For my observation purposes - ornithology and astronomy - it seemed advantageous to have variable magnification. After a series of tests with various zoom binoculars in the low-price segment (including Soligor-HP 8-24x50, Vanguard 7-15x35, Eschenbach Arena 8-24x50) it was clear that there was to be expected not a sufficient optical performance. Next on the Zoom thoughts clinging fell after extensive research and testing in and outside of a specialty store my decision on the Farlux selector V 8-15 von Eschenbach. To purchase Languages: + Waterproof (water hiking, rain no problem) + Good nearby: 3m (with many Zoomis a disaster) + Magnification (comfortable to hold) 8 times and infinitely to 15 times - the image is almost twice as large, and it is very tiring but to keep this + Size and weight are just about ok mE (900 g - the longer seeing through wirds slow uncomfortable) + Suitable for eyeglass wearers prima In practice it has been found: + Robust (already fell down several times, without being damaged) + Durable mechanism (after almost daily 3-year use no rattling such as the Olympus 8-16x40: According to Amazon commentary) The boundaries of these binoculars: o sharpness and contrast are only in bright daylight - in poor visibility conditions (dusk, fog) or dark areas (in the forest) less than satisfactory o narrow field of view (91m / 1000m - 8-fold magnification) o Zoom adjustment via a ring on the right eyepiece is pointless here had to remedy a mounted with cable ties hook - The aluminum-case (package) is unnecessary - Uncomfortable insight behavior (contact between face and glass) for non-spectacle wearers - The Dioptrineinstellungen go when zooming is not full (by approx 0.25%) adjustment required - With increasing magnification take fringing too strong - you can see a little bigger, but not necessarily more detailed
o The value for money I consider acceptable in warranty (10 years), Langlebbigkeit, valence. The optical capabilities allow something to be desired.
Conclusion: If the zoom idea is to be implemented and is only during the day observed in very good lighting conditions, the farlux selector V can be 8-15x35 recommended.
now (09/2014) has been almost entirely supplanted by a far better (Conquest HD 10x42) binoculars. Nevertheless, I will continue to use it: as a spare in the car, at canoeing or when I'm traveling with the child-Orni group ...