Eschenbacharena D+ 8x25 binoculars, BaK-4 prisms, waterproof

Dear Reader,I have just taken delivery of a pair of German brand ESCHENBACH Arena D+ binoculars, 8x42 B which for the price are truely excellent value. Well made, handsome, functional, good design, typically German in style. I had been researching the Web for some weeks to find the right combination of quality, design, build quality, clarity of vision and magnification, compact and yet light to carry and pack for trips away. I have found everything I was looking for in this brand.I had also researched other German brands for equivalent products from Luger, Steiner, and Minox - but overall the package for the price £102 is excellent and well deserved of a ***** rating. The binoculars are supplied with a smart carrying case, neck strap, and cleaning cloth. Eschenbach also offer smaller models in the same style 8x32 and larger again in same style of 10x50. I am surprised that Eschenbach are not as widely known in the UK, for if I wanted to represent Eschenbach, I would gladly purchase a franchise to promote their products more widely in the UK. I have no hesitation in recommending this product which was supplied direct from Germany, ordered through Amazon.WatkinsKent

Whilst these are bordering on proper binoculars and certainly better than the cheap £30 ish pairs I've had before, I wish I'd got a better pair. Although the optical quality is OK I find I spend the whole time adjusting them for optimal sharpness (diopter and focus) rather than paying attention to what I'm supposed to be looking at. The diopter is very stiff and I find it really difficult to get it set right. It should be 'set and forget' but I find it is more 'set, set, set, and set again', varying depending on focal distance etc. For very occasional use they're fine, but any kind of prolonged use makes my eyes hurt. By comparison, my cheaper (£45) Celestron 7x50's are marvellous, I set the diopter once and there it has stayed, and I spend time concentrating on the subject rather than the binoculars.

I have returned this item because on viewing an image against a bright background (a tree against a bright grey sky, for example) there was a distracting semi-circular glare in the lower field of view. I have tried another make of 10 x 25s (Nikon) and there was a similar effect. I don't know whether this is common to all such binoculars. My moderately priced 10x50 bins do not produce this effect. I e-mailed the manufacturer about this but at the time of returning the item to Amazon no reply had been received. So as always, try before you buy but with the decline in number of shops selling optics this is getting harder. Amazon's return service was exemplary.This item seemed otherwise well made and packaged.

These are indeed very good binoculars for the price. High contrast and definition with no perceptible colour fringing. However the first example that I received was seriously out of collimation. Unusable in fact. The second pair appear to be perfect. I guess I was just unlucky to get a bad example but it may be that the quality control is not all it should be.

Very nice binoculars, Nice shape and optics seems good for day but not as good for astronomy as you can see a bit of diffraction (blue/red) in the lenses at night. So I am not too sure about value for money. The case is nice but not very practical.

Good optics for the price, but you have to accept these are budget priced and will not compare with premium brands that cost many times more. Quite adequate for bird watching and seem to be well built and unlike very expensive items, you do not have to worry about losing them!!

This pair compared favourably to a much more expensive similarly specified binoculars. The strap and carry case are not as well finished as the more expensive pair I compared with, but at the same time perfectly functional with a soft rubbery neck strap. I would recommend for someone who is looking for a pair of good value, high specification, robust binoculars. Ideal for bird and wildlife spotting. They are water proof so no fogging issues.

Just purchased a pair they seem very good for the money.One query though, how do you get instructions as there were none in the box?