Optics

Leyland:

I read the specs.  Looks nice for the money.  That is what I did with my Nikon Monarch X at 8.5x45.  The Monarch uses Nikon's EGD coatings, and the cost is more.  The look of the two are very similar, (roof prism, big center-focus wheel, adjustable eyecups, trim and light).  I love the long eye-relief, (I have 22mm and have no problem with keeping my glasses on for a change).  You will get a good bit more than a 1 to 5 ratio with 8x42 so the light transmission should be nice.  Having gone with another brand, (and supremely satisfied), that's all I can say. I think you'd be happy, (especially if you're like me and couldn't plunk down $1,800)!  Ask him to give that Nikon a look too.

Ray Swagerty----Charleston, SC

Thanks Ray! I passed along your post to him and he'll give it a look.

I'll let ya know, come Christmas, which one he decides upon. I'll try to better than that kid in the Wal-Mart commercial, that's "practicing his surprised look" for his dad.

He had said he was looking at the Zeiss, Nate had commented on, on another thread, but the ones he saw seemed to be too cumbersome and larger. I have smallish hands, so the size of the bins are an important issue for me.

Ray, I have a pair of Leupold 8X32 binos I won in a contest about 4 years ago.They are water proof and have coated lens. Wind River Katmai brand. They are small compared to some I have seen. I like them for I am small and this makes them handy for me. At the time they were selling for about $350.00. very light and adjust easily. How do these compare with Rangers and Zeiss.

Shorty:

Actually, I don't know.  I'm not familiar with the Ranger.  I do know that Zeiss has long been a top name in optics as has Leupold, but both were above my price point for the magnification and objective millimeter which I wanted.  An old rule of thumb is  "1 to 5", (power vs. objective lens diameter).  This though can be offset to a degree by good optics.  By this I mean 7x35, 8x40 10x50, and so on.  Eight by 32 is a bit less than this but superb optics may make up for it.  My new pair is 8.5 x45 which is almost "1 to 5.3."  When you say "coated" that means not a whole lot unless you know the method and material of the coating, and what that coating actually does.  Is it for lens protection or is it also for superior light transmission.  I wish that I could tell you more but I can only speak of what I know.  I would suspect though that you have a good pair of binoculars, (not the "ideal pair"----but then, neither have I).  My new Nikon Monarch X at 8.5X45 went for in the 600-700 dollar range.  I would invite some of our optics experts, (photographers and such), to weigh-in for you as well.  It is good to chat with a new member.  Welcome, and join in often.  Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Ray Swagerty----Charleston, SC