Bushnell H2O 7x50 - 157050

For many years - 30 and more - I had been using an old pair of Japanese 10X50 binoculars which knocked about in the car most of the time, and I was very satisfied with their versatility and performance. Then, having parted with a lot of books via Amazon Trade-In - an excellent scheme, by the way, in my view - and not really wanting to acquire more reading matter in their place, I decided to treat myself to a modern pair of binoculars. A revelation! These Bushnells are vastly better than the old Japanese porros. I had not used roof prisms before and it has to be said that using them is a different experience: they are heavier, but smaller and chunkier, and generally feel different in the hand. They may not have the most aesthetically pleasing design, but I bought them to look through, not to look at. I keep these for my use alone and the diopter is tight enough to remain firmly at my individual setting. The main focusing wheel turns smoothly and easily. To date, I have used the instrument mainly for watching garden birds in the daytime, and for that it is superb: the sharpness of focus is amazing. For dusk or night-time use, however, I have found that this instrument is not as bright as a good pair of 10X50 porros might be. (I also have an old pair of Zeiss Jenoptems which are better for star-gazing, for instance, and which I keep for that purpose.) If I did not have the 10X50 Zeiss and were needing to use the Bushnells at night, I might have been tempted to withhold the fifth star from my rating, but that is not the case, and indeed it would have been very unfair to do so, particularly as this Bushnell instrument is also available as an 8X42. That might be a brighter idea - literally - if night-time use is envisaged or if a wider field of view is important. (The 8X42 lets in 25% more light with an exit pupil of 5.25mm and I can assure you that on a dull day you will notice the difference.) So, if for some reason, your heart is set on a 10X42 and nothing else will do, then you should probably spend rather more and acquire an instrument with top-of-the-range optics and coatings. This should avoid the sometimes dull view I mentioned above, by compensating for the narrower exit pupil (4.2mm] which characterises all 10X42 instruments. One general note of caution : binoculars really need to be tested before purchase by the individual who will use them. I bought these, having first made sure to look through various pairs belonging to someone else. I knew immediately that these were the right choice for my very myopic eyes. Some of the other binoculars that I tested would simply not have been suitable, for one reason or another, and purchasing any of those by mail order without testing them first would have been foolish. UPDATE: After using the 10X42 for 3 months, and having been delighted by everything but the less-than-bright view in dull or twilight conditions, I decided to purchase an 8X42 instrument for use when the sun is not shining. If you have found this review helpful so far, you may like to read my further thoughts on the Bushnell H20 8X42 roof prism: The 8x42's field of view is of course somewhat wider, but what really strikes one is that in dull conditions the 8x42 is noticeably brighter than the 10x42. So in a nutshell, if you are buying only one pair, my advice is to get the 8x42. You will find that it gathers more light and can be used effectively both earlier and later in the day than the 10x42. If you buy the 10x42 instrument first, you will probably find, as I did, that you also need the 8x42. On the other hand, if you buy the 8x42 first, it is quite possible that you will never feel the need of a 10x42. (Incidentally, I use both instruments about equally; each is suited for different purposes and each functions optimally in slightly different conditions. On a dull day the 8X42 will show you more than the 10X42; On a bright day, the opposite is normally the case.) Some reviewers criticise these H2O roof prism binoculars on the grounds that they lack "phase-correction" and "fully" multi-coated optics. As explained above, this caveat may have some justification if applied to the 10X42. Nevertheless, judge the binoculars on their merits, I say! For the money, they represent excellent value to the casual user. (Before deciding to purchase the Bushnell 8x I made it my business to look through entry-level Swarovski binoculars. Phase-correction, full multi-coatings......the lot! Were they preferable to the Bushnells? Of course they were! They were also ten times the price! Are they ten times better binoculars? Hmmm.....Well, let's just say that for one quarter of the Swarovski price I was able to become the more-than-satisfied owner of two "not-quite-top-of-the-range" but (for my purposes) better than adequate, instruments - and thereby save myself £600!) One small concern -it may never become a problem- about both purchases is the lack of accompanying UK warranty information. The documentation included in the box is not very helpful about where UK residents should turn in the event of a fault developing.

Very happy. These bins are top notch.

Due to limited mobility stopping me striding out in the Dales and Lake District I have taken greater interest in the wildlife on their lower slopes and river valleys, and on my doorstep, the millennium forest along the Irwell Valley. I have been a lifelong user of Olympus optical products and so my search started with them. I had no knowledge or experience of Bushnell but noticed they featured a lot with retailers of hunting and shooting gear. So I did some background research, and liked what I saw. I was happy to spend up to £100 for bins that would function in all British weathers and would be tough enough to survive any falls I had. That ruled out the Nikon and Olympus offerings. As my use will be primarily "countryside" and not mudflats, at sea or vast open plains I wanted a 7 or 8 magnification combined with a 40 or 42 objective lense. They needed to be fully waterproof porro prisms, because the image quality, field of view and depth of field for viewing wildlife against trees and shrubs is far better than roof prisms. The trade off is the shape looks old fashioned, they are heavier and harder to waterproof. So far these bins have not disappointed, they are easy to set up for the slight difference in eye strength and can be altered for those who wear glasses if needed (I dont). I have tried them during twighlight and been able to pick out the juvenile heron stood stock still against reeds, the light transmission and brightness is impressive. I went out in the pouring rain with the bins around my neck, not in their carry case and when I did stop and watched the blackbirds mooching around they were crystal clear. The rear lense covers can be attached to the strap for ease of use and safekeeping. The front ones are loose but a flexible rubber so fare well in a pocket and they are all a good fit. They are easy to focus and maintain the focus, so the adjuster is not too loose. They dont feel heavy in use and being on a neck strap carrying them is not a problem. They were reduced in price when I bought them so I feel good value. If i were just wanting to watch birds in the garden at home in the dry, then i would have gone with the Olympus 8x40 DSPI but for outdoor use in bad weather these Bushnells win hands down

These water resistant binoculars are great for everyday use. The 10 x 42 spec is ideal for everything from game viewing in the African Bush, to looking at passing ships from a Kentish beach. The fact that they are water resistant is a big plus. I am a big fan of the Bushnell brand and have several other of their products. I've not yet been disappointed.

Brilliant light-weight Binocular at a great price. So far, I have used these to watch wild birds around local woodland and find them easy to focus. Clarity is just great and the magnification is right for wildlife viewing. I intend using these on safari in India early in 2016. Used them to view the "red moon" in September 2015 and had a great view that enabled me to set up my DSLR to take shots of this once in a lifetime phenomenon. A great buy from Amazon that I wish I had acquired sooner.

OK, so the positives, they're compact. Nice feel to them and a fairly nice, non descript dark blue. They provide decent vision for their size/magnification. I would like the eye pieces to be more of a "cup" type as this would block out wind and, in my opinion provide better visual quality by cutting out light around the this section and focus on what you are looking at. I managed to pick these up for £36, if they were £75 I would never have considered purchasing them for my needs. I had a better pair when I was younger but sadly like many items from my childhood I let my Mum throw them away. If they're on offer again then probably worth it but at £75 there may well be better options. I'm not expert when it comes to binoculars but I know how they function for me.

Decided on the 10x42 rather than the 8x42 & glad I did. Very clear and bright plus a good solid feel. I don't really need waterproof bins but due to the keen price on these I thought why not, just in case. Focusing is smooth & precise and the lens caps are attached so you don't lose them. Small point but useful. The strap & bag don't have the same quality feel as the binoculars but that's really not a problem & I haven't reduced the rating because of that as it's the binoculars I'm rating. For the casual user, like me, These fit the bill perfectly. They give a clear & sharp image, superb in bright sunlight and perfectly good in lower light conditions. Recommended.

I bought a pair for my father as a birthday present- and so I didn’t have to share my Luger binoculars with him at cricket matches. Unbelievably I found that they were even better than my prized pair - so I bought a pair too! I particularly like the ribbed surround which gives superior grip in the cold. Focusing is simple and crystal clear. A big thumbs up from me!