you like it and the more you get used to its quirks.

I've kept testing the 7x42 Pentax (the two units of the 7x32 are already returned). I've compared it to another old but trusty 7x42 I have, the 20 year old Opticron 7x42 Imagic BGA PC ASF T that retailed for around 370 British Pounds back in 2007. Mind you, the exchange rate GBP/Euro in those days was nearly 1.5 to 1, so you would have paid more than 500 € for the Opticron, which 20 years ago was quite sum for a pair of binoculars. I would dare to say that the Imagic sat in a superior quality/price bracket in the overall scheme of things compared to the Pentax, that you can find in 2024 for less than 350 €.

View attachment 1608040

I remember reading the very interesting comparison by @dwatsonbirder (from whom I bought the Imagic) between the Opticron and a Swarovski 7x42, it's here. I think I agree with most of what he says, and now comes the interesting bit. I've found the Pentax to deliver an image that is basically superior in most relevant areas: it's brighter, sharper, has more contrast and a wider FOV (although in use, I find this is no game changer). So I can only wonder how close would the Pentax be to the Swarovski, or say a Trinovid BA 7x42 from the same era. I had a BA 7x42, and I remember the image was sweet, really engaging, if a bit dimmer than current offerings. So I really wonder how would a middle class 7x42 like the Pentax fare against the BA.

In fact, I really find little to complain about the image quality, I paid around 330 € for the Pentax, and for that price the image is just stunning. But the viewing experience is a different story. Using the Opticron is simple, easy and pleasing. You bring it to your eyes and you look through them. I don't have to fight to get a comfortable view, or to fine tune my focus action every time to get a snap focus... and instead of more than 3 full turns, the focus throw of the Opticron is little more than 1 turn. So, I'm afraid that, despite all that the Pentax has to offer on the purely optical side, all the drawbacks have a bigger weight on the balance.

Heck, the Pentax is so compact it fits (like the UV 7x42) on the case of the Nikon Monarch 7 8x30, my favourite case (which is important for me)...

View attachment 1608039

... but I think the compromises are too many, at least for me, for my hand, my eyes and my taste. I'm sure many other users will enjoy the great views the Pentax offers.

Thanks for the follow up! I like your comparison, that Opticron sounds like a very nice 7x. It is interesting that we both experienced a similar issue with the 7x Pentax, what exactly is it about the design not really offering the eye comfort?? No solid idea. I would be very interested to hear from others, and if the ergonomics fit their facial geometry better or worse. I think the slower focuser of the 7x42 could be a deal breaker for me, the focuser on my 7x32 being about a smooth, fast and overall excellent as I could have hoped for.

With the dearth of 7x on the market, it can come down to that question: what is the next best alternative for a buyer? And at what pricepoint? For me it became the used bins market, also the 6.5x32 Kowa. Neither option holds the image style and quality of the Pentax, for better or worse. The Pentax value proposition is strong, but unique and works only only if one can live with their idiosyncratic design choices and compromises.

So, at the time I ordered the 7x32, I also bought the Retrovid 7x35 from a forum member. Had the Retrovids been secured first, I might never have bought the Pentax. I feel that the Pentax hold up surprisingly well upon direct comparison, especially considering they are less that 1/5 the price of the Retrovids! The ease of use and eye placement is so natural and relaxing with the Leica, no comparison on that front.

Below is a compilation of my correspondence with another member. Seems I really did vacillate back and forth as to whether or not I would return them, and indeed I had them boxed up and ready to go. I do not remember why exactly, but I gave them one last try and maybe the sun was cooperating... and I only adapted more and more to eventually just use them and get the correct eye placement without thinking about it. Also, I had some eye strain initially which I forgot about. Again no idea why, but it is no longer present after continued use.

Hopefully by the next iteration, Pentax can improve their design to fit a wider range of facial geometries for ease of use "out of the box".


My initial impression was in mid July, shortly after I received the Pentax 7x32:
...that Pentax 7x32 is one sweet pair of bins. I have not compared side by side with the Leicas, so cannot comment there but I am impressed with how far $300 can go on these. Beautiful build quality and focus wheel to go along with the very bright, sharp and high contrast views.

Some days later...
The Pentax is really a very good image. It's a little different than the view in the Retrovid. I can't say which one I prefer yet, they are both quite good. The focuser on the Pentax is superior. I'm completely satisfied with the views yet I might be sending it back in. I seem to have a little eyestrain with it, not sure why that would be. Eye placement is a little bit fiddly with the cups retracted, kind of goes dark when look to the edges of the field stops. Meanwhile I just checked and Amazon is not on the authorized dealers list, so no 25 yrs warranty after all. Bummer. Probably will send them back, sadly. But I will give it another week before deciding.

Some time later still:
Back to the Pentax, I think I have zeroed in on the issue. The right objective seems to have a defect. The surprisingly sharp central image goes a little fuzzy right of center, then sharpens again passing to the right edge, with very minimal softening at that last 10% (still better than the defect spot...).

I need to confirm with my other eye and without glasses, but I think that's the issue.

Interestingly Amazon is not on the authorized dealers list, but when you go to register Amazon is an option. Probably I will swap them for another pair, pending final conclusions.

I really, really like this Pentax format otherwise I'd have given up on them by now 😂

They are worth a look if you have the chance.

Here I came to the conclusion I would need to return them, while comparing to the Leica Retrovid 7x35

...Those are on my radar now that the Pentax are out.

So I did spend some more time with the Pentax and (finally!!) the 7x Retrovids. There is a lot to unpack here, but I'll keep it short. The Retrovids carry the day for me but with some caveats. Back to the Pentax, I think the binoculars are in fact, perfectly fine. Yes there is a slight spot of sharpness decay but its nitpicking and less than the drop off in the Leica. It turns out real problem is ergonomics, despite the generous eye relief they just do not work me when wearing glasses. Which is a dang same, because I prefer to view with glasses instead of contacts (or going without either...).

So if you do not wear glasses, I wholeheartedly recommend the Pentax 7x32, with glasses YMMV. A lot of it has to do with glare, I am getting too much when using glasses. To compensate, it takes rather precise placement of the binoculars to avoid any glare/reflections while still being able to see the field stops and avoiding edge blackouts. Meanwhile, the IPD seems just a bit different than most other pairs. It's too much damn work fiddling with the positioning and it detracts from the experience.

I blame the eyecups. The usable eye relief is reduced by a couple mm due to thick eyecup rims, meanwhile the eyepieces are convex so there is a large gap between glasses and eyepiece glass.

The Retrovids have a much easier viewing experience with glasses, and the IPD seems easier to locate quickly. Field of view is slightly larger (significant to the views tho...), and depth of field seems a little better. Color reproduction and brightness is similar, but the "greens" on the Leica area bit more luscious and differentiated when viewing foliage, just a little less so with the Pentax.

The Leicas on the other hand have more fall off in sharpness from the sweetspot to the edge, and a surprisingly large amount of CA at the edges. The Pentax have a larger sweet spot with more gradual fall off while remaining CA free all the way to the very edge of the field stops. In difficult viewing of diffused light background (cloudy), the Pentax appears noticably sharper even in the center when viewing hemlock branches/needles. This is because of the Leica's CA, it really makes a difference even in the center sweet spot. Its subtle though and considering that is not my primary target, I think I can live with it.

Focuser is fast and spot on, win for the Pentax there too although I aalso like the Retrovid focus despite it being a little slow.

So I am back to leaning towards sending them back again, despite an impressive view and value prop.

Easy come, easy go... just wish they worked out so I could have a pair to keep in the car.

With the Retrovids I just pick them up and can view straight away with glasses on, much like with the Conquest HD 8x32. Any slight glare or edge CA is mitigated during viewing

July 27th: The end is nigh, the Pentax are boxed up for return:

. ..I also need to box those Pentax back up, sadly but its the right thing to do.

Sometime within one month later, I had concluded them to be keepers, having adjusted to their quirks such that they are no longer bothersome.

...speaking of sharp I have an update on the Pentax 7x32. I got them all boxed up for a return, the. Gave them one last try and kept them. They really are a lot of binocular for the money, and so they are my "beater pair" to take on the trails or kayaking, more rough and tumble than the Retrovids. Having spent more time with them, veiling glare is their biggest shortcoming. The flat field and the sharp views, great colors etc. makes them tolerable. Now that I have the Kowa 6.5, they are again at risk but I am in no rush to sell them off just yet.
In fact, I was so impressed I tried the 10x version. Totally different animal and a dismal experience. Had all the same ergonomics and glare, but none of the sharpness, color pop, or adequate eye relief. Just miserable with glasses. So back they went, straightaway.

One last report:
Pentax got the call again today, bike trails then nature hike. Ducks, green heron, snapping turtles, rabbits, all great views.

So, I guess all is well that ends well. Cheers.

 

[yarrellii]

Pentax got the call again today, bike trails then nature hike. Ducks, green heron, snapping turtles, rabbits, all great views.

All is well that ends well, indeed! What a sweet end to the thrilling story. I see we experienced many similarities. Also with both the 7x42 and 7x32 I had this feeling that there was something odd about blurred areas on some parts of the FOV that hindered the view.
In my case, I just thought they simply were not made for me.

Now the Retrovid 7x35 is a really sweet thing. Had it not been for the tiny eyecups, I would have kept them, I really liked them despite the noticeable CA (for my eyes anyway). I also tried the Kowa 6.5, but those left me a bit cold, I think the sharpness, depth and contrast on the Pentax are superior. I'm a hopeless fan of 7x, so I've tried many many offerings, but most 7x42 are too bulky/heavy for me as an everyday binocular, that's why 7x32 seems to hit the spot. Recently I was impressed by the optical quality of the APM 6.5x32, although I got a unit with a terribly faulty focus wheel. But the image quality was on another level, also the porro stereopsis added to the experience. But then, it's a 740 g 32 mm binocular, and the eyecups are humungous. But you might want to try that. For the time being, I think I'll stick to my 8x32 Traveller and 8x30 EII for a while, after having had a not stellar year with 6.5/7x binoculars

 

[greekgeek]

All is well that ends well, indeed! What a sweet end to the thrilling story. I see we experienced many similarities. Also with both the 7x42 and 7x32 I had this feeling that there was something odd about blurred areas on some parts of the FOV that hindered the view.
In my case, I just thought they simply were not made for me.

Now the Retrovid 7x35 is a really sweet thing. Had it not been for the tiny eyecups, I would have kept them, I really liked them despite the noticeable CA (for my eyes anyway). I also tried the Kowa 6.5, but those left me a bit cold, I think the sharpness, depth and contrast on the Pentax are superior. I'm a hopeless fan of 7x, so I've tried many many offerings, but most 7x42 are too bulky/heavy for me as an everyday binocular, that's why 7x32 seems to hit the spot. Recently I was impressed by the optical quality of the APM 6.5x32, although I got a unit with a terribly faulty focus wheel. But the image quality was on another level, also the porro stereopsis added to the experience. But then, it's a 740 g 32 mm binocular, and the eyecups are humungous. But you might want to try that. For the time being, I think I'll stick to my 8x32 Traveller and 8x30 EII for a while, after having had a not stellar year with 6.5/7x binoculars

Yes, similar experience indeed. I am also enjoying 7x in most use cases, it just seems like a well balanced magnification for several reasons, and nice calm view. I am bummed to hear that you didn't get on with the Kowa, I really thought they knocked it out of the park with that wide FOV. But indeed, tradeoffs were made and it certainly is a much different view compared to the Pentax 7x32. That APM sounds nice, and I do like the Porro view. Might have to check those out.

In lieu of much variety in the new market, for the most part I have been looking for 7x Binos from the mid nineties onward, so they at least have multi-coating and in the case of some, P coated prisms (non porro). B&L has been my favorite brand to stalk on the used market. I hunted down a B&L 7x35 Legacy (UWA by Kamakura), a 7x36 Elite, and more recently the 7x26 custom and 7x42 discoverer. All of them from the 1990's., possibly 2000

Now I need to spend more time with each, and then the herd back down. Except for the 7x36 Elite, that one is not going anywhere.

 

[has530]

Thanks for the follow up! I like your comparison, that Opticron sounds like a very nice 7x. It is interesting that we both experienced a similar issue with the 7x Pentax, what exactly is it about the design not really offering the eye comfort?? No solid idea. I would be very interested to hear from others, and if the ergonomics fit their facial geometry better or worse. I think the slower focuser of the 7x42 could be a deal breaker for me, the focuser on my 7x32 being about a smooth, fast and overall excellent as I could have hoped for.

With the dearth of 7x on the market, it can come down to that question: what is the next best alternative for a buyer? And at what pricepoint? For me it became the used bins market, also the 6.5x32 Kowa. Neither option holds the image style and quality of the Pentax, for better or worse. The Pentax value proposition is strong, but unique and works only only if one can live with their idiosyncratic design choices and compromises.

So, at the time I ordered the 7x32, I also bought the Retrovid 7x35 from a forum member. Had the Retrovids been secured first, I might never have bought the Pentax. I feel that the Pentax hold up surprisingly well upon direct comparison, especially considering they are less that 1/5 the price of the Retrovids! The ease of use and eye placement is so natural and relaxing with the Leica, no comparison on that front.

Below is a compilation of my correspondence with another member. Seems I really did vacillate back and forth as to whether or not I would return them, and indeed I had them boxed up and ready to go. I do not remember why exactly, but I gave them one last try and maybe the sun was cooperating... and I only adapted more and more to eventually just use them and get the correct eye placement without thinking about it. Also, I had some eye strain initially which I forgot about. Again no idea why, but it is no longer present after continued use.

Hopefully by the next iteration, Pentax can improve their design to fit a wider range of facial geometries for ease of use "out of the box".


My initial impression was in mid July, shortly after I received the Pentax 7x32:
...that Pentax 7x32 is one sweet pair of bins. I have not compared side by side with the Leicas, so cannot comment there but I am impressed with how far $300 can go on these. Beautiful build quality and focus wheel to go along with the very bright, sharp and high contrast views.

Some days later...
The Pentax is really a very good image. It's a little different than the view in the Retrovid. I can't say which one I prefer yet, they are both quite good. The focuser on the Pentax is superior. I'm completely satisfied with the views yet I might be sending it back in. I seem to have a little eyestrain with it, not sure why that would be. Eye placement is a little bit fiddly with the cups retracted, kind of goes dark when look to the edges of the field stops. Meanwhile I just checked and Amazon is not on the authorized dealers list, so no 25 yrs warranty after all. Bummer. Probably will send them back, sadly. But I will give it another week before deciding.

Some time later still:
Back to the Pentax, I think I have zeroed in on the issue. The right objective seems to have a defect. The surprisingly sharp central image goes a little fuzzy right of center, then sharpens again passing to the right edge, with very minimal softening at that last 10% (still better than the defect spot...).

I need to confirm with my other eye and without glasses, but I think that's the issue.

Interestingly Amazon is not on the authorized dealers list, but when you go to register Amazon is an option. Probably I will swap them for another pair, pending final conclusions.

I really, really like this Pentax format otherwise I'd have given up on them by now 😂

They are worth a look if you have the chance.

Here I came to the conclusion I would need to return them, while comparing to the Leica Retrovid 7x35

...Those are on my radar now that the Pentax are out.

So I did spend some more time with the Pentax and (finally!!) the 7x Retrovids. There is a lot to unpack here, but I'll keep it short. The Retrovids carry the day for me but with some caveats. Back to the Pentax, I think the binoculars are in fact, perfectly fine. Yes there is a slight spot of sharpness decay but its nitpicking and less than the drop off in the Leica. It turns out real problem is ergonomics, despite the generous eye relief they just do not work me when wearing glasses. Which is a dang same, because I prefer to view with glasses instead of contacts (or going without either...).

So if you do not wear glasses, I wholeheartedly recommend the Pentax 7x32, with glasses YMMV. A lot of it has to do with glare, I am getting too much when using glasses. To compensate, it takes rather precise placement of the binoculars to avoid any glare/reflections while still being able to see the field stops and avoiding edge blackouts. Meanwhile, the IPD seems just a bit different than most other pairs. It's too much damn work fiddling with the positioning and it detracts from the experience.

I blame the eyecups. The usable eye relief is reduced by a couple mm due to thick eyecup rims, meanwhile the eyepieces are convex so there is a large gap between glasses and eyepiece glass.

The Retrovids have a much easier viewing experience with glasses, and the IPD seems easier to locate quickly. Field of view is slightly larger (significant to the views tho...), and depth of field seems a little better. Color reproduction and brightness is similar, but the "greens" on the Leica area bit more luscious and differentiated when viewing foliage, just a little less so with the Pentax.

The Leicas on the other hand have more fall off in sharpness from the sweetspot to the edge, and a surprisingly large amount of CA at the edges. The Pentax have a larger sweet spot with more gradual fall off while remaining CA free all the way to the very edge of the field stops. In difficult viewing of diffused light background (cloudy), the Pentax appears noticably sharper even in the center when viewing hemlock branches/needles. This is because of the Leica's CA, it really makes a difference even in the center sweet spot. Its subtle though and considering that is not my primary target, I think I can live with it.

Focuser is fast and spot on, win for the Pentax there too although I aalso like the Retrovid focus despite it being a little slow.

So I am back to leaning towards sending them back again, despite an impressive view and value prop.

Easy come, easy go... just wish they worked out so I could have a pair to keep in the car.

With the Retrovids I just pick them up and can view straight away with glasses on, much like with the Conquest HD 8x32. Any slight glare or edge CA is mitigated during viewing

July 27th: The end is nigh, the Pentax are boxed up for return:

. ..I also need to box those Pentax back up, sadly but its the right thing to do.

Sometime within one month later, I had concluded them to be keepers, having adjusted to their quirks such that they are no longer bothersome.

...speaking of sharp I have an update on the Pentax 7x32. I got them all boxed up for a return, the. Gave them one last try and kept them. They really are a lot of binocular for the money, and so they are my "beater pair" to take on the trails or kayaking, more rough and tumble than the Retrovids. Having spent more time with them, veiling glare is their biggest shortcoming. The flat field and the sharp views, great colors etc. makes them tolerable. Now that I have the Kowa 6.5, they are again at risk but I am in no rush to sell them off just yet.
In fact, I was so impressed I tried the 10x version. Totally different animal and a dismal experience. Had all the same ergonomics and glare, but none of the sharpness, color pop, or adequate eye relief. Just miserable with glasses. So back they went, straightaway.

One last report:
Pentax got the call again today, bike trails then nature hike. Ducks, green heron, snapping turtles, rabbits, all great views.

So, I guess all is well that ends well. Cheers.

After reading this (and with the pentax trade in deal posted in the bargains thread) I decided to order a pair! Should be here shortly and will post my thoughts on them when they arrive.

 

[greekgeek]

After reading this (and with the pentax trade in deal posted in the bargains thread) I decided to order a pair! Should be here shortly and will post my thoughts on them when they arrive.

I hope they work out for you, and will be very interested to hear about your experience and opinion of them.

 

[has530]

I have had these for a few days now and while my observations have been limited due to nursing an injured leg, I have spent enough time to share my initial thoughts.

First for the bad. I too see the ring of partial reflections around the field stop while looking through them. I have seen this a few times before in Vortex Diamondbacks and the TMB planetary eyepieces. While a little distracting, it is not a deal breaker. It is more like when videos on social media have blank space in the sides filled in with blurred versions of the video to account for mismatched aspect ratios. I am curious however if it could be coming from a similar source to veiling glare. Like many 32mm binoculars these suffer from a decent amount. It is not the worst I have seen but definitely bothersome if the sun is in the general direction you are pointing. I think it is coming from unblackened lens edges in the objectives. Two more little nitpicks. The focuser while very smooth and light is a little uneven through the full range with a slow gear ratio. Also, the FOV feels narrower than the specifications suggest. I do wonder if the magnification is less than 7 since a quick test showed the true FOV to be very close to spec.

Now for the good! I do not have any problems with eye placement like yarrellii did. In fact I find the eye placement rather easy and the eyecups fit me well. Chromatic aberration correction is very good. Definitely better than most in this price class and many more expensive options. Apparent sharpness is very good in the center and maintains sharpness edge to edge. There is in fact a tiny bit of softening at around 70% out from the field center but it is hardly perceptible and then goes away as you approach the field stop (I believe something similar has been seen in the Kowa 6.5x32?). They are also quite small and handy, hardly bigger than the 8x28 vortex diamondback (see below). The strap lugs are on the sides so as someone with larger hands sometimes they are in the way due to the short barrels but if you are looking for something small and light with good optics this would definitely fit the bill.

 

[greekgeek]

I have had these for a few days now and while my observations have been limited due to nursing an injured leg, I have spent enough time to share my initial thoughts.

First for the bad. I too see the ring of partial reflections around the field stop while looking through them. I have seen this a few times before in Vortex Diamondbacks and the TMB planetary eyepieces. While a little distracting, it is not a deal breaker. It is more like when videos on social media have blank space in the sides filled in with blurred versions of the video to account for mismatched aspect ratios. I am curious however if it could be coming from a similar source to veiling glare. Like many 32mm binoculars these suffer from a decent amount. It is not the worst I have seen but definitely bothersome if the sun is in the general direction you are pointing. I think it is coming from unblackened lens edges in the objectives. Two more little nitpicks. The focuser while very smooth and light is a little uneven through the full range with a slow gear ratio. Also, the FOV feels narrower than the specifications suggest. I do wonder if the magnification is less than 7 since a quick test showed the true FOV to be very close to spec.

Now for the good! I do not have any problems with eye placement like yarrellii did. In fact I find the eye placement rather easy and the eyecups fit me well. Chromatic aberration correction is very good. Definitely better than most in this price class and many more expensive options. Apparent sharpness is very good in the center and maintains sharpness edge to edge. There is in fact a tiny bit of softening at around 70% out from the field center but it is hardly perceptible and then goes away as you approach the field stop (I believe something similar has been seen in the Kowa 6.5x32?). They are also quite small and handy, hardly bigger than the 8x28 vortex diamondback (see below). The strap lugs are on the sides so as someone with larger hands sometimes they are in the way due to the short barrels but if you are looking for something small and light with good optics this would definitely fit the bill.

Sounds like a fairly similar optical experience amongst at least 3 pair now. I have to admit I am a little envious of your eyecup fitting success, congratulations!! Very good binos albeit with some exit pupil imperfections, somewhat unique ergonomics.

Until a better compact 7x hits the market, I'll be keeping mine.

I am still curious to try the 7x42, I am sending off an older pair of binoculars today for some Pentax credits.

Oh yeah and regarding the focuser, most binoculars I have owned seem to have a transition in feel when going from close focus regime to distant focus. Some are more noticable than others but I never really noticed resistance change in my Pentax 7x32. I'll keep a feel for it next time I go out, in case there is some subtle differences. From memory, these were just butter smooth throughout.

 

[yarrellii]

I too see the ring of partial reflections around the field stop while looking through them. I have seen this a few times before in Vortex Diamondbacks and the TMB planetary eyepieces. While a little distracting, it is not a deal breaker. It is more like when videos on social media have blank space in the sides filled in with blurred versions of the video to account for mismatched aspect ratios.

That's an interesting comparison I do wonder where that is coming from. To my eyes, it is an optical flaw that distracts from the view itself.

Also, the FOV feels narrower than the specifications suggest. I do wonder if the magnification is less than 7 since a quick test showed the true FOV to be very close to spec.

As I commented in my remarks, both comparing the 7x32 Pentax to some 8x and other 7x, even the 7x42 Pentax itself, I got the feeling (subjective) that it was less than 7x. To my eyes, there was a clear and distinct difference in magnification between the 7x32 and 7x42, and going from 8x to the 7x32 felt like a much bigger jump that what usually 7x vs 8x feels like (which is usually almost neglictible in terms of detail). I didn't do any measurment, so in my case it's just a hunch, but if you too did see something odd, then we might be in to something.

Really happy the ergonomics worked for you. This is the closest I've come to my ideal 7x32. But I'm not quite there yet I wish Opticron launched a 7x32 Traveller (or any other of the many brands that market a similar +-450 g 8x30 format).