Main Chart |
with extended data |
November, 2007, Bird Watcher's Digest |
by Michael and Diane Porter |
|
|
Manufacturer |
Model |
Power |
Street Price |
SCORE: Fit & Feel |
SCORE: Focus Knob |
SCORE: Diopter Quality |
SCORE: Eyecup Quality |
SCORE: Optical Quality |
SCORE: Overall Quality |
Prism Style |
Field of View |
Eye Relief (mm) |
Close Focus (ft.) |
Water- proof? |
Wt. (oz.) |
Length (in.) |
Width (in.) |
Coatings |
Diopter Locks? |
Diopter Indicators |
Diopter Location |
Eyecup Style |
Leica |
8X20 |
$619 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
roof |
341 |
16.0 |
7.2 |
yes |
8.5 |
3.6 |
4.4 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
FK |
P |
|
Leica |
10X25 |
$679 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.7 |
roof |
273 |
15.0 |
10.5 |
yes |
9.4 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
FK |
P |
|
Minox |
8.5X43 |
$789 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
roof |
321 |
18.0 |
7.6 |
yes |
22.9 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Vortex |
8X42 |
$700 |
4.9 |
2.9 |
4.8 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
roof |
410 |
18.0 |
8.2 |
yes |
29.4 |
6.5 |
5.5 |
FMC |
Yes |
DM |
FK |
TC |
|
Minox |
8X33 |
$679 |
4.5 |
3.8 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
roof |
395 |
15.0 |
6.6 |
yes |
21.3 |
5.0 |
4.9 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Pentax |
8X32 |
$799 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
roof |
393 |
17.0 |
4.9 |
yes |
23.5 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Vortex |
8X42 |
$480 |
4.5 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
roof |
347 |
20.0 |
5.1 |
yes |
23.0 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
FMC |
Yes |
C |
E |
TC |
|
Leupold |
Katmai |
6X32 |
$290 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
roof |
425 |
19.2 |
4.9 |
yes |
18.2 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
FMC |
No |
D |
E |
TC |
Eagle Optics |
8X42 |
$300 |
4.5 |
4.9 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
roof |
341 |
19.5 |
5.2 |
yes |
21.8 |
5.8 |
5.1 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
TC |
|
Zeiss |
8X20 |
$450 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.3 |
roof |
351 |
14.0 |
8.2 |
yes |
7.9 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
FMC |
No |
M |
CF |
P |
|
Nikon |
10X42 |
$320 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
roof |
314 |
15.5 |
8.2 |
yes |
21.1 |
5.6 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
|
Bushnell |
Elite 2 |
10X42 |
$500 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
roof |
341 |
17.0 |
8.0 |
yes |
28.0 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
FMC |
Yes |
DM |
FK |
T |
Nikon |
8X36 |
$250 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
roof |
367 |
17.0 |
8.2 |
yes |
19.8 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Zeiss |
10X25 |
$490 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.7 |
4.2 |
roof |
285 |
14.0 |
13.1 |
yes |
8.6 |
4.7 |
3.8 |
FMC |
No |
M |
CF |
P |
|
Zeiss |
10X40 |
$800 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
roof |
315 |
15.0 |
9.8 |
yes |
29.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
C |
CF |
T |
|
Zeiss |
8X40 |
$770 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
roof |
360 |
16.0 |
9.8 |
yes |
28.9 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
C |
CF |
T |
|
Pentax |
10X43 |
$649 |
3.9 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
roof |
315 |
17.0 |
6.6 |
yes |
25.0 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Minox |
BL |
8X32 |
$349 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
roof |
429 |
15.5 |
6.2 |
yes |
18.5 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
Pentax |
8X43 |
$599 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
roof |
330 |
22.0 |
6.6 |
yes |
24.5 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
FMC |
Yes |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Celestron |
Noble |
10X50 |
$298 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
roof |
262 |
20.0 |
9.0 |
yes |
27.0 |
6.7 |
5.2 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
Kowa |
BD32-8x |
8X32 |
$440 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
roof |
430 |
15.0 |
6.0 |
yes |
19.7 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
Zeiss |
10X30 |
$520 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
roof |
288 |
15.0 |
9.8 |
yes |
18.0 |
5.2 |
4.5 |
FMC |
No |
C |
CF |
T |
|
Leupold |
Pinnacles |
8X42 |
$380 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.2 |
4.0 |
roof |
341 |
17.8 |
6.6 |
yes |
23.0 |
5.5 |
4.8 |
FMC |
No |
D |
E |
P |
Vortex |
8X42 |
$350 |
4.5 |
3.8 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
roof |
350 |
18.0 |
5.0 |
yes |
26.6 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
TC |
|
Zeiss |
8X30 |
$471 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
roof |
360 |
15.0 |
9.8 |
yes |
17.5 |
5.6 |
4.5 |
FMC |
No |
C |
CF |
T |
|
Kowa |
BD42-8x |
8X42 |
$530 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
roof |
361 |
18.3 |
6.5 |
yes |
25.8 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
Celestron |
10X42 |
$282 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
roof |
314 |
16.0 |
8.0 |
yes |
24.0 |
5.8 |
5.1 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
|
Swift Sport Optics |
Audubon (Model 828) |
8.5X44 |
$360 |
4.7 |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
roof |
336 |
19.0 |
9.0 |
yes |
23.4 |
5.8 |
4.9 |
FMC |
Yes |
DM |
FK |
T |
Minox |
BV 62167 |
8X42 |
$249 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
roof |
389 |
18.0 |
3.9 |
yes |
27.5 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
MC |
No |
M |
E |
TC |
Minox |
BL 62148 |
10X42 |
$399 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
roof |
344 |
16.0 |
8.2 |
yes |
22.9 |
5.6 |
5.0 |
MC |
No |
M |
E |
TC |
Bushnell |
Infinity |
8.5X45 |
$380 |
4.4 |
3.0 |
4.8 |
4.7 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
roof |
314 |
17.0 |
6.7 |
yes |
25.0 |
6.0 |
5.3 |
FMC |
Yes |
DM |
FK |
TC |
Swift Sport Optics |
Eaglet |
10X42 |
$490 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
roof |
261 |
16.0 |
6.5 |
yes |
23.6 |
5.4 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
D |
E |
T |
Swift Sport Optics |
Eaglet |
7X36 |
$450 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
roof |
374 |
16.0 |
5.9 |
yes |
20.6 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
D |
E |
T |
Fujinon |
HB |
12X60 |
$685 |
3.1 |
3.8 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
3.9 |
roof |
285 |
15.5 |
5.0 |
yes |
56.0 |
9.0 |
6.1 |
MC |
No |
DM |
FK |
TC |
Swarovski |
8X20 |
$629 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
roof |
345 |
13.0 |
13.0 |
yes |
7.6 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
FMC |
No |
M |
CC |
T |
|
Zeiss |
Conquest Compact |
8X20 |
$300 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
roof |
345 |
14.0 |
10.8 |
yes |
6.3 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
FMC |
No |
M |
CC |
F |
Kowa |
BD42-10x |
10X42 |
$560 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
roof |
344 |
17.6 |
6.6 |
yes |
26.3 |
5.7 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
Kowa |
BD32-10x |
10X32 |
$465 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
roof |
344 |
15.0 |
4.9 |
yes |
19.9 |
5.0 |
4.8 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
T |
Celestron |
Regal LX |
10X42 |
$452 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
roof |
319 |
16.0 |
6.0 |
yes |
25.0 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
FMC |
No |
DM |
E |
P |
Celestron |
Regal LX |
8X42 |
$442 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
roof |
340 |
20.0 |
6.0 |
yes |
25.0 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
FMC |
No |
DM |
E |
P |
Alpen |
Model 493 |
8X42 |
$305 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
roof |
341 |
20.0 |
4.0 |
yes |
19.4 |
5.8 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
DM |
E |
TC |
Swarovski |
10X25 |
$681 |
3.2 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
3.8 |
roof |
285 |
13.0 |
16.0 |
yes |
8.1 |
4.6 |
3.7 |
FMC |
No |
M |
CC |
T |
|
Carson Optical |
XM-832HD |
8X32 |
$270 |
3.9 |
4.3 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
roof |
420 |
15.5 |
9.8 |
yes |
20.6 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
T |
Alpen |
Model 495 |
10X42 |
$320 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
roof |
315 |
16.0 |
5.0 |
yes |
24.0 |
5.6 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
DM |
E |
TC |
Zeiss |
Conquest Compact |
10X25 |
$380 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
roof |
285 |
14.0 |
18.0 |
yes |
7.1 |
4.7 |
3.8 |
FMC |
No |
M |
CC |
F |
Leupold |
Cascades |
8X42 |
$250 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
Porro |
341 |
18.0 |
9.9 |
yes |
22.9 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
MC |
Yes |
M |
FK |
T |
Pentax |
10X42 |
$299 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
roof |
315 |
18.0 |
8.2 |
yes |
22.2 |
5.7 |
5.2 |
FMC |
No |
D |
FK |
TC |
|
Alpen |
Teton 84 |
8X42 |
$599 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
roof |
383 |
17.0 |
8.2 |
yes |
26.5 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
M |
E |
TC |
Alpen |
Model 496 |
8.5X50 |
$330 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
roof |
290 |
20.0 |
16.0 |
yes |
28.0 |
7.0 |
5.0 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
TC |
Canon |
Image Stabilizer |
12X36 |
$579 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
Porro |
262 |
15.0 |
12.0 |
no |
31.4 |
6.9 |
5.0 |
MC |
No |
M |
E |
F |
Canon |
Image Stabilizer |
10X30 |
$359 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
3.5 |
Porro |
314 |
14.5 |
13.8 |
no |
22.0 |
5.9 |
5.0 |
MC |
No |
M |
E |
F |
Pioneer Research |
Steiner Wildlife Pro |
10.5X28 |
$299 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
4.0 |
3.4 |
roof |
264 |
13.0 |
8.5 |
yes |
11.0 |
5.5 |
4.5 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
F |
Pioneer Research |
Steiner Merlin |
8X42 |
$469 |
2.1 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
roof |
342 |
19.0 |
6.9 |
yes |
27.0 |
6.4 |
5.2 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
F |
Pioneer Research |
Steiner Merlin |
8X32 |
$429 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
roof |
336 |
15.0 |
8.9 |
yes |
20.0 |
5.5 |
5.2 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
F |
Pioneer Research |
Steiner Merlin |
10X42 |
$499 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
roof |
274 |
18.0 |
7.9 |
yes |
25.0 |
6.4 |
5.2 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
F |
Pioneer Research |
Steiner Wildlife Pro |
8.5X26 |
$279 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
roof |
333 |
13.0 |
6.5 |
yes |
9.7 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
FMC |
No |
C |
E |
F |