Kowa 884 scope

From Alan in Tuscon:
Subject: Kowa 884 scope
Rating: 5 of 5

We read the Cornell scope review and wanted to compare this to the comparable Swarovski scope. We ordered both and did our own comparison. Overall the Kowa won on a crisper image at higher zoom and the focusing mechanism was easier to use - quick and less shaking of the scope when compared to the ring focus of the Swarovski. We are completely happy with this scope.

Vortex Fury 8x28

From Ken in Texas:
Rating: 5 of 5

There are many outstanding binoculars on the market today. I generally look at the specs in terms of glass, coating, prism design and light gathering capability and most of all price. The Fury 8 x 28 meets these specs and will perform. For the person wanting a compact binocular as well, their performance is all that you would expect in a well designed binocular. They are bright and clear and ideal for various applications. The eyecups have positive stop clicks and the focus wheel is large enough for positive focus adjustments even with gloves on. They are also light enough for extended walks or hiking. For the price you can not go wrong with them. I would like to try a Viper model in the same power and objective lens to see if there is an enhanced difference. The Vortex Fury 8 x 28 is an outstanding buy.

Vortex Razor HD scope

Ken from Florida says this about the Vortex Razor!:

"I am a snowbird and live in Wisconsin during the summer. A trip to Eagle Optics to compare products is an easy summer outing for me.

I have compared scopes in Eagle Optics store for the last couple of summers. I looked through many great scopes but I just could not part with the money for what I liked. With the Euro to dollar ratio so high I felt the European offerings were just overpriced.

After reading the reviews on the internet, I decided to give the Vortex Razor scope a try. Well, after using this scope, I can confirm that the high praise for this scope is accurate. This scope is terrific! I feel this scope offers real value for my money with a view as good as most of the other higher priced scopes I have looked through. The differences are negligible. I know a Roseate Spoonbill or a Pileated Woodpecker down here in Florida will not look any better through another scope.

I demand high quality views through optics but I want the cost to be reasonable. This scope does that for me."

Pentax 80ED scope

From Ronald in New Jersey:

I purchased this scope about 6 years ago and being a retired microscopist I am very critical when it comes to picking optics for my personal use. Since I purchased this scope, I have added the Pentax SMCSeries of eyepieces to enhance and widen the image. Don't get me wrong, the 20-60 Zoom that comes with the scope is very good but there is nothing like a wide angle single focal length astronomical eyepiece to get the most out of a spotting scope. Needless to say I am very pleased with my scope and use it exclusively for birding, target shooting and hunting needs. Since I am not as young as I use to be, I am now considering buying the Pentax 60mm spotting scope to complement my Pentax 80mm and to make it a little easier to carry when I am in the field. Before I bought this scope I spent a lot of time in checking out as many scopes as I could and came to the conclusion that this scope offers the best bang for the buck bar none. The scopes that I checked out were all the top of the line scopes from the following manufactures:; Nikon, Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski and Televue. During my search, I was also able to make some direct comparisons between the Pentax, Televue and Swarovski and the Pentax beat them in resolving power which is not an easy feat considering the competition. To me, resolving power is the most important quality when comparing optics. The more detail that you can discern, the more information you receive about the item you are viewing. To end, the Pentax is a real sleeper in scope and binocular quality and Pentax will show you that you do not have to spend a fortune in order to have a superior product. I know that you will be pleased and no, I do not work for Pentax.

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD

From Esa in Missouri:
Rating: 5 of 5

In the past few years binocular enthusiasts have seen so called Chinese ED binoculars on the market. This is Bushnell's entry in this under 500 dollar market. The Atlas one here at EO is similar to the others, with the open bridge body. The Bushnell is fine in this traditional roof prism style. I have no preference, both work for me. Optics are as sharp as the other brands, with a wide sweet spot. CA and stray light have not been a problem.Focus goes about 3/4 a turn from near to far, a bit faster than the others. Plenty of room to focus. Ergonomics are good. Eyeglass wearers might want to stay with the 8x model, more eye relief. Comes with a harness and a comfortable strap.

Overall, there was nothing to stop me from buying this or the 8x pair. The price is slightly under the other three (brands with the open bridge) brands right now.

I have not looked at the top line Vortex lately, but this would be in the same category of optics.

I am using my pair for birding, in winter and in open areas. In the woods I prefer an 8x, and I actually use a Pentax 8x32.

Vortex Diamondback 7x36

Subject: Diamondback 7x36
From Dennis in Minnesota:
Rating: 5 of 5
Got these bins specifically for treestand bowhunting. They are compact, light and surprisingly powerful for a 7x. They have excellent light gathering abilities at dusk and dawn. The field of view is outstanding. These are my 3rd set of Vortex which includes the 10x42 Vipers, 10x42 Razors, and these are the ones I grab most often when I head out on a hunt. Excellent bins for the $$$$.

Leupold Yosemite 8x30

From Justin in Texas
Subject: Leupold Yosemite. Ok, but not great
Rating: 3 of 5

For the price, optics are better than expected. Sharp at the center but not at the edges. The focus wheel is too stiff and the diopter wheel is so stiff I had to hold the barrel with one hand and really work at turning the diopter wheel with the other hand. These are small binoculars. More for a child....... A child with strong hands!

Eagle 8x42 Ranger SRT versus Swarovski 8x32 EL

From a customer in El Paso:
Rating: 5 of 5

I'm a firm believer that reviews are a helpful tool for future buyers and individuals who are on the fence about making decisions with their hard earned cash. I've used reviews on several occasions and would like to give some feedback myself.

I purchased a pair of 8x42 SRT Rangers in the fall of 2004 to be used primarily on hunting trips. I'm an avid outdoorsman and enjoy hunting big game throughout the United States and Mexico.

At the time of purchase in 2004 with a limited budget I decided on the Eagle Optics. These binoculars have surprised me with their long-term performance. After nearly 7 years of field use these binoculars are still going strong. They have been dropped, dragged through underbrush and soaked in the rain. One of the barrels has a slight dent near the front lens from being dropped on a rock but still remain fog free.

Recently I decided to upgrade and purchased a pair of Swarovski 8x32 ELs. The other afternoon I took them in the field to do a direct comparison. I know some people are probably saying “how can you possibly compare moderately priced Eagle optics to high end Swarovski glass”. Well let me just say that the Eagle SRT Ranger’s held their own against the Swarovski ELs.

During daylight the brightness and color rendition was very comparable between the two binoculars. The ELs did show better natural color of the surrounding vegetation. The big test was their low light performance. From what I’ve read the determining factor that makes high end optics superior from average optics is the low light capability.

Right at dusk I focused on a yucca tree approximately 75 yards from my truck and switched back and forth every few minutes between the Rangers and the ELs until night fall. I reached a point where viewing with the naked eye I could not discern the tree and saw nothing but shades of gray and black. When looking through the ELs I could clearly see the yucca and its pointed leaves with sharp definition. Now with the Rangers I could also see the yucca and its pointed leaves but with a slightly less level of sharpness. And by “slightly” I mean it was difficult to distinguish between the sharpness levels but the ELs did have the advantage.

How can you beat that? With a price difference of more than $1500 it’s hard to believe that a 7 year old pair of Eagle Rangers could compete with brand new pair Swarovski ELs. Well believe it and just don’t take my word for it go out and try them yourself.

The two main differences between these binoculars is the Field of View and the Eye Relief. The Swarovski ELs have the “wow” factor in the FOV category with 420ft@1000 yards compared to 341ft@1000 for Eagle Rangers. But the Ranger’s do win for Eye Relief with 19 millimeters compared to the EL's 15 millimeters. The longer eye relief is a must for people that wear eyeglasses while viewing through their optics.

Maybe this wasn’t an apple to apples comparison because the EL’s have 32 millimeter objective lenses compared the Ranger’s 42 millimeter lenses. But since both binoculars are almost identical in size and weight this to me makes it a fair review.

Vortex Razor 12x50

From Theresa in Philadelphia:
Subject: Best For Price
Rating: 5 of 5

Bought because of the exceptional specs -- as impressive as a top of the line binocular.
Performs very well under most conditions, except poor light. Should have chosen the 10X, for more light.
Superb compromise for those yearning for Leica, or Swarovski, but can't afford top of the line prices. Vortex delivers quality, though it does not have the reputation for such, yet.
Used Eagle catalog aids for choosing a binocular on the basis of specifications.

Nikon Premier

Ken from Florida gives this bino a 5 out of 5:

I compared the Nikon Premier to all other high-end binoculars in Eagle Optics show room two years ago. Nothing was any better than these. These have to be the most under rated binoculars going. They are sharp and crystal clear. People who have looked through them in our birding club are surprised how good these binoculars are. The focus knob is a joy to use and focusing on a quick flying bird is a delight. You can pay more, but in my opinion these are all the binoculars you need for birding. For the price this is as it good as it gets in a 32 mm objective lens binocular.

Eye relief on Ranger 10x50

From Gene in Texas:
Subject: Eye relief on Ranger 10x50

My Eagle Optics Ranger 10X50 binoculars arrived yesterday. They are great! Eye relief was more than adequate for me to use them with glasses. The views were bright and clear. I used them on outdoor objects during the day; I used them astronomically during the evening. I can highly recommend these outstanding binoculars. Here is a review I posted on Cloudy Nights and my astronomy club's web page:

" Today, I received my Eagle Optics Ranger SRT 10X50 binoculars. From my research,
I felt that 10X50's were the largest I could use hand held. More on that in a
minute. I wanted some binoculars to augment my astronomical viewing with my
telescopes. These are excellent low to mid priced binos ($349.95 at Eagle
Optics). I tried them on outdoor/daytime scenes and they displayed crisp, clear
images all the way to the edge of field. A must for me was to have binoculars
possessing good eye relief so that I could use them while wearing glasses. They
are rated at 20mm eye relief. I did not measure to see if it was 20mm, but they
provided me plenty of eye relief while wearing glasses. I did not have to press
my glasses hard onto the eyecups. (The eyecups are retractable for those who
don't wear glasses.) This evening, I took them outside and looked at some
stellar objects, to include objects in Orion. Again, the views were excellent.
The entire field of view was in focus. San Antonio's crappy mag 3 skies did not
reveal M42. I must note that 10X50's are challenging for me to handhold rock
steady. I probably will add a tripod. I am happy to recommend these binoculars,
especially if long eye relief is important, and/or you want to use them while
wearing glasses.
An important point is to get out the word on the fact that you can use these binoculars while wearing glasses. There is a lot of confusion 'out there' on the issue of eye relief and usable eye relief. For some binoculars, 20mm eye relief might only be 12mm usable eye relief. Some Orion binoculars that touted 20mm eye relief were criticized by bloggers as having too little eye relief to use while wearing glasses. I was greatly relieved when my new 10X50 Rangers could be used with glasses, and was so pleased with the quality optics.

Ranger Platinum

***This review is for the Ranger Platinum, the previous version of the Ranger SRT. The Ranger SRT has a more durable eyecup assembly and updated lens coatings. Both Rangers are covered by the Platinum Protection unlimited, unconditional, transferable warranty. ***


From Terry in Tennessee
Subject: Ranger optics in Afganistan and Iraq
Rating: 5 (of 5)

Before deploying to Iraq a few years ago with the 10th Mountain Division, I gave my son a pair of 8x42 Ranger Platinum binos. Since then they have also seen service in Afganistan. (my son is in the infantry) These binoculars now look like they have been through a war. They look terrible; however, the optics and function are just as good as ever. They have taken a beating, but still perform so well. This is a very good product.

Vortex Fury 8x28

From John in California:
Subject: Don't leave home without it.
Rating: 5 (of 5)

Many photographers have learned the wisdom of always keeping a small, tough pocket camera with them when traveling without their primary camera kit. For them the little camera means the difference between a missed opportunity and capturing a great surprise. For the last two years I have carried my Vortex 8x28 Furies for the same reason. The Vortex is my go-anywhere, always-there, back-up binocular. They are small and tough, fit in an oversized jacket pocket or small pack and deliver good, dependable views. Ergonomics, precise focus, and very good optics in a waterproof, highly portable package.

Katmai Love

From Jim in Portland:
Rating: 4 (out of 5):

The Leupold Katmai is a wonderful binocular in a small package. I love that I can carry them on my belt and have great viewing also. The optics are fantastic with good light gathering capabilities. These are my main binos! I highly recommend these binos especially for their portability. They won't get as close as a spotting scope or more powerful binoculars, but for great performance in a small package they are the ones.

Nikon Action 7x35

From Rod in Kentucky:

Good value. Great for beginning birders.
Rating: 4 (of 5)

I have purchased both the current model and the previous model of these binoculars and have birded with both. I still bird with the previous model frequently. I would be very surprised if you could find better binoculars for less than $100.

Pros: The field of view is huge, 489ft., making finding birds easy -- very important for new birders. It's hard to have fun and enjoy the birds if you can't find them. 7 power is sufficient for birding most habitats in my opinion. For their size, they are relatively lightweight and comfortable in the hand.

Cons: I must say the previous model is a better binocular than the current model. Perhaps it is just me, but the glass is simply clearer in the previous model. I notice more distortion at the edges of the glass when looking through the current model. (Yes, the lenses are clean.) The current model just doesn't feel as sturdy also.

If you're a new birder and ready to purchase your first binocular, I doubt you'll be disappointed with these. Affordable and decent quality. You can bird with these for a long time while saving up for a top shelf pair of binoculars. I've used mid-priced binoculars and did not find the quality of those dramatically better. I have a pair of top shelf Swarovski's and I still use my old Nikon Action 7x35s often as my backup bins.

Nikon Monarch III 8x42

From Steve in Arizona

Rating: 5 (of 5)

I was lucky enough to get a pair of the Monarch III 8x42 in January from Eagle Optics. First, let me say that this is a great pair of bins and well worth the money. Now, a slight bit of downside: As far as I can tell, they are no better than their predecessor Monarch ATB 8x42's. Since they advertise the new dielectric coating I was hoping for a noticeable improvement in low light conditions. But, comparing as carefully as I could with my wife's older Monarchs, I just can't see the difference. Maybe it is there in a careful laboratory measurement, but it sure isn't apparent to me. So, please don't throw away your old Monarchs to upgrade to this pair ---but if you are looking to upgrade from some lesser brand/pair of bins, this is a great choice.