Binoculars are perhaps your most indispensable piece of wildlife watching equipment (with the possible exception, here in Ireland at least, of good waterproof gear).The right pair of binoculars can enhance your enjoyment of and engagement with the natural world exponentially. But choosing binoculars for birding and wildlife watching can be a tricky proposition.At … [Read more...] about 12 Expert tips on choosing binoculars for birding and wildlife observation
optics
Kite Caiman 8×42 Binocular Review
Pros: Solid entry-level binocular that's comfortable and easy to use. Light, yet robust, this is an easy to handle binocular with good all-round ergonomics. Optically it delivers an impressively bright, sharp image across most of the wide field of view. Neutral colour balance, great contrast and minimal chromatic aberration.Cons: Slight "halo" effect on the periphery of the … [Read more...] about Kite Caiman 8×42 Binocular Review
Hawke Endurance 50 12-36x Spotting Scope Review
Pros: Tiny but robust travel scope with great ergonomics that delivers plenty of optical bang for the buck. Super-portable the Endurance delivers a bright, clear, razor sharp image across a wide field of view at 12x, and remains sharp and detailed (though a little darker, as you'd expect with a 50mm objective) right up to a the max zoom of a very useful 36x.Cons: While … [Read more...] about Hawke Endurance 50 12-36x Spotting Scope Review
Announcing the winner of our Hawke Endurance ED 8×42 binocular competition
Congratulations to Daire Cleary, who's name was drawn at random earlier today as the winner in our latest competition. We'll be getting Daire's prize... a pair of excellent Hawke Endurance ED 8x42 binoculars. I was really impressed by the Hawkes when I reviewed them recently, and I'm sure that Daire will enjoy many fabulous up-close wildlife experiences with his new … [Read more...] about Announcing the winner of our Hawke Endurance ED 8×42 binocular competition
Competition: win a pair of Hawke Endurance ED 8×42 binoculars
A good pair of binoculars is perhaps the single most important piece of wildlife equipment you'll ever own. We were mightily impressed with Hawke's latest offering, the Endurance ED 8x42, when we reviewed them recently.Now, thanks to the kind folks at Hawke in the UK, we're giving you the chance to win the very pair of 8x42 Hawke Endurance ED we reviewed.All you have to … [Read more...] about Competition: win a pair of Hawke Endurance ED 8×42 binoculars
Hawke Endurance ED 8×42 Binocular Review
Pros: Crisp, detailed views at a price that's hard to believe. Packed with premium features you normally only see on much more expensive binoculars. Lightweight and robust thanks to its magnesium alloy chassis.Cons: Not many... a little softening evident around the field edge, but not noticeable in normal use. Focus wheel has a bit more resistance than I was expecting, but … [Read more...] about Hawke Endurance ED 8×42 Binocular Review
Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A Spotting Scope Review
Pros: Sleek, modern-looking scope that feels solid and well made. Quite compact for an 82mm scope. Very bright, sharp image at 20x magnification that is very good up to about 40x, showing plenty of detail with good colour and contrast. Wide central sweet spot with marginal softening out towards the edge. Dual focus controls make fine-focus easy.Cons: Image degrades … [Read more...] about Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A Spotting Scope Review
Sneak peek at the Vanguard Endeavor 82mm HD Spotting Scope
We've just received the brand new 82mm Endeavor HD spotting scope from Vanguard Sporting Optics for review here at IWHQ.UPDATE: our Full Review of this spotting scope is now available here.While we're obviously going to spend a bit of time getting to know this new scope before posting our full review, I though some of you might want a sneak peek at what it has to offer, … [Read more...] about Sneak peek at the Vanguard Endeavor 82mm HD Spotting Scope
Hawke Frontier ED 8×43 Binocular Review
Pros: Excellent high-contrast image with vibrant colours and good detail across the exceptionally wide field of view. Very bright optics that perform well across a range of challenging light conditions. Great build quality and finish for the price: feel very solid, without being overly heavy and excellent balance makes them comfortable in use. Good close focus to 2m coupled … [Read more...] about Hawke Frontier ED 8×43 Binocular Review
Meopta MeoStar B1 8×32 Binocular Review
Keen birder and Ireland's Wildlife contributor Colin Barton puts the Meopta MeoStar 8x32 through its paces, and is suitably impressed.Pros: Great image quality — can rival the best optics on the market today. Very sharp and crisp, with great low light performance and a good wide field of view. Binoculars feel very sturdy and well-built. 30 year warranty among the best … [Read more...] about Meopta MeoStar B1 8×32 Binocular Review
