Fernglas Habicht 10x40 W

Overall it's very hard to beat this classic...

( 5 / 5 )

- and get it while you can!

For a while I've been wandering the internet for high quality binoculars since I felt a need to replace my old, but of the better variety, Japanese SUI 8x40 binocular.

As a will of faith I "of course" managed first to buy the EL 10x42 from a local shop, although on a good discount, before encountering this almost forgotten jewel - have searched thoroughly I thought. My intention originally was only to buy one set of binoculars for the moment but as a true lover of "forgotten" technology and fan of the classic look I figured - well two then ;-)

Comparing the two is very easy but finding the optical difference puts you on a job.
For sharpness they're both very good. Maybe I'll give a hair to the EL but it is extremely subtle. Please keep in mind that my experience with high quality binoculars is not very long but it should be no secret that the EL series are rated amongst the very best.

As go for edge sharpness the EL clearly takes the lead. It's to expect since the Habicht is an older design but as said no big deal in reality. You'll really have to look for it though and under normal use you probably won't notice it in either.

Then there's purple fringing (chromatic aberration?). Especially around bright objects or similar as tree leaves in front of the sky (don't look at the sun!). It is much less in the Habicht than the EL. Don't know if the main reason for it to be so are the prisms - here Porro - which in many respects both technically and optically is a much better solution than roof prism.

And please keep in mind that the Habicht is much cheaper than the EL too! :)
The overall best value in respect to optical quality vs. price clearly goes to Habicht.

As for the physical properties it's also top notch. While at first sight it looks just like those all too common and mostly miserable fleamarket binoculars except for the eagle and name engraving you'll soon realize that what you're holding is in a different league - a piece of true craftsmanship. No wobbling of the bridge and all adjustments are tight and precise. Overall material quality is stunning - especially if you're used to the usual flea market finds. And it's water resistant too but the price is a little stiffer focus - IMHO not a big deal.
What can be a bit annoying though is the eye cups. They're a bit shallow and small in diameter - even compared to the older Japanese ones. A bit of practice and you'll easily learn to use them but they're nowhere the comfort of the EL series. They might very well be of old design but I don't understand why it should be so difficult to make the rubber parts a bit bigger - it's no where near a total redesign and if only changing the rubber parts you would be able to retrofit them with no effort even if delivered with the small eyecups. At least a bigger diameter would have been appreciable.

Being Porro Habicht is of course bigger than the EL. However as odd as it sound's it's not quite as heavy. In return for the bigger size you'll enjoy a richer 3D image because of the extra spacing - in comparison the EL's image appear a bit flat. Being the same size as practically all classic Porro [x]x40 binoculars you should have no problem finding a nice and suitable hardcase for the Habicht at flea markets. Binoculars these days apparently only comes with thin bags offering questionable protection - at least both Habicht and EL. As a bonus no one will steal it unless they know what a treat you keep in there ;)

Bottomline; Habicht is a very good performer combining classic look and 3D experience with great optical quality. For the price you'll have to search hard to find something better. Technically a match maybe but esthetically - I doubt it.

Also a bit of "warning". If hesitating to buy - don't! In some parts of the world such as America they're only available as special order and has been since around 2005. They're however still in production and scarcely available in Europe - such as this site you've just found ;) - and perhaps other places too but who knows for how long. The trend is clearly roof prisms. Get it while you can!

Btw the photos here don't do Habicht any justice. It's much better in reality.