Question for long time Noctivid owners (4 Viewers)

[Fisherofbees]

Hello all.

Does anyone else have a slight bit of play in their NV focus wheel? And if so has it stayed the same or gotten worse over the life of the the binocular?

I picked up a new pair of 8x42 NV's last week. I love the view through them, but I'm wondering if I should perhaps try and exchange them for a pair w/ no focus play; or if it's just something to deal with with Leica bins.

 

[Robert Moore]

If it really bothers you than I would exchange them. I didn’t notice any play in the ones I had. 8 and 10 power. Binoculars with the best focus feel for me have been Zeiss SF and NL pure.

 

[Jeffbennett12]

I have owned both 8X42 and 10X42 Noctivids, and still have the 8X42s. In both cases the focuser was very smooth and completely free of any discernible play. Overall I would consider the Noctivid focusers to be equal to the NL focuser and just slightly behind the Zeiss SF.

I will say that while I owned the Noctivids for several years, they did not get hard use.

 

[Fisherofbees]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm well within my return window at B and H, so I guess I'll see if they'll let me try another pair.
I'm glad to hear that it's not the norm and will keep my fingers crossed the replacement is as nice optically as this pair, but hopefully without the focuser play.

As far as feel, I agree that my SF's feel just a little better (discounting the play issue). I had a lot of trouble with focuser stiffness on the pair of NL pures I had so not rally a fair comparison there.

 

[Bentley03]

I've come across a couple of NV's with a tiny bit of play from new, as well as several NL's which feel gritty or have a rough spot or sticky patch in the rotation (never any play in the movement though), but SF's I've owned or tested have all been perfect, in terms of tension and feel. SFL's are not so consistent and I don't believe their focus mechanism is the same as the SF, it looks the same, but feels a bit different. I've come across several SFL's with very stiff focus movements, although it's always smooth and consistent.

I've also known both NV's and NL's with very minor imperfections in the focus movement correct themselves with use, and an NV with a perfect focus movement when new, develop a tiny amount of play.

Another NV focus movement characteristic which I've observed is that some can be overly light for me, I prefer a bit of tension in the wheel so that I can actually feel when I'm moving it. I find some Nikon EDG have overly light focus wheel tension too.

Sorry for the longer than necessary and slightly off topic reply, especially as I believe you've made your decision already, but I'd reinforce what's been previously said and definitely swap out those Nocs for a different pair, the play in the focus movement of the copy you have should not be there, so make sure you're completely happy with the copy you settle on.

Good luck and enjoy those wonderful binoculars (which some would say have the most beautiful view of any binocular)!

 

[Robert Moore]

The focus on my NL’s was a little stiff at first but smoothed out to perfection with use.

 

[Tim S]

Hello all.

Does anyone else have a slight bit of play in their NV focus wheel? And if so has it stayed the same or gotten worse over the life of the the binocular?

I picked up a new pair of 8x42 NV's last week. I love the view through them, but I'm wondering if I should perhaps try and exchange them for a pair w/ no focus play; or if it's just something to deal with with Leica bins.

Have had four pairs of NV's (keep going back to them after feeling I'm missing something and trying other makes, verdict's in, I'm not) and all have had good focusers. Tightness can improve (though I've never had that) but play (backlash)?, I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[Trinovid]

Have had four pairs of NV's (keep going back to them after feeling I'm missing something and trying other makes, verdict's in, I'm not) and all have had good focusers. Tightness can improve (though I've never had that) but play (backlash)?, I wouldn't have thought so.

Which Noctivids do you have? I can't remember which one I tried out, alongside an NL a couple years ago, and though I can't remember why I liked the former and not the latter, I do keep thinking of possibly getting one eventually.

 

[Tim S]

Which Noctivids do you have? I can't remember which one I tried out, alongside an NL a couple years ago, and though I can't remember why I liked the former and not the latter, I do keep thinking of possibly getting one eventually.

I have the 8's, in green. Thinking about the 10's but I have 10x32 BA's & 8x32 UV+ and can't justify it really. I wouldn't say they're better than other makes (it's subjective of course) but they suit me perfectly. A rich , contrasted, saturated view with no blackouts that I can hold rock-steady.

 

[LaKu]

My NV has the TINIEST little bit of play when changing directions. It's so little that it's hard to tell it's there. The focuser is otherwise incredibly smooth, light and accurate. My Zeiss SF is also very nice but in a very different way. It feels more like I'm actually moving parts against eachother. Not rough by any means, just different. My Swaro NL feels smooth the same way the NV does, but occasionally has some spots where there's more friction.
As soon as I'm out birding, I completely forget about all of that.

 

[ibramr]

Greetings. In my experience, the sensitive and very accurate focusing of the NV is among one of its many admirable
attributes. I second the opinion to find the sample you are really comfortable and happy with. Enjoy in good health.