Compact binoculars (8x25)

thelawnet · #1 (**permalink**) 22-10-2009, 01:49 PM

Any thoughts?

These

Olympus - 8x25 PC I

got a Which Best Buy award.

Are they a useful buy?

thelawnet · #2 (**permalink**) 22-10-2009, 01:54 PM

They cost about £60 BTW

Jason Claxton · #3 (**permalink**) 22-10-2009, 02:43 PM

I suppose it would be best to ask what you want them for,is it for casual observations,birdwatching etc?If it was me I'd go for a larger objective lens,I've known friends buy binoculars with small objective lens and its like trying to find things through a smartie tube.A bigger objective lens would be better with bad winter light as well,I dont know anything about this particular model though that you've mentioned .

Jason

Tringa · #4 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 01:19 PM

Olympus are a deservedly well respected maker and these binoculars will be very light and easy to carry but I too would like a bigger objective lens.

One thing to consider is the exit pupil. This is the diameter light coming out of the binoculars and entering the eye.

Exit pupil = diameter of the objective/magnification. For these binoculars this is 25/8 = 3.13mm

The amount of light the eye can use is determined by the diameter of pupil which varies between 1-2mm in bright light to 5-8mm(depending on age) in low light.

In bright light the binoculars exit pupil is lightly to be larger than the pupil of the eye, so the eye cannot use all the available light.

In low light it is the other way around - the eye can use more light than the exit pupil of the binoculars can deliver.

This is not to say you will not be able to use these binoculars in low light, but the image may be a bit dim. At present i use 7x50s - the magnification is not too high for me to hold steady and good images in low light, but they will be much larger and heavier than these Olympus ones.

However, as Jason has said it depends how you want to use the binoculars.

If possible, can you try out binoculars from friends for a day or so to get a feel of what you want?

foxy mars · #5 (**permalink**) 25-10-2009, 01:07 AM

I have some nice Nikon 9x25 compact bins, although I have some Inpro "Freebird" 8x40 which are not compact, but very good for bird-watching.

Tormentil · #6 (**permalink**) 25-10-2009, 08:11 AM

I have a Nikon Sprint IV (8x21). They're very light so just right when you're already carrying a wad of photo equipment. I've found them more than adequate for their purpose i.e. light traveling binoculars.