Hi everyone,
I have read in the forums a few times that the focus on porros will stiffen up in cold weather. Does this happen on all porros or some more than others? Are there any porros that don't do this at all?
The reason I ask is that I have just bought a pair of Meopta Meostar 8x32s. I think they're excellent but suspect that in winter I shall find I need some extra light gathering.
So I am thinking of buying some low price porro 8x40/42 as a back up pair for darker days. I spent more than I should on the Meoptas and don't expect to need the extra light gathering too often so a cheap pair of porros is the thing for me I reckon. Also being cheap I can leave them in the car all the time for unexpected birdingopportunities and not worry about them being stolen/lost/damaged.
I looked through some Nikon Action EX 7x35s and 8x40s recently and was impressed. Great view for their price and waterproof but somewhat heavy. I think 8x40s probably best for me as I couldn't see the extrawide fov of the 7x35s because I wear glasses.
Any idea what lowest temperature the Nikons will work at?
Or suggestions of other porros that work well at low temps gratefully received.
Thanks,
Martin.
I'd wait until you can try the Meopta's in winter. You need it to get rather dark to get to 4mm pupil size (when it starts to make a difference). And I know birding in overcast with rain in December at 3pm it's pretty dark in the UK. But I'd still wait to try it first. After all you spent a bunch of money on these it would be a shame not to use them as much a possible.
The main problem with external focus porros is they tend to use a sliding tube that is sealed with grease and that grease gets more viscous in the the cold.
So you could go with non-waterproof porros ... but it's winter in Norwich so that doesn't sound so good.
A possibility would be to get internal focus porros like the Opticron HR WP or the similar looking Minox porros. The former are not too expensive but have (for me) a rather narrow FOV. But they do have a light focus action.
But it seems you might be in the £100 region.
Hi,
I use porro Nikon 8x32 SE and stiff focus action in winter is a problem. That's one of very few drawbacks of this bino, but quite annoying sometimes. Plus painfully cold metal parts.
[QUOTE=Kevin Purcell;1507964]
A possibility would be to get internal focus porros like the Opticron HR WP or the similar looking Minox porros. The former are not too expensive but have (for me) a rather narrow FOV. But they do have a light focus action.
[/QUOTE]
I tried the Opticrons the other day and found focus action very slow, way to slow for my taste.
[QUOTE=Kevin Purcell;1507964]I'd wait until you can try the Meopta's in winter. You need it to get rather dark to get to 4mm pupil size (when it starts to make a difference). And I know birding in overcast with rain in December at 3pm it's pretty dark in the UK. But I'd still wait to try it first.[/QUOTE]
Very good advice IMHO. I would wait till winter.
Cheers