PERFORMANCE OF 42 MM BINOCULARS IN VARIOUS...

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PERFORMANCE OF 42 MM BINOCULARS IN VARIOUS PRICE BRACKETS: SWAROVSKI ONCE AGAIN SETS A HIGH QUALITY STANDARD WITH ITS NEW 42

42 MM SWAROVISION EL AND SLC-HD BINOCULARS Dr. Gijs van Ginkel

August 2010 INTRODUCTION. To gain an impression of performance in terms of comfort of use and optical quality, a number of binoculars with a 42 mm objective lens (8x42, 10x42 and 7x42) were tested from different price brackets. The most important test results are summarised in tables. The main impetus for carrying out these tests was the introduction of the successor to the Swarovski EL in the form of Swarovision EL binoculars that entered the market from 1 January 2010 and the new Swarovski 8x42 SLC-HD and 10x42 42 SLC-HD binoculars, which were introduced in the spring of 2010. Other newcomers include the Steiner Discovery 8x44, Leica Geovid 8x42HD and Zeiss Victory RF 8x45. The last two binoculars include integrated rangefinders. The test results clearly demonstrate that the new Swarovski EL Swarovision binoculars as well as the new Swarovski SLC-HD’s, once again set a new quality standard. COMFORT OF USE. The comfort of use of binoculars is primarily determined by their weight, how they feel in the hand (grip, balance, armouring of the binocular housing), rotation speed, rotation resistance, ease of use of the focusing ring, type of eyecup (whether or not removable by the user; whether the entire field of view remains visible to spectacle wearers when the eyecups are twisted in or folded down) and the strap and its attachment points. Weights are listed in a table for ease of comparison. For a pair of 42 mm binoculars, 700-800 grams represents a good compromise: not too heavy and yet heavy enough to dampen vibrations from the user's hand. In addition to a miniature laser, binoculars with integrated laser rangefinders also include a beam splitter, a detector and accompanying optics, and electronics for signal processing. These make the binoculars larger, heavier and more expensive. Feel in the hand. The way that binoculars feel in the hand is determined by the shape, size and balance of the binocular housing, of which there are two types: open bridge and closed bridge. Binoculars with an open bridge are nothing new. As early as 1900, Hensoldt in Wetzlar was making binoculars with an open bridge construction. However, until Swarovski introduced its new EL series in 1999 binocular manufacturers had been unable to produce a revolutionary new model of roof-prism binoculars with an open bridge. The Swarovski EL series was an immediate success. Not only on account of its high level of optical quality, but also because the open bridge of the Swarovski EL, coupled with its good balance and ergonomic arrangement of the focusing wheel, made the binoculars feel extremely good in the hand and comfortable to use. As a result the EL binoculars can also be operated using just one hand. The success of the Swarovski EL binoculars inspired other binocular manufacturers to launch open-bridge binoculars, such as Bushnell (Bushnell Elite), Bynolyth (Bynolyth Buzzard), Hawke (Hawke Frontier), Nikon (Nikon EDG), Opticron (Opticron Verano), Steiner (Steiner Discovery and Steiner Nighthunter XP) and Vanguard (Vanguard Platinum). Two of these were included in this test: the Bushnell Elite 8x42 and the Steiner Discovery 8x42. The space within the open bridge of the Bushnell Elite is very small, meaning that the binoculars actually need to be used as if they had a closed bridge. This has a negative impact on the way the binoculars feel in the hand and on comfort of use as a whole. Steiner, which previously focused primarily on hunting and water sports, was also inspired by the Swarovski EL and has launched the Discovery series in an attempt to gain a foothold in the world of bird watching. When placed side by side, the Swarovski EL and Steiner Discover appear to have virtually identical external dimensions. However, Steiner opted for a number of different features in the Discovery compared to those in the Swarovski EL. These include (1) magnification of 8x, compared to 8,5x for the Swarovski EL, (2) an objective lens diameter of 44 mm, compared to 42 mm for the EL, (3) a gel cushion on the underside of the binocular housing where the EL has a recess for the user's thumb and (4) central focusing combined with individual eyepiece focusing (see "The focusing mechanism" below for more details). As with all other EL copies that I have held to date, the Steiner Discovery does not share the excellent feel of the Swarovski EL. This is primarily because the connection point between the two binocular tubes to which the central focusing wheel is attached is considerably thicker than on the EL. As a result, (a) the index finger needs to be moved a greater distance from the other fingers for focusing or (b) the middle finger and index

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finger need to be placed alongside each other on the connecting piece while the ring and little fingers are placed in the open bridge. Neither of these options feel as good in the hand as the Swarovski EL and it is more difficult to use the binoculars with just one hand. Furthermore, the thumb grip, which comprises a notch on the underside of the binocular housing on the Swarovski EL, is filled with a type of gel on the Steiner Discovery. This is something of an acquired taste. I did not like it, but I know of other users who appreciate this feature. All in all, the way the Steiner feels in the hand scores a "good", rather than the "excellent" for the Swarovski EL and the new EL Swarovision. The way that binoculars with a closed bridge feel in the hand is determined by the size of the binocular housing and the placement of the eyelets for the strap. These sometimes protrude a great deal and can stick painfully into the ball of the hand. This is something to bear in mind when buying binoculars. The armouring of the binocular housing. All binoculars have plastic or rubber armouring. This feels pleasant in the hand, especially in freezing conditions. The quality of the armouring can differ somewhat. The Bushnell Elite, for example, is only partially covered and the armouring came loose on my test sample. (When asked about this, the Bushnell importer responded that this problem had never been reported before.) The armouring on the Steiner Discovery is soft to the touch. According to information from Steiner, this was done so that the armouring muffles sound even more effectively if the binoculars bump up against anything. Steiner assures me that the material has proven to be extremely durable. Only time will tell. The focusing mechanism. The following are of importance: the positioning and size of the focusing wheel, the ease with which this turns, the number of rotations required to change from close focus to infinity, and the mechanism for correcting differences in eye strength. The rotational resistance of the focusing wheel was acceptable for all binoculars at temperatures above freezing point, although some failed to perform at sub-zero temperatures. For some binoculars in the lower price bracket, the focusing wheel did not feel good when rotated: it would stick or produce a sucking sound caused by moving grease. Such shortcomings will not improve over time, making these binoculars unsuitable for long-term professional use. The Vanguard binoculars, for example, suffered in this regard. The number of rotations required to adjust from close focus to infinity is important as this determines how quickly the focus can be set. Too few rotations (less than 1) gives cause for concern as the user will need to make constant adjustments to keep the image sharp; too many (more than 1.5) and the bird may be long gone before everything is in focus. With 2.5 rotations, the brand new Swarovski Swarovision EL therefore ought to be out of the running. However, this is not the case as Swarovski has developed a particularly clever focusing wheel that uses logarithmic speed. In other words, around one rotation changes the focus from infinity to just a few metres, with the remaining rotation adjusting the short distance down to 1,5 metres. This means that the binoculars can very quickly be set to large distances, while remaining sufficiently fast and very precise at short distances. The new Swarovski SLC-HD’s also have a focussing wheel with logarithmic speed and the rotational resistance is even more smooth then that of the EL Swarovision. In addition to central focusing, the Leica Geovid, Steiner Discovery and Zeiss Victory RF also allow each eyepiece to be focused individually. For the Leica Geovid and Zeiss Victory RF, this is necessary to correct for differences in eye strength and also to focus the distance scale projected onto the binocular image in order to take readings (these binoculars have a integrated laser rangefinder). The Steiner Discovery does not have an integrated rangefinder, although it does offer both focusing options. This can take some getting used to, but it does work well. The central focusing wheel on the Discovery includes a distance scale that can be used to focus the binoculars during the approach and then make minor adjustments when placed to the user's eyes. This is a very useful feature. However, rotating the two eyepieces to adjust the focus is particularly difficult on the Discovery and this only becomes worse at temperatures below freezing. Correction for different eye strengths. The tables provide the dioptric range for differences in eye strength. Various systems are used to correct for different eye strengths. Individual eyepiece adjustment (Steiner) is one of these. An adjustable ring beneath one of the eyepieces is another common approach. This usually works without problems, as long as the rings do not seize up below freezing point. For a number of premium binoculars, including those from Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss, the correction for eye strength is performed by pulling out the central focusing wheel, turning it to the desired setting and

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pushing it back in. This is quick and effective, even when looking through the binoculars. On the Bushnell Elite, the correction ring beneath the central focusing wheel appears somewhat delicate. The eyecups. Eyecups that can be twisted in and out are best for spectacle wearers. Being able to remove the eyecups yourself is also useful for cleaning or replacing them. If this is not possible, damaged binoculars need to be sent away for repairs, which involves both waiting times and additional expense. All binoculars tested have sufficiently large eye relief to provide spectacle wearers with a full field of view, see table. I verified this using a pair of test spectacles and skiing goggles (the distance to the eyepiece lens is much larger with the latter). The Steiner Discovery has winged, fold-down rubber flaps on the twist-in eyepieces to prevent indirect light entering from the side. This is not particularly useful and, actually, is something of a weak point since the rubber will crack over time and the binoculars will need to be sent away for repairs (I was unable to remove the rubber rings from the eyepieces without damaging them). Some eyepieces could no longer be moved at temperatures below freezing, see table. The strap. Most of the binoculars have eyelets for attaching a strap. This is a universal fitting suitable for a wide range of straps. Bushnell and Steiner, however, have proprietary strap attachment systems that will only accept their own straps, which means that users are locked in to these brands. The attachment systems of both these binoculars also exhibit failings. If the strap breaks, users need to contact the manufacturer for a replacement and if the attachment system itself breaks, the binoculars have to be returned to the factory or repairer. This makes users dependent on the level of service offered by the importer and/or manufacturer. One useful feature of the Steiner strap is that it can be quickly attached and removed from the binoculars. OPTICAL PERFORMANCE. The following are important for optimal image quality: brightness, image sharpness, field of view, colour fidelity, depth of field and correction of optical aberrations such as curvature of the field of the image. Brightness. The brightness is determined by the exit pupil and the amount of light that passes through the lenses and prisms, otherwise known as 'transmission'. For binoculars with the same exit pupil measurement and differing light transmission, the latter determines the actual brightness. Measuring spectral transmission curves requires equipment specifically designed for this purpose. The table contains the transmission values measured. The transmission spectra in the colour range perceived by the human eye are also printed. The eye contains two pigment systems for detecting light. In daylight, the eye uses colour-sensitive cones with optimal sensitivity to green (550-560 nm); in low light, it uses rods with optimal sensitivity to blue (500-505 nm). Colour fidelity. Perfect colour fidelity from binoculars is sure to be of high importance for demanding birdwatchers. To enable colours to be reproduced perfectly, the transmission spectrum of binoculars must ideally lie as closely as possible within the spectral range of 500-630 nm (blue-green-yellow-orange-red). Binocular manufacturers may achieve this by applying various different coatings. The perceived colour fidelity of the different binoculars on test is provided in the table. You can also check this easily yourself by looking at an even white surface through the binoculars with one eye while looking at the same surface directly with the other eye. If both eyes are equally sensitive to colour, you will see any differences in colour directly. Chromatic dispersion and curvature in the field of the image. Colour defects caused by chromatic dispersion (i.e. the formation of coloured fringing in the image) impact on image quality and the pleasure gained from observation. Some residual dispersion can be found in all binoculars, irrespective of the quality of the binoculars' optics. However, using special colour correcting lenses (HD, ED, fluoride-containing) can significantly reduce dispersion. The table shows the situation for the various binoculars on test. Curvature in the field of the image causes the edges of the image to appear unsharp while the central image is properly in focus. Straight lines towards the edge of the field of the image also appear crooked. Using a flat field lens can compensate for this in full. Out of the binoculars on test, only the new Swarovski EL Swarovision binoculars have an image that remains sharp right to the edges, and these binoculars are also the only ones through which lines at the edge of the field of view remain entirely straight. The edge-to-edge sharpness of the other binoculars varies, see table. The field of view. A wide field of view is important for optimal comfort during observation. This varies greatly across the binoculars on test. The cheaper 8x42 binoculars have a field of view of 110-120 metres at 1000 metres; the better (and more expensive) binoculars have 120-135 metres at 1000 metres. If the binoculars exhibit a loss

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of sharpness towards the edges, the entire field of view is not classed as usable. For the high quality Zeiss Victory FL 8x42, for example, the field of view that is actually usable and sharp is smaller than the stated field of view of 135 m/1000 m because of the unsharpness zone. Only the Swarovski EL Swarovision binoculars remain sharp across the entire field of view, meaning that the stated field of view is also the entire field of view displayed in full sharpness. The shortest focusing distance. A short focusing distance is important when observing butterflies, insects, small reptiles etc. The new Swarovski EL Swarovision rank highest in this regard: I measured a shortest focusing distance of 1.4 metres on the first test instrument from the preproduction and 1,5 m at an instrument from the production line. However, some other binoculars also came close to this figure, see the table for more information. Integrated rangefinders. The Leica Geovid 8x42 and Zeiss Victory RF 8x45 both have integrated laser rangefinders. These binoculars were primarily designed for hunting, although this feature may also prove beneficial for other users. The way in which the rangefinder works is different in both instruments. The Leica Geovid has an optical system located between the two binocular tubes that directs the mini laser (which is invisible to the naked eye) towards the object to be measured. A small, illuminated red square in the binocular image enables the binoculars to be aligned on the object. The beam of light reflected by the object is captured by the right-hand objective lens and then passed to a detector via a beam splitter. The reading registered by the detector is processed by an integrated microprocessor, which almost immediately converts the distance measured into metres or yards. This value can then be read from digital figures projected into the binocular image. The Zeiss Victory RF works on the same principle, although the laser beam is not emitted from an additional binocular element. Instead, it is emitted directly from one of the binocular tubes. The reflected beam is then captured in the binocular tube and processed in the same way as with the Leica Geovid. Hunters can also make use of the ballistic information system provided by the Zeiss Victory: an inbuilt program that calculates the path of a certain calibre projectile and determines the amount of correction required by the hunter in centimetres at the distance recorded. In terms of optics, the manufacturers of these types of binoculars are faced with certain obstacles. The use of a beam splitter results in lost light, meaning that light transmission and actual brightness are both lower in one binocular tube than the other. For the Victory RF in particular, this makes a perceptible difference: the brightness in one binocular tube is noticeably lower than in the other, see also "Transmission spectra". In addition, the coatings need to be manipulated in a way that prevents the laser light from causing problems. The transmission spectrum consequently assumes a more idiosyncratic form than in standard binoculars. The complexity of the rangefinder mechanism means that these binoculars also come with a higher price tag. The Zeiss Victory 8x45 RF weighs 1,035 grams and costs € 2,845; the Leica Geovid 8x42HD weighs 960 grams and costs € 2,085. A difference in both price and weight that is sure to make potential purchasers stop and think before making a decision. If the same high-correction optical system used in the Zeiss Victory FL series were to be used in the Zeiss Victory RF, the price would be even higher. Zeiss therefore decided to increase the objective lens width of the RF to 45 mm, compared with 42 mm on the FL. This enables the larger exit pupil to compensate for the somewhat lower light transmission of the RF, increasing the brightness of the binoculars. The rangefinder is powered by a battery, which is placed in a compartment in the binocular housing. The rangefinder is activated by pressing a button on the binocular housing. The Zeiss Victory displays the distance as soon as the button has been pressed; the Leica Geovid requires the button to be pressed twice (the first time to identify the object to be measured, the second to display the distance measured). ACCESSORIES The accessories supplied as standard for all binoculars are listed in the table. A strap with a wide neck section is supplied with all binoculars. The supplied bags are generally padded to ensure that the binoculars are well protected during transport. The bags from Swarovski are not only light, but also the most functional ones. However, we consumers are strange persons, since Swarovski received complaints that these very functional bags looked too cheap. Swarovski now has introduced new bags, which are also very functional but they take a much bigger volume in a suit case. The bags for the Bushnell Elite and Steiner Discovery are more like mini cases: robust, but very awkward to use in the field. All manufacturers supply their binoculars with eyepiece caps. In my opinion, almost all eyepiece caps are awkward to use, with the exception of those from Swarovski and from Zeiss. The Zeiss eye cap I refer to here has to be ordered separately, since that model does not come standard with the Zeiss Victory’s, but a less comfortable one is. The objective lens covers supplied with the binoculars from Leica, Swarovski and

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Zeiss fit firmly to the binoculars and are therefore very easy to use. Many of the other lens covers range from inconvenient to very awkward in use (users should check this themselves prior to purchase). WARRANTY AND SERVICE Good warranty and servicing conditions are essential if your binoculars become faulty, and these differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. In the first instance, you need to contact your retailer who will then send the binoculars to a dedicated repairer or return them to the importer: Benel for Kowa and Meopta, De Greef & Partner for Steiner, Swarovski Benelux for Swarovski Austria, Transcontinenta for Bushnell and Leica, Technolyt for Zeiss, Macrolux for Vanguard, and Sights of Nature in Brugge, Belgium for the Kites. If the repair proves too complicated for the importer, it will generally return the binoculars to the factory. It is advisable for you to enquire about the relevant conditions prior to purchase, as well as the expected costs and waiting periods. According to information obtained from a large number of retailers, Swarovski scores higher than the other manufacturers in terms of service. It provides a fast service at little or no cost, depending on the nature of the fault. A survey of a number of dealers determined that quality can vary somewhat for binoculars manufactured in China, which is indicative of insufficient quality control measures. The extent to which this is actually the case naturally depends on the requirements placed upon the Chinese manufacturers by the importer. I have heard strong rumours that the Steiner Discovery was to be manufactured in Japan or China. This is, however, untrue. When visiting the Steiner factory in Bayreuth, Germany, I saw with my own eyes how the optics for the Discovery are ground, polished and coated on site. All non-glass components are manufactured by a supply company in line with specifications dictated by Steiner. Both product assembly and quality assurance are conducted in the factory in Bayreuth. Steiner has not operated as an independent company since 2008 when it was acquired by Beretta, a large Italian firearms manufacturer. All Vanguard binoculars are made in China and the Bushnell Elite, Kahles, Kite and Kowa binoculars are produced by various well known Japanese binocular manufacturers. The Meopta binoculars are manufactured at Meopta in the Czech Republic (a large, modern optical factory), Leica binoculars at Leica-Solms in Germany and at Leica-Portugal, Swarovski binoculars at Swarovski Optik in Absam, Austria, Zeiss Victory binoculars at Carl Zeiss-Wetzlar in Germany and the Zeiss Conquest binoculars at a Zeiss factory in Hungary. CONCLUSION The test results lead to the following conclusion: Swarovski has once again set a high quality standard for its fellow binocular manufacturers with its new Swarovision EL en SLC-HD binoculars. The EL Swarovision binoculars combine a very high level of user comfort with outstanding optical performance: a crystal clear image with true-to-life colours that remains sharp across the entire field of view. The cleverly designed logarithmic focusing wheel enables fast focusing from infinity down to 1,5 metres. We investigated two different EL Swarovisions 8,5x42, one from the preproduction and one from the actual production serries and we noted that the instrument from the production series performed even higher than the preproduction instrument. Swarovski's excellent customer service makes these binoculars a nightmare for many of its fellow manufacturers. The binoculars do, however, come with a high price tag. The new Swarovski SLC-HD binoculars also score very high because of their excellent optical performance, high light transmission and as a result bright image in combination with a high user comfort: compact, very good handling, nicely balanced. Colour reproduction is slightly less than we found in the new EL Swarovisions but we understand that this was a deliberate choice from Swarovski. As regards the binoculars with integrated rangefinders, the Leica Geovid is the natural choice owing to its first-rate performance and considerably lower price. Hunters who require that little extra assistance can benefit from the ballistic information system offered by the Zeiss Victory RF, which also performs excellently. Table 1E provides a brief summary of the performance characteristics of all binoculars tested. With thanks to: D.J. van den Heuvel for measuring the transmission spectra. Thanks also to Benel, Hoogeveen, www.benel.nl, De Greeff, ’s Hertogenbosch, www.degreef-partner.nl , House of Outdoor, Maarssen, www.houseofoutdoor.nl, Leica, Germany, www.leica-camera.de , Macrolux-Vanguard, Zeewolde, www.macrolux.nl , Sights of Nature, Brugge, Belgium, www.sightsofnature.eu, Steiner Bayreuth , www.steiner.de , Swarovski Austria and Swarovski Benelux, www.swarovskioptik.com , Technolyt, Wormerveer, www.technolyt.nl , Transcontinenta, Nieuw-Vennep, www.transcontinenta.nl, Vogelbescherming Nederland, Zeist, www.vogelbescherming.nl, and Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, Germany, www.zeiss.de for providing the binoculars and information required for this investigation.

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TABLE 1A

Binoculars

Prism type

Eyecup type Coatings used: (a) Phase correction (b) Fully multi-coated (c) Highly reflective mirror (on Schmidt prism) (d) Hydrophobic coating

Dioptric correction (dpt)

Watertight and filled with dry nitrogen gas

Adjustable pupil distance (mm)

Bushnell Elite 8x43

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b, c, d +/- 4 ? Yes 58-76 mm

Kahles 8x42

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, non-removable

A, b, (c?)

+2/-3.5 Yes 58-72 mm

Kowa XD44 8,5x44 Prominar

Schmidt roof prism


A, b, c, d +/- 4 Yes 56-74 mm

Leica Ultravid 8x42 HD

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b, c, d +/-3.5 Yes 55-75 mm

Leica Geovid 8x42 Uppen-dahl roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b

+/- 3.5 Yes 56-74 mm

Leica Geovid 8x42 HD

Uppen-dahl roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b +/- 3.5 Yes 56-74 mm

Meopta Meostar 8x42

Schmidt roof prism


A, b, c, d +/- 3 Yes 54-72 mm

Steiner Discovery 8x44

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, non-removable with foldaway rubber wings

A, b, c, d +/- 4 ? Yes 54-72 mm

Swarovski Habicht 7x42GA

Porro Foldaway rubber B, (a and c are not necessary)

+/- 3 Yes 56-72 mm

Swarovski EL 8,5x42 (old)

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b, c, d +/- 3 Yes 56-74 mm

Swarovski EL 8,5x42 Swarovision

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b, c, d +/- 5 Yes 56-74 mm

Swarovski EL 10x42 (old)

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b, c, d +/- 3 Yes 56-74 mm

Swarovski EL 10x42 Swarovision

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A,b,c,d +/- 5 Yes 56-74 mm

Swarovski 8x42 SLC-HD

Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A,b,c,d +/- 4 Yes 56-74 mm


Schmidt roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A,b,c,d +/- 4 Yes 56-74 mm

Kite Forest 8x42 Schmidt roof prism


A, b, +/- 4 Yes 57-72 mm

Kite Petrel 8x42 Schmidt roof prism


A, b +/- Yes 57-72

Zeiss Victory FL 8x42

Abbe-König roof prism

Twist-in, removable

A, b, d (c not necessary)

+/- 4 Yes 54-76 mm

Zeiss Victory RF 8x45

Abbe-König roof prism

Twist-in, removable


+/- 4 Yes 54-74 mm

Zeiss Conquest 8x40 Abbe-König roof prism



+/- 4 Yes 54-74 mm

Vanguard Endeavor 8x42

Schmidt roof prism


A, b, c, d +/- 4 Yes 58-72 mm

Vanguard Spirit 10x42

Schmidt roof prism


A, b, d +/- 4 Yes 53-72 mm

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Table 1B

Binoculars Weight (grams) (1)

Shortest focusing distance (metres)

Number of focusing wheel rotations from shortest focusing distance to infinity

Measured exit pupil P (mm) (2)

Measured objective lens diameter O (mm)

Calculated magnification V=O/P

Bushnell Elite 8x43

647 g 2,2 m 1,75 5,3 mm 42,7 mm 8,0x

Kahles 8x42

720 g 2 m 1,25 5,25 mm 41,9 mm 8,0x

Kowa XD 44 8,5x44 Prominar

949 g 1,9 m 1,5 5,1 mm 43,7 mm 8,6x

Leica Ultravid HD 8x42

761 g 3 m 1,25 5,35 mm 41,7 mm 7,8x

Leica Geovid 8x42 with integrated rangefinder

961 g 5 m 1,6 5,1 (left) 5,1 (right)

41,95 mm 41,85 mm

8,2x 8,2x

Leica Geovid 8x42 HD with integrated rangefinder

954 g 5,5 m 1,75 5,1 (left) 5,1 (right)

41,95 mm 41,95 mm

8,2x 8,2x

Meopta Meostar 8x42

899 g 2,5 m 1,75 5,25 mm 41,7 mm 7,9x


856 g 2 m 1,6 5,3 mm 43,6 mm 8,2x


724 g 3,4 m 1,25 6,1 mm 42,0 mm 6,9x

Swarovski EL 8.5x42 (old)

842 g 2,4 m 1,5 5,0 mm 42,0 mm 8,4x


826 g 1,5 m 2,5 (Log. speed) 5,0 mm 42,0 mm 8,5x


778 g 2,3 m 1,5 4,2 mm 41,9 mm 10x


830 g 1,6 m 2,5 (Log. Speed) 4,3 mm 41,9 mm 9,7x


837 g 1,8 m 2 (Log. Speed) 5,3 mm 41,9 mm 7,9x


803 g 1,8 m 2 (Log speed) 4,3 mm 41,9 mm 9,7x

Kite Forest 8x42 689 g 2,0 m

1,25 5,25 mm 41,6 mm 7,9x

Kite Petrel 8x42 617 g 2,0 m

1,25 5,1 mm 42 mm 8,2x


772 g 1,9 m 1,1 5.3 mm 42,0 mm 7,9x

Zeiss Victory RF 8x45 with integrated rangefinder

1,035 g 4,5 m 1 5,65 mm (l) 5,65 mm (r)

45,0 mm 45,0 mm

8x 8x

Zeiss Conquest 8x40 789 g 2,5 m 1,6 5,1 mm 40,0 mm 7,8x Vanguard Endeavor 8x42

699 g 3,5 m 0,75 5,4 mm 41,9 mm 7,75x


621 g 2,7 m 0,75 4,4 mm 41,7 mm 9,5x

(1) Weight: Binoculars without strap, eyepiece cap and lens cover. Together, these weigh an average of 100 grams. This must be added to the weight of the binoculars during use. (2) Measurement conducted using a Ramsden dynameter.

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TABLE 1C

Binoculars

Field of view (m/1000m)

Transmission (a) night (500 nm) (b) day (555 nm)

Colour fidelity

Eye relief (mm)

Suitable for: (a) spectacles (b) skiing goggles

Loss of edge sharpness

Bushnell Elite 8x43 124 m (a) 83% (b) 88%

Pinky-red cast

19.5 mm

(a) Yes (b) No

Yes

Kahles 8x42

110 m (a) 79% (b) 82%

Pinky-red cast

19 mm (a) Yes (b) Moderately

Low

Kowa Prominar XD44 8,5x44

122 m (a) 77% (b) 81%

Pinky-red cast

18.3 mm

(a) Yes (b) No

Yes


130 m (a) 83% (b) 86%

Good 15.5 mm

(a) Yes (b) No

Yes

Leica Geovid 8x42 BRF with integrated rangefinder

125 m

Right: (a) 74% (b) 81% Left: (a) 80% (b) 84%

Good 18 mm (a) Yes (b) Yes

Low

Leica Geovid 8x42 HD with integrated rangefinder

125 m Right: (a) 80% (b) 85% Left: (a) 80% (b) 84%

Good 18 mm (a) Yes (b) Yes

Low

Meopta Meostar 8x42 137 m (a) 73% (b) 79%

Yellow cast

17 mm (a) Yes (b) No

Yes


130 m (a) 81% (b) 81%

Good 20 mm (a) Yes (b) No

Yes


114 m (a) 86% (b) 86%

Perfect 14 mm (a) Yes (b) No

Yes


130 m (a) 82% (b) 85%


Low

Swarovski EL 8,.5x42 Swarovision

133 m (a) 89% (b) 90%


No


110 m (a) 79% (b) 80%


Low


112 m (a) 84% (b)86%


No


136 m (a) 89% (b) 92%

Good 18,5 mm

(a) Yes (b) No

Low


110 m (a) 87% (b) 90%


Low

Kite Forest 8x42 114 m (a) 81.5% (b) 84.5%

Good 19.5 mm

(a) Yes (b) No

Yes

Kite Petrel 8x42 115 m (a) 80% (b) 83%

Good 18 mm ?

(a) Yes (b) No

Yes

Zeiss Victory FL 8x42 135 m (a) 88% (b) 92%


Yes


125 m Right: (a) 78% (b) 75% Left: (a) 87% (b) 83%

Good 16 mm (a) Yes (b) Moderately

Low

Zeiss Conquest 8x40 120 m (a) 81% (b) 85%


Yes


114 (a) 84% (b) 89%

Pinky-red cast


Low

Vanguard Spirit 10x42 105 m (a) 78% (b) 81%

Pinky-red cast


Yes

9

Table 1D

Binoculars Operation at minus 10-20 Celsius

Feel in the Hand

Chromatic Dispersion

Warranty

Price (euros)

Bushnell Elite 8x43

Focus: No

Reasonable Yes, edge of field of view

30 years 999

Kahles 8x42

Focus: Difficult

Good Low ? 1029


Focus: Difficult

Good Low 5 years 1099


Excellent Good Low 10 years 1949

Leica Geovid 8x42 + integrated rangefinder

Excellent

Very good Low 10 years 2049

Leica Geovid 8x42 HD + integrated rangefinder

Excellent Very good Very low 10 years 2085

Meopta Meostar 8x42 Excellent Good

Yes 10 years 899


Centr. Focus: Yes Eyepiece focus: No

Good Yes 10 years 1449


Centr. Focus: No

Very good Low 10 years 930


Focus: Yes

Outstanding Very low 10 years 1970


Focus: Yes



Focus: Yes

Outstanding Low, at edge of image

10 years 2070


Focus: Yes



Focus: Yes Outstanding Very low 10 years 1960


Focus: Yes Outstanding Very low 10 years 2055

Kite Forest 8x42 No Good Yes, edge of field of view

10 years 769

Kite Petrel 8x42 No Good Yes, edge of field of view

10 years 445


Excellent Good Low, at edge of image

10 years from Zeiss + 20 years from importer

1899


Excellent

Good Low, at edge of image


2845

Zeiss Conquest 8x40 Focus: Yes

Good Yes, edge of field of view


1099


No, totally unusable Satisfactory (strap eyelets are obstructive)

Yes, edge of field of view

? 449

Vanguard Spirit 10x42 No, totally unusable Good Yes, edge of field of view

? 349

10

Table 1E

Binoculars Standard accessories CONCLUSION Bushnell Elite 8x43

Bag, strap, eyepiece cap and lens covers

Compact, lightweight, does not feel ideal in the hand, fragile construction of dioptric correction and strap attachment. Optical performance: satisfactory.

Kahles 8x42

Bag, strap Compact, lightweight, feels good in the hand. Optical performance: satisfactory.



Heavy, robust, feels good in the hand and good optical performance for the price.



Compact, robust, very high mechanical and optical quality. First-class binoculars

Leica Geovid 8x42 + integrated rangefinder


Heavy, feels good in the hand, quiet, bright & sharp image with large depth of field. Rangefinder remains clearly visible even in bright light. First-class binoculars.

Leica Geovid 8x42 HD + integrated rangefinder


Heavy, feels good in the hand, quiet, bright & sharp image with large depth of field, almost no chromatic dispersion. Rangefinder remains clearly visible even in bright light. First-class binoculars

Meopta Meostar 8x42

Bag, strap

Heavy, robust, feels good in the hand. Colour fidelity: too much emphasis on yellow, making it unsuitable for critical bird watchers


Bag, strap, (soft) eyepiece cap and lens covers

Open bridge feels good in the hand, but somewhat less so than expected. Trap attachment construction works convenient but is vulnerable. Winged rubber flaps on the eyecups: ugly and impractical. Good optical performance. High price compared to cheaper binoculars with similar or better performance.


Strap, eyepiece cap Very comfortable to use (although not at minus 10-20 Celsius), very clear image, perfect colour fidelity, a real gem at this price.


Bag, strap, eyepiece cap, lens covers, Snap Shot adapter

Open bridge feels very comfortable in the hand. Comfort of use is excellent. Very good optical performance.


Bag, strap, eyepiece cap, Snap Shot adapter, lens covers, S

Open bridge feels very comfortable in the hand. Absolutely top-notch optical performance. Very bright, clear image with true-to-life colours. One of the best binoculars currently available on the market. High price.



Open bridge feels very comfortable in the hand. Comfort of use is excellent. Very good optical performance.



Open bridge is very comfortable in the hand. Absolutely top-notch optical performance. Very bright, clear image with true-to-life colours. One of the best binoculars currently available on the market. High price.



Compact, very well balanced and very comfortable to handle and to use, excellent optical quality. One of the best binoculars currently on the market.



Compact, very well balanced and very comfortable to handle and to use, excellent optical quality. One of the best binoculars currently on the market.

Kite Forest 8x42 Bag, strap, protective eyepiece cap

Compact, lightweight, feels good in the hand. Good optical quality for the price. Unusable at low temperatures. Eyecups cannot be removed by the user

Kite Petrel 8x42 Bag, strap, eyepiece cap Compact, very lightweight, feels good in the hand. First-rate binoculars for the price. Unusable at low temperatures. Eyecups cannot be removed by the user



Nice, compact binoculars. Very comfortable to use and provides splendid optical quality. First-class binoculars.

Zeiss Victory RF 8x45 + integrated rangefinder


Heavy, feels good in the hand, clear, sharp image with large depth of field. Distance scale hard to read in bright daylight. Top-class binoculars. High price.

Zeiss Conquest 8x40 Bag, strap, eyepiece cap and lens covers

Compact, feels good in the hand, good optical quality/price ratio.



Nice coatings, promising binoculars with lack of mechanical and optical quality



Unsatisfactory optical and mechanical performance.

11

500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Bushnell Elite 8x43 Kahles 8x42 Kowa 8.5x44 XD Meopta 8x42

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

12

rechts = right links = left

450 500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Leica Geovid 8x42 HD rechts Leica Geovid 8x42 HD links

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

13


450 500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Leica Geovid 8x42 rechts Leica Geovid 8x42 links

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

14


500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Zeiss Victory RF 8x45 Links Zeiss Victory RF 8x45 Rechts

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

15

500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Zeiss Conquest 8x40 Steiner Discovery 8x44 VB Arend 8x42

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

16

500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Vanguard Endeavor 8x42 Vanguard Spirit 10x42 Vanguard Spirit 8x36

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

17

500 550 600 6500

20

40

60

80

100

Swarovski Habicht 7x42 Swarovski 10x42 EL

Tran

smis

sion

[%]

Wavelength [nm]

PERFORMANCE OF 42 MM BINOCULARS IN VARIOUS...

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