Binomania, a report from Valtellina: friends, pizzoccheri, lots of binoculars, and some new features.

PREMISE

First of all, I think it's right to thank all the friends who came to visit me: from Piero from Piedmont, to Marco from Padua, to Andrea from Bolzano, and of course everyone else, including "Beppe," who truly delighted us with his anecdotes as an astrophotographer and manager. A heartfelt thanks also to Elio Biffi, who, with his passion and his forks, "supported" us this time too. I was also delighted to see such a strong turnout from the wives. This year, their little group was really close-knit and certainly didn't waste any time teasing us about our...obsessions.

It was a short but intense half-weekend. I write "half" because my plan to leave on Friday afternoon with the family proved impossible due to the delay of a courier carrying not gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but the new Nikon Prostaff P3 and P7 8x30 binoculars. For this reason, we were forced to leave at dawn on Saturday morning, a decision that, given the sultry weather, proved to be perfect.

Personally I brought to Valtellina the binoculars that I will mention shortly, but I can confirm that always Thanks to our friends at Binomania, it was possible to test additional tools: from the giant angled binoculars, to the new NL PURE 8×42 and 12×42 (Marco and Marco) up to the Leica 7×35, to then admire some vintage Porros thanks to the professional choice of Alessio “Codarossa” in the forum, who delighted us with a small part of his collection. 

 

 

 

QUICK SUMMARY OF THE WEEKEND

It goes without saying that time has flown by quickly and happily: wide-angle sessions with birdwatching binoculars, comparisons and challenges at the latest USAF CHART between the latest innovations in the sector (read ZEISS SFL 8×40) against some big names from the past (Zeiss FL 7×42) and long-distance contests between the various Big Binoculars present. This year, we were also able to field test three thermal imaging scopes (Steiner Nighthunter H35, Infiray EYE E3W and Hikmicro Lynx 25).

I also thoroughly enjoyed the night spent in the company of Marco Franceschetti, the legendary moderator of the Forum, and the wise Piero Pignatta, the only ones who remained well past midnight after a full day of testing and a hearty dinner of pizzoccheri and cranberries. It was also a good opportunity to give Marco's Celestar 8 a good alignment, thanks in part to the help of Piero Pignatta, who kept me updated live on the outcome of my adjustments to the secondary mirror.

I will now share with you my quick impressions of what I learned, understood, and highlighted during the event. Obviously, if anyone present would like to read or express their feelings, they can do so within the Binomania Forum, in this specific post. Much to someone's chagrin, I can confirm that after a few hours I decided to turn off the mirrorless camera and forgo the video reportage to focus more on exchanging opinions with the guys. Don't be offended, I hope you'll be satisfied with a few images.

LIST OF BINOCULARS AVAILABLE

I can't remember all the binoculars there, but I can mention the ones I brought:

• Zeiss SFL 8×40
• Zeiss SF 8×42 and SF 8×30
• Nikon P3 and P7 in 8×32 format
• Meopta 8×56
• Nikon Monarch HG 10×42
• Farvision 10×50
• Some binoculars from the Celestron Nature DX series
• Various Ziel binoculars: X-Pro, H-Pro, CAI
• GPO PASSION ED and HD in 8×42 formats
• Docter Aspectem 40-80 ED

I also remember: various NL PURE, Nikon EDG, Nikon SE, E II, 7×35, Swarovski Swarovision EL, SLC 8×56 and 15×56, Steiner 7×50, Leica Trinovid 7×35, various vintage Porro prism binoculars, APM angled binoculars from 70-100 and 120 and more.

 

BRIEF IMPRESSIONS OF BINOCULARS AND COMPARATIVES

 

I think it was essential for me to use for a few hours the two major new products I had received in the previous days, namely, the ZEISS SFL 8×40 and the new Nikon P3 and P7. I can't really tell you what they are, since I haven't had much time to test them and will do so in the next few days, but I think it's right to give you a preview of what I perceived.

ZEISS SFL 8×40

The new Zeiss SFL 8×40 is an excellent product, it will cost around 1900 euros, it has the weight of a 32mm binocular, it is very sharp, with a chromatic aberration similar to that of a TOP OF THE RANGE one costing 2500 euros and also won hands down against the NL PURE in the morning observation against the light of some jays. For the record, the field of view was completely readable but the same could not be said for the NLs, especially in the 8x42.

NIKON P3 and P7

They seemed to me the correct evolution of the PROSTAFF binoculars that they replaced Without significantly compromising quality in this price range. They have some excellent solutions that I appreciate, and I'll tell you about them in a dedicated video review in August.

LEICA TRINOVID 7×35

I really liked it: extremely fascinating, excellent colors, vibrant and real. It doesn't excel at rendering at the edges: who cares. As a fifty-year-old, I'd enjoy seeing it in my "vintage" camera bag, alongside a wonderful Leica M11.

 MEOPTA 8×56 vs SWAROVSKI SLC 8×56

The Meopta proved to be only slightly less bright than the well-known SLC 8×56, however I appreciated its excellent optical and mechanical quality and its excellent robustness.

 

CELESTRON NATURE DX BINOCULARS

As always, I usually analyze binoculars based on their purchase price and my observational "memory," which I think now exceeds 5,000 binoculars. I'll tell you about them in a specific review, however.I am really very happy that Celestron too, a company known to amateur astronomers all over the world, have a wide and valid range of naturalist tools (in its range) able to satisfy many demanding needs

 

NIKON SE 8×32

Now out of production and owned by Piero Pignatta's wife (who jealously guards it) it is still one of the best representatives of the Japanese "PORRO" series. capable of often making products with roof prisms that are significantly more expensive pale in comparison. Sharp in the center, faithful colors, good contrast and plenty of three-dimensionality. I often dream about it at night in the ED version with updated eyepieces, but I know it will remain a mere fantasy from now on. 

SWAROVSKI NL PURE 8×42 and NL PURE 12×42 

I didn't think I'd appreciate the Austrian front bezel so much on a 12x, but I have to admit it works very well, so much so that it's similar to a 10x from other brands. The larger-format binoculars, owned by one of the "Marcos" present, also had fewer problems with stray light during backlit observations, which we noted with the participants during the event. Too bad. I always hope that Swarovski will fix this flaw that tarnishes a valid product.

 

ORION 2×54 ULTRA

These are binoculars owned by Piero Pignatta, who had already reviewed them in this article. I must confess that I found these binoculars particularly relaxing after a sleepless night, a car ride, and a day spent testing and comparing instruments. The anti-stress recipe turned out to be very simple and, what's more, quite economical: a deckchair in the refuge, the small Orion 2×54. It obviously doesn't have a "textbook" rendering at the edges, but the greater prominence of hundreds of stars that are invisible to the naked eye is evident and which therefore allow us to think about how beautiful the sky was years ago. The area of Cygnus, with the little one, is truly stunning: full of star-filled areas and obvious dark spots. I thought it would be less pointy, but in the center it amazed me. Thanks Piero!

USAF COMPARISON CHART BETWEEN ZEISS SFL 8×40, ZEISS SF 8×42, NL PURE 8×42 and Leica Trinovid 7×35

A somewhat atypical and quick comparison, but certainly useful and perhaps the only one done so far. I'll summarize it briefly: same time, photographic head bar with Berlebach supports and USAF CHART positioned about thirty meters away. What did I see? Well, what a... the new Zeiss SLF 8x40 has excellent chromatic aberration correction and is as sharp in the center as a TOP OF THE RANGE, and is definitely much brighter than the old FL 7x42. The NL PURE 8x has an enviable and well-corrected field but the Leica Trinovid is the one that showed very natural and ’vibrant“ colors. Four binoculars for four ways of observing, what more could you want?

COMPARISON “WITH STRONG TURBULENCE” BETWEEN APM 120 AND APM 70

For days, Elio and I had been meaning to test two identical products with different diameters at the same magnifications during the most turbulent hours. We therefore took advantage of the excellent forks built by Elio to see if the little 70mm could withstand the larger diameter. At least during the hottest daytime hours, I appreciated the sharpness and contrast provided by the 70mm, which, in my opinion, made me feel like I didn't miss a 100mm in my living room. Furthermore, during the test with the USAF CHART, I found out that lines 3 and 4 that we used as reference were more readable in the "seventy-millimeter" range, since in the 100 mm range, the perception of fine detail was affected by the focal turbulence of the instrument.. Obviously at twilight and at night there was no possibility of comparison, since a 100 mm is definitely much brighter than any 70 mm.

KITE OPTICS APC 16×42

Owned by Piero Pignatta, it turned out to be decidedly similar, as far as optics are concerned, to the SIG SAUER 16×42 which I tested a few weeks ago.

I appreciated its wide shape which makes it easy to grip the instrument perfectly.or, in addition to offering a double battery, capable of significantly increasing its autonomy. It doesn't have a CANON lens but it does have excellent stabilization at an attractive price.

 

VINTAGE BINOCULARS? YES, BUT WITH CLASS, THANKS TO "CODAROSSA"’

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alessio Milanesio (Codarossa) for bringing some examples from his collection of vintage binoculars and micro-binoculars.  Codarossa, in addition to being very experienced, also proved to be a true gentleman: affable, kind and competent. You're a true vintage gentleman, dear Codarossa. We'll definitely see you in Piedmont.

NEW ELIO BIFFI FORKS WITH DISACTIVATABLE MICROMETRIC SYSTEM

It's now clear and essential that I talk about Elio's forks: he's constantly evolving and his creations are constantly evolving. I've truly appreciated many of his latest solutions, which, if he'll allow me, I'll present in a short video review. Just know that the “detachable” micrometric system is a godsend for those who, like me, appreciate both fluid movements with low-magnification binoculars and micro-adjustments at high magnifications for admiring the Moon and the Planets.  Just to keep up the good work, I brought home a single-sided fork to test with my telescopes. Stay tuned.

SMARTOSCOPE UNIVERSAL ADAPTER

I always have it with me now, worse than a Swiss army knife, there's no tool I can't adapt it to. It's a small, effective and useful invention.It personally helps me produce my video reviews and could enable many enthusiasts to shoot videos and take photographs through their binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, and microscopes. In a few weeks, I'll give it the attention it deserves in a video review. Thanks to Gunter Reisner of Kowa Optimed, who is allowing me to test it for a long time.

 

BINOMANIA T-SHIRTS: DON'T BE SHY

I had the legendary graphic designer Daniele Cosentino create the new Binomania logos. This also sparked a desire in the WhatsApp group to have some T-shirts printed for the kids attending the event. However, Covid-19, once again, prevented many attendees from attending. For this reason, a few T-shirts in various sizes (from S to XL) were left, printed and designed by Daniele's Danco Print Srl. These are Fruit of the Loom shoes with a high-quality two-color print. They cost €20 each, excluding shipping.. They are identical to the ones worn by my trusted models 🙂 Elio and Piero, in this image. If you would like to purchase them, please contact me. by filling out the usual form, Thank you.

CONCLUSION

I certainly could have written much more, and you rightly expected much more, but I'm convinced that, sometimes, these small events created by sincere friends and enthusiasts are best enjoyed in peace.  I would like to thank once again all the friends who participated and the companies ( Handbooks, Nital, Origin Stb, Scubla, Steiner, GPO, Charioteer, Ziel, Meopta, Kowa, who made this event possible by providing us with a view of new products and optical instruments that have long been consolidated on the market.

Thanks also to Rifugio della Corte for their hospitality.

A big hug to you all.