Hi there, Ive found this forum very helpful in choosing binoculars for myself ( HR WP 8x42's) but I'm now looking for ( preferably) some roof prisms with a nice wide field of view and good close up ability for my partner that will match or come very close to the optical quality of the HRWP's.
I've just bought and returned some opticron Verano 8x 32's, these cost me quite a lot more than the HRWP's but to my surprise they were quite frankly rubbish in comparison. For a start they didn't work great with glasses on ( we both wear glasses) but more importantly they were far far less sharp, shockingly so in fact.
In fact I'm amazed each time I put the HRWP's to my eyes, the view is just pristine, stunningly sharp. I can pick out the smallest details at a great distance with them and also hold them dead steady as they are so comfortable.They are like a razor or a lazer beam dissecting and penetrating the view, just exquisite. The Verano's were like a child's toy in comparison, even in bright sunlight.
Soo, do I just buy another pair of HRWP's (or similar porros?) or are there any low to mid price roofs that are comparable? Im guessing from my research Hawke frontier ED's ( or zen ray's, but I cant get them in the UK) and Im not sure how these would be with glasses? All suggestions welcome :)
Many thanks.
I think you have a dilemma. I found the HRWP to be excellent, (but might have wished for a wider field of view). When I tried the x42 Opticrons I thought the Verano was the sharpest of the mid-priced, but for me lacked the contrast I like. The Hawke Frontier ED would be the most obvious alternative, with very low CA and bigger sweet spot if I remember correctly, but again for me lacked the contrast I prefer. (There are plenty here that would disagree with that comment) The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD I found similar as well.
Of course the x42s might be quite different to the x32s and more to your taste, so I suggest checking those out first. Otherwise my suggestion would be stick with the porros or revise the budget quite a bit.
David
Many thanks for your advice :) I think you could be right about sticking with porros although I think I will try out the frontier ED's.
I would like something with a bit of a wider view though, the HRWP is a bit narrow, but in use I find them so satisfying its not a problem. I guess I'm just looking for something a bit different but equally as good rather than just getting another pair of HRWP's.
Its strange with the HRWP, I bought them without trying and was a bit underwhelmed at first probably due to the narrowish view and lack of roof type wow factor close up, but once out in the field they are just phenomenal.
£350.00 or so is about my limit I'd say.