{"id":2990,"date":"2023-01-19T13:18:40","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T13:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/?p=2990"},"modified":"2023-01-19T13:18:43","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T13:18:43","slug":"zeiss-ambassador-james-lidster-testing-the-sfl-30-binoculars-on-his-trip-to-namibia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/zeiss-ambassador-james-lidster-testing-the-sfl-30-binoculars-on-his-trip-to-namibia\/","title":{"rendered":"ZEISS Ambassador James Lidster testing the SFL 30 binoculars on his trip to Namibia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You know that feeling, when you have carefully worked out what to take on holiday, how to pack it, well aware that the nice people at customs are still going to want to check your bag. They tend to recognize binoculars, and cameras, but a Harpia spotting scope starts to raise a few eyebrows, and then try and explain to them why we need a sound recording device, and a microphone larger than the scope covered in a shaggy dog windshield and a DTI thermal camera\u2026.So the bag is full, I haven\u2019t weighed it as I don\u2019t want to know, I also don\u2019t want anyone else to weigh it as nothing else will fit in. And then I get a phone call, how did I fancy testing the new 8&#215;30 SFLs whilst on holiday? Yes no problem, of course there\u2019s room in my bag! I briefly considered leaving my 8&#215;42 SFs behind, but what if I didn\u2019t get on with the SFLs, maybe it would ruin my holiday? I needn\u2019t have worried\u2026.here are my thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"759\" data-id=\"2993\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221112_093044-1024x759.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221112_093044-1024x759.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221112_093044-600x445.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221112_093044-768x569.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221112_093044-640x474.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221112_093044.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"462\" data-id=\"2994\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221108_073259.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221108_073259.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221108_073259-600x277.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221108_073259-768x355.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221108_073259-640x296.jpeg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-1024x473.jpeg);background-position:50% 50%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-1024x473.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2992 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-1024x473.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-600x277.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-768x355.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-640x296.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-1200x554.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>My first thought was that these are small bins. I bought my daughter a pair of ZEISS Victory 8x25s last year, and these didn\u2019t appear much bigger than those, although slightly bulkier. The advantage of such small bins is their weight, and these are very light weight. Something I didn\u2019t notice in 12kg of hand luggage but something that will be very popular with birders spending long days in the field. They weigh just 460g and although I\u2019m happy to wear my 8&#215;42 SFs all day I know many people prefer lightweight bins.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The image blew me away, I can\u2019t quite describe what it is but it just seems so bright and sharp. We tried them at dusk and dawn, even at night waiting at waterholes and they were incredible. I\u2019m not technically minded but apparently they use a new ultra-high-definition (UHD) concept, I don\u2019t know what that means but it certainly works!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Nature Blog Inhalte\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/videoseries?list=PLyTIEmLmuOKqTfDi0rNpYNkdLsQ2CXFfe\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SFL 30 Namibia\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wEyxChWgsT4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:33px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the specifications the field of view is 142 metres at 1000 metres. Scanning the large open plains or vast skies for raptors was very comfortable, as was scanning the bushes for passerines or following fast flying hirundines at close range. I know many birders don\u2019t like wearing sunglasses when birding but it\u2019s something I often do, and with the eyecups screwed down I found the image still very relaxed, something that can\u2019t be said of all bins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SFL stands for Smart Focus and Lightweight. The Smart Focus involves the positioning of the focus wheel and how efficient the focus wheel is (just 1.4 turns from close focus to infinity). Some reviewers felt the focus wheel of the SFL 40s was a little stiff but that doesn\u2019t seem to be the case with the 8&#215;30 SFL. The focus was smooth and very comfortable thanks to the positioning of the focus wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being an obsessed birder I tend to forget to look at other things but the 1.5 meter close focus was great for watching insects, or even some of the Sociable Weavers which came and fed at our feet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"ZEISS SFL 30 Namibia\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MF1Cgi-2gE4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SFL 30 Namibia\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3_S7gHKx5OI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Many birders aren\u2019t fans of lens covers for the objective lenses, but I like using them to protect my bins in my hand luggage, or whilst driving. But they are often poorly made and break off, fall off or flap around in front of the bins. I really like these, they won\u2019t fall off at least as they fit very snugly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In recent months we have also had a chance to try the SFL 8 and 10 x 40s, both of which were very impressive but something about the 8&#215;30 appeals to me more, despite the small size, they just seem to be even sharper than the 40s? I guess that\u2019s why choosing binoculars is such a personal thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have to admit before I was an ambassador for ZEISS I was already a devoted user of the SFs, so would I swap my SFs for the SFLs? I wouldn\u2019t but it\u2019s a very close-run thing. Would I be looking for a new pair of bins, lightweight, razor-sharp and for less money then I wouldn\u2019t think twice about buying the SFLs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"473\" data-id=\"3013\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047-1024x473.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047-1024x473.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047-600x277.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047-768x355.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047-640x296.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047-1200x554.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221107_210047.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ZEISS Brand Ambassador James Lidster testing the all new SFL 30 binoculars on his trip to Namibia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":2992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topics":[49],"yst_prominent_words":[57,344,610],"class_list":["post-2990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","topics-africa"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"ZEISS Birding Team","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/author\/zeissbirding\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/20221109_185325-600x277.jpeg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/category\/general\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">General<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">General<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 years ago","modified":"Updated 3 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on January 19, 2023","modified":"Updated on January 19, 2023"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on January 19, 2023 1:18 pm","modified":"Updated on January 19, 2023 1:18 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2990"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3048,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2990\/revisions\/3048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2990"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=2990"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=2990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}