Excellent budget binoculars

There are not many full size binoculars cheaper than these and yet they provide a surprisingly good image. The field of view is exceptionally wide at 8.2 degrees which makes it easy to locate birds in flight. The centre of the image is sharp and pleasingly contrasty. Half way between the centre and edge the image starts to detiorate rapidly, with considerable distortion. However since you only use the centre to view the subject, and the edges to locate it, this is usually not significant. Depth of field seems okay, and there is a small and insignificant amount of false colour. (To put it in context, the false colour is comparable to that in the Leica 8x32 Trinovid and Nikon 8x32 LX.) The close focus is poor by modern standards so don't expect to use these bins to view dragonflies, or even wood mice! They have good brightness, but as expected not as good as a top end pair. I compared them with my Nikon 8x32 and 8x42 LX bins and they are as bright and sharp as the 8x32 pair, but noticeably less bright and sharp then the 8x42 pair.

The only serious criticism of the optics is the small eye relief, which means that you won't see the full field of view when wearing spectacles. However, how significant this is depends on your spectacles: with my old ones I could see very little of the image, and yet with my current ones I can see most of it.

The shape is fine, and comfortable to hold, though like most porro prism glasses, they are bulky, and ugly. The surface is covered in a tough rubber armour with a pleasant feel. The focus wheel is large, easy to grip, and rotates smoothly.

I bought a used pair about 8 years ago and I have treated them quite badly. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Binoculars, if it existed, would have my guts for garters. They have even been thrown at the ground (don't ask) and yet they still work as well as the day I got them.

These binoculars are not as good as a Leica, or a Swarovski, but they are excellent, especially given the low price. The current fashion seems to be for roof prism bins, and yet I reckon these are better than most roof prism bins costing twice as much. As usual, try before you buy, and decide for yourself.