Charts: Specifications, Optical Ratings, Handling
The Picks
August 1993
The conventional wisdom among birders goes something like this: the best all around binoculars for birding is the full sized 8X40. The combination of good image size (8X magnification), excellent brightness and resolution (40mm objectives), and a reasonably wide field of view (350-425 feet depending on the eyepiece design), makes for binoculars that seldom let you down in the field. The image size and optical resolution give you the detail you need to make most identifications, and to enjoy all the amazing variety of design and execution inherent in birds. The brightness makes the binoculars usable even in twilight, penetrates deep shadows, and adds color detail to even full sunlight views. The wide field makes finding and following active birds easier. Full size 8X40s are generally of a size and weight to make them at least manageable ‹ not as compact and light as anyone would like, but not too tiring to carry and use even at the end of a long day in the field.
The conventional wisdom goes on to recommend 7X40s or 50s for those who need more low light performance or who bird in situations where there is a lot of subject and observer motion (pelagic birders in particular), and wide field 10X40s for the steady handed "expert" birder who needs the reach and extra image size and detail for the marginal identifications.
I am always distrustful of conventional wisdom. I want to verify everything by my own experience. Then too, there is enough of the iconoclast in me to be a little disappointed when the conventional wisdom turns out to be right.
So, what about birding optics wisdom? Well, yes, after two years of field testing hundreds of makes and models of binoculars, I would have to say that full sized binoculars in the 8X40 range are indeed the best all around choice for most birders. I find that even with a number of excellent binoculars of other sizes and configurations on my shelves, I still pick up 8X full sized binoculars 9 out of 10 times when I am headed out for my own personal birding. I am not so certain of the other two tenants of birding optics wisdom. I doubt that 7X40s have significantly better twilight performance than 8X40s, and their wider view can be had in the best wide field 8Xs (though I would definitely recommend high quality, waterproof, 7X50s for pelagic trips). I am almost certain that most expert birders would see more detail, and enjoy their birding more, with less physically demanding 8Xs than they do with their expensive 10X40s. The ideal glass for the expert who needs more reach and detail, in my opinion, would be an excellent 8X45-50 ‹ the larger objective diameter would yield more extra detail than you can get by simply increasing magnification, along with a brighter image ‹ and you would still have the fairly wide field, greater depth of field, and holdability of the lower power.
(If you read the piece on the "easy view" in the last issue of BVD, you can translate the last paragraph to "most 8X40s have an easier view than most 10X40s, and will be more enjoyable to use over the long run. Properly designed 8X45-50s would, in my opinion, have an even easier view.)
The conventional wisdom is certainly reflected in the marketplace. There are more excellent birding binoculars, from more different manufacturers, in the 7 and 8X40 range than any other similar class ‹ so many in fact, that it made for something of a problem in selecting optics to test for this issue. Such wealth! So many good binoculars to choose from. And yet, even with such a number, each offering is unique ‹ not necessarily in optical quality, but in the mix of "auxiliary" features ‹ design, weight and size, balance, body coverings, focus placement, weather proofing, etc. It would seem that almost any birder could find some glass in this class to come close to his or her ideal.
Most of the binoculars in this group are "tried and true" in the sense that they have been on the market in their current form for several years. The major new development is P Coating on the roof prism models (a coating that increases both brightness and contrast, and adds just a bit of extra resolution, to roof prism models, see the side bar). The first ED glass model also makes its appearance, though at the very low end of the magnification scale (the 6.5X44 Celestron ED). I am, myself, eagerly looking forward to seeing and testing the new 8.5X44ED Audubon model from Swift (as well as their 8.5X44 premium roof prism model), but neither were available for this test. The Leica Ultras, which replaced the venerable Trinovid line two years ago, may be new to some readers.
Tried and true, old reliables, the culmination of the conventional birding optics wisdom, the BVD Easiest View...the binoculars in this issue are the standard against which all other birding binoculars must be measured.
BVD Reference Set
This set of binoculars is a reviewer's nightmare and a birder's dream. Every binoculars in the group has something to recommend it, most of them offer very good to excellent optical and handling performance, and yet none of them stand out as clearly superior to the others. Picking a Reference Standard or Best Buy becomes an exercise in subjective judgement. With performance and features so similar, my personal preference has to sway the decision.
Take the high priced roof prism models: in this group you have the Bausch and Lomb Elite 8X42, the Leica Ultra 8X42, the Swarovski SLC 7X42 and the Zeiss 7X42, all of them rubber armored, phase coated, made to last a lifetime, and built to exacting tolerances that translate to excellent optical performance.
If weatherproofing is your primary consideration, the field is immediately narrowed to two. The Leicas and the Swarovskis both offer immersion tested waterproofing. Both, however, are, in my opinion, too heavy and too bulky to be comfortable for long periods in the field. Between the two, the Leica has the optical edge, with slightly more power and a similar field of view, and would be my choice for pelagic birding.
The Bausch and Lomb Elite is an excellent all around performer. Some birders have objected to the body shape and the placement of the focus knob. They fit my hands very well, though I do find the focus just a bit awkward. Optically they offer a bright, contrasty, finely detailed view. I find them just a tad heavy. (Perhaps it is more weight to size ratio than real weight. They feel heavier that they actually are.) I would have no problem recommending the Elites to any birder looking for a rugged, excellent quality roof prism glass.
Still, if I were to own one of these roof prism glasses, it would be the Zeiss 7X42s. The view is very bright, finely detailed, and wide. The binoculars feel good in your hands (and, as opposed to the Elites, lighter in weight than they actually are). The lower power, given the resolution of the objectives, is, in my opinion, a fair trade for the wider field of view. All in all, these glasses have to be the Reference Standard in this class.
The Best Buy also comes down to a group of glasses. The Bausch and Lomb Customs, the WildBirdsUnlimited Celestron Ultima 8X42s, and the Swift Ultralite 8X42s all have much going for them, and all sell for about the same price. Performance is very similar, with the optical edge just going to the Celestron's and Swift's (though if you need exceptionally close focus the Customs are the way to go). When it comes down to a choice, I prefer the rubberized coating on the Ultralites to the cushiony covering on the Ultimas. The Swifts also have a better tripod socket. Again, if I were to own one of these glasses, it would be the Swift Ultralites. They receive the Best Buy rating in the Reference Set for this class.
There are three inexpensive roof prism glasses in the class: the Minolta Weathermatic 7X42s, the Pentax UCF 8X42s and the Swift Hawk 8X40s. The Minoltas are waterproof, but their optical performance leaves something to be desired. The Pentaxs provide adequate optical performance, but do not measure up to either the performance or handling of the three Best Buy porroprisms contenders above. The Hawks really should be in a class of their own since they are really inexpensive roof prisms. They are also the lightest binoculars in this test. Because of their marginal optical performance I could not recommend them for birding unless you absolutely had to have a very compact, very light weight, roof prism glass (standard porro compacts would provide much better performance).
There are also three premium priced porroprism binoculars in the group. The Swarovski 7X42 Traditionals are, well, traditional. You can get similar performance, though not similar durability, in less expensive glasses. The Optolyth Alpin 7X42s that I had for testing provided excellent optics in a very compact package, but, again, I am not sure I would go the extra money over the Best Buys above. The Celestron ED 6.5X44s are the brightest glasses in the class and provide excellent color fidelity and detail, but I found their 6.5 power view to be just a little limiting in the field.
That leaves a small group of porroprism glasses for consideration. The Nikon 7X35Es are very compact, and, given the smaller objective size, quite good optically, but I continue to dislike the E series handling (especially the lack of rubber objective guards). The Mirador A series 8X42s are good all around birding glasses, but the newer Celestron Ultima and Swift Ultralite designs have the edge. The Celestron Ultima 7X50s provide excellent brightness and resolution, but at the price of a larger glass. I see no reason to choose the Celestron Ultima or Swift Ultralite 7X42s over their 8 power siblings.
And with the exception of one binoculars (see below), that's the group. Not really many surprises. The Zeiss binoculars are often recommended, and the Swift Ultralite line is receiving more attention as time goes on. Both represent the best in this class, and come close to setting the standard for birding binoculars in general. But, really, you couldn't go far wrong with any of the binoculars in this group.
Glass of Special Merit
It is difficult to know exactly how to rate the Swift Audubon 8.5X44s. They are heavy and large, but if your hands will wrap around them they are superbly balanced and quite steady to hold. They are not well sealed against weather (or spills, dribbling tea on the eyepieces, I can testify from sad experience, will put them out of commission for the better part of a day). Their contrast and brightness, though much improved over the past few years by the addition of more multicoating, is still not up to the best of the binoculars in this class. And yet, optically, judging by center field resolution, they outperform any binoculars I have yet tested. The difference between their 3.5 arc second resolution and the average excellent 4.5 arc seconds is clearly visible in the field under extreme conditions ‹ whenever the distance gets long or the light gets dim ‹ and is noticeable under even the best of conditions. In addition, they have one of the "easiest" views of any binoculars I have ever handled. The extra wide field eyepieces and smooth precise focusing make it easy, with or without eyeglasses, to get a good, quick, look at any bird you might encounter, and you can use them all day without the slightest trace of eye (or mind) fatigue. The view is addictive. If you use the Audubons for any length of time, going to any other glass always feels like a "step down." You miss the extra edge of definition, the extra yards of reach, the extreme ease of view. This level of optical excellence is nothing less than astounding in binoculars selling for less than $250 on the street! While they have obvious shortcomings, many a birder has come to love and rely on the Audubons, and for good reason. At the price, you simply can not buy more performance ‹ indeed, until the ED model of these glasses actually reaches the market, you would have difficulty buying more raw optical excellence at any price! For the Audubons, I am creating a new class in the Reference Set: they are, without doubt, a Glass of Special Merit!
| Make/Model | Obj | X | Sty | Wt. | Dim. | List | AvPr | Overall Rating |
| Bausch + Lomb | | | | | | | | |
| Elite 8X42 | 42 | 8 | R | 29.8 | 4.6x6.8 | 1900 | 950 | excellent |
| Custom 8X36 | 36 | 8 | P | 23 | 6.8x5.5 | 480 | 250 | excellent-- |
| Celestron | | | | | | | | |
| Ultima 7X42 | 42 | 7 | P | 20.5 | 7x5.5 | 340 | 200 | excellent-- |
| WB Unlimit. 8X42 | 42 | 8 | P | 21 | 7x5.5 | | 190# | excellent |
| Ultima 7X50 | 50 | 7 | P | 27 | 7.2x7.3 | 400 | 260 | excellent-- |
| ED 6.5X44 | 44 | 6. 5 | P | 27 | 7.3x6.5 | 790 | 400 | excellent- |
| Leica | | | | | | | | |
| Ultra 8X42 | 42 | 8 | R | 32.5 | 4.6x6 | 1600 | 1000 | excellent- |
| Minolta | | | | | | | | |
| Weathermat ic 7X42 | 42 | 7 | R | 29.5 | 4.75x7. 4 | 500 | 300 | Very good- |
| Mirador | | | | | | | | |
| A 8X42 | 42 | 7 | P | 21.5 | 6.75x5. 5 | 450 | 220 | excellent-- |
| Nikon | | | | | | | | |
| 7X35E | 35 | 7 | P | 21.5 | 7x4.5 | 470 | 300 | excellent-- |
| Optolyth | | | | | | | | |
| Alpin 7X42 | 40 | 7 | P | 18 | 6.6x6 | 540 | 410 | excellent- |
| Pentax | | | | | | | | |
| DCL 8X42 | 42 | 8 | R | 32 | 4.5x7 | 400 | 200 | Very good |
| Swarovski | | | | | | | | |
| Trad 7X42 | 42 | 7 | P | 24 | 6.75x6 | 650 | 550 | excellent-- |
| SLC 7X42 | 42 | 7 | R | 34.5 | 5x6.5 | 950 | 700 | excellent--- |
| Swift | | | | | | | | |
| Ultralight 7X42 | 42 | 7 | P | 22 | 6.8x5.8 | 350 | 200 | excellent-- |
| Ultralight 8X42 | 42 | 8 | P | 22 | 6.8x5.5 | 350 | 200 | Best Buy |
| Hawk 8X40 | 40 | 8 | R | 19.5 | 7.25x6 | 300 | 150 | good-- |
| Audubon 8.5X44 | 44 | 8 | P | 29.5 | 7.3x5.9 | 410 | 220 | Sp Merit |
| Zeiss | | | | | | | | |
| 7X42 | 42 | 7 | R | 28.5 | 5x7.5 | 1100 | 900 | Ref Standard |
| Make /Model | Ar c Se c Re s | Vi s Qu al | HH Res | Twi Res | Co nt | Bri ght | FofV | Cl F | ER | Sep | Overall Rating |
| Bausch + Lomb | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Elite 8X42 | 4.3 | vg | ex+ | ex- | ex | 7.0 | 3.67 | 11 | 17 | 57 /76 | ex- |
| Custom 8X36 | 4.5 | ex - | ex | vg+ | ex | 5.0 | 3.41 | 8 | 17 | 57 /72 | ex- |
| Celestro n | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ultima 7X42 | 5.1 | ex - | ex | ex- | ex | 7.7 | 3.67 | 15 | 18 | 50 /77 | ex- |
| WB Unlimit. 8X42 | 5.1 | ex - | ex | ex- | ex | 6.9 | 3.46 | 18 | 18 | 50 /75 | ex- |
| Ultima 7X50 | 4.7 | vg + | ex | ex | ex- | 9 | 3.73 | 20 | 16 | 52 /74 | ex- |
| ED 6.5X44 | 5.3 | vg | ex | ex+ | ex | 10 | 3.83 | 14 | 14 | 50 /75 | ex- |
| Leica | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ultra 8X42 | 4.9 | vg | ex | ex | ex | 7.1 | 4.26 | 18 | 16 | 56 /74 | ex- |
| Minolta | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Weatherm atic 7X42 | 15 | p | vg- | p | f | 7.0 | 4.88 | 12 | 13 | 57 /73 | vg- |
| Mirador | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A 8X42 | 5.1 | vg | ex- | vg | vg | 6.9 | 3.3 | 15 | 15 | 58 /72 | |
| Nikon | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7X35E | 5.0 | vg + | ex- | ex- | ex- | 6.5 | 3.83 | 12 | 17 | 47 /74 | ex- |
| Optolyth | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Alpin 7X42 | 4.9 | vg + | | | | 6.5 | 3.45 | 16 | | | ex- |
| Pentax | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DCL 8X42 | 5.7 | f | vg+ | vg- | vg- | 5.0 | 3.25 | 27 | 13 | 57 /74 | vg- |
| Swarovs ki | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Trad 7X42 | 5.5 | vg + | ex- | vg+ | ex- | 8.3 | 3.42 | 14 | 14 | 49 /75 | vg++ |
| SLC 7X42 | 4.5 | vg | ex | vg | vg+ | 7.5 | 4.2 | 13 | 18 | 57 /77 | vg++ |
| Swift | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ultralight 7X42 | 5.1 | vg + | ex | vg | ex | 7.9 | 3.67 | 24 | 21 | 50 /74 | ex- |
| Ultralight 8X42 | 4.5 | vg + | ex | ex- | ex | 6.9 | 3.46 | 16 | 17 | 52 /75 | ex- |
| Hawk 8X40 | 9.5 | p | p | p | f | 5.5 | 3.41 | 13 | 12 | 57 /72 | p+ |
| Audubon 8.5X44 | 3.5 | vg | ex | ex | ex- | 7.5 | 4.3 | 20 | 12 | 55 /71 | ex |
| Zeiss | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7X42 | 4.5 | vg | ex+ | ex- | ex | 8.6 | 4.5 | 12 | 17 | 56 /75 | ex |
| Make/Model | Bal | Wt | FPl | FE | Feel | Han g | Overall Rating |
| Bausch &;Lomb | | | | | | | |
| Elite 8X42 | vg | vg+ | g | ex | ex | ex | vg+ |
| Custom 8X36 | ex | ex | vg | ex | vg | ex | vg+ |
| Celestron | | | | | | | |
| Ultima 7X42 | ex | ex | ex | ex | vg | ex | ex- |
| WB Unlimit. 8X42 | ex | ex | ex | ex | vg | ex | ex- |
| Ultima 7X50 | ex | vg | ex | ex | vg | ex | ex-- |
| ED 6.5X44 | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex |
| Leica | | | | | | | |
| Ultra 8X42 | vg | g+ | vg | ex | g | vg | vg+ |
| Minolta | | | | | | | |
| Weathermatic 7X42 | vg | g+ | ex | f | vg | vg | vg |
| Mirador | | | | | | | |
| A 8X42 | ex | ex | ex | ex | vg | ex | ex- |
| Nikon | | | | | | | |
| 7X35E | ex | ex | vg | ex | g | vg | vg+ |
| Optolyth | | | | | | | |
| Alpin 7X42 | ex | ex | vg | ex | ex | ex | ex |
| Pentax | | | | | | | |
| DCL 8X42 | vg | g | g | g | vg | vg | vg- |
| Swarovski | | | | | | | |
| Traditional 7X42 | ex | ex | vg | ex | vg | ex | ex- |
| SLC 7X42 | vg | g | vg | ex | g | ex | vg+ |
| Swift | | | | | | | |
| Ultralight 7X42 | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex |
| Ultralight 8X42 | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex | ex |
| Hawk 8X40 | ex | ex | g | g | vg | ex | vg |
| Audubon 8.5X44 | vg | g | ex | ex | vg | ex | ex-- |
| Zeiss | | | | | | | |
| 7X42 | vg | vg | vg | ex | vg | ex | vg++ |
