Binoculars.org

There are well over 50 brands of binoculars - some with monster advertising budgets and many you may never have heard of.  Big budget advertising allows vendors to put their products in the sights of potential binocular buyers.  As a long time binocular enthusiast who has had the chance to field test hundreds of binoculars, I find there are so many ”hidden gems” that don’t get noticed or recognized.  I wanted to share a list of binoculars that are truely outstanding in performance and value. 

Vortex 10×42 Viper Binoculars

Vortex is an amazing company out of Middleton, Wisconsin who is truely making a name for themselves with the outstanding quality of their binoculars.  This quality is found in all price points in the Vortex brand.  One series of binoculars from Vortex that really stands out is the Vortex Viper series binoculars.  In that series, the 10×42 is an amazing binocular that is truely worth pointing out.  Winner of the 2007 Field and Stream “Best of the Best” award, I couldnt agree more.  Priced under $600 it is a binocular that is unmatched in this price point.  Something that stands out on these binoculars is the quality and design of the focus wheel and eye relief adjustment.   I have never seen such a smooth focus wheel than what Vortex brings on nearly all of their binoculars and the mechanics of the twist-up eyecups feel like they were made to last.  The image brightness, edge-t0-edge sharpness and color are truely outstanding in this binocular, and in my opinion, unmatched by anyone in this price.  You will feel like you own a $1500 binocular.

Pentax 9×28 DCF LV Binoculars

These binoculars defy the rules of a binocular.  A compact that gathers light like a full size?  The Pentax 9×28 DCF LV binoculars recently won the Editors Choice Award at Outdoor Life Magazine.  It also won the Great Buy Award at Outdoor Life Magazine.  With its larger 28mm objective and supurb lens quality, these little roof prism binoculars act like a much larger size in terms of light gathering.  An extra large focus-wheel design makes them super easy to use, and these are compact enough to actually want to take them along with you everywhere you go.  Definitely a binocular that should be on anyone’s short list.

Brunton Eterna 15×51 Highpower Binoculars

These binoculars are not for everyone.  A birder would not like these binoculars.  But for open field hunting, long distance viewing, property surveillance, these high powered binoculars provide an exceptional image.  Most binoculars with magnifications over 12x are very dim and require a very large objective lens to be effective.  These binoculars deliver with quality lenses and an image that retains a good amount of light for its exceptional high magnification.  Another great binocular to consider for the observer with high magnification needs.