andyrawlins

Some other things I have noticed during daytime viewing: The coatings on the Pentax objectives have quite a green tinge. The view through the binoculars is very neutral in terms of colour, slightly muted and slighter cooler than with the naked eye but very close and very natural. The Nikons have a bluer coating and the view is more vibrant and saturated, but a little green. Not so faithful but very appealing visually. I also have a feeling that objects which fill a good proportion of the field viewed through the Nikons are slightly stretched laterally (due to off axis distortion presumably). However, I could be imagining this.

I'd be interested to hear if others have experienced issues with reflections like I have with the Nikons. I guess it might be a consequence of wider fov but I haven't tried enough to know. I think that fold down rubber eyepieces are better at stopping stray light though obviously less convenient for glasses users (I always stick mine on my head when using the bins)

Yes of course you are right Dave I was being a bit snarky at them because they couldn't be bothered to paint the shiny bits inside black. I've also seen reviews saying that their coatings on this model are not as good as some of the competition. Its a shame that after going to all the trouble getting excellent glass they don't coat it and mount it so as to get the maximum from that glass. Anyway, it still won out for me - I'll just have to put up with the reflections and enjoy the view

Hi All After much research, primarily on this site and The Binocular Sky, I got hold of the above binoculars. I spent ages writing a review specifically for this site of what I found, as a thanks for all the advice I had received. By the power of idiocy I then managed to post it on Cloudy Nights instead (I had both open in my browser). Too much Christmas port I guess Anyway, too late to take it down as some have already replied and I guess I shouldn't post the same thing on two sites so here is a link to my review on completely the wrong site No offence at all to Cloudy Nights but I wrote it with the Stargazers Lounge audience in mind and it may make less sense on a US site. Comparison of Pentax SP 50 WP 10x50 and Nikon Action EX 10x50 CF

Hi Steve - I've just bought the Pentax SP on the basis of your review (excellent site thanks!). They seem very good but I wonder on the basis of the above whether I should have got the Nikons. That S@N link doesn't work any more. Do you have a copy of the review or could you comment please?

FLO did find a slight stickyness due to some gunk on the first one. They sent me a third one which is quite a bit better. I guess I was just a bit unlucky with the first one and being a bit picky with the second. Very happy bunny now - its a lovely stable platform and the fine focussing is fab. Exemplary support from FLO. Thanks for your help all.

Yes I'd checked that thanks. It seemed completely loose. They have both gone back to FLO to see what's what. (PS this isn't notifying me of responses even though its set to - is that normal?)

Thanks for this. Yes FLO have sent me two and they look pristine. In the video I'm trying to keep the turning force the same. When my hand stops moving is where it gets stiff. At about 18mm extension in both directions. That is the second one. The first one hasn't got such an obvious notch but is stiffer overall The big issue is really the force needed to get the thing moving from still. Its not consistent with a smooth experience. Its no harder with a 1kg camera attached so its not a weight thing. I've been playing with the first one just winding it in and out and it seems a little better. Do they 'run in' maybe?

Hello - a very old thread I know but hopefully people are still about. I used this thread as much of my decision to buy a Diamond Steeltrack. However, I have been somewhat disappointed by what I have ended up with. I have previously only used the nasty Skywatcher R&P on my Orion Optics Europa 200 which wobbled horribly. The Steeltrack is rock solid but its also very stiff, and the stiffness changes as you extend the drawtube. The first one I had was stiff for the first 25mm then loosened up a bit. The replacement was less tight but had a stiff spot at 18mm. The locking nut and tension adjuster and both loose. The fine focus is much less freer but coggy all the way round. It is certainly possible to achieve focus but its not the experience I was expecting. It takes quite a lot of effort to start the tube moving with the high speed wheel which then tends to run away a bit. FLO are being very helpful and taking them both back to test - its just possible that my expectations are out of kilter but its certainly stiffer than my £40 R&P and not the delicate precision instrument I was expecting. In the attached video you can hopefully get a feel for the force needed to turn and the stiff spot. Do people find it stiff with the fast speed wheel and is there any cogging noticeable with the fine one? Many thanks Andy IMG_6707.MOV