Eagle Optics Ranger SRT 6x32 Binocular

From Steve in MO:  

5/5 Rating

I am an avid hiker and I was getting tired of lugging my Leupold WindRiver 10x50 binocular at 33oz around my neck. In fact I was using it less and less. I was looking for something smaller without giving up clarity and this 6x32 Ranger binocular fits the bill perfectly.

I really like my WindRiver, and still do, but this Eagle Optics Ranger without question has better clarity and is far more friendly for field use. I have really enjoyed it so far and have recommended it to my hunting friends.

I find its ability to focus close up to be something I really like and use though I did not initially consider it of great importance. This binocular would be great for any field use such as birding, hiking, hunting or tree identification etc. It is not a high end Leica or Swarovski, but for this price point it is simply a great binocular and a fantastic deal.

In addition I was impressed with the help I received from everyone I spoke with on the phone at Eagle Optics. They were knowledgeable and courteous. The binocular shipped promptly, I received it in about 2 days, and it was well packaged. I would highly recommend this company and this binocular.

Atlas Optics Intrepid ED 8x42 Binocular

From Neal in NC:

5/5 Rating

I'm fairly new to birding, and I had a relatively cheap pair of binoculars that I was using. I decided to invest in a higher-quality pair, but when I began my search, I was a bit overwhelmed. However, after much research and comparison, I narrowed my search down to a couple of models. I'm glad I chose the Atlas Optics Intrepid for a number of reasons.

First, the optics are extraordinary. Clear, crisp images even in low-light situations. Vibrant colors that make bird study truly an eye-opening experience. Second, these binoculars are much more user-friendly than the older porro-prism binocular that I had been using. Yes, there's still a bit of weight to these for a roof-prism binocular, but I believe that's due more to the sturdy construction than anything else. The Intrepids are much easier for me to carry into the field and to handle.

And finally, I'm glad I chose the Intrepids because of the price. Don't let the "low" price fool you. You will be hard-pressed to find a binocular with the options on the Intrepids at the same price. In fact, I would venture to say you'd spend hundreds of more dollars for similar binoculars. If you are on a tight budget--as I was--these binoculars are an excellent option if you don't want to break the bank in order to enjoy quality views.

The objective lens covers are rubber cups that are tethered to the binocular, which I find more useful that the other covers I've used in the past. The rainguard is soft rubber, again more useful that others I've used in the past. If there is one that isn't very useful with this binocular, it would be the bag. There's very little padding, so there's not a lot of protection for the binocular. However, I will be buying a replacement bag for less than $20, so it's not a big deal.

The customer service at Eagle Optics is some of the best I've ever encountered. All of my questions were answered promptly and thoroughly, so I felt very confident that my choice was the right purchase for me. Turns out it was.

Vanguard Endeavor ED 8x42 Binocular

From Ron in IL:  

5/5 Rating

I purchased the Vanguard Endeavor to replace an 18 year-old Bushnell Legend 10X40 that I use for work. I decided to take advantage of the dual rebates which dropped the price well under $300. To be honest, they are still a bargain at $350.

The Vanguards are bright with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness. Eye relief is very good and will be appreciated by eye glass wearers. They are relatively light for an 8X42 and the build quality seems high (time will tell).

In head-to-head comparison, the Vanguards blew away the Nikon Monarch in my opinion. To be honest, they were very close in image quality to the Atlas Intrepid and Zen-Rays which I also considered.

The determining factor were the ergonomics. The binoculars fit perfectly in hand and the focus wheel is the perfect diameter with just the right amount of tension.

I'm amazed at just how far binoculars have come in the under $500 range in the past 15 years. I paid $200 more for my old Bushnell and they are heavier, have a narrower field of view and less eye relief. Yes, I think the Endeavors are a best buy.

Pentax DCF SP 8x43 Binocular

From Rick in MD:  
 
2/5 Rating

I must be spoiled; I'm now realizing that my Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 binocs are even more fantastic than I thought. I wanted a bit more power, and after reading various reviews (and with my good luck on the Pentax Papilios), I decided on the Pentax 8x43 DCF SP. More than I wanted to spend, but I figured it would be worth it.

Unfortunately, I'm disappointed. I noticed right away that there is about a 5% area around the edge of the viewing area that is out of focus, so the claims of full-field sharpness did not hold true. Also, the diopter does not hold focus between near and far distances - I have to correct it, depending on the distance focused on. Also, the focus wheel is very stiff and takes too many turns to go from close to far focus. This is the downside of a binoc with close focus.

And the biggest surprise is the chromatic aberration. Even at around 15 feet, I can see a red line on top and green line on the bottom edge of a piece of wood sitting on my deck in the backyard, and that's in the shade.

Finally, they're narrower than I thought, so my hands overlap across the top. They're simply round tubes, with no finger indents and although the surface is rubberized, they don't hold that well in the hand. I weighed them at 23.9 oz. and I didn't realize that would feel heavy; it does and I can feel it in my upper arms, although the weight helps keep them steady to a certain extent. The depth of field is good; better than the Papilios for sure.

Otherwise, my Papilios are better in every way, a great surprise considering they cost about a hundred bucks. I'm returning the 8x43's and will probably simply buy the 8 power Papilios and save the rest of the money.

Bushnell Excursion EX 8x36 Binocular

From Jeffrey in TX:

4/5 Rating

Overall, the Bushnell Excursion is an excellent binocular available for $150 - $200. Waterproof, fogproof, nitrogen purged, should be worry free.

The first thing I noticed was how heavy the box weighed when UPS delivered it. The mid size binocular is solidly built and has the feel of quality.

The optics are very clear and quite bright. I used it for bird watching in the back yard as soon as I received it. As expected, it performed well in daylight. I recently took it to an indoor concert and it was excellent for a bright clear image in poor lighting.

The eye relief is generous and accommodates glasses wearers. The locking focus is not much use for birding as they are usually never in the same place. I did however find it quite handy at the concert - I got the binocular fine tuned in on the stage, locked the focus, and was able to later just raise up the binocular and everything was clear.

The focus knob is smooth and fairly easy to use with one hand. The right eye diopter is stiff but smooth and the twist out eye cups are easy to operate. The neck strap is wide and padded, this makes it a little bulkier, but more comfortable. The carrying case is semi rigid and "double wide". It is almost square.

The biggest shortcoming - the lens covers. They were designed to be lost. They are better left in the case and used for protection in storage only.

Optics - 5 stars / Overall - 4 stars