Telescope Reviews: Small Binoculars

Some field of view comparisons from test notes

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR UPDATED MORE COMPLETE DATA

values listed are actual measured field of view - percent sharp fov - degrees sharp fov - level of pincushion

measured fov, checked on star fields, not based on mnf specs
percent sharp fov from center checked by aberration distortions, some lower quality values are generous
degrees sharp fov converts to usable fov by % value times actual fov
pin cushion values 0,1,2,or3 give some indication of level of p-c at edge of fov
all preliminary measures, na is not yet available

spec ** actu ** sharp ** sharp ** pin
FOV *** FOV *** % *** fov *** cush
5.00 *** 5.0 *** 95 *** 4.8 *** 1 ** Nikon 12x50 SE
4.20 *** 4.2 *** 85 *** 3.5 *** na ** Pentax PCF III 12x50
5.50 *** 5.1 *** 80 *** 4.1 *** 0 ** Nikon Action Extreme 12x50
5.00 *** 5.0 *** 85 *** 4.3 *** 0 ** Fujinon FMT-SX 10x70
5.25 *** 5.1 *** 90 *** 4.6 *** 3 ** Oberwerk Mariner 10x60
6.50 *** 6.1 *** 70 *** 4.3 *** 1 ** Nikon Action Extreme 10x50
5.00 *** 5.0 *** 90 *** 4.5 *** 0 ** Pentax PCF WP 10x50
6.50 *** 6.0 *** 65 *** 3.9 *** 1 ** Orion Ultraview 10x50
6.50 *** 6.4 *** 70 *** 4.5 *** 3 ** Oberwerk 10x50
6.50 *** 6.1 *** 65 *** 4.0 *** 3 ** Garrett Genesis 10x50
na **** 0.0 *** na *** na *** na ** Nikon Monarch 10x42 Roof
na **** 0.0 *** na *** na *** na ** Pentax DCFHRII 10x42 Roof
6.00 *** 5.7 *** 70 *** 4.0 *** 1 ** Oberwerk 8x56
8.25 *** 7.3 *** 60 *** 4.4 *** 3 ** Garrett Classic 8x45
na **** 0.0 *** na *** na *** na ** Bushnell Legend 8x42 Roof
7.00 *** 6.7 *** 65 *** 4.4 *** 1 ** Garrett DCF 8x42 ApoRoof
6.00 *** 5.8 *** 65 *** 3.8 *** 2 ** Oberwerk 8x42 Roof
6.50 *** 6.5 *** 75 *** 4.9 *** 1 ** Fujinon BFL 8x42
6.60 *** 6.5 *** 80 *** 5.2 *** 0 ** Swift Ultralite 8x42
6.50 *** 6.5 *** 80 *** 5.2 *** na ** Orion Vista 8x42
8.40 *** 8.0 *** 90 *** 7.2 *** 3 ** Oberwerk Mariner 8x40
6.30 *** 6.3 *** 90 *** 5.7 *** 0 ** Pentax PCF WP II 8x40
8.25 *** 8.1 *** 65 *** 5.3 *** 0 ** Nikon Action Extreme 8x40
8.20 *** 8.2 *** 60 *** 4.9 *** 1 ** Nikon Action VII 8x40
7.00 *** 6.3 *** 90 *** 5.7 *** 2 ** Oberwerk Mariner 7x50
7.25 *** 7.2 *** 80 *** 5.8 *** 1 ** Captain's Storm King 7x50
7.50 *** 7.4 *** 90 *** 6.7 *** 0 ** William Optic 7x50 ED

revised 10-1-07

Some comments on some of the test results of new 8x40s that I've bought (and a few other sizes as well, the den is completely overrun with binoculars, there everywhere!!!). I can't comment on all of them because I haven't yet tested them all thoroughly.

The Fujinon BFL 8x42 keeps looking better, but eye relief is just barely adequate for tight use with glasses. Sharpness of fov is very good.

The Pentax WP II 8x40 even with its narrow fov is quite a surprise. e1e2 Lyra, the double double, one of my test stars, in many binoculars gets distorted beyond recognition at about 70% out in the fov. In the Pentax, it can be moved right to the edge of the field stop. Eye relief is substantial.

The Oberwerk 10x50 is difficult to see the field stop clearly, even when I take my glasses off.

The Garrett APO Roof 8x42 is very compact, has nice image and ample eye relief.

The Oberwerk Mariners, all of them, the 10x60, the 8x40 and the 7x50, have surprisingly sharp image over almost the entire fov. They all have ample eye relief. The are heavy.

edz

Edited by EdZ (01/24/08 02:34 PM)

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