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[Loud Green Man]

Possibly off topic but genuinely something that exercises me whenever a case is made for the “ultimate pair of binoculars” and irrespective of price:

It never includes a description of the view through these wonders of science & modern engineering as being “as per the reviewer’s acuity but 8-times nearer” (or whatever the magnification happens to be).

It’s as if we simply must have something added/altered (and ultimately false) to the view if the c£3K outlay is to be justified!

LGM

 

[Gdavis248]

Possibly off topic but genuinely something that exercises me whenever a case is made for the “ultimate pair of binoculars” and irrespective of price:

It never includes a description of the view through these wonders of science & modern engineering as being “as per the reviewer’s acuity but 8-times nearer” (or whatever the magnification happens to be).

It’s as if we simply must have something added/altered (and ultimately false) to the view if the c£3K outlay is to be justified!

LGM

I’m sorry but…I read your post 4 times and once out loud very slowly to myself and I’m just not understanding what you’re saying. Not trying to poke fun, I’m just genuinely not getting what you’re saying.

So you’re saying nobody ever talks about the view through alpha binoculars? But…they do, like all the time. I’m confused…

And what do you mean by this…

It’s as if we simply must have something added/altered (and ultimately false) to the view if the c£3K outlay is to be justified!

LGM

We must have something added/altered and ultimately false to the view? Sorry, I’m not getting what you’re saying here.

 

[Binocollector]

He's just saying that a good bino should basically "become invisible" when using it and just magnifying but not altering what you see with your own eyes. So the same colors, etc. And I think that is a completely reasonable remark. That is exactly why the tweaking of pincushion distortion in modern binos happened. If your eyes "fit" the bino (as everybody sees pincushion distortion differently for example) then the colors should be correct and no distortion visible (no rolling ball either). At best, you should forget you are even looking through one. BTW -- that is one reason I love my vintage super wide angle binos so much. To me they feel like they do disappear -- at least to a certain extent, as the pincushion distortion of the vintage binos is easy to see but the edge of the field almost disappears.

 

[exup]

BTW -- that is one reason I love my vintage super wide angle binos so much.

What model please?

Maybe a good eBay purchase to try.

 

[tenex]

Possibly off topic but genuinely something that exercises me whenever a case is made for the “ultimate pair of binoculars” and irrespective of price:

It never includes a description of the view through these wonders of science & modern engineering as being “as per the reviewer’s acuity but 8-times nearer” (or whatever the magnification happens to be).

It’s as if we simply must have something added/altered (and ultimately false) to the view if the c£3K outlay is to be justified!

Ultimately false? I do get what you're saying, but don't think it applies to the NL in particular, or is a genuine concern. Some properties of binoculars, like linear/angular distortion or reduced DOF, are quite unlike natural vision and that's entirely unavoidable, so there goes "as per", at least for the literal-minded. Others like variations in color transmission can be tweaked for different purposes, but probably don't exceed the variations between people's vision, or even some individuals' two eyes. I've often had the experience I think you have in mind of simply seeing something as closer, in fact I may be taking it for granted at a certain quality level, and if a binocular can't deliver that it's not because it's trying to improve on nature, but because there's something wrong with it and the view isn't easy enough.

 

[Binocollector]

What model please?

Maybe a good eBay purchase to try.

There are so many. Basically any 8x30 with 10° FoV I see, I snatch up. Or any of the 10° or more 7x35 with the single piece body. The Japanese companies back in the day sold them to many third parties. A good place to dig into that topic would be the "vintage and classic binoculars" thread on cloudynights.
Just an example:

Vintage Sans & Streiffe Sportscaster 980 Wide Angle 11.5° 7x35 Binoculars | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Sans & Streiffe Sportscaster 980 Wide Angle 11.5° 7x35 Binoculars at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[exup]

Basically any 8x30 with 10° FoV I see, I snatch up.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye open for anything at 10°.
I only have x8 porros and roofs that are upto 8+° (140+m /1000m). The extra 1.x° would be interesting to see. Do you find that the edges are very blurry/small sweet spot?

I have found that I like 8° with a flat sharp field to the edge (or pretty close).

 

[mwhogue]

At best, you should forget you are even looking through one. BTW -- that is one reason I love my vintage super wide angle binos so much. To me they feel like they do disappear -- at least to a certain extent, as the pincushion distortion of the vintage binos is easy to see but the edge of the field almost disappears.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye open for anything at 10°.
I only have x8 porros and roofs that are upto 8+° (140+m /1000m). The extra 1.x° would be interesting to see. Do you find that the edges are very blurry/small sweet spot?

I have found that I like 8° with a flat sharp field to the edge (or pretty close).

There are so many. Basically any 8x30 with 10° FoV I see, I snatch up. Or any of the 10° or more 7x35 with the single piece body. The Japanese companies back in the day sold them to many third parties. A good place to dig into that topic would be the "vintage and classic binoculars" thread on cloudynights.
Just an example:

Vintage Sans & Streiffe Sportscaster 980 Wide Angle 11.5° 7x35 Binoculars | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Sans & Streiffe Sportscaster 980 Wide Angle 11.5° 7x35 Binoculars at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Binocollector, I recently got a Sans & Streiffe 7x35 Commander with 12.5 degree FoV (similar to the model you linked) and agree with you the edge of the FoV does seem to disappear. The only downside for me is 10mm ER but I can accept that trade off in return for the 12.5 spec.

Exup, given your preference for a flat field sharp to the edge you may want to look for a model with @ 10 degrees or a bit less, but iI don't know whether the edge quality would be any different/better for you. You might consider the excellent Nikon 8x30 E II with 8.8, the Nikon Action EX 7x35 or the Opticron Adventurer T WP 6.5x32 with 9.2 and at @ $100 USD, a blistering bargain to boot IMO. Again, the edge quality might not be your cup of tea, but the different experience delivered by a significantly wider FoV than 8 may grow on you.

Mike

 

[exup]

You might consider the excellent Nikon 8x30 E II with 8.8, the Nikon Action EX 7x35 or the Opticron Adventurer T WP 6.5x32 with 9.2 and at @ $100 USD,

Thanks.
I have the Opticron Savanna 8x30 and SR.GA 8x32 porros. I was considering a 6x30 Savanna as I believe it is a step above the Adventurer T, for a few £ more.

 

[Loud Green Man]

He's just saying that a good bino should basically "become invisible" when using it and just magnifying but not altering what you see with your own eyes.

Thanks for that.

LGM