Oberwerk 8×32 SE

Specifications:

Objective diameter (acc. to spec. and measured):  32 mm
True aperture (acc. to spec. and measured): 32 mm
Exit pupil (acc. to spec.): 4 mm
Exit pupil (measured): 3.9 mm
Magnification (acc. to spec.):  8 x
Magnification (measured): 8.2 x
Eye relief (measured from surface of eyelens): 18 mm
Usable Eye Relief (according to spec. and measured from rim of eyecup): 15 mm
Diameter of eyelens (measured): 32 mm
IPD (acc. to spec.): 56 – 76 mm
IPD (measured): 54 – 72 mm
RFOV (acc. to spec.): 8.2 degrees = 144 m
RFOV (measured):  7.8  degrees = 137 m
AFOV (acc. to spec.): 66 degrees
AFOV (measured, rounded): 60 degrees
Minimum focus distance ( acc. to spec. and measured): 3.0 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: < counterclockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 3 m to infinity (measured): 445 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (estimate): +/- 4 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 5 dpt*
Prism system:  Porro I
Waterproof: yes
Weight (acc. to spec, without accessories): 793 g
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 873 g
Made in: China
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

Remarks:

In 2022, Oberwerk brought an new „Special Edition“ (SE)  binocular line to the market for which explicit reference is made to the popular SE series of binos which Nikon discontinued some years ago. The first Oberwerk model, an 8×32, is already available, two further models – 10×42 and 12×50 – will follow shortly. Market reaction has been predominantly very positive, since the Oberwerk SE‘s performance is overall excellent for a 250 $ binocular, and in particular the correction of CA is outstanding. A few further observations about the reactions in internet forums: Some people seem to have taken offense at the use by Oberwerk of the „SE“ label, as if this label were sacrosanct since its use in a fine Japanese binocular line. Others (predominantly from the US?) debated the good reviews that were published by early owners, as if a Chinese middle class binocular could by definition not be as good as described by owners (interesting that such critical comments seem to have come mainly from people who have not themselves seen the SE). Then, on the other side there were a few over-excited reviews that seemed to indicate that the Oberwerk SE could even compete with the likes of a Swarovski EL and similar premium instruments, an assessment which BINOCULARS TODAY, despite the overall very nice performance of the Oberwerk SE, considers unwarranted.

Ratings:

Review:

A few of our initial comments can be found within a large thread at CloudyNights here: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/855395-oberwork-se/?p=12480618 and here: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/855395-oberwork-se/?p=12482059