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.

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.
br /The binoculars are light, fit in your pocket. A great deal!

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 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 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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /Then put it all together and make sure it isn't hanging round your neck NEXT time you fall in the river or sea!
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br /This fix worked for us, but don't try it unless you are fairly methodical and handy at fixing things

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.
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br /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.

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.
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I love these binocs. Very light and compact, and they work quite well. I've had larger binoculars in the past that are heavy and clunky - and it seemed I could never see well with them using both eyes at once. The Olympus Outback 8x21 binoculars work well, are not tricky to use, and are easy to take anywhere.

Took these glasses on our vacation and we were amazed at the clarity and amount we were able to see with such an inexpensive pair of binoculars. Very good. Would recommend 100%

I bought these binoculars for my son who uses them mainly for bird watching, but also for concerts and general viewing when sightseeing. They are easy to focus and present clearly. The small size makes them easy to toss into a bag or backpack. The only negative with these binoculars are that little lens caps are easy to lose.
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I bought these as a gift for my Dad. They are just what I wanted and everything I'd read when researching products. My dad was delighted with them, they are convenient due to size and weight and he's already used them on walks and will be good for shows.

Great looks, compact and very functional. I'm so pleased with my purchase I'll buy another one for my boat. It's so easy to stow away.

They far exceeded my expectations. Consumer Reports got this one right. Now my wife wants her own pair as does my mom.

I was well-satisfied with my purchase of the Olympus Outback RC1 binoculars. The price was reasonable, and the quality of the product is excellent.

Olympus Outback 10x21 RC1 Binoculars Excellent product. Lived up to recommendation in leading consumer magazine. I recommend this product.

My son used the binoculars to view the night sky and was very surprised at what he could see with them. He is an astronomer so knows the sky and what he wants to find. He's very pleased. Next he'll use them at the San Francisco Symphony when he sits up high in the cheaper seats.

These binoculars are small and weigh very little, but they are quality!! Although they don't magnify as much as I would like, it sure beats lugging around the large binoculars that I also own.

Purchased this product for my parents on Christmas and they LOVE them. Compact, lightweight, and great viewing quality.

Nice binoculars...I wasn't expecting them to be completely plastic. They are not cheap plastic though if that counts for anything...

This product is excellent and the price is Great!!! Consumer reports gives these binoculars a high rating and I do to!! Thank you

Have used this product for two weeks and love them. Great optics, light weight, nice case and easy to focus. Recommended

These are the best compact binoculars I've used that cost under $100. They are lightweight, sharp, and bright. They go everywhere with me. They're even friendly to glasses-wearers.

We bought these so we could have them for a trip to Italy, and not have to carry our full size binoculars. They are clear and bright for their size, and extremely light and compact. Great for travel. They are not as bright as full size 10X42 Pentax binocs, but they are perfect as a travel or extra pair.

After ridding myself of the cheapy binoculars that I had for years, I decided to dive in and get some "good" ones. Well, I was pleasantly surprised that these went way beyond good. These binoculars are fabulous. Everybody should have a pair like these!!

Got it primarily for watching plays and shows. We love its ease of use and great image quality. At this price, to get a nice case, diopter adjustment, eye relief and UV coated lens is worth it!

I was very impressed with the power and clarity of these binoculars as well as the ease of carrying them around. Used them on an Alaskan cruise and were very satisfied. I was glad I took the time to research the different binoculars using Consumer Reports and was able to find the exact model on Amazon.

For the price, you can't beat this pair of binoculars. It is small enough to carry around without any feeling of discomfort and yet it was powerful enough to see things clearly from a distance. I would highly recommend this product if you're looking for a decent pair of binoculars at a lower price.

These were great. I bought them for wildlife-spotting during a trip to Costa Rica and I don't have anything negative to say. I'm not well-versed in the world of optics, but I am well-versed in the art of complaining and I don't have any complaints. I probably would have noticed immediately if these turned out to be poor quality but I had absolutely no issues. They're light weight, very easy to manuever and the price was great. My only qualm was that i didn't buy two pairs -- my boyfriend and I shared these on the trip so we had to keep readjusting the focus, width, etc., but now I know to buy a second pair for the next trip.

I bought these for use at the US Open in San Diego last June. They were everything I hoped they would be: light, easy to carry in my pocket, easy to focus, and provided clear, sharp viewing. This is one of the best online purchases I have ever made. I highly recommend them.

I purchased these for use as "opera glasses" rather than for field use. Their light weight (6 oz) makes them easily portable even in a light jacket, though the case comes with a pass-through for attaching to a belt. The clarity and ease of use is typical for Olympus (and above average overall). Next year my sister and her family are going to Africa, and they will be taking them on safari. I have found no shortcomings in my use of them thus far. I would recommend these for anyone but the hardest-core, long distance binocular user.

We received the binoculars as promised. We have found them
br /to be very useful at the football games, easy to carry and use.

I bought a pair of these about a year ago. I decided on this particular pair after reading the review in "Consumer Reports". I really liked them. I had never owned a pair of binoculars before because they were too large heavy to tote around for very long. We bought these to take on a cruise for the Colts games. My car was broken into recently the binoculars were stolen. I will puchase a new pair soon, and I'm considering buying a pair for my Father for Christmas(he's really hard to buy for).

Very pleased with this product - doubles for use at theater and sports events as well as bird watching and other longer range viewing. Compact, easy to carry and focus.

I don't know who they paid to write up the recommendations, but I will never rely on them again. I used to use recommendations because I thought that real people did them, but for this product, I think not. It had to sales reps.I see closer with the naked eye than these things. It was a waste of money put the return was a nightmare. They charge 20% if the box is open. Never mind customer satisfaction. How do you determine satisfaction if you don't open the box. We all know how distorting web pictures can be when looking for an item.They are never wha you think they are. Customer satifaction is a myth with this company and I will never order from them again. I should have trusted my first instinct. Never, never again.

A quarter of a century ago I bought a pair of Nikon Action binoculars that produced a simply stunning image - bright, contrasty, sharp. I was hoping for the same from a new pair of RC-1s, but that was not to be the case - I would describe the image as adequate, but not stunning. The great advantage of these is that they are small and light. But if you want the kind of image a full sized pair of field binoculars can produce, you'll have to put up with their weight and size, because these don't do it. Why Consumer Reports has been so enthusiastic about them is a mystery to me, but they tested a whole bunch of them - maybe this is the best of the lot.

I bought these for my wife last year to use on a big trip she was taking - she loved them, and thought that they were very easy to use, and provided excellent clarity. The optics are clearly superior to cheaper alternatives that you'd find at Wal-mart or Target, but you won't find that the magnification is any better than the cheaper ones. For the money, I thought these were worth the premium.

This model was rated a best buy by Consumer Reports in both of their last two reviews. I don't have them, but will give them 5 stars to offset the review by the person who didn't like whatever store he got them from.

The quality of these binoculars is outstanding. I was unable to judge this in my previous review of this product, which was due to frustration over the long wait for them (almost 5 months from the time I ordered). I presume the delay was due to large demand for these particular binoc's, especially after being a top pick in CR Magazine just before the holiday season in December.
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br /The binoculars are adjustable for people who wear glasses, a very nice feature. They were worth the wait!
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br /My rating of the binoc's is 5 stars; for the wait, no stars.

Company offered a model highly praised by "Consumer Reports" that was not in stock at other locations. Ordered despite significantly inflated price. Received a similar, but more lowly rated item whose list price should have been even lower than the one ordered. It was clearly the old "bait and switch" routine by this store.

Very disappointed in the quality. They received high marks in Consumer Reports and that is why I chose them, however the zoom was terrible. I had to send them back.