Telescope Reviews: Compact roof binoculars: $500-$700 range?

08/17/2007

1:50 p.m. At the nature center I begin the bald eagle test. The enclosure for the eagles at the nature center allows me to get very close to a pair of magnificent birds. Using the distance range on the focus wheel of the Minox, I estimate my viewing distance to be six yards from the female eagle. During the test, she moves about the enclosure, jumping from ground to tree limb, frequently ruffling her large feathers, spreading her wings, and actually screaming at me in that unique voice, which, once you hear it up close, you do not forget it. The curving talons on her yellow feet exceed two inches in length. Her eyes, those unforgettable eagle eyes of dark brown pupils encased in bright gold irises, dart about her nest. When she is in the eye cups, staring directly at me, I feel like a small insignificant serf, humbling myself before royalty. I speak up and ask permission to look upon her.

The purpose of the bald eagle test is to compare resolution of detail in the various binocular models. The eagle's feathers, eyes, beak, and talons offer excellent opportunities for testing details.

Here is the result of the bald eagle test:

The Pentax produces the best results in picking out fine detail in the bald eagle's feathers, golden eye, beak, and talons. The Pentax also produces the best results in bringing out the whiteness of the eagle's feathers about the neck and head.

The Minox comes in a close second. There really is not a lot of difference between the resolution of fine detail between the Pentax and Minox. In terms of color rendition, the Minox produces the best result in bringing out the gold & yellow colors of the eagle's eyes and feet, as well as the brown feathers of the chest and wings.

The Leupold produces very sharp details of the bald eagle. However, due to the reduction in magnification, the observing effect is not as dramatic as with the Pentax and Minox.

The Nikon, Leica, and Swarovski 8x20s continue their standard ranking as with the other optical field tests.

The Swift Audubon 820ED 8.5x44 places at the top of the list, ahead of the Pentax in detail.

As I conduct the bald eagle test I meet another Cloudy Nighter, who sees my backpack of binoculars and begins a conversation. He has just purchased a Zeiss Conquest 10x25. We look down at a large eagle feather floating in the moat of water between us and the eagles. He tells me about the U.S. eagle feather law. Because Native Americans continue to practice religious and spiritual customs using eagle feathers, they are the only group of people permitted to have eagle feathers in their possession. Under the current language of the eagle feather law, only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers. Non-natives who are caught with an eagle feather in their possession can be fined up to $25,000.

2:20 p.m. The buffalo test comes next. The nature center exhibits six buffalo in a large fenced area. During the test, the buffalo roam about and I estimate the viewing distance to be 100, 200, and 300 yards. The test results reflect views at all three distances. The buffalo are observed in full sun. The purpose of this test is to view large animals at a distance.

Here is the result of the buffalo test:

Picking which binoculars rank first place in the buffalo test is difficult. The Leupold, in my opinion, beats out both the Minox and the Pentax because the Leupold's wider field of view and reduced magnification actually produces a very aesthetic view. The roaming buffalo through tall grass in bright sun just looks more appealing through the Leupold than any of the other models. In this test, a bigger image is not a better image.

The Minox ranks above the Pentax primarily because of color rendition. The brown color of the buffalo, their wooly enlarged heads, dark brown eyes and horns are a better presentation through the Minox than through the Pentax. Also, in the full sun, the Minox presented more detail than the Pentax.

The Leicas beat out the Nikons and Swarovskis in the Buffalo test. Perhaps it is the bright sun--I really do not know. But the Leicas give the best view of the 8x20s.

3:00 p.m. Next to the buffalo exhibit is an the elk exhibit. The elk test produces the same result as the buffalo test for the same reasons.

3:30 p.m. Instead of walking to any more wild animal exhibits, I shift the backpack of binoculars from my shoulder to my back, and take a two-mile hike through a heavily wooded area adjacent to the nature center grounds. I walk along a trail in hilly terrain. About halfway down a steep ravine, I stop at the base of an old deer hunting stand. The stand had been built many years ago and now rests 15 feet up in the air in a triangle of trees--two oaks and one walnut. Every time the breeze blows, the wooden remains of the hunting stand creaks. I conduct the ravine test at the base of these large trees. At the bottom of the ravine rests a small pond. The pond is an anomaly here in the dark woods. I notice the pond has formed because a dam had been built across the creek, 20 or 30 years ago, judging by the size of the trees growing on top of the dam. I wonder if the owner of the land built the dam to provide water to attract deer to this hunting spot. The deer stand, hidden in the trees, halfway up the ravine, appears to be a perfect spot for some deer hunter of long ago.

As I unpack the binoculars, a nature hiker passes close to me on the trail, assisted by adjustable bright trekking poles displaying the Edie Bauer decal. The deer stand and the nature hiker present a contrast in the middle of this ravine. The purpose of the ravine test is to compare the various binocular models during reduced light situations.

Here is the result of the ravine test:

I rank both Leupold and Pentax as number one for different reasons. If I am a hunter up in the deer stand, the Pentax gives me the best detail in this low light situation, where the twitch of a brown ear or the wrinkle of a nose reveals the prize I have come to claim. However, if I prefer to hug trees rather than drive nails into them, the Leupold presents the best rendering of the beauty of the ravine, perhaps, due to the greater depth of field and color rendering. This is interesting, as Leupold also manufacturers scopes for hunting rifles.

Minox trails Pentax, but not by much, in picking up detail in the low light situation, as well as trailing Leupold in pulling into the eye cups the beauty of the ravine.

I rank Swarovski at the top of the 8x20s in the ravine test because the Swarovski ergonomics seems to fit the environment. The Leica and Nikon designs are out of place in the ravine.

It is time for me to end the field tests at the nature center. After I purchase just one pair of leisure binoculars and return the rest of the lot, I plan to come back some day for other nature observing opportunities, such as the following live exhibits:

. . .

Field tests still to come: Night sky, building architecture, comfort, and pocketabilty.

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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA

Edited by BobinKy (08/18/07 03:37 PM)