I've grown to like open bridge bins, at least full-size. Mid-size might be another issue. But there's one thing that may affect how good they feel, and that's how thick/wide the focus bridge is.
The SV focus end bridge is less wide than the Zen ED bridge and others. As a result, you don't have to spread your fingers as wide to have three fingers wrapped around the barrel and the index finger on the focus wheel. With the Zen I tend to have two fingers around the barrel (about all that fits), one on the bridge, index finger on the focus wheel. With the SV, three fingers around the barrel, and index on the wheel. It just feels more secure and more comfortable. It seems like a legit consideration for anyone using bins a lot. The SV just feels better.
I have attached three photos, all from the Eagle Optics website. L to R: SV, EO Atlas (Chinese clone in general) and then the new Vortex Razor, which seems to be the biggest stretch yet, unless the photo shows the focus wheel pulled out for diopter adjustment. Maybe not the biggest consideration, but I find I like the SV feel quite a bit better than the Zen.
Mark
Has it occurred to you that the Swarovski 8x42 SLC has an even more open bridge than the EL? I can see the Swaro promotion team tearing their hair out in the effort to call attention to this feature without damaging the EL's imago. Oh they didn't make anything of it? Very smart.
Renze
Thanks, Mark, for those interesting comments and for posting the comparative pix. I can't comment on the other two, but at 23 oz. I don't need three fingers around the barrels of the ZR 7x36 to get a secure grip. They don't need as much support as a 28 oz. bin.
And, unlike the SV and Razor HG, the ZR's double bridge has flat finger rests on top and bottom. My left index finger is on the focuser while my right index finger fits comfortably and securely on the flat portion of the upper bridge and my right pinky on the flat portion of the bottom bridge. Quite a good grip for my large hands. I can almost hold them with one hand, but not quite. For ergonomics, I think ZR got it right with the 7x36.
Swaro seems to have copied ZR's bridge style in terms of attaching the vertical bridge struts to the barrels instead making an all one piece bridge that covers the inside of the barrels, which allowed less space for the fingers, less armor to grip, and also caused the fingers to touch the cold metal in the winter.
After I tried holding the heavier and bulkier pre-SV EL with one hand, I wondered how do the Europeans do it? I couldn't hold 8.5x steady with one hand even with the extra weight, if anything, the weight was too much to hold with one hand for more than a few seconds. Those European birders must have arms like Arnold. :-)
Brock