Long Eye Relief Binoculars

Reviewed by Dayna Hatmaker
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Dayna Hatmaker

Dayna is a professional optician and has been working in this profession for 7 years. She truly understands her customer's optical needs and recommends the best product. She got her optometry degree from the University of Waterloo. Other than this, she loves golfing, fishing, boating, and hitting the gym.

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Are you an outdoor enthusiast looking for a better way to observe the beautiful sights nature has to offer? If so, long eye relief binoculars are exactly what you need.

With their ergonomic design, ease of portability, and higher magnifications than regular binoculars, long-eye relief optics provide hikers, birders, and other outdoor enthusiasts with superior viewing at any distance or field position.

Whether you’re searching for wildlife or skylines from afar, these cutting-edge instruments will help make your experience even more enjoyable.

Read on to learn all about these amazing accessories and why they can be the perfect addition to your next observing session!

Quick Summary: Top 6 Long Eye Relief Binoculars

1. Celestron 20×80 SkyMaster Astronomy Binoculars

Celestron does not need any introduction when you talk about high-end astronomy binoculars. It is one of the best-known binocular manufacturers in the world. These Celestron 20×80 SkyMaster Binoculars are ideal for amateur astronomers or anyone who wishes to observe at large distances.

This SkyMaster Pro binocular utilizes high-quality materials for optics, lens coating, internal parts, and the body. In addition, these binoculars use Celestron’s proprietary XLT coating technology and an optimal BaK-4 prism for sharp images. With this technology, these binoculars increase system transmission by 16%.

The massive 80mm objective lens diameter allows tremendous light reception, allowing quality viewing even in low-light conditions and making them perfect binoculars.

For adding more stabilization, they have a built-in tripod adaptor rail system. Their body is made using aluminum and polycarbonate, allowing them to be a low-weight yet durable device.

The rubber armor on these binoculars provides a sturdy and comfortable grip. These binoculars are fully waterproof, allowing you to use them in all weather conditions for your peace of mind. Additionally, dry nitrogen gas in these binoculars provides fog resistance in damp or extreme temperatures.

With its 20x magnification power, they are great for viewing celestial objects, wildlife from a vast distance, sporting events, and many outdoor activities.

Pros

  • They are specially made for viewing distant objects, including celestial objects
  • Uses Celestron’s proprietary XLT lens coating technology, which provides a 16% improvement in system transmission.
  • For tremendous light-gathering, they have an 80mm objective lens diameter.
  • Built-in tripod adaptor.
  • The aluminum and polycarbonate-made body make them durable, lightweight, and portable binoculars.
  • They are entirely waterproof and fog-resistant.

Cons

  • There is a minor discoloration at the edges of the eyepieces. But they are negligible.

2. Fujinon Techno-Stabi 16X28 Binoculars

71YRqlJuKUL. AC SL1500

The parent company of Fujinon is Fujifilm which manufactures lenses for various applications, including medical, video, television, and photography.

The Fujinon Techno-Stabi 16×28 is a high-power binocular with a solid housing for maximum durability. They work very well when you are in a stationary position or in a moving condition in a vehicle.

And not only are they compact and lightweight, but their ergonomic design also allows you to grip them with ease making them ideal for sports events, bird watching, safari, and sightseeing.

Furthermore, with a high magnification power of 16x, they can significantly help you in celestial object viewing without using a tripod.

An extremely attractive feature is the vibration canceler. With such a high magnification, even a slight handshake can distort your image, and that is the only reason why a tripod is mostly needed.

With Fujinon Techno-Stabi 16X28 binoculars, there comes a vibration canceller that keeps the image quality maintained for up to three degrees of change because of the handshaking.

With one CR2 battery, these binos can operate for up to 12 hours. The operating time limits can carry for extremely cold conditions as temperatures do influence the capabilities of batteries.

Pros

  •  Up to 12 hours of operating time with one CR2 battery.
  • The vibration canceler maintains a clear image for up to a three-degree vibration.
  • They are suitable for celestial object viewing without the need for a tripod.
  • They work both when you are moving and when you are stationary.
  • They contain fully multi-coated lenses for a sharp image.

Cons

  • The exit pupil might be small for some people.

3. Opticron Discovery WP PC 8×32 Binocular

61XEOIyDKL. AC SL1000

The majority of Opticron binoculars are made in Japan, which is enough to let us know that they are durable and long-lasting binoculars.

Moreover, not only do they manufacture high-quality products, but they sell them at a very affordable price which is an excellent reason to buy them if you are looking to pack unique features with less money investment.

These binoculars have excellent edge-to-edge clarity, and there is neither any chromatic aberration discernible nor a distortion in the image.

These binoculars are ideal even if you have a narrow pupillary distance, such as a 52mm one. Most binocular brands do not support such a narrow pupillary distance in roof prism design.

The plastic casing of these binoculars makes them almost half times lighter than any other high-end bulky binoculars.

The weight reduction in these binoculars can increase user comfort even for an extended period. Another reason for being lightweight is the roof prism design, in which there are no zig-zag paths for the incoming light.

These binocular pairs have a waterproof and fog-proof construction, thanks to the nitrogen used in them. In addition, they feature a generous eye relief which comes in handy if you are someone who wears eyeglasses.

Pros

  • They can be used in any climate because they are waterproof and fog proof.
  • The plastic body construction and roof prism design make them one of the compact binoculars.
  • There is no edge-to-edge distortion in clarity.
  • They are one of the few binoculars that support very narrow pupillary distances.

Cons

  • The Diopter needs to be adjusted every time you change the focus wheel.

4. Pentax 8.5×21 U-Series Papilio II Binocular

716z1BQd5lL. AC SL1500

Pentax is also a Japan-based brand that manufactures a wide range of products, from equipment for surveillance and optical products for medical sectors to binoculars. These binoculars from Pentax feature edge-to-edge image sharpness with the use of the Bak-4 prism.

The fully multi-coated optics are used to result in more excellent light transmission. At the same time, they are lightweight, compact, and durable.

 An 8.5x magnification power along with a 21mm objective lens helps you watch the target closely at far distances. As a result, they can be used for birding, viewing wildlife in their natural habitat, or even for precise observation of objects on the ground far away.

The wide six-degree angle of view allows you to quickly find your target and lets you rapidly focus on it by using the center focus wheel.

For prolonged use to watch distant objects without any vibration, these binoculars come with an integrated tripod socket enabling them to be tripod mountable.

They feature a 15mm eye relief and a 2.5mm exit pupil adjustable interpupillary and diopter. The unique design locks the objective lenses in a single housing while synchronizing the eyepieces.

Another good news for eyeglass wearers is that they have twist-up eyecups for eye relief adjustments.

Pros

  • Twist-up eyecups for fine-tuning of eye relief.
  • They are tripod mountable for increased stabilization,
  • The 8.5x magnification is enough for wildlife viewing, bird watchers, sightseeing, etc.
  • They have no distortion in edge-to-edge clarity.

Cons

  • They are water-resistant but not waterproof.

5. Maven C1 10X42 ED Binocular

81cRiWfD 8L. AC SL1500 1

Maven binoculars are known to provide low-light performance, excellent edge-to-edge clarity, great depth of field, focus, and the durability to last longer.

In addition, Maven C1 10X42 ED binoculars have a solid and robust body along with extra-low dispersion glass (ED) for superior light transmission, excellent color and image sharpness, and minimal distortion.

The use of advanced multi-coatings on all lenses provides a lifetime of protection against dirt and water as well as protects the optics from scratches and creates a brighter high-contrast image.

They are completely waterproof and fog proof allowing you to use them in the rain, moist or damp climates.

C series is one of those binocular series in Maven that is not too large but is mid-sized. These binos are versatile and can be used for wildlife viewing, hunting, sporting events, birding, etc.

Maven does leave you alone; instead, they have a warranty and repair service on their binoculars. It does not matter when or from where you bought them; Maven warranties their binoculars for life, and that’s a great thing.

Maven mainly focuses on the quality of the optics, which allows you to view crisp and clear images. Just like any other high-end binoculars, they are attachable to a tripod adapter.

Pros

  • Their lightweight body makes them very easy to carry for long periods.
  • Excellent edge-to-edge clarity.
  • They are completely waterproof and fog-proof for increased comfort during use in rain, moist or damp climates.
  • Tripod adapter for more enhanced stability.
  • The low light performance of Maven C1 10X42 ED binoculars is excellent.
  • The image and color clarity provided by Maven is excellent.
  • The ED glass provides better light transmission with minimal distortion.
  • The Maven C1 10X42 ED Binocular series is one of the best mid-sized binoculars from them.

Cons

  • A 341ft field of view might be small for some high field of view lovers.

6. Bresser Binoculars Corvette

91RPAM89g5L. AC SL1500

Bresser is a top-ranked telescope manufacturing company that manufactures products based on worldwide standards, and they are also endorsed by the national geographic.

These superb binos feature optics made from BaK-4 glass. The long eye relief eyepieces come with rotatable eyecups for eye relief adjustment. These eyecups can be adjusted to various angles to obtain the best view possible.

The Bresser 10×42 uses fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective coatings for increased luminosity and extra light transmittance. In addition, they come with multi-coated roof prisms, which as a result, allow high light transmission for a comfortable viewing experience even in low light conditions.

The rubber armoring on its surface provides a non-slip grip and scratch-resistant body. The adjustment of optics is super easy. These binoculars do not have any gray haze or blurriness at the edges of their oculars.

An exit pupil of 4.2mm allows maximum light transfer to the pupil of your eyes, allowing you to see a very bright image. This also means they will perform very well even in low light conditions.

They are fully waterproof and fog proof which makes them ideal for using them in rain or moist weather.

Pros

  • The filling of nitrogen makes these binoculars waterproof and fog proof.
  • A large exit pupil gives good performance in low-light conditions as well.
  • Rubberized armor makes them durable, non-slip, and scratch-resistant.
  • The use of the BaK-4 prism ensures a high-quality image.

Cons

  • The slight chemical smell upon unpacking.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is long eye relief for binoculars?

Each binocular has some allowable distance between your eyes and the eye[piece lens. If you are within the defined range, you will enjoy the image quality fully. Else you will not be able to see the image around the edges. This is because your eyeglasses move your eyes further away from the eyepiece lens.

So, a long eye relief means that the binoculars allow a larger distance between the eyepiece lens and your eyes. This will ensure a quality image for both eyeglass wearers and non-wearers.

2. How much eye relief do you need?

There are no hard and fast rules to determine this. But, generally, the average eyeglass wearer needs an eye relief greater than 17mm.

3. What is the field of view?

FOV is just the horizontal distance or width that your binoculars can capture. For example, if your binoculars can capture 400ft of the horizontal area at 1000 yards of the target, then your FOV is 400ft. It decreases with higher magnification because the target’s image becomes bigger than before.

Conclusion:

Long eye relief binoculars are suitable for sporting, birding, nature viewing, and celestial object viewing. They have a wide field of view, making it easier to look at birds or something far away. They have excellent light transmission and brighter images. These binoculars will be helpful to increase your viewing experience.

They are specially designed for people with glasses or eyesight problems as you can adjust the eye relief according to your needs. This article reviewed and compared some of the best long eye relief binoculars on the market and will help you get the best binoculars for your eyes. Any one of the binoculars listed will be a great pair.

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