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AND THE WINNER IS...
Brunton Epoch 10.5x43 $1,499
The Japanese-built Epoch takes dead aim at high-end German optics—and scores a hit.
Why It's Cool: The view through these matches any binoculars I've used, with no distortion or color aberration whatsoever. >> With help from big, bright, 43-millimeter objective lenses, I easily tracked a backyard bobcat on a full-moon night and even differentiated warblers in deep shade. >> A progressive-speed focusing system—the world's first—sharpened the image from my toes out to infinity with a mere finger flick. >> By using a magnesium chassis, Brunton made the waterproof Epoch incredibly light for its size—just 24 ounces, a good six ounces lighter than some competitors. >> Eyeglasses wearers enjoy a full view, thanks to 17 millimeters of relief. >> An optional eyepiece adaptor ($279) turns one tube into a 21-power spotting scope. >> Should an elephant step on your Epoch in Namibia, Brunton's lifetime guarantee ensures that you'll have a new pair shipped right to your tent flap.
Hmmm... The snap-in, flip-open lens and eyepiece covers work well, but are very easy to knock off and lose.
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(1) Bushnell 8x36 Yardage Pro Quest $912
They're aimed at hunters—but even vegans will find them a blast.
Why It's Cool: Just center the crosshairs on any object—up to a half-mile away—be it a caribou or an enticing granite overhang—press a button, and the Quest fires off a laser pulse that measures the distance, in yards, between you and your quarry. The range appears on an LCD in the viewfinder. >> Oh, yeah—they're pretty darn good porro-prism binoculars, too, very sharp and bright, with a close focus of under ten feet. The combination makes 'em a great tool for both navigation and wildlife study. >> Thankfully, given all the onboard circuitry, the Quest is completely rainproof.
Hmmm... At 34 ounces, they're considerably heavier—and bulkier—than your average 8x36 binos. >> The distance readout blocks part of the view.
(2) Canon 8x25 IS $460
That phantom tripod is a nice touch.
Why It's Cool: Behold, the world's first stabilized compact binoculars: Press a button and internal circuitry damps the slight shaking normally transmitted from your hands to the image. >> Amazingly, this wizardry fits in a 16.9-ounce package—lighter than some standard 8x25s. >> Canon's optics do justice to the steady view—the company built in exceptional clarity and color rendition, a combination that delivers a razor-sharp world. >> Although it looks bulky, this model is very comfortable to hold. My thumbs wrapped naturally around the lens tubes, leaving my fingers free to work the focus and stabilizer controls.
Hmmm... The image jerked momentarily each time I pressed the stabilizer button—a bit disconcerting. >> Keep it out of the swamp; those are sensitive electronics in there, and the housing isn't water-resistant.
(3) Steiner 8x22 Predator $150
Want German cachet at a bargain price? Sprechen to Steiner.
Why It's Cool: Wildlife-watching is a cinch through the Steiners, which employ a greenish lens coating that actually increases the contrast between foliage and fur. >> Thick rubber armors most of the housing and has a delightfully smooth and, well, expensive feel. >> The focus knob is fluid and precise, and ideally located for middle-finger use. Close focus is excellent at seven feet. >> At just 8.5 ounces, you don't have an excuse not to have them along.
Hmmm... The Steiners proved noticeably dimmer than other compact models I tried. >> The diopter wheel is easily knocked out of adjustment.
(4) Leica Trinovid 8x32 BN $995
Don't neglect to put them in your will.
Why It's Cool: Compact enough for hiking, the roof-prism Trinovid also pulls in copious amounts of light through 32-millimeter objective lenses. >> The view down the barrels is perfect. I could count the tines on a buck more than a half-mile away. >> Thanks to an incredibly tough frame that's cast from aluminum and then thickly armored with polyurethane, the Trinovid shrugs off abuse. >> Oops! Dropped yours in a pond? No problem. They're sealed and nitrogen-purged. >> The chunky ribbed grip is slip-proof and comfortable. >> One of the best focusing knobs going glides like a ball bearing and is wide enough for two-finger use. >> That focus drops down to seven feet for butterfly watching.
Hmmm... Eye relief for glasses wearers (13 millimeters) is inadequate.
(5) Pentax UCF X 8x25 $99
Only the price is cheap.
Why It's Cool: I was astonished by the view through these little binos—it's bright, tack-sharp, and color-true like nothing I've seen near this price point. To help control image aberrations, Pentax built in aspherical lens elements, which reduce the number of lenses needed to get a sharp image. >> Close focus is an equally astonishing five feet—great for inspecting invertebrates, like scurrying scorpions. >> Proper snap-out eyecups are comfortable and durable, and offer a decent 15 millimeters of eye relief for four-eyed folk. >> The objective lenses of this porro-prism instrument are built into a single housing, which should enhance durability by keeping them aligned properly.
Hmmm... It's not waterproof. >> Focusing is a little stiff and slow. >> Say sayonara to the eye caps—they're untethered and easily lost.
(6) Nikon Venturer LX 8x20 $350
These are the most elegant compact binoculars I've used.
Why It's Cool: Nikon packed all its tricks into the Venturer, includingsilver-surfaced prisms and fully multicoated premium glass. The result is a bright and flawless view. >> A waterproof and nitrogen-filled housing will keep the picture perfect year in and year out. >> Durable, twist-out eyecups offer 15 millimeters of eye relief—very generous for compacts. >> They have a solid, substantial feel that is rare in small binoculars, but at just under ten ounces, they're shirt-pocket ready. >> A close focus of eight feet made the Venturer great for watching birds at my window feeder..
Hmmm... The little-finger-only focus knob is a tad stiff. >> The diopter adjustment is difficult to nudge accidentally, but it would be nice if it locked anyway.
(7) Swarovski 8x20 B Pocket Binocular $550
Here's to hand-me-down technology.
Why It's Cool: The Pocket crams big-bino optics into a small package—the 8x20 utilizes the same superb glass and lens coatings as my full-size, top-of-the-line Swarovski 10x42 EL. The result is the best view I've ever enjoyed through 20-millimeter objective lenses. >> Just like their big brothers, they're nitrogen-purged—totally waterproof and fogproof. >> Unlike the bruisers, these 7.6-ounce binoculars, the lightest we reviewed, fold up and drop into a shirt pocket. >> My ring finger effortlessly rolled the Pocket's featherlight focusing wheel. >> With a close focus of just seven feet, these are great butterfly-watching tools.
Hmmm... Even top-notch 20-millimeter lenses can only do so much—the view dims in deep shade. >> Although they're virtually shockproof, more housing armor to guard against scratches would be nice. |
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