The Eagle (well the Hawk) has Landed....(Part Deux) (1 Viewer)

[Ignatius]

There are two things I will not discuss with the quack: my wife's, and indeed my own, excellent cooking, and my drinking habits which are extremely tame these days.

 

[Isthatascratch?]

I know. I said I couldn't hold the NL Pure 14x52's steady the other week when I tested them....and I couldn't even with the forehead rest and a wide brimmed Tilley hat.

Until Wednesday that is, when a chance encounter with an old friend at Lake Vyrnwy, with his brand spanking new 14x52's with the winged eyecups and the forehead rest fitted, let me have a shufti through his latest aquisition.

And then hallelujah, or similar words followed by ....hell! What was shaky with just the forehead rest became as steady as a very steady thing. Not only did the winged eyecups reduce the glare (it was very sunny day with a fair amount of glare off the water) but they allowed me to use them as a real contact point with my eye sockets. Tripod effect (almost).

That was Wednesday, and my beloved conscious of how upset I was over the poor condition of the (returned) Habicht's from Clifton Cameras, ordered me to get a pair as she was sick of me moping around muttering about the stability transformation of a pair of simple rubber eyecups.

A phone call to the ever excellent Russell at South West Optics yesterday, (see his YouTube presentations, he knows what he is talking about), and Gary the Post delivered the 14x52's this morning.

Simply stunning. Light, sharp and the body armour has none of the mold seams of my 10x42's. They are ergonomically perfect for me, the balance and the FOV is astounding.

A salutory lesson for yours truly, take all the accessories with you when you go to test and, if at all possible, bump into a friend who has the very thing you really, really want.

View attachment 1603008View attachment 1603007

How do you find these against your Meopta’s (if you still have them)? as you did make a comment before.

Thanks Chas

 

[Thotmosis]

How do you find these against your Meopta’s (if you still have them)? as you did make a comment before.

Thanks Chas

Yeah, im also interested in that comparison. An old fashioned gunfight at the OK coral between these two binoculars would be interesting.

 

[PatR]

How do you find these against your Meopta’s (if you still have them)? as you did make a comment before.

Thanks Chas

Hi Chas
I still have the Meopta's and they are as superb as ever. But they are heavy and whilst I do believe that their extra weight does provide an element of shock absorption, I can only use them for short bursts before they become tiring and then only using my Tilley hat for support. I have an Aziak tripod clamp permenantly fitted to them which makes them ideal on a mono/tripod. They are more of a static bino than a mobile one.

They are superb binos and I am sure that someone younger than me would have no problem holding them steadier for longer.

The 14x are about 250g lighter, more compact and though I found them difficult to hold steady (ie much like the Meopta's) when I first tested them, I was only using the forehead rest and the brim of my hat. As I alluded earlier, an absolutely chance meeting and a subsequent test with the forehead rest and the winged eye cups fitted transformed them. So much so, that with their lighter weight and the superb grip on the tapered barrels, I found watching birds in flight to be a revelation at a steady 14x mag. The FOV is superb and the optical quality is just phenominal. They are very impressive.

As for a direct comparison with the Meopta's they eclipse them in every department except build robustness. The Meopta's are built like a brick s**thouse and whilst I have no concerns about the Pure's build, I know which ones I would have taken into the places I went to in a previous life...and when I was much younger. And they 'aint Austria's finest!

But, and I have just remembered from a test I did side by side and both mounted on tripods, I cannot see any difference between the 14x and 15x magnification. Not a jot.

Optically the Meopta's are not too far behind on sharpness, they have truly superb glass, but the overall FOV, edge to edge sharpness and the transparency of the Pure's together with their unbelievable brightness makes them truly at the zenith of optical excellence for me. Add in their compact size and (lack) of weight and they truly are an optical tour de force. I don't know how Swarovski have done it but, much like the Curio's, the design and execution in such a compact bino is just amazing.

They are undoubtedly the finest bino's I own, even against the Habicht's and the NL 10x42's.

 

[PatR]

Yeah, im also interested in that comparison. An old fashioned gunfight at the OK coral between these two binoculars would be interesting.

Never bring a knife to a gunfight....or pitch a Meopta 15x56 against a 14x52 Pure!

See my answer to Chas, both have a place in my optical arsenal, big bad Czech boy bruiser against a svelte Austrian racing snake, static against mobile.

To be brutally honest the Pure is not 2 1/2 times better for the 2 1/2 time price difference over the Meopta but I am spending my childrens inheritance so I don't give a f........

They are both really lovely bino's.

What I forgot to add to the answer to Chas (and will edit and add) is that mag wise, the 14x is to my eyes equal to the 15x.

Side by side on tripods and using my own Mk 1 eyeballs, they are exactly the same. Not at all scientific, no US wotsit charts or whatever someone who actually knows what they are doing analysis, but me with a small glass of Lagavulin 16 year old to steady the view.

How Swaro does it is beyond my simple military mind.

 

[Thotmosis]

Never bring a knife to a gunfight....or pitch a Meopta 15x56 against a 14x52 Pure!

See my answer to Chas, both have a place in my optical arsenal, big bad Czech boy bruiser against a svelte Austrian racing snake, static against mobile.

To be brutally honest the Pure is not 2 1/2 times better for the 2 1/2 time price difference over the Meopta but I am spending my childrens inheritance so I don't give a f........

They are both really lovely bino's.

What I forgot to add to the answer to Chas (and will edit and add) is that mag wise, the 14x is to my eyes equal to the 15x.

Side by side on tripods and using my own Mk 1 eyeballs, they are exactly the same. Not at all scientific, no US wotsit charts or whatever someone who actually knows what they are doing analysis, but me with a small glass of Lagavulin 16 year old to steady the view.

How Swaro does it is beyond my simple military mind.

Thanks Pat, i think im ready to cross the Rubicon and get myself a pair of NL 14x but i think im gonna have to let go / trade in some of my binoculars….but that’s a very tough decision. It’s very well possible that I can’t let even one go. And why should i 😜. Seriously, e.g. after i got my Leica 12x50 i was sure i could sell my Duovid 8-12x42 but for specific use in strong winds it beats the 12x50 and so on with the rest of my other binoculars. They all have a specific purpose (i keep telling myself).

 

[PatR]

Thanks Pat, i think im ready to cross the Rubicon and get myself a pair of NL 14x but i think im gonna have to let go / trade in some of my binoculars….but that’s a very tough decision. It’s very well possible that I can’t let even one go. And why should i 😜. Seriously, e.g. after i got my Leica 12x50 i was sure i could sell my Duovid 8-12x42 but for specific use in strong winds it beats the 12x50 and so on with the rest of my other binoculars. They all have a specific purpose (i keep telling myself).

Its a tough one, I find it difficult to let go too and you never know when you might need a specific bino for a specific task.....or at least thats what I keep telling myself!

 

[Isthatascratch?]

Hi Chas
I still have the Meopta's and they are as superb as ever. But they are heavy and whilst I do believe that their extra weight does provide an element of shock absorption, I can only use them for short bursts before they become tiring and then only using my Tilley hat for support. I have an Aziak tripod clamp permenantly fitted to them which makes them ideal on a mono/tripod. They are more of a static bino than a mobile one.

They are superb binos and I am sure that someone younger than me would have no problem holding them steadier for longer.

The 14x are about 250g lighter, more compact and though I found them difficult to hold steady (ie much like the Meopta's) when I first tested them, I was only using the forehead rest and the brim of my hat. As I alluded earlier, an absolutely chance meeting and a subsequent test with the forehead rest and the winged eye cups fitted transformed them. So much so, that with their lighter weight and the superb grip on the tapered barrels, I found watching birds in flight to be a revelation at a steady 14x mag. The FOV is superb and the optical quality is just phenominal. They are very impressive.

As for a direct comparison with the Meopta's they eclipse them in every department except build robustness. The Meopta's are built like a brick s**thouse and whilst I have no concerns about the Pure's build, I know which ones I would have taken into the places I went to in a previous life...and when I was much younger. And they 'aint Austria's finest!

But, and I have just remembered from a test I did side by side and both mounted on tripods, I cannot see any difference between the 14x and 15x magnification. Not a jot.

Optically the Meopta's are not too far behind on sharpness, they have truly superb glass, but the overall FOV, edge to edge sharpness and the transparency of the Pure's together with their unbelievable brightness makes them truly at the zenith of optical excellence for me. Add in their compact size and (lack) of weight and they truly are an optical tour de force. I don't know how Swarovski have done it but, much like the Curio's, the design and execution in such a compact bino is just amazing.

They are undoubtedly the finest bino's I own, even against the Habicht's and the NL 10x42's.

Pat

Thanks for that, it is a tempting piece of bait dangling as I have the SLC 15x56 and the EL 12x50 and I like them both very much (in different ways) and they were bought second hand but neither are more than 3 years old.

The appeal is the NL’s being a similar size and weight to the EL 12’s but next generation, even though both were bought for the same price ( perhaps a tad less ) than the 14x42’s.

I guess the decider would be trying them and then I would probably be the doodoo!

Cheers ..Chas

 

[Isthatascratch?]

Pat

Thanks for that, it is a tempting piece of bait dangling as I have the SLC 15x56 and the EL 12x50 and I like them both very much (in different ways) and they were bought second hand but neither are more than 3 years old.

The appeal is the NL’s being a similar size and weight to the EL 12’s but next generation, even though both were bought for the same price ( perhaps a tad less ) than the 14x42’s.

I guess the decider would be trying them and then I would probably be the doodoo!

Cheers ..Chas

In the doo doo I mean !

 

[PatR]

In the doo doo I mean !

I knew exactly what you meant. It's my second home, just by the naughty step.

 

[rodneyAB]

Just past 0945 here West Coast..been up since 0430..second cup of coffee.
Have watched vids from Russel at SouthWest Optic. enjoyed the perspective.
Have checked on availability of 52's
Have viewed Bruichladdie website...
Still under the marine layer

 

[PatR]

Just past 0945 here West Coast..been up since 0430..second cup of coffee.
Have watched vids from Russel at SouthWest Optic. enjoyed the perspective.
Have checked on availability of 52's
Have viewed Bruichladdie website...
Still under the marine layer

Hang tough! (as one of my heroes, Major Dick Winters, Easy Company 501st PIR, would say).

 

[Isthatascratch?]

Hang tough! (as one of my heroes, Major Dick Winters, Easy Company 501st PIR, would say).

Dick Winters, not a bad one to have in your hero roster!

 

[PatR]

Dick Winters, not a bad one to have in your hero roster!

Cracking man, met him in Normandy many years ago. Humble beyond words. When I lectured at the US Army War College, his attack on Brecourt Manor was still on the curriculem.

My long suffering wife and I have followed the route Easy Company took from the landing at Utah Beach to the Eagles Nest in our motorhome. Foy, and Jaques Wood still has their trenches.

On 6 June 2012, along with my eldest son and his sons, we were priviledged to attend the unveiling of his leadership statue on the road from Utah Beach to Sainte Marie du Mont.

What a man.

 

[Isthatascratch?]

Cracking man, met him in Normandy many years ago. Humble beyond words. When I lectured at the US Army War College, his attack on Brecourt Manor was still on the curriculem.

My long suffering wife and I have followed the route Easy Company took from the landing at Utah Beach to the Eagles Nest in our motorhome. Foy, and Jaques Wood still has their trenches.

On 6 June 2012, along with my eldest son and his sons, we were priviledged to attend the unveiling of his leadership statue on the road from Utah Beach to Sainte Marie du Mont.

What a man.

Sounds a fabulous experience. My late Grandfather was a Royal Navy Petty Officer on the LCF on Operation Husky with Combined OPS, responsible for all the guns.

I always thought about the unstable floating bathtub or sardine tin full of ammunition. Too hot or too cold with very little air down below. Cramped and swinging on hammocks for nights on end.

Still he survived but totally deaf from his job and just lucky that he was never blown up.

I have his medals, diary and service certificates and his old tool chest. Not lightweight like a Swarovski Pure (bringing it back on topic).

Chas