Barr & Stroud 8X42 Sierra Binoculars

I don't write reviews for everything I buy, who has that sort of time? I thought I would make the effort though with these as I'm really happy with my purchase. I decided to buy another binocular/pair of binoculars for travelling,hiking etc. as the porro prism 10x50s I had were too bulky and heavy. I had been happy enough with them though, otherwise, until I got these! Even though they're smaller and less powerful than the 10x50s, they provide a brighter,clearer and seemingly bigger view. You wouldn't think they were only 8x42. The eye relief is great for spectacle wearers too. With my glasses on, the view is still bigger than without them on the previous pair. The glass is a world beyond in terms of clarity - the lenses are edge to edge clear, very little distortion, only a negligible amount of purple fringing and are pin sharp. Colours seem accurate and they are pretty good in fading light. The build is also very good; they're solid but not too heavy, but not too light as to feel like a toy. The lens caps are pretty good, with the objective covers attaching to the barrels via removable rubber rings, and the eyepiece cover (it is two caps joined) being completely removable. In short, they are perfect for birding/wildlife spotting and are compact, fairly light and very good value for money. I think if I upgrade it would be out of choice rather than necessity. They seem like they'll last. Also, for anyone thinking of buying the Bushnell h20 8x42s, spend the extra and buy these. They're much better in every respect (especially for glasses wearers). I owned the Bushnells and decided to sell them. Cons if I had to name a couple, would be the mediocre case/bag (the velcro fastener isn't great), and the cheapo straps on both the case and bins.

Firstly I would like to say I’m no expert in binoculars. I researched online to see what the best binoculars were for my purpose. I walk out dogs along farm track and riverbanks as well is bagging Munro’s so was looking for something light and easy to use and good quality. After a lot of searching I found a pair of vortex Diamondback 8x42. Sadly they were out my budget at £180. So after more research online I found these Barr and Stroud serria 8x42 with the same speck and at £79. So I bought these. Well I’m glad I did. The build quality is very good and sit easy in hand. Eye and lens caps do there job well. The neck strap is comfortable. The storage bag with strap is of very good quality as well. Comes with warranty card and lens cleaning cloth. On my first outing with them I am really really pleased with them and the clarity of the images and how far a distance I can see with clarity is superb. Really sharp views. I can not recommend these binoculars enough to an amateur like me. They will fit perfect in my rucksack when hiking.

Like the previous reviewer I spent some time deciding which binoculars to buy. They are to be used primarily for bird watching and 8 times magnification seemed to be a sensible level. That was the easy bit! Roof prism or Porro was the next decision. Most of the reviews favoured the slightly more expensive roof type because of its compactness. Of course, you can end up paying a fortune on binoculars if you want the very best. However, the Barr & Stroud range appeared a sensible compromise. They are generally well reviewed as being a good quality product at sensible prices. Of all the Barr & Stroud ranges the Sierra range appeared the most appropriate to my needs. For a start they are generally lighter than the Sahara range and in respect of the 8 X magnification some 25% lighter. To my surprise there was no difference in weight between the 8 X 42 and the 8 X 32 model. I decided to go for the former because it performed better in low light conditions. Another reason for choosing the Sierra range was the excellent close focus distance of 2 metres. The series 4 close focus distance was a massive 4.5 metres which rather ruled it out for viewing insects. All in all this binocular ticked all the boxes. The item was quickly dispatched and arrived in perfect condition. I am very pleased with these binoculars. They are easy to hold, not too heavy and easy to adjust for your individual preferences. Most importantly the quality of the image is first class. Sadly, the item is no longer available but I hope that it will be in stock in the near future.

I was looking for a pair of binoculars that were good for bird watching. Wanted them to be water-resistant at least and not too heavy so we could take them out walking with us. Finally decided to go for a prism type (bit more compact) and came across Barr and Stroud that seemed to be getting good-ish reviews. These feel very sturdy. The sit well in my hands (I don't have the biggest pair of hands) and aren't too weighty either. The focus is smooth and precise. They are easily adjustable both for eye width and with the screw out eye pieces. They come with rubber lens protection that attach to the body, but I could perhaps see these getting broken/mislaid at some time in the future. The performance is really good. I've been somewhat spoiled having used my Dad's Leica bins (which are exceptional). However, for the price, these are absolutely fine. They are bright and very sharp. There is some very slight fringing, but you have to be looking for it rather than it being noticable in normal use. There seems to be an increasing number of bins at a similar spec at this price point, but having used these, I'm really happy with my choice.