£1,855
Reviewed by Mike Weedon
In 2022, I reviewed the Zeiss 8x40 SFL binoculars. The main theme was that I compared with my day-to-day binoculars, which are a Zeiss 8x42 Victory SF pair. And the SFLs, though slightly smaller in objective lens (and overall) and considerably cheaper than the Victory SFs performed out outstandingly well, in my view. I even went as describing this feat as seeming like a ‘minor miracle’ and that the 8x40 SFL seemed a ‘bargain’.
Despite that review, when I was sent the new 8x50 SFL binoculars, though, I approached with a certain trepidation. I was partly brought up (as a birdwatcher) on a diet of 10x50 binoculars (including those of the East German Zeiss Jena persuasion), and have a residual memory of them being somewhat monstrous, clunky, weighty neck-breakers. However, despite knowing that that the L of SFL stands for lightweight (SF means ‘smart focus’), I was still shocked by how relatively compact and lightweight the 8x50 SFLs were. Indeed they are only a little heavier than the 8x42 SFs; and in length measure 16cm (eyecups down), compared to the 17.3cm of the 8x42 SFs.
Worn round the neck they feel comfortable and well balanced, and never seem massive or unwieldly, just ‘normal’ despite the 8mm extra on the diameter of each objective lens. I have said before how I am so used to more regular pair of binoculars that I forget I am wearing them, sometimes (which is a good thing), and reach up with my hand just to check. Well, the same applied to these lightweight 8x50s; I simply forgot I was wearing them, and forgot I was using a different pair from my day-to-day Victory SFs.
In addition to the comfortable feel of the 8x50s, the twist up rubber eyecups are, in my opinion, a significant improvement over the ones of the 8x42 SFs. They are big, almost like a scope eyepiece for each eye, and they ‘lock’ into any of five positions (to suit your eye relief requirements) with a distinct click which stays in place very solidly, in use.
The dioptre adjustment comes with a rubber ring on the right eyepiece and is suitably ‘stiff’ and easy to set.
Optics
But, how are they optically? As with my review three years ago, I tried a slightly unfair field comparison with my trusty, Victory SFs. The first impression is that both pairs produce a beautiful, natural ‘walk-in’ image, with the 8x50 SFL’s view being slightly brighter (in normal light) to my eyes, and very slightly bluer and with a crisp, punchy image. Indeed, it is the same impression I got from the 8x40 SFL pair in 2022, but even brighter. As with many top binoculars, these days, it is a real struggle to find ‘problems’ like colour fringing/chromatic aberration and there is no noticeable softening to the edge of the image.
To my eyes, the field of view seems very slightly narrower than that of the 8x42 SF, and the close focus distance of the SFL is closer to 1.75m than the 1.5m I found with the SF. The one-and a-half finger wide, ridged rubber focus wheel is beautifully smooth and precise.
Naturally, the larger objective diameter SFLs come into their own in duller or fading light, and this is the key thing about these binoculars. Indeed, Zeiss describe them as “50mm bright. 42mm Light”. And they are right; Zeiss has very cleverly delivered binoculars with the convenience of size and weight of 42mm (objective diameter) binoculars, yet the brightness and optical quality of 50mm binoculars.
As with the smaller (8x40), it seems astonishing to me that such great binoculars, though far from cheap, can be about £800 less expensive that the 8x42 SF pair. Very much worth a look.
Length: 160mm
Weight: 855g
Field of view: 131m@1,000m
Close focus: 1.8m
Website: www.zeiss.co.uk/consumer-products/nature-observation.html
Verdict:
Bright, light and brilliant. These are binoculars with excellent light gathering, which deliver an exemplary, punchy image yet in a size and weight similar to that of 8x42 binoculars. And for binoculars of this high standard, the price is great, too.