Praktica 7-22 x 22 ZOOM
Price £29.99
Tel 08706 003030
Web www.argos.co.uk
(ref 580/3563)
Optical spec 7-22 x 22
Weight 0.210kg
Size 10 x 9.5 x 6cm
Praktica won't win any prizes for style with these. The silver plastic is finished nicely enough, but some rubber grips would have improved the look. It would also have made them more comfortable to hold. This niggle aside, we cannot argue with the specification and optical performance. In our long-distance clarity and low-light tests, it was hard to spot any difference in quality between these and the Editor's Choice Clarke (bottom). Ultimate magnification is slightly less than that of the Clarke, but close-up focusing is better: useful if you've spotted a rare bird or insect in a nearby bush. Praktica includes a ten-year guarantee and a decent plastic carry pouch.
Verdict Almost as impressive as our Editor's Choice, with solid optics and great magnification.
Rating * * * * *
*** BUDGET CHOICE ***

Sunagor 10-40 x 21 Micro Zoom
Price £69.90
Tel 08706 003030
Web www.argos.co.uk
(ref 580/3161)
Optical spec 10-40 x 21
Weight 0.242kg
Size 9.5 x 9 x 6cm
The Sunagor just lost out on being the Editor's Choice to the less expensive Clarke. With a maximum zoom of 40-times magnification, these are the most powerful in our group, but that power has a drawback. At maximum zoom, you can see fantastic detail on far-away objects, but the slightest hand quiver moves the view uncontrollably. At minimum zoom, we struggled to focus on anything closer than ten feet away, but Argos doesn't claim closer focusing than that anyway. However, despite their claim of excellent light transmission thanks to multi-coated BaK4 prisms, they placed marginally behind the Clarke and Praktica zooms in our low-light test. Long distance detail was still good.
Verdict Good, but not as clear as the winners, and they cost more.
Rating * * * *

Clarke BIN103025-Z
Price £41.07
Tel 01992 565300
Web www.clarkeinternational.com
Optical spec 10-30 x 25
Weight 0.294kg
Size 10 x 11.5 x 6.5cm
We were impressed with the appearance of these glasses: a smooth, silver-coloured plastic body to protect the optics if they're dropped, and rubber grips to make them comfortable to handle. Their compact size and low weight further enhance usability. At this price, we weren't expecting miracles – but Clarke surprised us. In our low light, they were among the best in our test. In our distance clarity test, the binoculars' results were impressive again. The only feature we don't like is the ruby coating on the lenses. This gives the view a blue hue, although it's supposed to reduce ultraviolet shimmering on long distances.
Verdict Practical styling, excellent price, and powerful, high-performance optics.
Rating * * * * *
*** EDITOR'S CHOICE ***

Clarke BIN0750
Price £28.14
Tel 01992 565300
Web www.clarkeinternational.com
Optical spec 7 x 50
Weight 0.756kg
Size 19 x 20 x 5.5cm
Clarke's second entry is an updated version of traditional binoculars. The heavy steel casing of old has been replaced by a comfortable mix of textured rubbery plastics, which reduces the weight. However, the glasses are too big to compete with many products in our line-up. The optical clarity beats both our award winners', but this is marred by less impressive low-light performance – surprising, considering the large objective lenses. Focusing is crisp, even as close as ten feet. The ruby-coated lenses give a blue tint, but you will soon get used to it. The large carry pouch supplied feels flimsy.
Verdict Traditional styling, but lighter than you would expect. Optical performance is superb, as is the price.
Rating * * * *

Luger LR 6 x 18
Price £40
Tel 01539 721032
Web www.whitbyandco.co.uk
Optical spec 6 x 18
Weight 0.146kg
Size 6.5 x 8 x 4.5cm
The diminutive size of these binoculars, combined with the non-staggered telescope, means the optics have to be spot-on, and Luger very nearly manages it. These nip at the heels of our winners' optical clarity, and their low-light performance is amazing considering how small the objective lenses are. They are so light and the body is so well finished that you can gaze through them comfortably for hours. But focusing is done at the eyepieces rather than by way of a central adjuster. Their best feature is that they can focus on objects around six feet away. They come with a neckstrap and a high-quality carry pouch.
Verdict The smallest ones we tested, these offer reasonable optics and pocket-size convenience. Rating * * *

Jessops 8 x 40 ZCF
Price £32.99
Tel 0116 232 6000
Web www.jessops.com
Optical spec 8 x 40
Weight 0.630kg
Size 17 x 14 x 7cm
It doesn't take an eagle eye to spot the similarities between these and Clarke's BIN0750. The ZCF replicate the Clarke's excellent performance and affordability, and in some ways, Jessops' are actually nicer to use. They are lighter, and don't have ruby-coated lenses. Optical performance is breathtakingly good, and full marks were achieved in clarity and low-light tests. Jessops has opted for the same soft rubbery plastic as Clarke, which makes the binoculars comfy to handle and provides some protection against impact. Our only gripe was that, when the eyecups were folded in for use with spectacles, they kept popping back out.
Verdict A traditional look is combined with excellent performance and a great price.
Rating * * * *

Jessops 12 x 50 ZCF
Price £42.99
Tel 0116 232 6000
Web www.jessops.com
Optical spec 12 x 50
Weight 0.766kg
Size 20 x 18 x 7cm
The 12-times magnification makes these the most powerful of the non-zoom binoculars on test. It's often said that field glasses with more than ten-times magnification are useless without a tripod to hold them still, but we disagree. The high magnification does amplify hand movements, but we didn't struggle to keep the view steady with these. Low-light performance remains excellent, but despite the higher power, these didn't fare as well in the clarity test as Jessops' 8 x 40. Another drawback of the optics is an inability to focus on anything less than 12ft away, so these are best used for distance work. The carry pouch feels rather flimsy.
Verdict Feel like Clarke's BINO750, but with higher magnification, although clarity is not as good.
Rating * * *

Praktica 10-30 x 30A
Price £59.90
Tel 08706 003030
Web www.argos.co.uk
(ref 580/3233)
Optical spec 10-30 x 30
Weight 0.402kg
Size 11 x 14 x 7cm
German-made with a ten-year guarantee, the name Praktica is usually associated with basic, but good, compact cameras. These binoculars have a magnification and zoom spec similar to the Budget Choice, their controls work more smoothly, and the carry pouch is well made. However, they're heavier, far more expensive and less satisfying optically than other models. Their close focusing was poor; we struggled to see anything less than 15ft away clearly.
Verdict Similar to the Editor's and Budget Choices, but performance doesn't justify the higher price.
Rating * * * *

Luger LW 8 x 25
Price £64.95
Tel 01539 721032
Web www.whitbyandco.co.uk
Optical spec 8 x 25
Weight 0.276kg
Size 7 x 11x 5cm
Despite their size, these binoculars feel well made and durable. We love the finish and feel. They have a central adjuster for easy focusing, and while their eight-times magnification trails the Barska's, they can compete with larger models. The fact that they're waterproof makes them ideal for serious outdoor spotters. Clarity at distance improves on the LR6's, but is not as good as the Blackhawk's. In low light, they perform well. Close-up focusing on objects as near as ten feet away is good.
Verdict Better than the LR6, but less of an all-round performer.
Rating * * *

Barska 10x2 Blackhawk
Price £69.95
Tel 0116 234 4644
Web www.burton-mccall.co.uk
Optical spec 10 x 25
Weight 0.310kg
Size 7 x 11 x 5cm
Although small and light, these can compete with larger models, and have a central adjuster for fast focusing. We love their finish, style and low weight, as well as the good-quality pouch. They are waterproof to enhance durability. The downside is the price. These are right behind our award winners in low-light and clarity, but nothing less than 15ft away can be viewed clearly.
Verdict Similar performance to standard-size models, but they're pricey.
Rating * * *

Clarke BIN0750W
Price £46.94
Tel 01992 565300
Web www.clarkeinternational.com
Optical spec 7 x 50
Weight 0.9kg
Size 19 x 20 x 5.5cm
The W in the name gives the game away: these are a waterproof version of the BIN0750. The first differences are that the lenses are not ruby-coated and high-quality BaK4 prisms are used inside. They're also heavier. Clarke doesn't say how waterproof these are, but the neck strap has a buoyancy aid, a hint that they should withstand full submersion. Inside, the binoculars are filled with nitrogen gas, to prevent fogging of the optics. Otherwise, they are identical to the BIN0750. Low-light performance and visual clarity are excellent.
Verdict Fine optical performance. Shame about the size and weight.
Rating * * *

Jessops 8x32 DCF Aqua
Price £79.99
Tel 0116 232 6000
Web www.jessops.com
Optical spec 8 x 32
Weight 0.536kg
Size 12 x 14 x 7cm
Jessops says that these binoculars perform in water: they can be used to a depth of one metre for up to 15 minutes. As with the waterproof Clarkes, these are filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging, and come with a ten-year guarantee. If you plan to use binoculars underwater, these DCF Aquas are preferable to the Clarkes, as they are smaller and lighter, and have higher magnification. But the optical clarity and illumination are not as good. One point in this model's favour is superb close focusing, which, unlike any other products here, breaks the six-foot barrier.
Verdict Not only waterproof, but designed for use underwater. More compact than Clarke's, but much pricier.
Rating * * *

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