jaymoynihan
Corvus brachyrhynchos watcher
This is the beginning of my report on the Eagle Optics Ranger ED 10x42 Binocular, which i recently purchased. I will add to it after some time has passed.
This binocular is probably exactly the same under the armor as the Vortex Talon Vortex Talon HD 10x42. This would make sense since ER, Vortex, and Atlas are all part of the same little corporate family. the ER Ranger ED and the Vortex Talon specs are exactly the same and only differ in armor colour, badging, etc.
I imagine these are made at the same Chinese factory as model x of brand y, etc. In practice that may not tell you much though, since each brand company will spec the manufacturing to different tolerances and quality levels.
This is my second Chinese manufactured bino i will probably keep, (my first being the Leupold Yosemite 8x30, second generation). My other binos are German, Japanese and U.S. in origin.
Initial impressions.
Ergonomics
I am an obligate eyeglass wearer, with medium size hands, small nose, and face more flat than simian. For me the feel, hold and finger placements are very good. The open bridge design is about 6.7" long, and they weigh about 26.5 oz. Eye relief (stated as 16mm) is for me, perfect.
Very easy eye placement. Within 5 minutes during my first use, I was able to ID a Cooper's Hawk flying through a tree line at about 300' within a second or two of getting them up to the eyes.
View.
No blackouts, no rolling ball. Stated FOV (6.64 degrees) is visible. Resolution is very good, and contrast is high, more like German glass contrast than Japanese glass contrast, if you know what I mean.
I will report on eye comfort during extended use, field flatness, and "sweet spot" size matters, later, when i supplement this report.
CA
Viewing. Branches against a thin, white cloud about 30% from the sun, and the edge of a roof (from under it) against the same cloud and sun angle.
The CA is very well controlled over the inside 40% of the field, when focused for the center of the field. CA first appears outside the inner 30% of the field and gradually increases as you move towards the edge of the field. I would call it slight until you hit the outer 5% when it is very noticeable (which i call medium).
No immediate negatives to report.
This binocular is probably exactly the same under the armor as the Vortex Talon Vortex Talon HD 10x42. This would make sense since ER, Vortex, and Atlas are all part of the same little corporate family. the ER Ranger ED and the Vortex Talon specs are exactly the same and only differ in armor colour, badging, etc.
I imagine these are made at the same Chinese factory as model x of brand y, etc. In practice that may not tell you much though, since each brand company will spec the manufacturing to different tolerances and quality levels.
This is my second Chinese manufactured bino i will probably keep, (my first being the Leupold Yosemite 8x30, second generation). My other binos are German, Japanese and U.S. in origin.
Initial impressions.
Ergonomics
I am an obligate eyeglass wearer, with medium size hands, small nose, and face more flat than simian. For me the feel, hold and finger placements are very good. The open bridge design is about 6.7" long, and they weigh about 26.5 oz. Eye relief (stated as 16mm) is for me, perfect.
Very easy eye placement. Within 5 minutes during my first use, I was able to ID a Cooper's Hawk flying through a tree line at about 300' within a second or two of getting them up to the eyes.
View.
No blackouts, no rolling ball. Stated FOV (6.64 degrees) is visible. Resolution is very good, and contrast is high, more like German glass contrast than Japanese glass contrast, if you know what I mean.
I will report on eye comfort during extended use, field flatness, and "sweet spot" size matters, later, when i supplement this report.
CA
Viewing. Branches against a thin, white cloud about 30% from the sun, and the edge of a roof (from under it) against the same cloud and sun angle.
The CA is very well controlled over the inside 40% of the field, when focused for the center of the field. CA first appears outside the inner 30% of the field and gradually increases as you move towards the edge of the field. I would call it slight until you hit the outer 5% when it is very noticeable (which i call medium).
No immediate negatives to report.
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