Pentax PCF WP II 10 x 50 discontinued

[Mark in Macc]

does anyone know if there is a successor to the highly regarded Pentax PCF WP II 10 x 50 binoculars? A lot of retailers are showing these as discontinued. Is there something even better now available?

[Dinosour23]

Yes Sir the successor is the SP WP which is the exact same binocular with a diffferent badge to exercise Pentax's new Marketing catalogues.

It is very, very well made, great coatings, a sophosticated internal focusing system, smooth and Zeiss Microscope-like eyecup adjusters ...And a neat mechanical focus lock. Good engineering and QA on that unit

2 main issues

1. Oculars are huge, very huge. Any semi neanderthal will feel less than 100% comfortable although usable for all.

2. FOV is claustrophobic when compared with 10x50's from the 70's, but all of the image is "practical".

My conclusion is that natrow FOV can be forgiven considering the mechanical engineering of this unit and the fact that 80% of used vintage binos have issues. If they don't have issues they are expensive.

6 degree options aren't that much better either as half the image is Rubbish even when you pay double.

[Charic]

I spent several Months contemplating the PCFs and now with a minor name change, a price increase, and for what almost looks identical binoculars ( although I have not compared the internal spec or coatings )  I'm really glad I bought my Strathspey Marine 10x50s and a ton cheaper?

[BinocularSky]

Just to concur with what Dinosour23 said...

I am currently evaluating the 10x50 and 20x60 versions of the SP (watch this space    ). Very nice binoculars indeed. Very sharp images across the field (especially in the 20x60), good control of stray light, and I love that lockable focus. I also find that the best eyecup location for observing with my spectacles is the "half-way" lock. No, they are not cheap, but they are darned good (& a lot lighter than the BA8, which is of comparable quality & price - if I didn't already have a 10x50 BA8, I'd be sorely tempted).

[Charic]

To avoid any confusion with my thread, Im simply 'glad' my search is over?

If I had been able to locate the PCF WP II or the FMT-SX from my recent trip to London, I would have purchased either one of them, job done!

The PCFs have been No1 on my list for a very long time? and I have no doubt there should be some improvement to the SPs, to equate for the new pricing, but they look very much the same! this would have caused further delays with my decision making.

You really do need to handle and look through binoculars alone to see if their good enough for your needs! Good advice is often helpfull, but if they dont fit your face, feel comfortable to hold, or some visual effect/discomfort whilst looking through them, then they will fail? What fits one person, can fail another, for example the Nikon Action Extremes failed my expectations!

Two pair of binoculars in my collection were sourced due to the advice and recommendations of Steve Tonkin. I'm glad I bought one, and on reflection not the other? Its all down to personal choice?

JB from Strathspey sent me some Binoculars to trial, and from those delivered, I fell for the Marine 10x50s. I should have sourced them earlier to be honest. Job done.

[FLO]

does anyone know if there is a successor to the highly regarded Pentax PCF WP II 10 x 50 binoculars? A lot of retailers are showing these as discontinued. Is there something even better now available?

The Pentax PCF WP II binoculars are discontinued and replaced by the new Pentax SP WP. 

Yes Sir the successor is the SP WP which is the exact same binocular with a diffferent badge to exercise Pentax's new Marketing catalogues.

That isn't true. The new SP WP series have upgraded optical coatings which achieve slightly higher light transmission than the discontinued PCF WP II models. Depending on the number of optical surfaces Pentax say the overall increase in light transmission is around 2%. 

The SP WP models also have a new Hydrophobic protective coating on the outer optical surfaces (don't you just love nano-technology) so water droplets slide off the lens surface. 

HTH, 

Steve

[Dinosour23]

My information is based off a Ricoh Binocular Specialist over the phone (said that the coating is only upgraded on the higher end models) but it probably doesnt matter anyway even if true

[FLO]

My information is based off a Ricoh Binocular Specialist over the phone (said that the coating is only upgraded on the higher end models) ...

The Z, S & A series all have the new optical coatings for higher light transmission. 

... it probably doesnt matter anyway even if true

We're astronomers, light transmission always matters  

HTH, 

Steve

[Dinosour23]

Sir Steve, you forced me to check the site again and it is indeed updated to include SP-WP under nano coating.

Contacted Ricoh again to confirm, and indeed it was confirmed. 

Good job because the site was changed a few times and in one change they specifically excluded SP WP from the new coating with a star on bottom of product.

However the Ricoh rep added that I will "probably" not notice a difference.

Not that it will help us, PCF's are no longer available anyway and even if they are the price is too close to SP.

There are more inconsistencies on both UK and US sites.

UK says it is a magnesium frame while the US specifies Aluminium. I highly doubt the SP WP are magnesium - What have you noticed ? I do not own SP's. 

Thanks for the heads up.

[101nut]

In reality most 'magnesium' is actually a Al/Mg alloy. Straight Mg is exceptionally difficult to work, corrodes terribly and would cost £££££.

[AdeKing]

I took advantage of the discounted price at Amazon and have had a pair of these for a week now, and I'm afraid to say that  I think I'll be sending them back for a refund.

I desperately wanted to love these bins, and I have tried hard over several clear nights, but I have to confess that although I love the ergonomics and locking centre focus, but I just can't get on with them.

The pair that I have are beautifully sharp across the FOV, but they seem to give a rather dim view, and compared to my Helios Naturesport 10x50's the FOV is rather claustrophobic.  I knew the FOV was narrower than the Naturesports but I didn't realise just how noticeable that would be in use.

In daylight these binoculars are fantastic, and if that was what I'd mainly be using them for I'd probably keep them, but I can't get on with them at night.

The Helios Naturesport 10x50s were significantly cheaper, and I find them more enjoyable to view with so I'll be sticking with them for the time being.

Just my tuppence worth.

[Charic]

I bought the 8x40 Naturesport WA and seriously considered matching them with a set of 10x50s. My Naturesport binoculars are my favourites at present, great image and an 8.2° field of view is perfect for my requirements.

The Strathspey Marines, after a long search, filled my 10x50s spot.

[Naaaysmith]

I have the Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 and the Strathspey Marine 10x50, £160 and £100 respectively. I will say the Strathspeys are excellent value for money and comparable to the Pentax in quality. The Pentax does have better baffling, focus, optics and so on, but the Strathspeys aren't a million miles behind.

My only gripe with the Pentax is with the right eye incremental diopter adjustment. I cannot be 100% sure where the 0 position is. It can turn a total of 19 to 20 'clicks' and these become less distinct as you turn the diopter anti-clockwise for +ve adjustment. I would like to know if other people have found this as well.

I love both pairs. They're both suitable for spectacle wearers and both mount nicely on a monopod. The Strathspeys live in the boot of my car and as a result they've been used these more often for stargazing.

I think for a proper comparison, I would need to take both pairs to a dark sky site away from Manchester and look at some DSOs. I strongly suspect at this point the Pentax would become noticably superior.

P.S - I enjoyed reading BinocularSky's review.

[T-J]

Hi everybody,

Just looked up the Pentax SP 10x50 WP and found some user Reviews as well as information on them. Haven't tried them myself, so can't give any personal opinion. However. I thought I would link to them here, since it may be of interest. Do any of you know whether the speccial coating which is to repel water, dust and grease is only available on the SD models? It says so in the info on one of the sites, but as I understand FLO, this coating is on the SP 10x50 WP too? It seems like it on the other site, so I have to say it's a bit confusing. Maybe it's because these are quite newly released from what I gather... Just asking since there seems to be different statement on different sites,  so far. Be as it may with that, it seems to me like they are really good allround binos.

Anyway, here are the links I found so far. Hope they are of use for those considering these binos. As for me, I am, but will wait till I have the opportunity to try them hands-on.

https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Binoculars/Brand/Pentax

http://www.thebinocularshop.com/pentax-sp-50mm-wp-binoculars.html

Clears skies!

/T

[Alfian]

If

Hi everybody,

Just looked up the Pentax SP 10x50 WP and found some user Reviews as well as information on them. Haven't tried them myself, so can't give any personal opinion. However. I thought I would link to them here, since it may be of interest. Do any of you know whether the speccial coating which is to repel water, dust and grease is only available on the SD models? It says so in the info on one of the sites, but as I understand FLO, this coating is on the SP 10x50 WP too? It seems like it on the other site, so I have to say it's a bit confusing. Maybe it's because these are quite newly released from what I gather... Just asking since there seems to be different statement on different sites,  so far. Be as it may with that, it seems to me like they are really good allround binos.

Anyway, here are the links I found so far. Hope they are of use for those considering these binos. As for me, I am, but will wait till I have the opportunity to try them hands-on.

https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Binoculars/Brand/Pentax

http://www.thebinocularshop.com/pentax-sp-50mm-wp-binoculars.html

Clears skies!

/T

Check those prices out!  The "WP" seems to add a lot, certainly compared to FLO.