Mid-priced Binoculars Review 2012
Ratings Chart
by Michael and Diane Porter
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See Legend below the chart |
MID-PRICED BINOCULARS SURVEY 2012 |
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Model | Size | Design | Close focus (ft.) | Field of view (ft. at 1000 yds.) |
Eye relief (mm.) | Weight (oz.) | Length (in.) | Width (in.) |
Water-proof | Eyecup Style |
Diopter location | Diopter lock | Diopter scale | Focus knob score |
Diopter score | Fit & feel score |
Resolution score | Overall score | Street price |
Endeavor ED | 8x42 | OB | 8.2 | 400 | 19.0 | 25.8 | 6.0 | 5.1 | Y | TC | E | Y | Y | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.00 | $349.99 |
Vortex Viper HD | 8x42 | SB | 5.1 | 347 | 20.0 | 24.2 | 5.8 | 5.3 | Y | TC | E | Y | N | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.95 | $589.99 |
Zen-Ray Zen ED3 | 8x43 | OB | 6.5 | 426 | 16.8 | 27.0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.46 | $520.00 |
Nikon Monarch ATB | 8x42 | SB | 9.8 | 330 | 19.6 | 21.5 | 5.7 | 5.1 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.9 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.38 | $279.95 |
Eagle Optics Ranger ED | 8x42 | OB | 6.0 | 425 | 18.0 | 27.4 | 6.7 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | N | 4.9 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.33 | $439.99 |
Vortex Diamondback | 8x42 | SB | 4.5 | 420 | 18.0 | 25.2 | 5.9 | 5.6 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.9 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.32 | $219.99 |
Alpen Teton | 8x42 | SB | 8.2 | 383 | 17.0 | 26.0 | 6.0 | 4.8 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.30 | $539.00 |
Alpen Apex | 8x42 | SB | 5.0 | 341 | 20.0 | 22.0 | 5.8 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 4.23 | $279.00 |
Pentax DCF CS | 8x42 | SB | 8.2 | 393 | 21.0 | 22.6 | 5.8 | 5.3 | Y | TC | FK | N | N | 4.8 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.23 | $279.00 |
Eagle Optics Ranger | 8x42 | SB | 5.2 | 341 | 19.5 | 21.8 | 5.8 | 5.1 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.20 | $299.99 |
Kowa SV | 8x42 | SB | 13.1 | 330 | 19.5 | 23.5 | 6.8 | 5.3 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.2 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.17 | $210.00 |
Alpen 8x42 Wings ED | 8x42 | SB | 6.5 | 393 | 17.0 | 24.0 | 5.5 | 4.8 | Y | TC | E | N | N | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.13 | $389.00 |
Leupold BX-2 Cascades | 8x42 | SB | 9.9 | 341 | 18.0 | 22.9 | 5.5 | 4.9 | Y | T | FK | Y | Y | 3.7 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.11 | $279.99 |
Bushnell Elite | 8x42 | OB | 8.0 | 330 | 19.5 | 25.7 | 5.5 | 5.1 | Y | T | FK | Y | Y | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.05 | $479.95 |
Opticron Oasis | 8x42 | SB | 9.5 | 358 | 19.0 | 23.0 | 5.4 | 5.0 | Y | TC | FK | Y | Y | 3.7 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.04 | $349.00 |
Kowa BD | 8x42 | SB | 6.6 | 331 | 18.3 | 25.7 | 5.8 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | N | 4.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 4.03 | $590.00 |
Zen-Ray Bx-3 Mojave | 8x42 | OB | 8.0 | 368 | 19.0 | 23.4 | 5.6 | 4.9 | Y | TC | FK | Y | Y | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.98 | $279.99 |
Zen-Ray Summit HD | 8x42 | SB | 6.0 | 393 | 17.3 | 22.7 | 5.5 | 4.8 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 3.76 | $205.00 |
Celestron Granite | 8x42 | SB | 6.5 | 426 | 17.0 | 24.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.68 | $439.95 |
Vixen Optics Foresta HR | 8x42 | SB | 9.8 | 389 | 18.0 | 23.1 | 5.8 | 5.0 | Y | TC | FK | Y | Y | 4.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 3.68 | $349.00 |
Minox BL | 8x44 | OB | 8.0 | 446 | 19.5 | 26.1 | 5.2 | 5.9 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 3.2 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.64 | $489.00 |
Minox BV | 8x42 | SB | 4.9 | 389 | 18.0 | 27.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | N | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.63 | $289.00 |
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD | 8x42 | SB | 8.0 | 426 | 17.2 | 24.7 | 5.5 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | Y | Y | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.59 | $289.95 |
Kruger Caldera | 8x42 | SB | 5.0 | 438 | 18.5 | 25.0 | 5.3 | 5.1 | Y | TC | FK | Y | Y | 3.2 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.59 | $447.00 |
Opticron Discovery | 8x42 | SB | 4.9 | 430 | 22.0 | 24.8 | 5.2 | 5.0 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 3.53 | $219.00 |
Kenko Ultraview EX | 8x42 | SB | 8.2 | 394 | 19.0 | 23.3 | 5.8 | 5.2 | Y | TC | FK | N | N | 3.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.53 | $229.00 |
Yukon Frontier | 8x42 | SB | 6.0 | 429 | 17.0 | 24.6 | 5.3 | 4.9 | Y | TC | E | N | Y | 4.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 3.48 | $199.99 |
Kenko OP HD MarkII | 8x42 | OB | 8.2 | 394 | 18.0 | 31.7 | 6.6 | 5.7 | Y | T | E | Y | N | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 3.33 | $599.00 |
Carson TD 3D | 8x42 | SB | 9.8 | 330 | 19.5 | 23.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | Y | T | E | N | N | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 3.18 | $249.99 |
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Legend |
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Copyright Michael and Diane Porter 2011-2012