Posts Made By: henry link

James, If cost is no object I' d wait to see the new Zeiss Victory FL due out in May. There will be a 7x42 ( someone at Zeiss told me this will finally replace the 7x42 Dialyt), an 8x42 and a 10x42. These will use Fluorite in the objective and a new eyepiece Zeiss claim will have the best edge performance they have ever achieved. The ergonomics look better than the current Victory II. The street price looks to be around $1300.

I also use both the Nikon 8x32 SE and the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL. As good a binocular as the Nikon is in daylight I don't think any 32mm binocular has enough aperture to be really first rate for astronomy. Henry

Nils, I've been curious about this binocular too. Saw it on a Japanese dealer website 4 or 5 months ago, but strangely not on the Fujinon Japan official website. Henry

Believe it or not the Celestron Ultima is optically exactly the same EP as the Tak LE for half as much money. The Orion Ultrascopic and the Parks Gold Plossl are also the same EP, made in slightly different focal lengths. You pay a very large premium for a slightly nicer housing and the Takahashi badging.
I beleive this EP first appeared under the Masuyama brand name in Japan in the mid 80's.