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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 211
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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I am considering buying Swift Premier HP Audubon 8.5X44 binoculars. I am concerned about the eye relief, however I do not need to wear glasses. They are on sale at hayneedle for $299.98. The quality looks extremely good (magnesium body, 64-layer prism coating, 25 year warranty...wow.)
Would anyone like to comment on these binoculars? Thanks, Kevin
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Rich V.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1393
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada, USA
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They're nice binoculars; here's a review from a forum member:
8.5x44
And the ED version as well:
8.5x44 ED
Here's the Better View Desired review:
BVD review
Rich V
Edited by Rich V. (10/06/09 10:13 PM)
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BobinKy
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 1682
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You certainly will be purchasing one of the better porros.
The current design is sometimes referred to as model 820 and 820ED. The 820ED version, one of the better birdwatching porros around (next to the Nikon SE 8x32), gives better contrast and color performance for daytime use, but costs more (extra $150 U.S.).
The Swift Audubon porro 8.5x44 is a classic and has a successful history, but there have been design changes over the years. I think the previous design was 804.
The 820 makes a great wide-angle binocular for sweeping the the night skies--light, comfortable in the hands, nice views. Some people need a few sessions to adjust to the large eyecups, myself included. But now, I enjoy the view with the eyecups twisted up (in the locked position). Here is a online thread describing my personal adjustment to the 820ED eyecups: Living with the Audubon eyecup and diopter
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Bob
38°N
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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 211
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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This description from Brocknroller's post in his review of the Swift Audobon 8.5X44 binoculars would probably apply to me too:
"I have deep-set eyes and a high bridged nose, features typical of Mediterranean and Eastern Europeans, Scandinavian and Middle Eastern peoples. The 820 Audubons are made by the Japanese apparently for people with flat facial features like themselves.
I cannot see the entire FOV with the 820s and find the eyecups very uncomfortable. The 804's rubber fold down eyecups fit my eyes nicely and allow me to see the entire FOV."
So I think that I should definitely stay away from the Swift 8.5X44 820s. I had this same problem with the Resolux binoculars I just sent back to Orion...
So my search continues for binoculars in the $300 to $400 range.
The only binoculars I actually own are a pair of Celestron 15X70s. They are OK for what they cost. I can just barely see the whole FOV in them with my glasses off and the eyecups down. I have some Nikon AE 10X50 borrowed from work. It is very easy for me to look through them and see the whole FOV, even with the eyecups one click up. I've entertained the thought of using funds I have available for binoculars to buy three Nikon Action Extreme models; 8X40 AE, 12X50 AE and 16X50 AE, instead of one "premium" model, even though they are not "fully multicoated", which I consider high on my list of important features.
I've always been impressed by the sharpness of the Nikon AE central focus, and not all that bothered by the field curvative and other aberrations near the edge of the really wide FOV, which seems to be worse than a lot of other models. It would be cool to have these three binoculars with different magnifications, with similar FOV, and central sharpness. Unless I can find a better alternative, this is what I might do.
The other binoculars I've borrowed from work to try out at home are the Orion Savannah 10X50 Porros and Pentax PCF WPII. My favorite out of all of them, is the Nikon AE 10X50, even though the others all fully multicoated.
Edited by jkevn (10/08/09 12:35 AM)
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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Quote:
This description from Carpal Tunnel's post in his review of the Swift Audobon 8.5X44 binoculars would probably apply to me too:
"I have deep-set eyes and a high bridged nose, features typical of Mediterranean and Eastern Europeans, Scandinavian and Middle Eastern peoples. The 820 Audubons are made by the Japanese apparently for people with flat facial features like themselves.
Just to clarify- that reference is a quote from the one and only C/N Bino Forum hall-of-famer- the great Brocknroller, not Carpal Tunnel! 
Carpal Tunnel is his title , not his name- as Super Member is yours- and Post Laureate is mine.
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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BobinKy
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 1682
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Kevin...
If possible, I recommend you try out the Swift Audubon 8.5x44 820. You may find the 820 eyecups fit your face without any problem. You will never know until you give them a go for a few observing sessions. These are very good porro binoculars--better than the other models you are mentioning in your posts (in my opinion).
Of course, all of this is dependent upon the return policy of the dealer. I do not advise purchasing binoculars from an online or store dealer unless they allow returns within a 2-to 4-week period of time. This return policy should refund the purchase price less shipping costs to you. You will pay the return shipping and insurance costs.
Another point to consider are the differences in quality control among different binoculars of the same model. Your friend's Nikon AE 8x40 may produce a slightly different performance than a Nikon AE 8x40 that you purchase. Here again, you will never know until you try them out for a few sessions.
There is a lot of wisdom to the saying: "Try before you buy."
Good luck.
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Bob
38°N
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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 211
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Bob,
Thanks for the advice. I really would like to buy the Swift Audubons if they fit OK. You are right; there really is no way for me to know how well the Swift 8.5X44 820s will work for me unless I try them.
Hayneedle has a good return policy, and they won't charge a restocking fee if I try them and send them back for a refund. I would just have to pay for the shipping, both ways.
I think I'll do that...Kevin
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12885
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Kevin ,
If you do NOT NEED to wear eye glasses , I think you will probably find the eye - relief of the Swift Audubon 8.5 x 44 to be just fine .
Before I started needing glasses to counter my astigmatism I considered the old original 8.5 x 44 Swift Porros to be THE best buy for the money hand - held binoculars available.
I raved about my 10 x 50 Audubons for a while ( for daytime use at any rate -- although I always found edges a bit disappointing for night sky use ) and , as was the case with my 15 x 70 Helios ( Orion LG2 ) , only really noticed how short eye relief was after the glasses came along .
One thing about the Audubons with glasses though is that at least the outer field cut - off removes the worst of the edges from view altogether , while ( unlike the Helios ) still leaving a decently wide true field of around 5 degrees , but that said , I don't really LIKE wearing glasses at all -- and especially when using binoculars .
Finally though , OPTICALLY and ERGONOMICALLY , it must be said , the Nikon 10 x 42 SE blows away the Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50 in every way I can think of .
Kenny
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
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
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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 211
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Thanks Wes, I actually know this! Sorry Brocknroller if you are reading this. I must have had a "senior moment" there... Since these posts will apparently be archived indefinitely, I sometimes wish I could edit them after I post them!
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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Quote:
Since these posts will apparently be archived indefinitely, I sometimes wish I could edit them after I post them!
You can! Don't you have an "edit" button on the top of your post when you bring it up???
Wes
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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 211
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Kenny,
Did your astigmatism become a lot worse as you got older? Right now I have .25 and .5 diopters astigmatism in my eyes. I notice it to a small degree when looking at linear objects in the daylight at different angles, but I don't notice it at night, or when looking through binoculars at the sky at night. I had cataract surgery, and my astigmatism didn't change much afterwards, so I assume it is mostly in my corneas.
I am definitely ordering the Swift Audubon 8.5 x 44 version with ED air-spaced objectives in the next few days. The current version also has a rubber coated magnesium body, so they they should be pretty light for their size. I hope they are comfortable against my eyes, because optically and ergonomically they sound really great. Since the close focus in 10 feet, I might even try and do some birding with them in the Arizona desert as well as stargazing.
That's an interesting way to look at a potential advantage of using glasses with binoculars with short eye relief with a large FOV; it would definitely eliminate the outer edge with the bad field curvature and aberrations! (It's like with computer operating systems, it's not a bug, its a feature!)
Thanks again for your post. It makes me feel better about taking the chance to order these binoculars.
Kevin
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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 211
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Yes! I changed it.
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12885
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Kevin ,
Whether my astigmatism was brought on by ageing or by the sudden alteration in habits to spending hours looking at computer screens , I will never know .
Previously I was always the one amongst a group of people who would be the first to spot some distant detail in a scene or object , and considered myself fortunate enough to have very good natural eyesight until I was around 50 years old .
I always thought this helped my hand to eye co - ordination when playing games like cricket , lawn tennis , table tennis , darts , snooker and pool .
My slump in apparent ability at all those games certainly co - incided with that sudden deterioration in visual acuity .
Good luck with your choice !
Five Star :-)
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
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
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