Very good quality for being inexpensive. Bright, easy focusing.
Written: Jan 11 '06
Product Rating:
Pros: Feels nice and solid, real glass innards. Quick focus, amazing bright image! Good value!
Cons: Don't perform quite like more expensive models, but that's to be expected!
The Bottom Line: I will probably not need to buy another pair of binoculars, unless these get stolen or broken. They work great and have a flawless bright image. Amazing value!
moby09's Full Review: Bushnell PowerView 13-1650 Binocular
I bought these binoculars from a large single-location sporting goods store near me about 2 years ago. What caught my eye was that they were on sale! Of course, who doesn't like a few bucks off? They were originally listed around $70 or $80, but marked down to $50 (which is what they're at nowadays), so I was sold.
I love the quick, easy-focus system Bushnell uses. No wheel to try to turn, just a rocking lever-type adjustment where you'd expect the 'wheel' to be. This allows for much easier and quicker focusing. The movement feels smooth, well-lubricated inside.
Above all, I appreciate it's large light-gathering "wide angle" 50mm objective lens, which with its 10x allows a crystal-clear 341' field of view @ 1,000 yds. They still have the traditional round-looking lenses, yet Bushnell calls it 'wide angle' because of its impressive 341' @ 1000yd -10x view.
I was looking for a nice set of goggles to use hunting. I had every intention of getting the compact-sized ones, but to get a nice set of compacts was out of my budget at the time.
So, I decided I'd sacrifice the smaller size for this pair. They still work for hunting, just a tad bulkier than I would prefer for walking around with them strapped around my neck. But as far as performance, you won't be disappointed. They have a nice soft feel to the body's coating, which also helps it in its fight against the elements. They're not too heavy, but feel like you'd expect decent binoculars to feel. Not too light, which would indicate the presence of too many plastic parts. Bushnell uses real glass-prism focusing, as you'd expect binoculars to have.
Usually $50 binoculars have a horrible reputation. And I've been there before with the powerview zoom model I bought from eBay one time. Those were cheap, with a dark image. These wide angle's give you a nice, 'real light' look, just 10 times closer!
They come with a neck strap that unfortunately I can't review because mine seems to have disappeared long ago. But I use a piece of boot lace-type string for a strap, and it works just peachy.
It even allows you to adjust the right eyepiece seperate from the left, by turning the eyepiece itself. That way, should you have differing eyesight, you can still get a sharp image through your binoculars as you would your glasses. Simply close your right eye while focusing until everything's sharp with your left eye. Then close your left eye, and turn the right eyepiece slowly until it's sharp. Wala! A custom-tuned set of binoculars!
So, all things considered, I'd recommend these in a heartbeat. You won't get out-of-this world clarity like from a pair of Swarovski's or Carl Zeiss, but you're not spending $2000 either. Happy viewing!
Bushnell Powerview binoculars offer contemporary styling and design with traditional Bushnell quality and durability. A variety of styles and features...More at Adorama
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