Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
bjnicholls
journeyman
Reged: 05/28/08
Posts: 5
|
|
consumermarine.com has the Fujinon Techno-Stabi Jr. 12x32 binoculars for $450 plus shipping. That's $300 below most web prices and $250 below the best competing price I could find.
I'm very pleased with these Fujinons for birdwatching and other handheld use. Compared with the similar magnification/size Canon stabilized binocs I got my dad in February, the stabilization works better, the build quality is better, and the Fujinons are waterproof. From what I understand, the Techno-Stabi binoculars are identical in most respects to Nikon's Stabileyes models. I have read that Fuji's stabilization is superior to Nikon's but can't speak to that from experience. Suffice it to say my new binoculars make handheld viewing very comfortable, the optical quality is excellent (my baseline for comparision are my Swarovski 10x42 SLCs). The Fujinons are bulkier and heavier than my Swarovskis but they're a reasonable size and weight to carry on a neck strap during a hike.
I have no affiliation with consumermarine.com and couldn't find out much about them from buyer ratings. The shipping charges were reasonable and the order shipped the same day I placed it.
I haven't seen the Techno-Stabi's mentioned at this site so I thought I'd pass along my impressions and let you know about a great price while it lasts.
BJ
|
KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10029
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Thanks for that , BJ.
I hope you keep us posted about your experiences with this seldom mentioned model .
Clear Skies
Kenny
--------------------
Two eyes and a preference to use both
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
|
kray
super member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 132
Loc: NC, USA
|
|
I went to this site and noticed they are now out of stock.
--------------------
Ken
Celestron Regal LX 8 x 42 roof
Orion Expanse 7 x 32 (14 degree)
Nikon 10 x 35 E2
Nikon 10 x 50 Action V ( Made in Japan)
Oberwerk 15 x 70
GO 25 x 100 IF Bogen 501/3046
Celestron 102 F/5 Wide View Refractor
|
bjnicholls
journeyman
Reged: 05/28/08
Posts: 5
|
|
The out of stock status is unfortunate. It could be the great price was to closeout their inventory. The Fuji's I got are all-black and I think are recent production. There are images on the web and on the manual that show a silver color body and I think that's an old style. I hope this site continues to carry the Fujis - especially at the great price. It looks like you can place a backorder order - if you're interested they recommend that you call for info on the backordered status.
Here's a little more detail on the Fujis for anyone interested: the eyepieces twist to extend and have three detent positions. I don't wear eyeglasses when using binoculars and find the fully extended position to be just right. That suggests plenty of eye relief for eyeglass wearers at the other two eyecup positions.
There is no tripod socket or thread for an adapter. The stabilization is so effective I wouldn't look to use these on a tripod but it's worth noting. Adjusting the IP distance is a two-handed operation for me since the action is quite stiff. There's a main power button on the rear right and a lever on the rear left that you turn to activate stabilization. If you turn off the power, the lever automatically returns to the stabilization off position. The manual warns you not to turn the lever with power off. The battery compartment handgrip is comfortable to use and a nice neoprene neckstrap is included. Also in the box are a soft case with 1" webbing shoulder strap and exterior mesh pocket, AA batteries, and a lens cloth.
I'll try to get time to borrow my dad's Canon binocs and do some side-by-side test viewing paying special attention to how the stabilization systems compare.
BJ
|
Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3206
Loc: NJ USA
|
|
That is about what I paid for my Canon 12x36 IS II and I know they weigh much less than the 12x32's.
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
|
bjnicholls
journeyman
Reged: 05/28/08
Posts: 5
|
|
Indeed the Canon's do weigh less. I don't find the Fuji's heavy to carry around on a hike and for the extra weight they're waterproof, they have a better build quality feel, and from what I've read Fuji has the best stabilization of them all. It'll be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison with my dad's 12x36 Canons. With shipping, the Canon's cost me a little over $500. We did a little test viewing before gifting them and really liked the IS viewing. The Canons got me looking at the stabilized binocular options and I decided to give the Fujis a try based on the waterproofing and Fuji's overall high ratings for binocular optics. Since this appears to be a rare opportunity for a direct comparison I'll want to spend a day in the field and also do some low light and night viewing. I'll try to get a report back sometime this summer.
|
Bob A (SD)
sage
Reged: 07/16/05
Posts: 329
Loc: Black Hills of South Dakota
|
|
For those still looking for a deal, every year defender.com has a 4th of July sale. These bins are $413.99 shipped right now. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|17|18|323949&id=166240
I also found interesting reviews and discussion at these links:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/fujinon-14x40.htm
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/gadgetreviews/news/2008/03/reviews_imagestabilizedbinocs
http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/Astronomy/technostabi-review.html
http://www.marine-electronics-reviews.com/image-stabilized-binoculars.html
http://www.ssca.org/DiscBoard/viewtopic.php?t=5736&sid=610e9246ddcfa8cd85d0e0b0d22c7567
I note that the reviewer's 14x40 bins broke after a couple months but a 3 week trip to Japan under the lifetime warranty had them back in like new condition.
I know we see lots of great reviews here for IS bins and despite my inability to hand hold anything over 9x I am still reticent to go IS. Old school I guess..... then again... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
--------------------
Bob
N44°0'19" W-103°18'8"
-Intes-Micro MN56/Moonlite CR2/Antares 8x50RACI
-SkyWatcher EQ6 SynScan v3.21/Hanna saddle head/Casady saddle/Losmandy dovetail
-StellaCam II/10" RS monitor/Hauppauge WinTV-USB2/Mogg 0.6X
-Speers-Waler SWA 5-8/10/24.7mm; Russell SWA 13/19mm; Kunming SWA 32mm; UO Abbe 5/7/9mm; TV PowerMate 2.5x
-Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
-Bins: 7x42B SLC; 8x32DCF-WP/9x21UCF; BD6.5x32IF; 9x35IF GoldRing/8x30Yosemite; Orion 9x63;
Carson 8.5x42 11°; old 7x35s 11.5°, 11° & 10.5°
|
|
7 registered and 24 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: EdZ
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 571
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 