MavenB2 45 mm ED Binocular (11X45, Gray/Orange)

I needed one of the very best binoculars for different purposes, birding being an important one.I had several different binoculars, all from good brands but they were all old.The good thing with optical instruments is that they do not age and perform as well 10 years later as when you first got them. But technology improves and I decided to add to my collection. Based on reviews I found the Maven, I had never heard of them before but I purchased the 9x45 and I was very surprised by its clarity, the details, the lack of distortion. It was by far the best binoculars I had. I kept them for almost a month, and I decided that I would try the very top, I purchased the Swarovski 10x42 NL Pure and I returned the Maven.I must say that, yes, the Swaros are better, but they cost 3 times the price and the difference is definitely not in that range... The main negative aspect of the Maven was its weight and given that I am an old man, shaking has happened and it is difficult for me to hold the binoculars stable.The Swaros are a little lighter but even though they are 10x instead of 9x, the shaking is practically gone.This is because of a little clever accessory called FRP (Forehead Rest) only available on the latest Swaros.It essentially add a 3rd support, you can research it.My net is I definitely recommend the Maven, but if you can spend the money then...I should add that I bought both binoculars from Amazon and I had no problem returning the Maven.

I poured over countless articles dealing with the best binoculars for birding, and even tried a few pair by other manufacturers. I ordered and tried a pair of $1000 Nikon Monark HG 8 x 42s, and I was not impressed: my 15-year-old Vortex 8 x 42s were every bit as good. I sent them back for credit. I also tried a pair of Zeiss Terra 8 x 42s, which are much less expensive but well-rated for birding. They also offered no improvement over my Vortex 8 x 42s. I sent them back as well. I had never heard of Maven prior to this "investigation" but the more I read about their products and their company, the more I realized I should try them. Well, the Mavens are delightful and much brighter than any binocular I have ever looked though, plus the 9 power does add a bit more magnification when birding. If you didn't know, Maven is an American company and offers a lifetime warranty every bit as good as Vortex. I am truly pleased to have purchased these binoculars. (By the way, I wear glasses and the 9 x 45s offer excellent eye relief and full field of view, plus the close focus of 4.9 feet is mighty impressive.)

So I’m an optimist especially when it comes to US products. I have been doing my homework and settled the 11x45 Maven B.2.They’re sturdy, dense, great warranty and look great. They have a reputation for clarity that rivals the big dogs at half the price. First the pros…then the cons.Pros: clarity. I have compared them side by side in high and low light situations with 12x Swarovski’s they are on the same level. No joke they gather light as well and are clear almost edge to edge. At less than half the price!Now some cons for me: the front rubber rings came off the second day. Ya my bino harness rubs but…Now a big con!I just got back from elk trip to Colorado. I had my lenses cloud up on me in the bottom of a canyon. Upon further examination I found something scratched my eyepiece lenses. Now I’ve been hunting for 38 years and have owned many sets of Binos. I have never had a par scratch from using my T-shirt or a soft cloth. I never used anything abrasive, I used a clean cloth as far as I know and now they’re unusable. I will be contacting the factory and see what they can do to remedy this. I’m very disappointed!Pros or cons depending on you: So I would put them in my Bino harness and pull them back out and one of them would be completely collapsed, and the other one would be fully extended. When I put them to my eyes, it drove me crazy over and over. I started to just adjust them all the way out every time. Which wasn’t perfect for my eye relief, but at least it was a quick adjustment. Some people may like them to adjust easily, but not me. I would like them to be stiffer or lock in place. The second pro or con is focused adjustment. It moves very quickly with very little movement on the dial. This makes adjustments quick, but there were even sometimes I felt like I could not get a clear focus because it would move so quickly past clear.Overall for the price (besides the scraped lenses) I believe them to be one of the best on the market. The rubber ends falling off only change the look, not the use. Not a big deal to me. If you’re patient you can deal with the fast focus dial and collapsing eye cups. This makes the functionality is a bit sloppy. For the price the value is there. If you can afford a bit more, it may be worth saving for another season and getting your dream set.

First of all – the optics on my Maven B2 11X45mm binoculars are exceptional. I will get to that but I must applaud the customer service first.I was embarking on a road trip to Yellowstone NP and had a minor issue with an accessory that could have made my birding trip less than perfect. I contacted Maven and they procured me a new accessory, coordinating while I was traveling, to get it to me in route. Wow.With Maven’s business model, one gets top of the line optics for less than the price of other brands. The B2 11X45mm are phenomenal to identify the minute colors and markings of birds and animals from afar. Additionally, it’s uncanny how this clarity works when viewing five meters away.I highly recommend these binoculars because of their clarity, value, and Maven’s customer service.

I'm hooked - I could do an advertisement for Maven - but beside all the other outstanding features - the one that hooks yeah - is the focus. It's a religious experience. It makes me want to throw rocks at every pair of binoculars Ive ever held in my hands. It's amazingly fast and short and SURE.Things snap into focus.Maybe I can explain it like this:You rarely go past the sharp focus point and have to come back to it.Sooo - Things snap into focus!!!.