Customer Reviews

Olympus Outback 8x21 RC1 Binoculars

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

These binoculars are the best I've ever owned, the view is cristal clear and focusing is easy to operate. I like the way the strap is engineered to go through the pouch. This item is so small that it fits into a pocket or pocketbook. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the outdoors or even in concert hall. You can see features and details that other binoculars would miss and it is so light, less than a pound.

I ordered these binoculars for birdwatching with my 5 year old grandson and they are a perfect size for both of us and very light weight. They are easy to adjust and just what I was looking for so we could use them together. These were recommended by Consumer Reports as a Best Buy and they had compared them to other more expensive models - so I was really pleased that they were very affordable.

This was purchased as a gift for a Red Sox fan. Needless to say the binoculars have been to every home game since April. They are easy to operate, the clarity is excellent, and if wearing glasses, there is no problem with scratching.
The binoculars are light, fit in your pocket. A great deal!

We bought two pairs of these binoculars for a trip to Costa Rica, wanting something lighter than our beautiful but heavy Zeiss bins. When they came, one was defective - one side didn't focus - so we had to replace that just before departure. In use we found them lightweight, easy to use and the optics are quite OK for such cheap binoculars. I like the close focus and their pocketability. The right-eye diopter adjustment is quite loose so you need to tape it in place.

Main problem is, in CR it rains...and rains! There are so many opportunities for bins to get wet. Within a few days, both had moisture inside the left barrel. It took us a while to figure how to clean this out.

First you prise off the silver plastic shells, underside then topside, using a knife or small screwdriver in the seam where they snap together. (The plastic is tacked to the metal inner barrels with spots of glue, so this takes a bit of force). Only then can you twist off the eyepiece assembly and mop out the moisture. You have to get all glass surfaces, especially the prisms, scrupulously clean with lens cleaner and lint-free lens tissue, or else there will always be some cloudiness. Watch out for the little black plastic slider that goes diagonally thru the middle of each set of prisms - moisture gets in there too, you may have to yank it out and clean inside that slot.

Then put it all together and make sure it isn't hanging round your neck NEXT time you fall in the river or sea!

This fix worked for us, but don't try it unless you are fairly methodical and handy at fixing things

The Outback RC1 binocular was purchased for a recent trip to Alaska, where I cared not to carry heavier Nikon's I own. The RC1 is lightweight, but not cheap looking. In fact, they are quite attractive and sturdy. These binoculars easily fit in a jacket pocket when in the closed position. Optics are very clear, crisp (light capture is outstanding) and lack any noticeable peripheral distortion. The adjustable right eyepiece was perfect for correcting a vision issue I must deal with and eye relief comfortable for one wearing glasses. I found the field of vision excellent for sightseeing and will be nice for sports as well. I considered the Outback 10 X 21, but the field of vision is about 20% less, magnification is 25% stronger and the price slightly more than the 8 X 21. The 8 X 21 was best for my needs and proved so once in the field and in use. The included neck cord will keep the RC1 at the correct height for easy reach when something of interest is spotted. So, in a nutshell, I recommend the Outback RC1 without hesitation. Good luck on your buying decision.

This product is everything its claimed to be; light weight, compact, clear image, adapts to eyeglasses easily. The small size allows me to pack them in a corner of my camera bag. After trying out my pair, my neighbors are buying multiple units, some for themselves and others for gifts. A typical Olympus product; superior optics and light weight with low price as a bonus.

I got these to help me see detail in the model while portrait painting. I also considered butterfly-watching binoculars and opera glasses (La Scala Aida 3x25), but settled on these for the following reasons:

First, all the butterfly-watching binoculars that I could find reviews for were at least three times more expensive, out of my price range. They were also bigger and heavier.

Close focus distance on the Olympus is 7 feet. I'm usually sitting somewhere between 5 and 10 feet from the model. Opera glasses have a slight edge here with a larger field of view at the same distance, and a closer focusing distance of 6 feet. I noticed a little more distortion around the edges in the opera glasses.

The Olympus has rubberized eye cups, so they don't scratch my glasses. The eye cups extend for use without eyeglasses. The opera glasses had smooth polished metal eyepieces. They didn't scratch my glasses the few times I tried them, but they made me a little nervous.

The Olympus has an individual diopter adjustment: what this means is that you use the central focusing ring to adjust for your left eye, then use the right side focusing ring to fine tune for your right eye. After that, you can simply use the central focusing ring to adjust for viewing at different distances. This flexibility was great for me because I frequently take off and put on my glasses when painting very fine detail. The opera glasses only had the central focusing ring. (Another artist I know had opera glasses which could focus each eye individually, but she bought those years ago and couldn't recall the source.)

I have used these binoculars in an auditorium lit only by a high north-facing window, light enough to read but dim by photographic standards. The image in the binoculars seemed at least as bright as what I could see without them, but I didn't have a chance to compare the opera glasses in the same setting.

Given a choice, I would keep the opera glasses as a backup and for the larger field of view, but if I could only have one, especially because I wear eyeglasses, the Olympus 8x21 is the best compromise.

I would in no way consider myself a binocular enthusiast. I was going on a trip to Daytona International Speedway and wanted an inexpensive, small, yet effective set to use while I was there.

I did a little research and thought that for what I was looking for, and the price I had alloted for this, I would try these binoculars.

Overall I've been pretty happy with them and would recommend them to any novice or someone that's possibly looking for a pair to get their child as an introduction into birdwatching or general binocular use.

I have pretty bad eyes, one of which is significantly worse than the other. I don't know if this is standard on all binoculars, but this pair made it possible for me to adjust both eyes through first and then "fine tune" my worse eye......nice feature.

The Olympus Outback 8x21 RC1 Binoculars were highly rated by Consumer Reports and for the price, under $50, you cannot go wrong. These are quite bright, comfortable for those of us who wear glasses, can be adjusted for difference between left and right eyes, easy to focus and view through, have a close focus of about 10 to 11 feet, come with case and neck strap, and are quite compact.

The downsides are not a big deal but might be the weight--they are very light, the two lens caps are not of much value, the body of the binoculars is plastic--like most other optical products, and the case is quite small but useable. The price and optical quality make this a binoc that you don't mind leaving in the glove compartment. I'm not sure how they would fair if dropped on a hard concrete surface. My other binoculars are 8 x 40 Nikon Monarch series of which I really like but they are much larger, which I do not mind, and cost five to seven times more. Are they better? Yes--mechanically and optically. But, they are not something I'd leave in my glove compartment. If you do not want to pop the $275 to $400 for binocs, get the Olympus Outback 8 x 21--you will not be sorry.

I researched these binoculars extensively but could not find them at any local stores before purchasing. Relying largely on the Consumer Reports glowing review I went ahead and bought them. Electronics Expo shipped them promptly.

However at the Penn Relays Carnival I was very disappointed with their overall performance. Runners went in and out of focus quickly requiring multiple adjustments. I know how to set up the lenses and was disturbed by the distraction. They are technically sound and do provide a modicum of satisfaction due to their compact size and lightweight. This is more of a toy than serious optical binoculars. Great for lightweight casual viewing but no bargain even at $50.00. I agree that anyone who has tried Nikon or Pentax will be happier with those brands at the same power/price point. Spend a few bucks more for infinitely better results. Do not buy before visiting a store and trying them out. I won't necessarily be returning them but will likely have to buy a "real" pair of binoculars.