High End Binoculars

[Eltioloco]

I purchased a Swift 7X50 Armored Storm King bino back around 1980 for $450 (equivalent to about $1300 now) when swift had a plant in Massachusetts. I limited the search to seven power for hand-held use on the ocean and the exit pupil to at least 7 mm because that was as wide as my pupils dilated. This model at one time issued to U.S. Navy. Individual ocular focus. It has attached fold in eye shields. The objectives have attached fold in lens covers. The oculars have a cover attached to the neck strap. No loose parts to misplace and fall overboard.

I'll take a photo and post it later, I couldn't find a pic online and it's in my car and dark out. No longer manufactured.

Back then I could see better in daylight with my naked eyes (20/10, 20/15) than with most binoculars. Drooled over Swarovski and Zeiss but could not afford either. The Storm Kings are bright and clear edge to edge in daylight. At night on a mooring with unaided vision, for example, I could see other boats were there, with the Storm Kings, I could clearly see and read their registration numbers. Excellent!

My experience matches.
I bought a pair of Storm King MKII in the late 70's for the same reason. The salesman let me compare the sharpness with other binoculars in the store. I had never heard of the Swift brand and was reluctant to buy something that I was not familiar with.
When sailing into Bahia de Los Angeles at night, my companions equated them with radar. We could see enough on a moonless night to not hit any islands or other boats. Really brought in the light. They have been submerged in salt water and never needed repair, just wash them off in fresh water, and good as new. I can't say enough good about those binoculars.

 

[Onomea]

That is discouraging to hear. Leica confirmed receipt of my Ultravids at their NJ site a month ago, but I have heard nothing since. They did forewarn me that the pandemic has slowed down their turnaround times... Will try to recall to report in when I learn more.

Sent Leica a note to say I had not heard back from them. They replied with a courteous note this morning apologizing for not keeping me up to date, explaining that since my repair is covered under warranty they had not sent me an estimate for repair, that the turn around time for my model is currently about one month, and that I should soon receive a confirmation email letting me know that my repair is complete.

I'm pleased with the reply. Also pleasantly surprised that the repair is covered under warranty as I never registered the binoculars and bought them at a discount some years ago. Will report in again when I have the Leicas back in hand.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I currently use Meopta Meostar 12x50's. Because I hunt early and late. My previous ones are a 8x42 Kahles.

FYI......Meopta makes some rifle scopes for Zieuss.sp?

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Lots of binoculars/scopes are good in the sunshine. And not so good in the shadows/darkness of dusk and dawn.

 

[rockquarry]

Lots of binoculars/scopes are good in the sunshine. And not so good in the shadows/darkness of dusk and dawn.

Very good point, one that I had forgotten to mention in an earlier post.

I used a Steiner 8x30 Military & Marine for more than thirty years for all my hunting. A good binocular and I still carry mine in my car all the time. However, I bought a Swarovski 10x42 EL Swarovision several years back. Not being an optics expert and having tried only a few binoculars in my lifetime, I sat on my back porch and looked at trees and houses some distance away. On a bright day, looking at the dark, shaded area under the eaves of roofs is the first place I noticed considerable difference between the Steiner and the Swarovski. I was unable to see nearly as much with the Steiner in comparison with the Swarovski.

Granted, not a formal scientific approach and I know I'm comparing an inexpensive (but very good quality for the price) binocular with one costing many times more, but the difference was dramatic enough that a non-expert like me could see it easily.

 

[5Wire]

Very good point, one that I had forgotten to mention in an earlier post.

I used a Steiner 8x30 Military & Marine for more than thirty years for all my hunting. A good binocular and I still carry mine in my car all the time. However, I bought a Swarovski 10x42 EL Swarovision...

Light gathering is indicated by the size of the "exit pupil," easily determined by dividing the objective lens diameter by the magnification. The larger the exit pupil, the more light is visible.

8x30 = 8 power with a 30 mm diameter objective.
30 mm÷8 gives a 3.75 mm exit pupil.

10x42 = 10 power with a 42 mm diameter objective.
42 mm÷10 gives a 4.2 mm exit pupil, only slightly larger.

"Night glasses" hover around a 7mm exit pupil, about the largest diameter of normal human eye pupil dilation (1.5 to about 8 mm). Presuming equal quality manufacturing, a larger exit pupil from a larger objective diameter will give a brighter image to the viewer

Some common night glasses are:
7X50 gives an exit pupil of 7.1 mm
8x56 gives an exit pupil of 7.0 mm

More Here

 

[5Wire]

The Swift Storm King I posted about above. The way it's rigged, carried by the neck strap with covers in place. To deploy, grasp the main tubes and tug away from you to pop the ocular cover so it just dangles on the strap. Then, in whatever hurry you might be, fold the front covers out of the way, stabilize and view.

 

[kmyers]

My favorite is the Steiner 7x50 Military here. I love the always in focus, Wendy has 8x42 Swarovski and we both use the Zeiss 15x56 as a low end spotting scope and astronomy observation and glassing binos.

 

[Eltioloco]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471665&stc=1&d=1600561567
I came across these 7X50 Police binoculars in the middle of an alfalfa field. I am glad I didn't bale them up. They may have fallen out of a Border Patrol car/airplane/quad, or they were lost by the other side and were carried by the smugglers lookout. My son ended up with them.http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471669&stc=1&d=1600561767
These binoculars are seldom used but I cherish them. The smaller pair are Goetz binoculars made for the Japanese military in the 1930's. My father picked them up off some Japanese officer who didn't need them anymore. He was a forward observer for a heavy weapons team (81mm mortars) in Okinawa. He liked them better then the US issue binoculars.
The bigger binoculars are 7X50 US navy. My Dad bought them from the border patrol surplus sale in the 1950's. Sent them off to Bosch and Lomb to be refurbished. They came back like new. They still look like new because my Dad was smart enough not to lend them to his knuckle headed kid.
Ken

 

[Texas Star]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471665&stc=1&d=1600561567
I came across these 7X50 Police binoculars in the middle of an alfalfa field. I am glad I didn't bale them up. They may have fallen out of a Border Patrol car/airplane/quad, or they were lost by the other side and were carried by the smugglers lookout. My son ended up with them.http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=471669&stc=1&d=1600561767
These binoculars are seldom used but I cherish them. The smaller pair are Goetz binoculars made for the Japanese military in the 1930's. My father picked them up off some Japanese officer who didn't need them anymore. He was a forward observer for a heavy weapons team (81mm mortars) in Okinawa. He liked them better then the US issue binoculars.
The bigger binoculars are 7X50 US navy. My Dad bought them from the border patrol surplus sale in the 1950's. Sent them off to Bosch and Lomb to be refurbished. They came back like new. They still look like new because my Dad was smart enough not to lend them to his knuckle headed kid.
Ken

We had those Bausch & Lomb 7X50's in the USAF, too. I once saw a UFO with one from a radar station in Canada, but so high it resembled an aberrant star. We sent F-106's after it, but it easily evaded them, at amazing speed. An officer with me said it painted odd on radar, so we stepped out for a look. That was in the mid '60's. Never learned what it was.

 

[71Scamp]

Zeiss & Leica

I have had a pair of Swarovski 10x42 binoculars for 20 years or so and they are excellent. They better be for the price. Even back then they were $2K+. Good glass sure makes a huge difference when trying to view objects in the distance.

Today I received a pair of Leica Noctivid 10x42 binoculars in the mail and they didn't cost me a thing! Seriously, I won them in a drawing I entered on Camera Land's website. I don't think I can post the site here but if you want it PM me.

These Leica's are amazing. The optics are excellent and the construction is to the highest quality.

What binoculars do you prefer and why?

I've had Zeiss 10x40 BGA for 35 years and love them. I bought my wife a pair of Leica 10x25 compact and for their size they are also great.

 

[Onomea]

Received my repaired Leica's back from NJ yesterday:



No charge for repair or postage. Checked 'em out and they work great. Looks like their technician spent an hour and a half on 'em.

I'm very pleased with Leica's service.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I bought my 8x42 Minox BVII binoculars almost 10 years ago, and have been very pleased with them.

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