Customer Reviews

Pentax Whitetails Unlimited 10x25 DCF WP Binoculars

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

 

 

First the good news...

A nylon neckstrap and case are included that weren't mentioned in the description. The case has a belt loop that will only work with a pretty narrow belt. The case also has a strap which isn't long enough to wear "purse style". I guess you're just supposed to wear it around your neck and it seems bulky that way... The strap is sewn on and can't be removed if you're using the belt loop.

There is a diopter adjustment not mentioned in the description... I was hoping for that.

The build is very sturdy and better than the photo makes it look. They are all metal construction. The focus knob operates easily and there's no "play".

Now the bad...

The image quality is not good at all. I know you can't expect the best image quality from the smaller 25mm objective lenses, but I expected a little more for the price and due to the Pentax brand name. They need good light. The color accuracy is OK, but the contrast is poor. The detail, clarity and sharpness are about as poor as I've seen through any pair of binoculars. They also seem EXTREMELY sensitive to the angle you hold them at. You have to be looking EXACTLY straight though them to see anything at all... The eye pieces have to be adjusted the PERFECT distance apart. The overall experience I get looking through these is that objects are brought much closer... but it's like I'm not wearing my glasses. Images are not sharp enough that I would even consider these useful for much.

The warranty is NOT lifetime as claimed in the Amazon description. A one-year warranty slip was included in the heat-sealed plastic package. That was also disappointing.

All in all...

The waterproof and sturdy all metal construction is nice, but it also makes them kind of heavy for a smaller binocular. Might as well go with 10X50, let in some more light and get better image quality for less money if you don't really need waterproof. I've seen better image quality through some cheap, Walmart brands of binoculars with 25mm objective lenses. Maybe they were 5x25 or 8x25... I don't remember... Maybe 10x is just too much magnification to ask for with the smaller 25mm objective lenses. Maybe they tried for too wide a field of view with the smaller objective lenses and 10x magnification.

Anyway... I wouldn't buy these again. My next pair of binoculars will be 10x50 or 12x50 and I'll probably stay away from Pentax just in case after this rather disappointing purchase.

I expected Pentax has good binoculars....I was wrong.
I can get clear scenery through this product even though I followed the guideline. I won't recommend my friends to buy this product.

This item is described as
# Waterproof for use in inclement weather conditions
# Compact and rugged full metal body with rubber armoring for a sure grip
# High-resolution wide-angle design
# Pentax Lifetime Worry-Free Warranty

Not true. The warranty is only one year according to the paper enclosed with the binocs, NOT lifetime as claimed on this page. The warranty specifically excludes water damage. Does that make sense for a thing touted as waterproof?

Eye relief is not listed on this page, and it is easy to see why. Eye relief is especially poor at only 9.3 mm. This makes these binocs worthless for use while wearing eyeglasses.

Other Pentax DCF-series binocs have eye relief about twice as long. Naively optimistic buyers may assume these have the same excellent optics as other Pentax DCF binocs, but they most certainly do not.

Other Pentax DCF-series binocs also have precise focusing mechanisms with no evident slack. These "Whitetail" binocs have internal focus that does not move AT ALL during about twenty degrees of rotating the focus wheel back and forth. That HUGE amount of slack in the focusing mechanism makes precise focusing a royal pain.

Nothing on the binocs themselves says "Pentax" or "DCF". It's no mystery why the marketers of this stuff want to keep a once-valuable trade mark off such mediocre goods. Even the cardboard packaging has the word "Pentax" printed only on the back, and the series designation "DCF" is nowhere to be seen.

Glad I paid only ten dollars for these. They'll be a nice toy for my grandson.

I purchased these impulsively during a gold box sale and at the price I paid, I'm very pleased. At the regular price, I'd be very unhappy for the lower quality of this Pentax product than I'd expected, based upon their retail price. Although I haven't tested the waterproof status, they did work fine during the snowstorm when I needed to see the license plate of a truck which dumped trash in our dumpsters, so that was worth the price I'd paid. The teensy cleaning pad is barely worth including, but if one has no other, then I guess this is an asset. The lightweight case is fine and if you're out for a walk with this attached to your belt loop, then that's another bonus which enables a quick draw. The one thing that was less than expected is the single year warranty. My needs are really to simply espy the culprits from my balcony and I use a more substantial binocular for bird watching and other more detailed applications. These are small and lightweight, comfortable in small hands and I'd imagine they would make a younger person very happy to spy on their neighbors, should they elect to do so. These are not quite opera glasses, but I think they would also be appropriate for toting to the concert or sports event because they don't take up a lot of space. Wearing eyeglasses is not a problem with these binoculars as they can be adjusted to your individual vision. Just remember which end goes against the eyes and you're all set.

I can usually smell those deer by the time I need these, but hey for $10, this was a steal. I'd give it five stars, but they don't magically float in front of my eyes. Work on it Pentax. Quality optics for a zoom system, dirt simple to use. Haven't read any reviews, but if someone has operational issues, please contact their group home administrator and tell them to stay off Amazon.