|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 1 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 found the following review helpful:
A Steal and a First Rate Binocular Nov 25, 2006
By Kimball J. Corson
It is long past the time when someone should have reviewed this binocular (for correct grammer, which I now abandon to convention). In a word, they are first rate. At the price, they are a great steal. I have owned much glass -- top camera lenses (Zeiss, Leica), top binoculars (the closest to these, a Swarovski 15x56) and top telescopes --and by comparison these are excellent because a) they are hand-holdable for me, b) very sharp, c) very contrasty, d) very bright, e) relatively light weight and d) optically and mechanically solid -- all for $500, I think the price is. The eyepieces are click-stop adjustable to balance eye relief and field of view (which is satisfactory [but not really outstanding], especially in light of the power). It is hard to say whether the binocular is sharp from center to edge because, properly set up, black out is encountered if one attempts to look over to the edge, but not if one doesn't. Periphal vision apparent sharpness is excellent. The black out is not a material problem because anything one concentrates on is moved to the center of view anyway. The prisims are phase coated and the optics are fully multicoated, with excellent current technlogy. The Bruntons are nitrogen filled, waterproof, and have a pleasant and comfortable non-slip outer covering. The right eyepiece is adjustable without click stops but doesn't move from the position set. These binoculars are in the league of the comparable Zeiss and Swarovskis, but at almost a third the price and with much greater hand-holdability and a life time warranty to boot. They are more color neutral and as bright as the Swarovskis and more similar to the Zeiss, but lack a bit of the super relaxed quality of the Zeiss and at times, the Swarovskis, but not by much. You have to fuss with the Bruntons more to get a similar degree of set-up and such quality. These binoculars are much more hand-holdable and ergonomic than the the Zeiss or Swarovskis and much lighter too, but still not a feather either, weighing in about 36 oz, as my best guess (I have no scales where I am). The Bruntons have a feel of good quality, with no cheesy or loose aspects, except the Brunton name/logo on the sides (cheesy). I do not like, also, the socks covers, but others might. I think they are too tight and not protective enough. The strap is excellent, aside from having the name of the manufacturer on it -- a general, pet peve of mine. Buy them. You'll like them. When you get comfortable hand-holding higher powered binoculars, it is almost impossible to go back to lesser powered binoculars for long. 7x50s now seem quaint to me. My Nikon Venturer 8x32 XL sits on a shelf, as do most of my other binoculars now, and I have about 10 pair currently on just my sailboat.
I love these binoculars for birding, marine use and even at spectator events, including ballet and opera. Braced, with elbows on a seat's arm rests, I can hand-hold these binoculars for the duration of the event. Their color quality is very neutral and pleasing, a quality of better, current optics, generally.
Modern, computer-designed optics with quality, current coatings, at all of the various price points, are much better than what we had 10 years or more ago, and the range in quality across those price points is also substantially narrowing as time passes. Granddad's WWII field glasses, with the beat-up leather case, just don't cut it anymore.
|
| | |
