Opticron HR WP 10x42
This company’s more expensive models are, by and large, an example to be followed when it comes to showing the attention to detail and accessories. Every model comes with a stylish hard case, often we get two sets of caps, two straps - one for binoculars and the other for a case - a cleaning cloth for the lenses, a detailed instruction and a written guarantee.
The highest and the most expensive series of small porro-prismatic Opticron binoculars are HR WP 8X42 and 10x42 models. They are characterized by high quality optics (good quality glass, BaK-4 prisms, all air-to-glass surfaces covered by multi-coatings) and a very solid housing, made of a mixture of aluminum, magnesium alloys and solid plastic. The instruments are of course waterproof and nitrogen-filled. We get as many as 30 years of guarantee after the purchase.
| Magnification | Lens diameter | Angular field of view | Prisms | Eye relief | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 42 | 89/1000(5.1o) | BaK-4/Porro | 17 mm | 725 g | 1550 PLN |
| Real front lens diameter |
Left: 41.08+/-
0.08 mm Right: 41.13+/- 0.05 mm |
3.5 / 8.0 pkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real magnification | 10+/- 0.2x | 3/3.0 | ||||
| Transmission | 91+/- 3% | 18.5/25.0 | ||||
| Chromatic aberration | Very low at the centre, higher at the edge. | 7.5/10.0 | ||||
| Astigmatism | Slight but noticeable. | 6.5/10.0 | ||||
| Distortion | The distance of the first curved line from the field centre compared to the field of vision radius: 32% +\- 5% | 3/10.0 | ||||
| Coma | Low. | 7.8/10.0 | ||||
| Blurring at the edge of the FOV | The blur occurs in the distance of 93% +\- 4% from the field centre. | 9/10.0 | ||||
| Darkening at the edge the FOV | Slight. | 4.3/5.0 | ||||
| Whiteness of the image | Excellent – a minimal cream hue. | 4.8/5.0 | ||||
| Collimation | Perfect. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Internal reflections |
|
2/5.0 | ||||
| Housing | Light and handy for Porro binoculars. Comfortable to hold. Regulated eyecups but with a tendency to collapse when at in-between positions. For some users they might be a tad too small. | 7.2/8.0 | ||||
| Focusing | The central screw with click-stop as an individual focusing of the left eyepiece. The screw has sharp projections so the comfort of work can’t be great. The binoculars lack a classic ocular bridge so the focusing works smoothly and a pressure, applied on eyepieces doesn’t cause any shifts or bends – exemplary performance here. Running through the focus scale from infinity to close needs a 740-degree turn. One member of the testing team with a bigger sight defect reported difficulties with focusing to infinity. |
3.5/5.0 | ||||
| Tripod | There is a comfortable exit. | 3/3.0 | ||||
| Interpupilary distance | from 55.2 to 72.3mm | 3/6.0 | ||||
| Closest focusing distance | 2.70 m. | 1.5/2.0 | ||||
| Eyepieces FOV | Apparent field of view of 51.2 deg (according to simple formula) and 48.2 deg (according to tangent formula). | 4/20.0 | ||||
| Field of view | Measured by us amounted to 5.12 +\- 0.04 degrees and it was in accordance with the specifications. Small field for such an equipment class. | 5/8.0 | ||||
| Quality of the interior of the barrels | Dark, matt, black glue near prisms, gray bottom, screws and rails holding the prisms are matted. A significant spot on the inner lens in the left tube. | 3.8/5.0 | ||||
| Vignetting |
OR: 1.7% |
4/8.0 | ||||
| Prisms quality | Good quality BaK-4. | 8/8.0 | ||||
| Antireflection coatings | Green-yellow on the objectives and eyepieces. Greenish on the prisms. Low intensity. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Warranty [years] | 30 | 5/6.0 | ||||
| Final result |
67.3%
34th place in global rank of our test of 10x42 binoculars. |
127.9 / 190 pkt | ||||
| Econo result | 27th place in Econo rank of our test of 10x42 binoculars. | 1pkt. |
Summary
Pros:
- very solid housing with the ocular bridge hidden,
- good transmission,
- slight astigmatism,
- low coma,
- slight chromatic aberration,
- sharp image almost in the whole field,
- excellent whiteness rendition,
- good quality prisms,
- practically unnoticeable brightness loss at the edge of the field,
- long guarantee.
- narrow field of view,
- distortion a bit too high,
- inner flares- prone,
- we reluctantly tolerate truncated pupils in this equipment class,
- people with bigger sight defects can have problems with focusing to infinity,
- the focusing screw could have had more blunt projections’ edges,
- the objectives are closer to 41 mm than to 42 mm.
The mere comparison of the number and significance of pros and cons, and one glance at the final score allow us to speak about this device mostly in superlatives. The product is really well-made although its excellent optical properties were achieved by narrowing the field of view. In the 10x42 class binoculars the 5.1 degrees field of view is a bit too small, especially that the competitors can have even the value of 6.5 degrees here. However if the field of view is of no particular importance to you, the Opticron HR WP 10X42 will be undoubtedly an excellent choice. It doesn’t mean, though, that you can’t manage to find something both cheaper and better.
At the end there’s just one question left to be answered: does the Bynolyt Hawk 10x42 and the Opticron HR WP 10X42 are the same instruments? They almost for sure come from the same factory. They even look practically the same. One look at their parameters, though, reveals first differences – minimally different weight and eye relief value. It suggest a different eyepieces’ construction although their field of view remains the same. That hypothesis seems to be confirmed by the distortion and field edge blur measurements. Opticron focused on the very sharp field of view, practically up to the edge, but had to pay for it – the distortion is distinct. Bynolyt decided to compromise a bit in both cases. The next difference, very easy to spot, is a different hue of the objectives and eyepieces’ coatings although in both instruments they do an equally good job. The exit pupils also look different – they are truncated in various ways which might suggest a different fixing the prisms. The focusing works a bit differently too. In the Bynolyt it has the range from 2.90 meters to infinity. Opticron, taking care of ornithologists, moved the working range of the bridge so the binoculars have a minimal focus already from 2.7 meters; it might cause some potential problems with focusing for people with sight defects, though. The binoculars are not identical then, they differ in their constructions, the price and they have a different score in our test. We hope we made the choice a bit easier for you.
