OM SYSTEM OLYMPUS 8 x 40 S Standard Binoculars

With a safari upcoming, having a set of binoculars to bring wasn't optional: while camera equipment is fun, sometimes there's just no substitute for a simple set of optics to help you see far away. A whole range of high-end binoculars are out there with fancy features like adjustable zoom and optical image stabilization, but this product skips those features to keep costs down. Instead, it's just a classic pair of binoculars, with a single zoom level and no image stabilization, in an incredibly sturdy shell with Olympus's quality optics.These are a bit on the heavy side, which was a concern for us because we're billed by the kilogram for our luggage when traveling to our safari destination. I wish these were offered in a slightly more lightweight case material; they feel sturdy and can likely take quite a bit of damage in the field, but I would have preferred to trade some of that resiliency for a lighter design.Speaking of traveling with these, I think the weakest point is the padded case that's provided. It's bulky and feels super, super cheap out of padded faux material - it's a real disappointment compared to the binoculars themselves, and I'd suggest making or finding an alternative. Pretty much anything would have been better.The good news is that the optics are excellent. I was able to see far away things clearly, and I didn't run into blur issues despite the lack of optical stabilizers - 8x is a good zoom level that allows you to see things up close without losing the context of the overall scene. There's also quite a bit of adjustability for people with differing vision or eye positions, and all of those features worked as expected.These aren't anything crazy, and if you're looking for the best available binoculars, looking at a higher price point might suit your needs better. But if you want a basic pair for occasional use, while still ensuring high quality optics, these could be the sweet spot for you.

The court that attached to the binoculars could have been better designed

This is a very good (though fairly basic) pair of binoculars from a recognisable brand you know you can trust.I've tested maybe half a dozen pairs of binoculars from Amazon over the past couple of years at a range of price points, and in terms of optical quality I'd say these things are kinda in the middle. There's nothing particularly special about them. They're just... good. They work just as expected.This, though, is the reason I'm giving them five stars, because my experience of binoculars has been hit and miss, with price rarely being a reliable indicator of quality. Some pairs have been phenomenal, some awful, and I just never know until they show up. Olympus takes out the guesswork, because everyone has heard of Olympus. It's a well established brand that makes decent stuff. Not super high end, but dependable.These binoculars feel comfortingly heavy. I get the impression they could take a few knocks without damage, so if you plan to use them in a challenging environment you should be good. I've noticed no flaws or aberrations in the lenses, and the build quality appears to be very good.My only slight gripe is that the soft case feels a little on the cheap side, but to be honest I could say the same thing about pretty much every pair of binoculars I've ever used. Almost nobody bundles good quality accessories with their binoculars.All in all this is a solid pair, and I'd recommend them especially to people who don't really know what to look for in binoculars and just want something dependable.

I really wish I could line up my phone just perfectly enough to show how clear and crisp a view these binoculars offer. These binoculars come with a nice padded carry bag that has it's own carry strap, so you don't have to rely on the ones attached to the binoculars all of the time. The binoculars themselves come with rubber cups to protect the lenses, these are my only real gripe, they're cheap and fall off at any slight movement and at this point I can't understand why any manufacturer still uses that outdated method for lens protection.The binoculars themselves are incredible, very comfortable in the hand, the exterior plastics are a mix of hard and grippy rubber and it just makes for an easy shape and textures to hold. The focal adjustment knob is wide and easy to slide, but still firm enough to hold the setting you put it on while walking and moving around. Adjustable by simply folding down the center line to adjust for a variety of eye profiles and the eye relief off of the eye cups is very easy on the eyes. I wear corrective glasses and had no issue using these binoculars comfortably. The picture and clarity that I get on objects 300' away is impressive, very crisp and clear image.These binoculars weigh in at 1lb 10oz on my scale without the padded case which to me feels a little heavy, but I associate it to a well made product because the performance is there.