Dr.P's Full Review: Barska Optics Blackhawk AB10144 Binocular
BARSKA BLACKHAWK 10x25 BINOCULARS AB10144
There is certainly no shortage of entry level binoculars on the market today. However, although having a large variety of choices can be a very good thing, it can also be a double edged sword that cuts both ways. If you happen to be a well informed and knowledgeable consumer, having a large variety of choices can be a wonderful thing, as it allows a consumer to find a product that has the most desirable features, and to then one can go about finding the best possible price. However, if you happen to be a beginner, who is looking for an entry level pair of binoculars, the very vast field of choices can make a wise purchasing decision a very daunting task. With this in mind, and in the hope of making your purchasing decision a bit easier, I shall today be reviewing the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars Model AB10144. Read on and see if these binoculars have some of the features that you might be looking for in an entry level pair of binoculars.
The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars have a list price of $60.75, but these very same binoculars can be purchased at a substantial discount to this list price, and I have seen the ones that I am reviewing today recently for as little as $29.99 selling from a name brand retailer on the Internet. The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars are considered to be compact binoculars, but they are about medium in size when compared to some other binoculars that fall into this category. In general, binoculars that are classified as being compact usually have an objective lens that is 27mm or less, and they are small, easy to carry, and fit easily in one's hand. The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 are no exception to this rule, as these binoculars are relatively small and light in weight, and they weigh in at just 13.45 ounces or 0.84 pounds. At that weight, it is unlikely that they will cause any neck or upper back strain for the average person, even if you should choose to let them hang down and dangle from around your neck. These binoculars are certainly small and light enough for even a child to easily carry around and use.
As to some other important features of the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars, they have a magnification power of 10 times. This is a good magnification for the average person who is interested in bird watching and the like. To those of you who are unfamiliar with binoculars, the number "10" in the descriptor 10x25 refers to the size or power of the magnification. In simple terms, with a magnification of 10 times, an object that is 1000 feet away will appear as if it is about 100 feet away when viewed through these binoculars.
The number "25" in the descriptor 10x25 refers to the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. This size of the objective lens has no bearing on the magnification of the binoculars, but it does have some bearing on the light gathering capabilities of a pair of binoculars. Given that all other things are equal, a set of binoculars with a larger objective lens will tend to have greater light gathering capabilities. This is an important factor to keep in mind when considering the magnification of a set of binoculars, as the higher the magnification, the duller the object you are looking at will appear in low light conditions. Personally, I like a stronger pair of binoculars, but a pair of 10x25 binoculars offers a good deal of magnification as well as reasonably good viewing in moderate to good light conditions, and it is reasonably good for certain uses such as bird watching. Personally, I would not consider myself to be a bird watcher per se. I love observing all types of animals, and I find that when I am out and about with others who are looking at birds, that I am spending at least as much time observing other animals going about their natural daily routines. I typically bring along two sets of binoculars on such excursions, one for birding, and one for long distance viewing.
As I mentioned in the paragraph above, the size of the objective lenses on a pair of binoculars has some bearing on the light gathering capabilities of a pair of binoculars. Remember, I said some bearing. The larger the size of the objective lens, the more light that is potentially able to be gathered by the binoculars. However, in bright sunny conditions, an objective lens of about 32 millimeters is capable of yielding a very bright image. If you are planning to be viewing objects or creatures, such as birds, and you are planning to do so at dusk, or in poorly lit or very shady conditions, then all other things being equal, a pair of binoculars with a set of larger objective lenses, such as 42 mm or larger, will yield a sharper and brighter image. This is important to keep in mind, as the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars may not suit all your needs in that case.
Remember earlier I said that the size of the objective lenses has only some bearing on the quality and brightness of the image you are viewing? Well perhaps the most important thing to impact the brightness of an image that is being viewed in a pair of binoculars is the type of optical coating on the viewing surfaces of the binoculars. The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars have "fully coated optics." O.K., so what does that mean? Keep in mind that when light hits a surface, such as glass, some of the light is reflected, and some passes through. The brightness of the image that is viewed in a pair of binoculars is primarily determined by the amount of light that gets through to your eye. In order to increase the light that is absorbed by the binoculars, the optics of a good set of binoculars are coated with antireflective materials. There are various levels and degrees of coatings that are used in the industry. Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars have "fully coated optics," and that means that there is a single layer of optical coating of antireflective materials on all air-to-glass surfaces. This means that more light reaches the eye of the viewer, and the result is a brighter image than a pair of binoculars that does not have any coating. However, it is important to bear in mind when reading this that a pair of binoculars that has "fully coated optics" is not as good as a pair that has "multi-coated optics," and is certainly apt to be far less efficient at gathering light than a pair of binoculars that has "fully multi-coated optics." These are important distinctions for a potential buyer to understand and to remember when considering a purchase. For example, a pair of binoculars that has "fully multi-coated optics" and a 25mm objective lenses is potentially capable of delivering an image that is as bright as or brighter than a set of binoculars with a 42mm objective lens, or even in some cases as 50mm objective lens that does not have optical coating.
The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars are fully waterproof and fogproof, and they are fully sealed and dry Nitrogen purged. O.K., you may be thinking to yourself that this is not very important to you, as you do not plan to use these binoculars underwater or in the rain. Well, think for a moment. Have you ever driven in your car on a cold humid day and noticed the condensation on your windows? It was not raining, and you were certainly not driving your car under water, and yet the window fogged up. Moisture or water vapor condenses on surfaces that are cooler than the surrounding air. If the inside glass surfaces of your binoculars are cooler than the outside air, water vapor or moisture could potentially begin to form on the internal glass surfaces of your binoculars. That would be a big problem. However if your binoculars are fully waterproof and airtight, this phenomenon can't happen. Binoculars that are "Nitrogen purged" like the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars are sealed and filled with Nitrogen, and no water vapor is present in the sealed chambers, and no water vapor can get in to cloud up the surfaces of the lenses or the internal roof prisms. Binoculars that are fully waterproof, like the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars, are also easy to clean and maintain. Should the binoculars get dirty or dusty from use out of doors, you can actually run them under the water tap to clean them, and wipe them dry. Believe me, this is a wonderful and very important feature to look for in any pair of binoculars that you might be considering purchasing.
There are a few more points I would like to bring up. Because the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars are compact binoculars, they are easy to carry around, and would be good to use for camping, sporting events, or other casual viewing situations. The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars are fully rubber coated, and offer a very sure grip. That makes them easy to handle, and it also affords a bit of extra protection for the Binoculars when they are used out of doors. As I mentioned above, these binoculars weigh a mere 13.45 ounces, which makes them light enough for even a child to wear on a long hike, nature walk, or bird watching excursion. Another plus, is that binoculars that are light in weight are easy to quickly move about and easy to sight an object with, the obvious reason being that one can be more agile with them, and this is a very useful thing for sporting events and the like. The Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars have a large indented and easy to use center focus wheel. The nonslip rubber coating and the large center focus wheel, make it relatively easy to quickly sight in on objects, such as small animals or birds, that one wishes to see.
O.K., so who would the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars be best suited for. Clearly, these are entry level binoculars, and they are good choice for the average beginner to consider. Their light weight, rugged construction, and waterproof design would make them a good choice for a child, as they are hard to break, very easy to use, and built to last. They might also be a good pair of binoculars to consider taking along on a family camping trip, because their waterproof design would enable them to be used for boating, camping, and recreational outdoor use. Because of their relatively small objective lenses, and the fact that they have optics that are only "fully coated" as compared to binoculars that have optics that are "multi-coated" or "fully multi-coated," the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars would not be a good choice for star gazing at night, or for use in very low light conditions.
To sum it up in one sentence, these binoculars are a reasonably good set of entry level binoculars. I have seen some others, made by different manufacturers, that in my opinion, are slightly better, and cost about the same, and as such, all other things being equal, these binoculars would not be my first choice for a beginner. On the other hand, different people have different needs, and as such, these binoculars might be preferable for some consumers. But please remember, that in this world, one usually gets what they pay for, and at a sale price of about $30 Dollars, one is not going to get a great pair of binoculars from any manufacturer. However, for the price, and all other things being equal, the Barska Blackhawk 10x25 Binoculars are among the better choices for a consumer to consider in this price range.
Well I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my review, but now if you will excuse me, I must get back to practicing my guitar. I wish you good luck, and good viewing.
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