Pentax Papilio II 6.5x21 Binoculars (Gray)

Good brand and very good quality

Sturdy & clear view. However image shakes when zoom is max but is manageable. Tripod compatible. Overall I like this product due to its image quality & weight.

Having returned a cheaper purchase, we have found this Vivitar compact binocular to do exactly what we want. It is not built for extremely distant viewing (i.e., for hunting, etc.), though at 6.5-times magnification, 8.5 with the slightly higher-priced version, it is good for general long-distance use, such as nature-watching or stage-viewing purposes. The cool, rare feature of this Ricoh/Vivitar "Papilio II" is its ability also to focus and magnify close-up scenes, even from as little as a foot-and-a half away (the average near-focus limit is 15 feet). The mildly high price of the Papilio II reflects both the uniqueness of this feature and the unit's overall strong, sturdy, adaptable build quality. Don't expect to find anything comparable at a similar or lesser cost. Amazon does offer one low-cost alternative, a monocular which has the close-up feature, but which suffers from very poor quality. Other binocular sellers either offer none at all with the near-focus feature, or one or two "medical supply" versions at several hundred dollars apiece. For its reasonable price with the flexibility of bright, clear, distant-to-near variable focus, the Papilio II (either version) seems to best not only the best, but nearly the only, choice available.

I hunt and am outdoors often. I needed an extra pair for my truck or for travel. I wanted something that was light weight, easy to use, and was optically sound. These binoculars are great on all counts. My other binoculars are Leupold McKinley's . While these binoculars are not Leupold quality they are exceptionally for the money. My only caution is that they are not waterproof. Know this when you buy them and use them accordingly. I have used mine while it was raining but kept them dry as possible. I've had no problems. My Leupold binoculars are for rugged outdoor use. Would I buy them again? Absolutely. They are supper for close-up work. My Leupold's don't come close to these for close up item detail.

I bought these for when I don't carry my bigger and better binoculars around.They fit very well in the hands and have surprisingly good optical quality for the price.

I purchased these binoculars as a gift for a mountain biker/ hiker. They are very happy with them. The optics are sharp and they are light weight and compact to place in a small backpack.

Pentax 6.5x21mm greyexcellent produce, great FOV and very little shake, tried the 8.5x21 from Pentax not much difference in magnification power, the 6.5 has a better FOV, much brighter, and almost no shake compared to the 8.5The 6.5 is going to be my main binoculars when in the field.Thanks Pentax for making a great product at an excellent price, at $129 compared to the 8.5 at $149 for very little difference in performance.