Customer Reviews

Leupold Cascades 8X42Mm Binocular black 53530

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Purchased these a week ago, and haven't been able to put them down. They are shockingly similar in overall quality to a pair of 8x30 Swarovski SLC binoculars I used for several years but lost. Center sharpness and contrast are excellent, and even edge sharpness is very good- which is surprising for a binocular of this low price. The weatherproofing has already handled snow and rain, with no difficulties. Coatings on lenses and prisms seem to be excellent, given great low light performance, as well as almost no color distortion- even in difficult lighting conditions. (Just did early morning bird watching with some snow on the ground and the sun rising- no color distortion- even on edges of brightest, whitest areas.) The only improvement I can think of for these, at this price, is a wider field of view- but the 6.5 degrees is still totally acceptable- just not quite the 8 degrees plus I was used to from the Swarovski. But we'll let that slide because of the $700 savings!!!! Also, if you destroy these, you won't feel the need to purchase them a burial site. $250 isn't cheap for me, but it sure beats $950. As a side note, these binoculars can even handle direct viewing of bright lights at night, with very little flaring. This is a great test of lens coating and internal "baffling" to keep views clear. Also, the strap that comes with these is the best I have ever seen- it has a stretch fabric pad on it at the neck portion- which makes it as though you aren't even wearing them. I have read complaints about the lens caps in reviews on other sites, which say they fall off easily. I don't use caps when I carry them, so this isn't an issue. Also, the lenses are set back into the rubber armoured surround- so it would be challenging to find a way to scratch the lenses anyway. Also, no offense to Nikon, but I did a side by side of these and the 8x42 monarchs at a sporting goods store- the performance is similar, but the view through Leupolds is MUCH brighter. FOR THE PRICE, THIS IS A 5 STAR PRODUCT.