Midrange 8X42ish binocular advice.

[Nick Payne <>]

On 24/02/13 11:40, Alison Turner wrote:

I was wondering if anyone knows of a genuine (as opposed to company sponsored) review of midrange (around  $400-900) binoculars .  I was thinking about the Steiner Ranger 8X42 or SkyHawk /Merlin , but the review of the Cornell ornithological Lab in 2005 rated the Steiner models poorly, particularly in relation to eye glass friendliness , which is a top priority to me.  I cannot find a more recent review by COL (or anyone else) , and of course a lot may have changed in 8 years .  Given I am likely to buy via the net without trying, appreciate any steerage on this question.  Mid-range brands which did well in 2005 (including eyeglass friendliness) include Leupold, Nikon, and Pentax– appreciate any view if these are still the way to go or if better performers have emerged since then under the $1k.

Here's a listing of current mid-range 8x42 models, with a table showing the eye relief for each model: http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2011midpricebins/review.html.

The same site also lists higher-range models, some of which fall just within your price range if you're buying online: http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2012highendbins/review.html.

Nick