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AllBinos.com

Binoculars review

Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50

Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50
28 August 2010
Optyczne.pl 
This mighty set of binoculars belongs to the high-end series of the renowned Japanese producer. Apart from this model you can find in this series devices with the following parameters: 8x30, 7x50, 10x50, 10x70 and 16x70.

All the binoculars are equipped with huge Porro system prisms. Among others they meet military (US Army) requirements (Mil Spec) of endurance– they are shock-proof, according to the M24 specification, and sea waterproof. Their lenses and prisms, made of BaK4 glass, are computer-designed, covered by multi-coatings according to a patented EBX (Electron Beam Coating) technique – it means up to 99.9% of light passes through one air-to-glass surface. The anti-reflection layer, created in this way, damps down flares and is resistant to sea water. The transmission of light for the whole set of binoculars reaches 95% (depending on the model).

Pictures
  • Lornetka Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50
  • Lornetka Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50
  • Lornetka Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50
  • Lornetka Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50
Manufacturer data

Manufacturer:

Fujinon
web site

Distribution / Sales:

AstroClassic
web site

Magnification Lens diameter Angular field of view Prisms Eye relief Weight Price
10 50 114/1000(6.5o) BaK-4/Porro 17 mm 1400 g 2269 PLN
Results of the review
Real front lens diameter Left:   51.09+/- 0.3 mm
Right:  51.11+/- 0.3 mm
8 / 8.0 pkt
Real magnification 9.95+/- 0.3x 3/3.0
Transmission 92.9+/- 3% 20/25.0
Chromatic aberration Medium in the centre, low at the edge. 7/10.0
Astigmatism No astigmatism! Images of stars are almost perfect points. 9.4/10.0
Distortion The distance of the first curved line from the field centre compared to the field of view radius: 73% +\- 6.9% 9/10.0
Coma Practically invisible. 9.3/10.0
Blurring at the edge of the FOV The blur occurs in the distance of 84.7% +\- 2.7% from the field centre. 6.5/10.0
Darkening at the edge the FOV Minimal. 4.7/5.0
Whiteness of the image Still not so perfect. 4/5.0
Collimation Perfect. 5/5.0
Internal reflections
Left: Right:
Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50 - Internal reflections - Left Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50 - Internal reflections - Right
Quite good.
4/5.0
Housing Very solid and big but comfortable to handle. You have an impression you could drive a nail through it and the binoculars won’t be harmed anyway. The rubber on the casing doesn’t have a very pleasant smell. 7/8.0
Focusing Individual focusing. The eyepieces move smoothly and are well-damped. The instrument doesn’t bend under pressure. 4.6/5.0
Tripod A comfortable tripod exit. 3/3.0
Interpupilary distance from 56.5 to 75.2mm 5/6.0
Closest focusing distance 8.90 m. 0/2.0
Eyepieces FOV 5-element eyepiece with the apparent field of view of 64.6 deg (according to simple formula) and 58.9 deg (according to tangent formula). 13/20.0
Field of view Measured by us amounted to 6.49 +\- 0.02 degrees and it was in accordance with the given specifications. 7/8.0
Quality of the interior of the barrels White glue near prisms visible. Shiny bottoms. Inner tube is black and matt. Perfectly clean. 4/5.0
Vignetting
Left: Right:
Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50 - Vignetting - Left Fujinon FMTR-SX 10x50 - Vignetting - Right
OL: 1.9%, OR: 1.8%
6/8.0
Prisms quality No reservations. Huge and very good BaK-4 glass prisms. 8/8.0
Antireflection coatings Perfect. 5/5.0
Warranty [years] 10 4.5/6.0
Final result
82.6%
157 / 190 pkt
Econo result 15.1pkt.

Summary

A huge and positive surprise in our test of 10x50 binoluars performed in 2005. In fact it is the real winner because its overall score was as high as the Swarovski’s and it won hands down the econo ranking. It shouldn’t surprise anybody, though – the Fujinon’s price is three times lower than that of the Swarovski.

The Fujinon is a big and heavy porro-prism set of binoculars. On the one hand big weight is a disadvantage but it stems from using huge prisms and a solid casing and because of that we get a piece of equipment which is the best when it comes to the quality of image. Astigmatism, coma and distortion were at the lowest level from all other tested 10x50 binoculars and in other categories the Fujinon performed well at least. Its only flaw results from implementing an individual focusing system – because of that the minimum focus distance is significant.

The Allbinos.com/Optyczne.pl editorial team decided to award this set of binoculars the “ The Choice of the Allbinos.com/Optyczne.pl Editorial Team” distinction for winning the 1st place in the 10x50 binoculars ranking.