10X42 Sahara FMC Binoculars

I wanted some binoculars for bird watching, so as I had never before purchased binoculars, and I did not want to spend a lot of money,but wanted some degree of sophistication - I did some extensive research. The Barr & Stroud Sahara binoculars had good reviews and seemed just right for a beginner and at a great price. Barr & Stroud have supplied the Royal Navy with binoculars since 1919, so I thought that's good enough for me..I have not been disappointed!Although I have not had the opportunity to compare these with more expensive binoculars I am very happy with the performance.They feel like a robust,solid, but not too heavy, quality product and the clarity and brightness of vision is excellent, also you can focus down to 2 metres. The focussing mechanism is really smooth and fast, and I like the tethered lens caps (you can remove them if you want to) and you can tether the eyepiece cover, so no danger of them being dropped. A good quality carry case is provided which is slightly padded and has a useful front pocket for lens cleaner cloth etc.With 10X magnification you have to hold the binoculars reasonably steady as the image can jump around a bit - but I am getting better the more I use them. I'm told this is the same for all 10X models - unless you've forked out for a brand with image stabilisation.Some minor criticisms are that the specifications given on the Barr & Stroud website include a tripod bush for this model - which I thought, at first, it does not have as there is nothing in the instruction leaflet to indicate where it is located. However after some research for a binocular tripod mount I discovered that the tripod mounting bush is hidden under the Barr & Stroud badge located at the front of the binoculars between the lenses.The badge unscrews to reveal a threaded hole. Also the neckstrap supplied looks cheap and flimsy - a pity as these binoculars are a quality product. However, overall these are excellent binoculars - and I would recommend them to anyone.

I needed a new pair of binoculars for wildlife watching, ones that would perform well without breaking the bank. These fit the bill perfectly and in fact having used them now for a few months through a Scottish winter, I have been very impressed.The BAK 4 prisms give a good sharp image with no obvious aberrations, the focussing is smooth and precise and the rugged waterproof and fogproof body means they perform well on a dull, dreich Scots winter's day. Another nice touch is the tethered lens covers and eyepiece caps - many makers just can't get these right (and some don't provide them at all).These binoculars will compete with much more expensive makes. At this price they are a bargain and would make a great entry level purchase for someone interested in birdwatching or watching wildlife. I was so pleased with them that I subsequently bought the 8 x 32 Barr & Stroud binoculars for my wife and these also perform brilliantly. If you are looking for a slightly more compact and lighter binocular without compromising performance, I can also recommend these.Whilst the maker is not the Barr & Stroud company of yesteryear, we are very satisfied with the quality of the item and would recommend these to anyone looking for a good quality piece of kit on a budget.

As soon as you pick these up, you can feel the quality. Really nice pair, looking through them the scene is crystal clear. They are not heavy at all, and are a reasonable size to carry about. The price was also reasonable, I would highly recommend these if your looking for some. Easily as good as binoculars costing three or four times as much, I know I have compared these with others. Barr & Stroud have been making these since before the war. Also waterproof and nitrogen filled to stop fogging up

These are the second pair of Barr and Stroud binoculars I've bought for bird/nature watching. The first pair were the 8x42 Sahara and my wife and I were so impressed by the build and image quality, we decided to buy another pair to stop us fighting over them! Much clearer than the Opticron and RSPB binoculars we had before, we didn't realise how much we were missing! I've tried most of the makes available at camera shops and binoculars this good normally cost 3 or 4x the price, they compare to the Visionary Inara and the Bushnells which are also very good.We decided to go with a stronger magnification this time (10x42) expecting them to be bigger and heavier, but we were pleasantly surprised as they are indentical to the 8x42s and not noticibly heavier (4gs more).I can't comment on how long they will last, but I've had them in the rain with no problems and they come with a 10 yr guarantee as well (5 yrs parts and labour/5 yrs parts only).Recommended

First pair I have ever bought. Wasn`t sure what the magnifying would produce. Glad I bought these as they are good at picking up detail of birds in trees 50 yards away. The magnifying control is very easy and quick. They also look a decent quality. For a novice they are very good. The only reason I knocked a star off was because of my overall and probably false expectation of seeing ants at 100 yards.

Great value for money. Very bright and sharp optics. Ideal for walks and bird-watching. Also took them to concerts and found them to be ideal in low lighting conditions. They are not too bulky and are easy to set up and adjust in use. Yes the case is a bit flimsy and the straps could be a bit stronger but at this price who cares. You'll pay three times the price for the same and maybe inferior quality and won't be too upset if they get dropped or damaged. If your not into big price labelled names and want really good quality for your money I would recommend these.

These are adequate for most uses.

Cracking binoculars for little money, fantastic optics , clear view very happy!