Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8 x 42 Binocular

by Bushnell

Product Features

• Standard-sized binocular with 8x magnification and 42mm objective lens
• Color-tuned, high-resolution ED Prime Extra-Low Dispersion glass
• Ultra Wide-Band lens coating guarantees maximum brightness at peak shooting hours
• RainGuard HD water-repellent coating; extra-wide field of view
• Trim, lightweight ergonomic shape; twist-up eyecups; weighs 22.4 ounces

Product Description

Amazon.com

As binoculars go, they don't get clearer or brighter than the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x42 model. The Legend Ultra HD binocular has three key ingredients to help it stand out from the competition: ED Prime Extra-Low Dispersion glass, an Ultra Wide-Band anti-reflective lens coating, and Bushnell's patented RainGuard HD water-repellent coating. ED Prime glass produces a color-tuned, high-resolution viewing experience, delivering the utmost in clarity and color fidelity in normal and low-light situations. The Ultra Wide-Band coating, meanwhile, averages 7.25 percent more light transmission compared to other binoculars. This guarantees maximum brightness at peak shooting hours, when warmer colors traditionally prevail. And the RainGuard HD coating protects your view during inclement weather by reducing large drops of water to near-microscopic specks. This dramatically increases light transfer and results in a remarkably clear image in wet weather. Whether you're dealing with rain, snow, sleet, or condensation, you'll enjoy a clear, bright view when other optics would be rendered useless.

The Legend Ultra HD binocular also offers an extremely wide field of view, making it easy to monitor moving animals or objects. To keep your hands comfy on a day-log hike, the binocular offers a trim, lightweight ergonomic shape with a streamlined feel. And as a bonus, the Legend Ultra HD comes with a deluxe binocular harness and premium case with a microfiber cleaning cloth. Additional features include BaK-4 prisms; twist-up eyecups; a large center focus knob for precise focusing even when wearing gloves; soft touch grips; long eye relief; and a locking diopter.

Specifications

• Magnification: 8x
• Objective lens: 42mm
• Close focus distance: 6.5 feet
• Lens coating: Fully multicoated
• Field of view: 426 feet @ 1,000 yards
• RainGuard HD coating: Yes
• Eyecups: Twist up
• Eye relief: 17.2mm
• Tripod adaptable: Yes
• Focus system: Center
• Exit pupil: 5.25mm
• Prism glass: BaK-4
• Waterproof/fogproof: Yes
• Prism system: Roof
• Size class: Standard
• Weight: 22.4 ounces

About Bushnell
Bushnell has been the industry leader in high-performance sports optics for more than 50 years. The company's guiding principle is to provide the highest quality, most reliable, and most affordable sports optics products on the market. Bushnell product lines enhance the enjoyment of every outdoor pursuit, including nature study, hunting, fishing, birding, and stargazing. Indoors, the company's binoculars bring the audience closer to the action in fast-moving sports or the fine arts at theaters and concerts.

Product Description

8 x 42mm Light, bright wide view and tough. See what the new Legends are made of. Totally redisgned with a high-performance optics upgrade and a slimmer, lighter, tougher body design, and it's easy to see where we got the "Ultra-HD." For the ultimate in color fidelity, brightness and light transmission, they're equipped with super-premium ED Prime Glass. The razor-sharp optics are fully multi-coated and feature our new Ultra Wide Band Coating that optimizes brightness and contrast. New Rainguard HD also boosts light transmission while ensuring foul weather or your own breath will never cost you a view. We cut the weight by adding a magnesium chassis, and enhanced comfort wit soft-tough grip accents on the runnber-armored housing. A locking diopeter maintains your settings. With class-leading field of view and extra-long eye relief, the latest chapter of the Legend covers more country with less effort than ever before.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.8 x 4.2 inches ; 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00200C7L8
• Item model number: 198042
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,925 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Birding Binocular in this price range. What a Surprise!, February 14, 2011

By 

Missouri Eagle "Van" (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8 x 42 Binocular (Electronics)

The Bushnell Legend HD binoculars surprised me. I've been birding for over 45 years. I own and have owned dozens of binoculars. Some lasted years, some only months. I've had Bushnells, Trax, Nikon's, Kowa's, and some I have no idea on the brand/mfg. For the past few years I've purchased Nikon's. They are well made, have excellent optics, and carry all price ranges I'm interested in.

For those younger or new to binoculars, the numeric designation 10 x 50, 8 x 40, 7 x 35, 8 x 42 etc refers to magnification/power x Lense Diameter. A 10 power lens brings the subject 'closer' than the 8 or 7 power. (10 times or 8 time 'magnified') The diameter is the diameter of the lense, so 50mm is a bigger diameter than 35 mm or 40 or 42 mm. The magnification and lens diameter are important to understand when picking the right binoculars for how they are going to be used.

I learned three rules to live by if you're going to buy binoculars for birding:

Rule 1. ALWAYS choose MINIMUM of 5 multiplier between magnification and diameter. ( 7 x 35, 8 x 40, 10 x 50) because of the amount of light the lens diameter allows in compared to the 'distance/magnification. Example, a 7 x 25 is fine for sporting events, operas, backyard casual birding because the subject is not very far away, and the lighting is usually good. But in the often low / changing light conditions in nature / outdoors, it's critical you have enough light for the distance you're trying to see. The 5 times rule is also important for Field of View (FOV) usually shown as NNN feet at 1000 yards. That's simply, how much 'real estate/range' can you see in the view finder. If the object is 1000 yards away and you have NNN 'width/field' to locate a bird or object.

Rule 2. Try the binoculars to make sure they're comfortable and easy to use so they're comfortable in your hands and so you don't buy more magnification than you can use. Higher magification requires steadier hand or some sort of prop or surface to rest your elbows or the binoculars on. It's very difficult to really see detail if the binoculars are shaking or moving as you try and focus in. (The same is true of high powered telephoto lenses which is why Tripods and monopods are critical when using anything over a 400mm camera lense) I do still use my Nikon 10 x 50 but only when I need that extra magnification and can steady them for observation. I can sit, rest my elbows on my knees on a table and minimize the shake/movement, but that also restricts my ability to quickly move to a different bird, or different view.

Rule 3. Check the weight of the binoculars. Holding them for a few minutes in a store does not tell you how they'll be when carried for hours. Larger lenses (like the 50 mm) weigh more than a 35, 40, 42, 45 so carrying them around your neck, in a chest harness or in a gear bag can get to be more than necessary. Many Binoculars are simply constructed from different materials. Heavy does NOT necessarily mean 'well built', just as 'lighter' does not mean 'cheap plastic, flimsy, or not well constructed.

So, when I decided to look for lighter smaller binoculars than my Nikons, I knew I wanted at least an 8 x 40. I had settled on the Nikon Monarch (7430 or 7432) 8 x 42 after I tried a friend's pair, and read reviews on what choices I had in the 8 x 40 range because it seemed to be the best in my price range to meet my rules and needs. I tried them and loved them. The fact that they were 8 x 42 instead of 8 x 40 was an 'extra bonus' (2mm more light without sacrificing magnification) Then I went to the sporting good store to buy them. The Sales person pulled out the Nikon Monarch, a couple of Leupolds, and a Swarovski. I tried them all in turn and for my rules (and my price range) decided I was right the Monarch was the choice. I told him 'Monarchs are perfect for me'. The sales person put the others away and as he put my new Monarchs on the counter, casually mentioned the new Bushnell legend that had just arrived a few days before. I said, I don't care for Bushnell (I owned a pair of 'cheap' Bushnell Binoculars about 20 -25 years ago and had no reason to consider Bushnell) but the sales guy was really just being nice and polite so I said ' sure, I'll take a look' fully intending and expecting to find, I would buy the Monarch.

Well, you ever have one of those 'I can't believe it's not butter' moments? It happens once in a while, when the Grilled Steak or chicken, or the pot of Chili comes out just right......or your son comes home beaming with straight A's or a new girlfriend or both. This was one of those moments.

WOW.... the difference of the clarity, light, and feel amazed me. I've never really been a big fan of Bushnell and I was a huge fan of Nikon. These Bushnell Legend HD binoculars blew the Monarch away and for effectively the same price. The poor Sales guy...... I spent the next 20 minutes looking first through the Nikon Monarch, then the Bushnell's viewing the same object or scene with both, then through both again at something else.... I think he was getting worried he'd just confused me and lost a sale. I know he was worried his boss would yell at him to ring me up and get on to another customer. Well he didn't lose the sale. I'm not sure if he missed any other customer sales though. I truly could not believe the difference between them. It was apples to apples comparison. Same 8 x 42, waterproof, weight, price point, you name it.

I'd owned the Nikon 10 x 50 for about 3 years and before the new Bushnell's used them 40 - 50 times per year on birding weekends and birding vacations. Since I bought the Bushnell Legend, a little over a year ago, I've only taken the Nikon's with me once on a birding trip and have not missed them. I still use the Nikons at home, they sit beside my chair in the living room for quick access if I need them. or I let my younger wife use them when she goes birding with me.

The Bushnell Legend HD I bought came with a soft cloth case and a hard case and I've used them both. They also came with a conventional 'neck' strap and a shoulder/chest harness and have used both of them a different time. After over a year of regular use, they still look and perform like new. I've been in extreme heat, cold, rain, wind with them and they've held up better than some binoculars I've owned in the past.

If you're looking for an excellent pair of binoculars in the $200-300 range you can't go wrong. I'd stack these up against most of the $500-900 binoculars out there (Leupold, Swarovarski, and Zeiss)for several reasons. One, if I have to I can replace them 2 or 3 times for the same investment as One of the higher end binoculars. Second, I often Bird with groups of birders and find people using $100 - $1500 binoculars. We often, 'compare' or hand binoculars off to see what binoculars are best. (I wear glasses, so eye relief is important, I'm in my 60's so handling and weight as well as 'steadiness' is important, and the ability to see detail in early morning or dusky light is absolutely critical). After other birders look thru my bushnells, they smile, gasp, say 'really' or just look at the bushnells in disbelief. I even had one tell me "yeah they're nice but I can't really afford $600-$700 binoculars. I'll stick to my $300 range." I offered to sell them to him for $325 then I'd just go buy another pair for under $300 but when he said 'sure' I couldn't go through with it. I told him to check Amazon and pick them up for less than 300 including shipping. I also told him if Amazon was out I'd help him find a pair. He found them on Amazon for under $250. He called me two weeks later just laughing and thanking me. I don't know what he's going to do with his old 'expensive' binoculars. Maybe he'll carry them and find another birder who wants to upgrade.

You can't go wrong with the Bushell Legend HD in whatever magnification and lens you're comfortable with.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great binoculars, July 30, 2009

By 

Lawrence Jones (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8 x 42 Binocular (Electronics)

These are my first upscale binoculars, replacing a 35 year old Sears 10x50 ultra wide angle binoculars with broken focus. What an improvement! These are light weight (12 oz less than my old clunker), much brighter, remarkably wide field of view, sharp edge-to-edge, comfortable, well made. The rubbberized grip feels good.

This model comes with rubber lens caps that stay with the unit (after you thread the strap through the eyepiece cap) but can be easily removed and stored, two straps (small and large padded) plus a chest harness that clip to pre-mounted 6" hanger straps, a soft bag, a semi-hard case (7 oz) and a small lens cloth.

Inter-eyepiece spacing is adjustable 59-75 mm ("PD" for glasses). Minimum focus is about 7' for my old eyes, less with my glasses. The FOV is at least 10% wider than my old pair which claimed 420 ft at 1000 yds.

"Adapt to tripod" feature means you can buy an adapter ($15) for use with standard tripods.

The wide FOV and other specs (light weight, ED glass, etc), and a reasonable price, drew my attention. For general purpose binoculars, I can't imagine a better product. Recommended.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x42 great but 1 problem, January 9, 2010

By 

Kay E. Oring "Buz" (Susanville,CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8 x 42 Binocular (Electronics)

These are a great bargain. I own many binoculars, including Swarofskis. I purchased these for their wide angle, light wt. and ED glass. They are superb! However, the first day out, the outer lens caps slid off and I only found one. I called Bushnell; first they said a replacement would be sent; next I received a form letter stating that they could not fulfill my request; I called Customer Service and was told that the company decided not to stock replacement lens caps!!!!!!!! So one needs to put a drop of glue or silicon on the ring to hold it on the binocular when you pop the cap off.