I have heard the FL's have gone through multiple "upgrades/changes" since their launch 4-5 years ago. I think eyecup changes were one of them. What do I need to look for there?
ALso how has the binocular treated your eyes?
anything your really liked or disliked?
any input is appreciated
Recently I got an 8x42 Victory T FL and this binoc is as brighter and clearer than anything I've owned. And I had a Swarovski EL from 2003 and a SLC and a compact prior to that. I'm not much into magnification and if the bargain I got on mine had been a 7x, I would have been just as happy. Other than it's a hefty binoc, I knew that before I got it so no problems here.
The eyecups changed. I think they slimmed them down? That is discussed elsewhere on the forum.
They got Lotutec (after the eyecup change) which is perhaps the most significant difference.
There seems to be a change in AR coatings (colors changed a bit) but without an accurate measurement it's difficult to know how much that improved the transmission (or changed the color bias).
The Lotutec bins also changed the straps they came with from the all black contoured strap with printed logo at the "lapels" to a more contoured strap with blue embossed plastic logs at the lapels and "Carl Zeiss" across the back of the neck. You can buy these straps as parts so they're not a reliable indicator of the bin.
One thing that took me by surprise is the black versus the green FLs. The black bins have a rubber coating on the enclosure. The green bins are the color of the underlying composite enclosure. I find the black bins to be noticeably more grippy and the green ones with be quite "slippery" in my hands especially when my hands are dry.
They way to separate them out is to know the Zeiss 6 digit (xx-xx-xx) product code which will be on the original box. We did that merry dance for the 8x20 Victory but it's not been done for the FLs.
I like my 7x42 FLs. Decent wide field. Bright. Not too heavy. Good woodland and "searching" binocular.