Waterproof Binoculars

Story and photos by Tim Farmer

This review originally appeared in Canoe & Kayak magazine in August, 2005.

Legend 9x25, Bushnell Performance Optics
(800) 423-3537
www.bushnell.com
Size: 4.3 x 4.3 x 1.75 in.
Weight: 15.4 oz.
Minimum focus: 5.5 ft.
Exit pupil: 2.8mm
Price: $169

Bushnell is the most recognized brand in sports optics, with the largest market share in all of the categories. The Legend series offers moderately priced binoculars with performance and features that paddlers and other outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate. The 9x25 model I chose is the smallest and lightest of the Legend family, but it's every bit as tough as its larger siblings. Fully nitrogen-filled and waterproof, the Legend also incorporates Bushnell's Rainguard water-repellent lens coating in addition to phase-corrected, fully multicoated optics and BaK-4 prisms.
Deep ridges in the grip zones of the textured rubber armoring and comfortable ergonomic styling let the Legend rest comfortably in my hands. The oversized center-focusing ring takes less than one full turn to go from minimum focus to infinity, so it's especially quick to focus. The minimum focus on these binoculars is an incredible 5.5 feet, which can turn an insect into an amazing creature with details that will fascinate amateur entomologists.
An indexed, knurled ring on the right lens adjusts the diopter to correct for differences in vision between the left and right eyes, and twist-up rubber eyecups lock into position. I was most comfortable using these binoculars without my glasses, even though the 18mm eye relief should be adequate for most eyeglass wearers.
Those binoculars that I dropped in the Shenandoah are the Legend 10x42 model. They survived that test of their waterproofness, and the 9x25s appear to be just as tough. They are made in China and covered by Bushnell's limited lifetime warranty.

10x25 Ultravid Compact, Leica Sport Optics
(800) 222-0118
www.leica-camera.com
Size: 2.36 x 4.49 x 1.42 in. (fully open)
Weight: 8.8 oz.
Minimum focus: 10.5 ft.
Exit pupil: 2.5mm
Price: $635

As a photographer, I'm familiar with Leica's legendary camera optics. I have a 50-year-old Leica camera with lenses sharper than those of any other I own. So I'll admit to a bit of personal bias right up front. Still, you'd have to look pretty hard to find a brighter, sharper pair of pocket-sized binoculars than the Ultravids. They are nothing short of awesome.
For starters, Leica incorporates the best materials, from the lightweight aspheric lenses used in the 10x25 and 8x20 models that help shave weight down to 8.8 ounces, to its proprietary lens and prism coatings, which seem to squeeze light from the darkness. Well-designed ergonomics let the Ultravids rest comfortably in my hands. They're available in either black leather or a black rubber finish; I chose the black rubber model, which provided a secure, slip-resistant grip. Leica uses a unique composite that bonds the armoring seamlessly to the aluminum body.
The center focusing ring turns with just a feather touch, and a button controls the right-ocular diopter, with a corresponding scale for precise repeat adjustments. Pop-up eyecups made these binoculars comfortable to use with or without my glasses. The Ultravids are nitrogen filled and waterproof to 16.5 feet, but Leica's Lifetime Sport Optics Passport Protection Plan further covers all new binoculars against accidental breakage and water damage, as well as manufacturer's defects and functional failures. The Ultravids are made in Portugal.

Pocket 8x20, Swarovski Optik North America
(800) 426-3089
www.swarovski.com
Size: 3.98 x 3.66 x 1.5 in.
Weight: 7.6 oz.
Minimum focus: 13 ft.
Exit pupil: 2.5mm
Price: $539

Birders know Swarovski as a leader in optics for more than 50 years, but before I compiled this review I knew of this Austrian company only by reputation. One look, though, and it's clear that these binoculars are among the elite in the world of optics. The Pocket models, also available in a 10x25 configuration, are the smallest and lightest waterproof binoculars from the Swarovski family. They are fully submersible to 13 feet and nitrogen filled to remove interior moisture and ensure a lifetime of fog-free performance in the harshest conditions.
A double-hinged bridge and 20mm objective lenses let the Pocket nest into a tiny package, small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. But the phase-corrected, multicoated optics exhibit dramatic contrast and sharpness. The color and clarity of these pint-sized binoculars rival those of any larger model I've used, but the Swarovski Pocket 8x20 weighs in at under 8 ounces and fits in the palm of my hand. With 13mm eye relief, these binoculars were most comfortable without my glasses. The focusing ring at the front of the bridge takes only a feather touch, and the diopter adjustment at the rear of the bridge has a scale for greater precision.
Swarovski contributes a portion of the sale of every birding optic in the western hemisphere to the Migratory Bird Conservancy. All Swarovski binoculars are made in Austria and are backed by a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Swarovski also maintains a repair facility in Rhode Island.

Ultra Lite 8x42, Swift Optics
(800) 523-4544
www.swiftoptics.com
Size: 5.75 x 5 x 2 in. (fully open)
Weight: 22 oz.
Minimum focus: 6 ft.
Exit pupil: 5.25mm
Price: $499

Weighing in at 22 ounces and measuring 5 inches in width, these can't be called pocket binoculars, but the Ultra Lite will fit in a larger coat pocket or a deck bag. Dual-density rubber armoring provides a safe, nonslip grip and the ergonomic design and large focusing knob give the Ultra Lite a sleek but comfortable feel. Softer rubber in the grip areas contrasts with denser rubber in other spots, which is designed to provide greater shock absorption. I could use these binoculars with or without my glasses, thanks to the twist-up eyecups and the long eye relief (19.5mm). But to me the most impressive feature was their ability to focus to barely six feet, great for watching butterflies or other critters that don't spook easily.

The Ultra Lite was designed with input from real-world field testers, who helped develop a prototype before production began. The 42mm objective lens and 8-power magnification produce a 5.25mm exit pupil, which is excellent for low-light viewing. Swift's fully multicoated, phase-corrected optics and BaK-4 prisms deliver crisp, clear images. Nitrogen-filled and submersible in up to one meter of water for five minutes, the Ultra Lite is ready for a swim even if you aren't.

Swift is the oldest existing family-owned American optical company. Established in 1926, it is today a woman-owned business led by the granddaughter of the company founder. Ultra Lite binoculars are made in China and are covered by Swift's limited lifetime warranty.