2025-01-23T15:11:03
Rated 5 out of 5
Even a Senior might like the My Junior 7x28!
Even a Senior might like the My Junior 7x28! These new Swarovski My Junior 7x28 binoculars which are targeted at children just might work for a senior if you want a small, lightweight binocular in the unusual format of 7x28, which is the secret sauce behind their great performance. For $500 you are getting a 4mm EP with superb Swarovski glass, which normally you would have to pay at least $2000 for to get something like an NL 8x32 with the same EP. They are about the same size and weight at 16oz. as most 8x30's like the SFL 8x30, but they will outperform them in low light because of the bigger EP and also have easier eye placement. These don't have the huge FOV of an NL, instead having a rather average 7.2 degree FOV. They are also less than the 7.7 degree FOV of the Curio 7x21 which I compared them too but with the bigger 4mm EP instead of the 3mm EP as in the Curio they are much brighter, have easier eye placement and have a higher quality view equal to a lot of 8x32's because the EP is the same although the AFOV falls short of most 8x32's like the EL 8x32. To keep things simple and the cost down, they do not have a diopter adjustment, but personally I don't need one. Best of all, these do not have the glare of the NL and EL and are superbly glare resistant! Swarovski says they have 89% light transmission, which is very good.
What is surprising is how sharp the edges are at this price point. They are not EL sharp, but they are close, and the colors are amazingly neutral like an EL. They have very little CA in the center and slightly more than Swarovski's top binoculars like the NL on the edge. CA is well controlled though for not having ED glass. The FOV seems as big as the Curio 7x21, even though the Junior's FOV is 7.2 degrees and the Curio is 7.7 degrees. If you don't need the pocketability of the Curio and want something that is brighter, has better optics, is a little bigger with better ergonomics and has easier eye placement, the My Junior 7x28 is the way to go, and it is $300 less expensive than the Curio to boot. If you think about it, a 7x28 is equal to a 8x32 except it has a better DOF, and it is easier to hold steady. The My Juniors have a nice rain guard for the eyepieces, a nice removable strap with no irritating FP and a well padded case with attached strap, and they are waterproof to 5ft. and nitrogen purged and sealed. If you want a smaller, compact 7x, I can't think of a better one for the low price of $500. I just buy these binoculars because I enjoy testing them, and I may not choose to keep them, but then they will be in the classifieds for a considerable discount for Bird Forum members benefit.
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Dennis M.
