m00nless
super member
Reged: 08/06/08
Posts: 154
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Is anyone using the Kronos 26x70 russian binoculars? Are these a better choice than similar size chinese binoculars? Are they still available for purchasing?
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STEEL
super member
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 174
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You can find them with these marks Kronos, Zomz, NewCon. I tried the Kronos 12x40, the picture quality at the center field is very good crisp like Jena dodecarem 12x50.Invece distortion is greater in 12x40, but also evident in 12x50, mechanics are both excellent. I am convinced that the Russians with their excellent experience in the optical industry could make economic binoculars but qualitatively superior to Chinese.
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m00nless
super member
Reged: 08/06/08
Posts: 154
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I don't seem to find them available online anywhere.
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3196
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Here is a favorable review of the Kronos 26X70s on CN a few years back:
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=202
I would not make generalizations about quality of optics based on the country of origin, price, or brand name. Optical giants such as Nikon markets the 20X120, 70mm Astrolux, 50 mm Superior E as well as low cost binos selling for under $100 USD. Bushnell imports bino costing under $20 but also has an Elite 12.5X50 selling for $1K. I enjoy using some of my lower cost Chinese binos more than other Japanese binos in my inventory of the same configuration.
I have a pair ofKronos BPWC2 6x30. They have amazingly wide 12.5 deg FOV. Feels like they are made from a solid hunk of metal. Fit and finish and coating are OK. Design is from the cold war era, paint job is unique. I don't know if they are made in the same factory as the Kronos 26X70s or just marketed under the same brand name.
You can find more reviews of Russian and European binos at Dr. Merlitz' home page:
http://www.holgermerlitz.de/
ERik D
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Patrik Iver
sage
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 259
Loc: Kaarina, Finland
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Quote:
Is anyone using the Kronos 26x70 russian binoculars?
Hi!
Not using them right now, as about a year ago I lent my pair to a couple of friends to try out terrestrially. They did not like the individual focusing, so I expect to get them back sometime soon. I frankly haven't missed them much, as the eye-relief is so short that they really are not usable while wearing eyeglasses.
The positive:
+ Good build quality.
+ In my opinion optically quite acceptable.
+ Nice wide apparent field that is to my recollection resonably sharp for a pair of wide-field (ca 65 degrees apparent) binoculars. Please don't flame me for calling a 2,5 degree true field bino "wide-field", I'm only referring to the apparent field, which is very much less claustrofobic than 45 - 50 degrees.´
+ Large enough focusing range to easily accomodate my -6 diopters of near-sightedness. Will likely accomodate down to -10 or so, which in my opinion is absolutely necessary, as the eye-relief is very short.
The negative:
- The individual focusing EP's turn too easily for my taste - will rotate from contact of eye sockets.
- Very short eye-relief. OK if you have good eyesight (if a still a bit cramped), but a pain if you like to / have to use glasses.
- Supplied mounting adapter is way too flimsy.
I've no experience of similarly sized Chinese binoculars, so I can't compare the Kronos to those.
Long ER EP's in my scopes and in most of my other binoculars have "spoiled" me for "glasses on" viewing comfort, which is why I've really not used the Kronos' very much during the last several years.
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Best regards,
Patrik Iver
60°N, 22°E
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STEEL
super member
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 174
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This should be the manufacturer,You can also find this new version 30x90 to 45 degrees.
http://zomz.sposad.ru/En/EMain_Bin.htm
Edited by STEEL (11/09/08 03:26 PM)
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Bratman2
sage
Reged: 04/11/05
Posts: 239
Loc: NC, US
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I owned the 20x60mm version for about a year. Mechanically they were so so. Optically I thought they were pretty good. I got lucky and purchased mine fairly cheap off the "Bay", left over stock from a binocular store. I also have the 12x50 Dodecarems and also had the 12x45 Kronos, can't say the views were that close between the two but different price points also. The 12x45 were might bit dim in my opinion. The 26x70 should be a nice binocular but I have noticed the prices seem to be getting pretty high for Russian optics if purchased retail.
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m00nless
super member
Reged: 08/06/08
Posts: 154
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I can't find the 26x70s listed in the ZOMZ catalogue.
ZOMZ Binoculars
Are these still in production?
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STEEL
super member
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 174
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I hope that can be you useful.
http://www.hupra.com/Binoculars_EN.htm
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m00nless
super member
Reged: 08/06/08
Posts: 154
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Has anyone purchased these or other russian binoculars from Hupra before?
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KBK
member
Reged: 08/05/09
Posts: 67
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I just bought a used mint set off the usual site,and expect them in a few days. I'm hoping to get them by Friday so I can entertain myself by stripping them down over the weekend. I'm going to strip them down and optimize the optics package, one step at a time. Contrast is the name of the game.
I've not re-assembled and collimated any binoculars with this high a magnification before, ie, not beyond 10x. This means, I expect, that they will be more sensitive to alignment.
I also went and got my meters, light sources, and gear from work to check on the throughput (% levels) of any binos I mess with, just for the fun of it.
I'm also fishing for a pair of older Kronos 7x50's that are in a nearby town. If they have the newer greenish hue coatings that the most recent of the older design have, then I'll bite on them. They are excellent (to my memory of my last pair) for a sum of $40.
The 26x70's cost me..IIRC..$75, which I feel is a good deal-once the optics have been worked over for contrast enhancement. Just in time for the monthly cycle of darker skies....
As I said in my first post here a very short time ago... I gots me the damn bino fever. This month alone, I've bought 6 pair.
As I work my way through older sets which I will strip and rebuild/optimize, I will finally work my way up to stripping Steiners, zeiss, etc. Just to see what they can do.
I expect that if I do a good job, that many of the advantages that the more expensive units have..will fall away. Contrast is the name of the game-in all of it's guises and origins/issues. This has been my experience in a industry I work in that uses optics in their finished products. Only so much can be done at certain price point and only so much SHOULD be done--as manufacturers have to find a way to differentiate the differing models and keeping strippers as strippers instead of optimizing the contrast for all models is a way of keeping expectations of the general public where it is at, when it comes to cashola spent.
Not being afraid of breaking cheaper binoculars and thus using any mechanical skills the given person may have to start such an optimization adventure can increase the fun and involvement in the hobby..and most certainly can be used to bring premium product to the intrepid 'modketeer' at very modest prices.
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Patrik Iver
sage
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 259
Loc: Kaarina, Finland
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Quote:
I'm going to strip them down and optimize the optics package, one step at a time. Contrast is the name of the game.
Interesting idea.
Can you please describe how you intend to modify them?
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Best regards,
Patrik Iver
60°N, 22°E
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KBK
member
Reged: 08/05/09
Posts: 67
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I may explain all of that in the future, but for now I will say the the eyepieces have four elements in them. One of extreme curvature on the one surface. I'm curious if anyone knows what that means. Meaning the four pieces and the last element (furthest from the eye-furthest surface) with the very high curvature.
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It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this...is the key
to it all.
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orlandog
member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 33
Loc: wilmington, north carolina
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Patrik,
Here is one way to modify binos:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/10315218/Binocular-Rebuild-2
Regards, Howard
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KBK
member
Reged: 08/05/09
Posts: 67
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Very neat, but a bit more basic and interesting than that. All internal surfaces and prism, etc, are blackened and flocked. Prisms are hooded, etc. The Kronos does need it and it does definitely improve the contrast on this beast, by the few critical percentage points, which is all you are gonna ever get. Originally, the objective tubes are bare and shiny. Not good.
I'm talking about fix'en 'em up for a few dollars (price of the flock and the proper black coating) and not entering into a complete rebuild. However, I'm definitely going to look into doing that thing in the supplied link. My kinda stuff.
However, such a beast can scare the neighbors.
Kid comes running into the house:"Mommy! Mommy! there's some freaky old guy out there with a weird thing! I asked what it was and and he said he was calling aliens."
By the time the month ends, I'll be up to about 12 sets of vintage binos, so why not make one of the better bodies the back end of a big hand made set. Those FL's for $60 be a good deal-but I'm sure I'll have to wait by the river and fish a bit before they or similar are available.. Some of our products are sold by B+H, so maybe i can get a deal on some of the components.
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It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this...is the key
to it all.
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orlandog
member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 33
Loc: wilmington, north carolina
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KBK,
When your ready send me a note and I will work with you.
No need to limit yourself to a 50degree AFOV bino – a vintage 70degree AFOV 7X35 or 7X50 is preferable – just ensure that you select a well constructed vintage bino.
Regards, Howard
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GlennLeDrew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/08
Posts: 1269
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Howard,
I'll concur with your recommendation; no need to limit one's self to a mere 50 degree AFoV. The 71.5 degree AFOV eyepieces you'd taken from a Tasco extra wide angle bino and kindly sent me work quite well in my own home-brewed right angle bino. Thanks again!
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Home-made 11X50 right angle bino, 8.1 deg. FOV
Modified 26X100 bino, 3.5 deg. FOV
Home-made Mk II RA bino, using interchangeable objectives and eyepieces
My Gallery
Mediocre minds discuss people. Good minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.
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