Pentax DCF SP 8x43 Binocular
Ranking: 10! out of 10
Manufacturer: Pentax
Model Number: 62615
Product Code: 027075073463
Price: $778.00 -- get the latest pricing from Amazon
Features:
- Nitrogen-filled magnesium-alloy waterproof body (JIS Class 6) and protected with a full-body rubber housing
- Exceptional image quality and close focusing with edge-to-edge sharpness
- Inner-focus optical design incorporating hybrid aspherical eyepiece lenses
- High-resolution phase-coated roof prisms
- Scratch-resistant hydrophobic coating on exposed objective and eyepiece lenses, and multi-coated optical elements
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Description:
Offering different magnifications ranging from eight to 12.5 times, the DCF SP-series models are housed in a nitrogen-filled magnesium-alloy waterproof body (JIS Class 6) and protected with a full-body rubber housing. They deliver exceptional image quality, thanks to an inner-focus optical design incorporating hybrid aspherical eyepiece lenses, high-resolution phase-coated roof prisms, hydrophobic coating on objective and eyepiece lenses, and multi-coated optical elements. Their lightweight design and long eye relief allow for fatigue-free viewing, even during extended observations. They also come equipped with such user-friendly features as an extra-short minimum focusing distance, a diopter adjuster with lock mechanism, and helicoid-type eyepiece rings with four click stops.Get more product details from Amazon
User Reviews -- Add a new review for this Product
Best available birding binocular for the price
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 8.5 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
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I love, love, love this binocular. It's waterproof, fogproof, rugged, well-balanced, and easy to handle (I can hold it one-handed and still adjust the focus easily). I'm rough on equipment, but haven't managed to do any damage to it despite constant use under some pretty yucky conditions (tossing in the car, taking out in heavy rainstorms, dangling from the backpack on hikes, etc.)
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br /No problem with or without glasses--the eyecups have nice, firm intermediate settings between the plain "in" and "out" options of most binoculars.
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br /The image quality is fantastic, even in dim dusk or dawn light. IMO, you can't do better in roof prism binoculars until you get up into the megabuck Swarovski range, and even given the slight image quality improvement (for two or three times the price), I'd still prefer the Pentax DCF for its handling and quick focus.
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br /No problem with or without glasses--the eyecups have nice, firm intermediate settings between the plain "in" and "out" options of most binoculars.
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br /The image quality is fantastic, even in dim dusk or dawn light. IMO, you can't do better in roof prism binoculars until you get up into the megabuck Swarovski range, and even given the slight image quality improvement (for two or three times the price), I'd still prefer the Pentax DCF for its handling and quick focus.
AWESOME BINOCS!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.2 out of 10
Created: Jul 19, 2008
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I heard about these particular binoculars from my paddle guide in Thailand. I could see Great Horned Bills better out of these than through my cajillion dollar camera lens. They brighten everything up so you can easily find birds etc.. Great pair, esp. for the price.
Great, versatile binoculars for the price
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 7, 2008
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I bought these as a backup pair to keep in the car. I've been birding for 20+ years and have other much more expensive bins.
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br /Positives: lightweight, quick easy focus, feel great in the hand, good color, sharp image, bright, reasonably close focus (I use these for butterflies), sturdy, weatherproof.
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br /Negatives: some edge effects (little halos of color on lower edge of distant objects, like hawks) that I don't get in my $1600 bins. FOV a little bit narrow.
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br /If there are better bins at this price I'd be amazed. I bird with these about 90% of the time now, and actually prefer them for long trips because they are so lightweight. I can use them for 8 hours at a hawkwatch without fatigue.
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br /Positives: lightweight, quick easy focus, feel great in the hand, good color, sharp image, bright, reasonably close focus (I use these for butterflies), sturdy, weatherproof.
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br /Negatives: some edge effects (little halos of color on lower edge of distant objects, like hawks) that I don't get in my $1600 bins. FOV a little bit narrow.
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br /If there are better bins at this price I'd be amazed. I bird with these about 90% of the time now, and actually prefer them for long trips because they are so lightweight. I can use them for 8 hours at a hawkwatch without fatigue.
An excellent binocular for those with small faces
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Sep 26, 2008
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I bought these for a trip to Costa Rico and found them to be excellent for birding as well as general use. Since then I have used them in Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. They are not bothered by rain/humidity or fog, are easy to focus and use. I have a small face and found other high quality binoculars were too wide. My native guide thought they were excellent. Recommend. Only complaint-the bag they come in is pitiful.