I received a pair of 6.5x32 Furys yesterday from Eagle Optics and things are not what I had hoped.
Upon opening the box it appears that they were shipped with the wrong case. The binos are swimming in this case and looks sized for larger 42mm, or even 50mm binos. I actually have the Vortex 32mm case I bought for my Leica 8x32 BNs and the Furys fit perfectly in that case. So why do they come with the oversized case?
Second immediate impression was (and still is) that these are large for 32mm binos. They feel like many current 42mm binos in the hand and (to me) is contrary to one of the reasons I want a 32mm bino. They feel heavy also though they weigh 21.4 oz. (actual, I weighed them). My 8x32 BNs are about an ounce heavier but feel lighter, go figure. It must have something to do with mass centralization or some such.
Third, the focus is just terrible. Defective in fact. Very rough, it feels like a grinding operation is going on. With my brother on the phone, I had him listen while I ran the focus and it was clearly audible to him!
It has several spots where it binds up to a degree where it cannot be rotated with just one finger.
Fourth, the disparity of focus between the two barrels is so great that I ran out of adjustment of the diopter. At this extreme adjustment they are still not quite in sync. This is with my contacts in and have no similar issues with any other binos I currently own or have ever owned. In fact all four pair of Leicas I've had were/are used with the diopter zeroed out.
Needless to say these are going back and has me with serious concerns about Vortex' quality control. I know it is only a sample of one, but I've never experienced such poor quality before.
Oh, here's the good parts...
Though I haven't done any thorough testing, the optics seem fine (at distance). Sharp enough and bright and are reasonably well corrected. Yeah the edges get soft and there is plenty of CA especially in the outer third of the field but overall quite good and not unexpected in this price range. Distortion is low and the field wide. Visually I could live with these.
They are nice looking, though (again) physically large for 32mm binos.
Clearly some will like this aspect, I don't.
The eye relief is almost silly on these things also. All you coke-bottle-glassed guys named Shecky take note. If you need lots of ER these are for you. Specs aside, I'll tell you these might have an inch of ER!
The eyecups have a soft rubber surface that should be friendly for eyeglass wearers.
So now I have a few days to ponder what I want to do. Here are my options I think...
Exchange them for a (hopefully) good pair of Furys and live with the design elements I don't like.
Replace them with Leupold Katmai 6x32s
Replace them with Minox BL 6x32s.
Replace them with EO 6x32s, which I think are Minox BTW.
I'm leaning towards the Katmais but can be persuaded.
Addendum:
The diopter issue seems to be getting worse somehow and now they won't properly focus even at distance.
Kevin
I'm beginning to think there might be some focus/diopter problem with the Fury. I passed it off in the review I did because of the concept of "samples of one" and the fact the particular binocular had been in the hands of several other reviewers, and thus shipped all over the country in the process. The first one I had did not focus the right eye properly for me. I think there was a slight collimation issue with these. So I called Vortex and explained the situation and they sent a new pair next day air and paid the return shipping costs. The second pair was good enough that I bought them. But, after having them for awhile, I sent them back for examination. The Diopter has moved from perfect focus at 0 to perfect focus at +4.0. Something obviously out of whack here. I have other Vortex binoculars and I do not think this is in anyway typical. From your description, you obviously have a bad binocular, and you need to send them back. You will find Vortex folks easy to work with. I sent the first pair I had back as to avoid bad mouthing based on a sample of one. If Vortex is getting a quality problem from the place of manufacture, they will likely get it fixed. I hope these Furys can be redeemed. I like them and will keep them if that is a fixable issue.
Yes they are a bit larger than the typical 32mm frame. I pointed that out in the review. The Katmi is smaller than the typical 32mm frame. The Eagle Optics Ranger has the typical 32mm frame. If that is the Minox (6.5x32) I think it is it is an individual focus binocular and now discontinued, beware there.
That is interesting indeed Steve. It's starting to look like Vortex has a design or materials problem, with these Furys at least.
At this point however I have to say I have no confidence in them. Even if Vortex replaces them or repairs them, the design and components will remain the same, at least for the short term. If there is an inherent flaw it will take some time for them to make the changes and purge the old stock if it can be done without a complete re-design. I don't want to jump to conclusions here, but I also don't want to be anyone's guinea pig either.
I agree with you that if Vortex gets these issues fixed it will make a very nice bino, and I'm rooting for them. Problems fixed, they still wouldn't be exactly what I'm looking for, but they'd be close.
BTW, I'm not expecting an optic in this class to be a substitute for a premium bino. I want them as a second pair that I can leave in the tank bag of my motorcycle unattended with the idea that if some fine citizen decided to relieve me of them, I could still sleep at night. They still have to be a decent birding bino though.