Review (Hi-End Porro) of the binocular Pentax PIF 7x50 SMC (1 Viewer)

[Diter]

I bought that binocular half a year ago. I've had many field-glasses (price category from 100 to $400); some I like and some I didn't but this one impressed me most. I just came back from a walk and I decided that I should write the review of this magnificent, wonderful device.

 

[mooreorless]

Hi Diter, Welcome to BirdForum! I am glad you really like this PIF. These binoculars come up for sale on Astromart once in a while. There is a thread on Cloudy Nights about these. I have used the Fujinon 10x50 FMT-SX and loved it, but don't think I would want to walk very far with it.

I posted this before you actually posted a review. Nice pictures! No time the read the review.

 

[Diter]

Hi mooreorless!
Thanks!

I will begin with my first impressions:
I am very surprised with quality of the image from this field-glass. It is sharp on all fields, and also total absence of patches of light* in addition to the exact color rendition are impressive. I was also impressed the great depth of sharpness. When looking through it, forms a picture such as though you are seeing with your own eyes, instead of looking through the field-glass. Reviewers from photoweb.ru in an article "For 1997year" wrote a review of these binoculars and said:

"The image is so close to natural, it would seem that the field-glass simply isn't present"

It was also a big surprise to me that when I used it at twilight, the view was bright and natural. I even liked to look through the field-glass in dark back streets when you could not see anything with the unaided eye, but looking in this PIF I not only guess what silhouettes were, I could make out object in details!

Well, and now the shortcomings:
- A narrow field of sight (this is a characteristic for field-glasses with the characteristics of 7x50).
- Insignificant effect of tunnel vision.
- If you look at a brick wall and try to focus the field-glasses precisely, you notice that you won't have a precisely sharp edge. Ideally, the exact sharpness from perfect is insignificant but as to maintain a deep level of sharpness it is necessary to twist the eyepieces slightly towards minus and this effect disappears without a loss of sharpness towards the center!!!
- Neutral color rendition or a lack of a neutral color rendition. If you look at bright objects on a sunny day it can become a little tiresome.
- Bright stars don't render accurately and they look as though they are sparkling.

- *For me, it was difficult to recreate this phenomenon even when I looked away from the sun, but still I managed to see at night close to very bright light
sources, but they were low intensity and the effect is very insignificant.

And What About The Pentax PIF 10x50 SMC?
I personally didn't check out the PIF 10x50 field-glass picture, but at one forum, a user described the difference between the two as:

Depth of sharpness is not as deep as the 7x50.
Edge degradation is more prominent.
The 7x50 seems slightly sharper.
In the field-glass 10x50 view is more realistic!
Also he added that it is an excellent model for the class.

A little history about PIF field-glasses On sites where they sell optical devices, the Pentax PIF first appeared in 1993.

 

[Diter]

American magazine "Field & Stream" 09.1993. advertised the release of a new model of binoculars called the PIF 7x50 series by Pentax. By the end 2000, this series of field-glasses were discontinued, but until 2004 the remaining field-glasses could be found for sale, but they were simply as the unsold remains from former years.

I took this picture of a soap tray without the aid of any support. The entire field of view is not in the shot, only ~ 85-90 %

 

[Diter]

Observing in this binoculars there is no need to constantly adjust the focus. The exception is when you need to make out something located very close by.

 

[Diter]

Here I estimated the resolution of this binoculars.

 

[steve@37n84w]

Diter

Nice review on the 7x50 PIF. I let a 7x50 PIF slip through my fingers on ebay due to some faulty bidding on my part but I was able to use the "buy it now option" on a new in box 10x50 PIF. The mechanical/build quality on the PIF series is the most rugged of any binocular I've ever seen. The size and weight are also noteworthy, the PIF's huge prism housings make the 10x50 Fujinon FMTR SX appear petite in comparison.

The one thing you didn't mention is eyecup design but I find the PIF's eyecup design perfect. It nestles into my eye socket just right and the small winged extensions perfectly block any extraneous light. I'll post a pic showing the PIF in comparison to a 10x50 FMTR SX and 10x42 SE that really illustrates the size of the PIF series since many forum members probably aren't familiar with this binocular. I think I've also got a pic showing the superb eye cup design.

Congratulations on finding one of these sought after binoculars....it took me over three years to acquire my 10x50. Could you also describe what you mean when you say "bright stars don't render accurately"?? I use my PIF a lot at night and it shows pinpoint stars almost to the very edge of fov and handles bright stars/planets very well with little if any spiking.

Steve

 

[FrankD]

Wow, these are a big, beasty 7x50! I like the looks! I am sure I would enjoy the optical performance as well. I have become a fan of the 7x50 configuration after owning many classic 7x50 porros from various companies and now a few of the more modern models.

Many of the comments you posted about the optical performance of the Pentax could also be applied to my current favorite 7x50, the Vixen Foresta. They aren't quite as physically large as the Pentax primarily because of the smaller prisms but in terms of describing issues like apparent depth of field, apparent sharpness, size of sweet spot, etc... the two seem to represent the 7x50 configuration quite well.

 

[Diter]

to steve@37n84w
Could you also describe what you mean when you say "bright stars don't render accurately"??

bright (if bright stars) blinking.

 

[absolut_beethoven]

Thanks for posting this excellent and informative review.

I have been a big Pentax fan since I bought my 8x32 DCF ED about a year ago.

 

[brocknroller]

Diter,

Thanks for that mini-review, photos, and graphic (is that a bit of pincushion I see in the graphic?).

I've always been curious yellow about these bins, particularly since mooreorless has been saying he's going to buy a 10x50 PIF for about 10 years now, but one hasn't come up at his price yet (free with $20 shipping and handling .

Yellow" because of the hernia bulging weight, so I shied away from the PIFs despite some good buys on Amart. I don't mind the monstrous size, because I have big hands and generally prefer porros to roofs.

Also, since I do much more birding than stargazing, I thought the IF EPs would be too restrictive. But as it turns out, I only use my 10x50 Celestron Novas for stargazing, because of the weight, so why not add a bit more weight for a 10x50 PIF or a 10x50 FMT-SX? (I'd just need to eat more spinach .

However, I can't imagine going for a walk with a PIF (unless I had my chiropractor on speed dial). You must have a strong neck like Henry, who carries a Zeiss 8x56 FL with him into the field.

At first I thought the spiking stars was due to your eyes. Your entrance pupils open to the max with a 7x50 (provided you have dark skies and no ambient light coming into your eyes from street lamps and your eyes are young enough to open to 6 or 7mm). That can bring out the worst in your vision (astigmatism and other "isms"), which could make stars less than "punctiform".

But I see the spiking in your photo, so it's not your eyes and it's not due to roof prism spikes so I'm not sure what's going on (oh, oh, I feel like another dose of Marvin...).

Attached is a photo of a rubber armored Nikon Tropical that looks like another heavy weight contender.

http://www.allbinos.com/256-binoculars_review-Nikon_7x50IF_HP_WP_Tropical.html

Another review.

http://sites.google.com/site/rchamon/home/review-of-nikon-7x50-if-hp-wp-tropical

Simon says: This is without a doubt the highest performing binocular in this collection, and possibly I have ever looked through.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/4812771196/

Think you saw that one because a reply to Simon said: MrDiter80 (9 months ago) Pentax PIF 7x50 vs Nikon 7x50 IF WP Tropical which is better?

Btw, my grandfather on my father's side was born in the Ukraine.

Brock

 

[steve@37n84w]

to steve@37n84w
Could you also describe what you mean when you say "bright stars don't render accurately"??

bright (if bright stars) blinking.

Diter

Thanks for the reply. What you refer to as blinking (flaring on a very bright object in the night sky) is what we call "spiking". Many binos will show some degree of spiking on the brightest stars/planets but remember this type of viewing is a severe test of optics.

I've looked through many binoculars that yield great viewing for daytime terrestrial use but are downright scary at night. I never pass judgement on how good a binocular really is until I use it under the night sky.

Steve

 

[Mark9473]

I think that with a 7x50 binocular, it is difficult to rule out that the optical aberrations leading to imperfect star points, are entirely in the observer's eyes.

 

[brocknroller]

I think that with a 7x50 binocular, it is difficult to rule out that the optical aberrations leading to imperfect star points, are entirely in the observer's eyes.

Even when the star "spiking" is photographed??

 

[ronh]

Diter,
Thank you for your account of this fine 7x50. I presume your pictures are not photos through the binoculars, but a simulation of how the view looks to you. Most people's eyes show some loss of sharpness on stars when their pupils are overfilled by the binocular's exit pupils. Mine do, but my eyes are still pretty fair, and I love viewing stars with my 7x50, which is a Fujinon FMT-SX. It is of similar quality to your PIF as far as I can determine from reading, although I have not been able to try the big Pentax.

In the daytime, however, the beastly marine 7x50 offers the most impressive view of all binoculars that I have used. This, I judge, not by a list of rational criteria, but purely subjectively, by how bad it knocks my eyes right out of their sockets. This is annoying, considering how impossible these things are to live with, at least in the birding arena. I almost hate looking through the damn thing. I shouldn't complain, however. My Fujinon only weighs 53 ounces. Your PIF on the other hand is pretty heavy huh?
Ron

 

[Mark9473]

Even when the star "spiking" is photographed??

Are you referring to Diter's two images? Those are not photographs but sketches I believe.

 

[brocknroller]

Are you referring to Diter's two images? Those are not photographs but sketches I believe.

Yes, I thought they were photos.

Brock

 

[Diter]

I presume your pictures are not photos through the binoculars

Picture (5,6) > photography was do by cheap camera Olympus FE5020, picture (7) simulation, stars sketches.

Your PIF on the other hand is pretty heavy huh?

Yes, weight 1650.

 

[Diter]

is that a bit of pincushion I see in the graphic?

Slightly.

Photography view PIF 7x50 Sony DSC-H70.

 

[Diter]

Members have any first hand experience with this line of binoculars?