SWAROVSKI Habicht 8X30

I finally got it. In a good condition, internally clean, perfectly collimated for "reasonable" price. Its full name is Swarovski Habicht-Merkur 8X30 M DV, "Habicht" in script letters, dated in early 60s. I was prepared for only one deliberately chosen "flaw" - yellow image. Everything else supposed to be mechanical and optical masterpiece. Unfortunately, Swarovski was not in alpha class with E. Leitz and Carl Zeiss in 50s and 60s, like it is today. I compared it with both Carl Zeiss, east and west, with Binuxit and many others, three times cheaper binoculars. Central sharpness is not on par with let's say Binuxit, Carl Zeiss west, Zephyr, Porlerim and Pizar, brightness is average, viewing comfort is far from perfect and its greenish yellow tint is very unpleasant in almost any lighting conditions (among the worst in my collection). Paint on the bridge and leatherette are also very low quality and prone to fall off. And focus is pretty stiff due to a kind of weather sealing. As a birdwatcher I would choose Carl Zeiss Deltrintem pre 1978 over Habicht any time, despite some glorious reviews. Hard to believe? Take a chance and try it by yourself : )

Second opinion: Greatest binoculars

RO RUHNKE OPTIK Noctovist 8X30

Late Noctovist MkI model with larger ocular lenses than MkII Noctovist, obviously an export model with English markings. It was cca 30% cheaper than Carl Zeiss Deltrintem. It is well built, but optically not even close to best German glass, with the exception of center sharpness. Wide Angle, Fully coated is just a marketing trick. Its field of view is much narrower than competition (130 m / 1000 m) and the view is very yellow, almost orange in colours.