Roger Vine's review of the Fujinon 14x40 TS-X (1 Viewer)

[John A Roberts]

After an extended break Roger is back with a new binocular review! This time the electronically image stabilised Fujinon 14x40 TS-X.



The review can be found at: Fujinon 14x40 TS-X Review
and includes comparisons to the Canon 12x36 IS III and the Swarovski 14x52 NL.

Roger has also previously reviewed many of the Canon electronically IS models along with the Zeiss mechanically IS 20x60 S.
See at: Binocular Reviews


John

 

[Ignatius]

Hmmm ... instead of comparing apples and oranges, or in this case a Fuji 14x40 stabi with a Swaro NL 14x52, the reviewer might have added the Kite APC 14x50 into the mix.
But what do I know of such things.

 

[John A Roberts]

Optical Construction?

The 14x40 TS-X, along with the lower specification 12x28 TS and the 16x28 TS, were announced in October 2019.

The announcement included some details of the 14x40's optical construction:
• a 4 lens objective in 3 groups, and;
• a 6 lens ocular in 4 groups.

Since it no longer seems to be online, I've attached a PDF copy.


More recently in August 2023, Fujifilm posted a silent one minute video that primarily shows the operation of the gyro sensor
and gimbal based IS system:

It confirms the details of the optical system:
• the 4 lens objective which is in a 2, 1, 1 configuration (the rear lens being the focusing lens), and;
• the 6 lens objective which is in a 1, 2, 2, 1 configuration (and in front of the eyepiece there's a glass rhomboid prism
to allow for IPD adjustment, that's shown more clearly in the next image).




The video also shows the use of Schmidt-Pechan prisms, as indicated by the crossed reflection pattern.



The image shows only 5 of the 6 reflections; not including where the light path is split in two and then reflected
off each of the two roof surfaces in turn, before being recombined.
Presumedly S-P prisms were chosen for their compactness and lower mass compared to other prisms.


John

 

[tx2ad]

But Fuji recently anniunced newer stabilized models:

TS-L2040​

TS-L1640​

So, is the review relevant at all given these are now about to be discontinued?

TECHNO-STABI TS-L2040 Stabilized Binoculars with Electronic Stabilization

Powerful magnification for far-reaching coverage in any setting ±3° of electronic image stabilization for shake-free visuals Large 40mm objective lens diameter for a true-to-life bright image Lightweight approximately 30 oz (850 g) design for effortless usability anywhere. Extra-low dispersion...

shopusa.fujifilm-x.com

 

[Bentley03]

But Fuji recently anniunced newer stabilized models:

TS-L2040​

TS-L1640​

So, is the review relevant at all given these are now about to be discontinued?

TECHNO-STABI TS-L2040 Stabilized Binoculars with Electronic Stabilization

Powerful magnification for far-reaching coverage in any setting ±3° of electronic image stabilization for shake-free visuals Large 40mm objective lens diameter for a true-to-life bright image Lightweight approximately 30 oz (850 g) design for effortless usability anywhere. Extra-low dispersion...

shopusa.fujifilm-x.com

I don't think the big 14x40 TS-X is being discontinued. It uses a more heavy duty IS system effective to +/- 6 degrees and is intended for use in particularly challenging conditions.

A recent trip (with time spent on a boat in strong winds, swell, vibration from the engine and plenty of judder, which left my non IS bins pretty much redundant at times) has convinced me that a pair of these might be a good investment. There were several users of Canon and Kite IS bins finding the conditions a little too extreme even for them, at times, with +/- 3 degrees effective stabilisation. The TS-X is bloomin' heavy though!