Birdwatching Dot Com

Ratings Chart

September, 2008, Bird Watcher's Digest
Copyright Michael and Diane Porter 2008

 

  Legend


Manufacturer
Model
Size
Street Price
Prism
Style
Field of View
Eye Relief
(mm.)
Close Focus (ft.)
Weight
(oz.)
Length
(in.)
Width
(in.)
Eyecup
Style
Diopter
Where
Diopter
Lock
Diopter
Marks
Focus
Knob
Score
Diopter Score
Close
Focus
Score
Fit &
Feel
Score
Image
Quality
Score
Score:
Overall
Quality
   10-Power Full-sized Binoculars
Zeiss
 $1,900
roof
330
16
6.5
27.0
6.8
5.0
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.5
5.0
4.6
4.9
5.0
4.9
Swarovski
10x42
discont'd
roof
330
15
8.0
27.5
6.2
4.8
T
FK
yes
yes
4.8
5.0
4.3
4.8
5.0
4.9
Leica
 $2,095
roof
336
16
9.7
26.5
4.8
5.2
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.9
5.0
4.0
4.6
4.9
4.8
Nikon
 $1,995
roof
341
18
8.5
28.9
5.9
5.4
TC
FK
yes
yes
NA
5.0
4.2
4.9
4.7
4.7
Bushnell
10x43
 $800
roof
314
17
8.0
23.3
5.3
5.3
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.8
4.5
4.3
4.3
4.8
4.6
Steiner
Peregrine XP
10x44
 $1,630
roof
328
20
6.5
30.0
7.7
5.3
T
E
no
yes
4.6
4.0
4.6
4.2
4.8
4.6
Pentax
 $999
roof
315
17
6.6
25.8
5.7
5.0
TC
E
yes
yes
4.7
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.5
4.5
Vortex
Razor
10x42
discont'd
roof
325
16
8.2
29.8
6.5
5.5
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.3
5.0
4.3
4.3
4.6
4.5
Minox
10x52
 $1,099
roof
279
19.5
11.5
27.3
6.7
5.2
TC
E
yes
yes
3.9
4.5
3.6
4.0
4.8
4.4
Kowa
 $1,400
roof
324
16
5.5
33.9
6.5
5.4
TC
E
yes
C
3.6
4.5
4.9
3.8
4.3
4.2
Leupold
10x42
 $800
roof
340
16
7.0
33.8
6.0
5.3
TC
E
no
yes
3.8
4.0
4.5
3.6
4.3
4.1
Meopta
10x42
 $899
roof
331
15
9.8
30.4
5.5
5.2
T
FK
no
C
2.5
4.5
3.9
4.0
4.2
4.0
   8-Power Full-sized Binoculars
Zeiss
 $1,800
roof
405
16
6.5
26.6
6.8
5.0
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.5
5.0
4.6
5.0
5.0
4.9
Swarovski
discont'd
roof
390
18
8.0
28.9
6.5
4.8
T
FK
yes
yes
4.7
5.0
4.3
4.8
5.0
4.8
Nikon
 $1,899
roof
403
19.3
9.8
28.6
5.8
5.4
TC
FK
yes
yes
NA
5.0
3.9
4.5
4.9
4.7
Leica
 $1,995
roof
389
15.5
10.2
27.9
4.8
5.6
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.6
5.0
3.9
4.3
4.9
4.7
Bushnell
8x43
 $780
roof
372
19.5
8.0
23.0
5.3
5.3
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.8
4.5
4.3
4.3
4.8
4.6
Steiner
Peregrine XP
8x44
 $1,600
roof
390
20
6.5
30.0
7.7
5.3
T
E
no
yes
4.3
4.0
4.6
4.3
4.8
4.6
Minox
 $899
roof
321
18
8.2
22.9
5.7
5.0
TC
E
yes
yes
4.6
4.5
4.3
4.3
4.6
4.5
Vortex
Razor
8x42
discont'd
roof
410
18
8.2
29.4
6.5
5.5
TC
FK
yes
yes
3.7
5.0
4.3
4.4
4.6
4.5
Pentax
 $899
roof
330
22
6.6
25.2
5.7
5.0
TC
E
yes
yes
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.5
4.4
4.5
Kowa
 $1,260
roof
366
18.3
5.5
33.2
6.5
5.4
TC
E
yes
C
4.6
4.5
4.9
3.8
4.5
4.5
Alpen
8x42
 $821
roof
393
18
6.5
32.0
6.3
5.5
TC
E
yes
yes
4.0
5.0
4.6
3.0
4.5
4.3
Leupold
8x42
 $750
roof
381
16.5
7.0
33.2
6.0
5.3
TC
E
no
yes
3.8
4.0
4.5
3.5
4.2
4.1
Meopta
8x42
 $969
roof
411
17
9.8
30.4
5.5
5.2
T
FK
no
C
3.0
4.5
3.9
3.3
4.4
4.0
   8-Power Mid-sized Binoculars
Zeiss
 $1,600
roof
420
16
6.6
19.8
4.6
4.6
TC
FK
yes
yes
5.0
5.0
4.6
5.0
5.0
5.0
Swarovski
 $1,699
roof
420
15
7.0
21.5
5.4
4.5
T
FK
yes
yes
5.0
5.0
4.5
5.0
5.0
4.9
Leica
 $1,795
roof
404
13.3
7.2
18.9
4.6
4.6
TC
FK
yes
yes
4.8
5.0
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.8
Minox
 $799
roof
395
15
6.6
21.3
4.9
5.0
TC
E
yes
yes
5.0
4.5
4.6
4.8
4.8
4.8
Pentax
8x32
 $799
roof
393
17
4.9
23.5
5.0
5.0
TC
E
yes
yes
4.4
4.5
5.0
4.2
4.4
4.5
   Stabilized Binoculars
Canon
10x42
 $1,199
Porro
340
16
8.2
36.0
6.9
5.4
TC
E
yes
yes
4.8
4.0
4.3
2.5
4.3
4.1


Copyright Michael and Diane Porter 2008

The Ratings Chart

birdwatching.com

Home FAQ Tips Stories DVDs Software Optics Bookstore Orders