OM SYSTEM OLYMPUS Outback 8x21 RC1 Binoculars

I got these to help me see detail in the model while portrait painting. I also considered butterfly-watching binoculars and opera glasses (La Scala Aida 3x25), but settled on these for the following reasons:First, all the butterfly-watching binoculars that I could find reviews for were at least three times more expensive, out of my price range. They were also bigger and heavier.Close focus distance on the Olympus is 7 feet. I'm usually sitting somewhere between 5 and 10 feet from the model. Opera glasses have a slight edge here with a larger field of view at the same distance, and a closer focusing distance of 6 feet. I noticed a little more distortion around the edges in the opera glasses.The Olympus has rubberized eye cups, so they don't scratch my glasses. The eye cups extend for use without eyeglasses. The opera glasses had smooth polished metal eyepieces. They didn't scratch my glasses the few times I tried them, but they made me a little nervous.The Olympus has an individual diopter adjustment: what this means is that you use the central focusing ring to adjust for your left eye, then use the right side focusing ring to fine tune for your right eye. After that, you can simply use the central focusing ring to adjust for viewing at different distances. This flexibility was great for me because I frequently take off and put on my glasses when painting very fine detail. The opera glasses only had the central focusing ring. (Another artist I know had opera glasses which could focus each eye individually, but she bought those years ago and couldn't recall the source.)I have used these binoculars in an auditorium lit only by a high north-facing window, light enough to read but dim by photographic standards. The image in the binoculars seemed at least as bright as what I could see without them, but I didn't have a chance to compare the opera glasses in the same setting.Given a choice, I would keep the opera glasses as a backup and for the larger field of view, but if I could only have one, especially because I wear eyeglasses, the Olympus 8x21 is the best compromise.

OK, I guess. I don't know much about binoculars, except that there is a lot to see from the windows of my San Francisco apartment. My mother gave me a pair years ago in the 70s. I didn't realize they could be so small. These would be great for use in the theater or opera. The resolution is good, but it's difficult to get adjusted to your eyes. I would prefer a larger product.

The quality of these binoculars is good for the price. I was unable to judge this in my previous review of this product, which was due to frustration over the long wait for them (almost 5 months from the time I ordered). I presume the delay was due to large demand for these particular binoc's, especially after being a top pick in CR Magazine just before the holiday season in December.The binoculars are adjustable for people who wear glasses, a very nice feature. They were worth the wait!Since the initial review, I have had 2 pairs of these binocs, still in use. A few years ago my wife accidentally dropped the first pair in an asphalt parking lot on a cold winter day. The plastic broke in half at one the hinged parts which functions to adjust the distance between the eye pieces. I suppose this is the biggest drawback of a casing and parts made out of plastic. On the other hand, being very small and light is certainly a convenience factor.After I bought a second pair of these binoc's, which my wife is still using especially when she travels, I used some superglue to fix the first pair. While the hinged part is now frozen in place, the binoc's are still functional. They just can't be folded as closely together as they should. Not a problem for occasional use, and we keep the oldest pair hanging near a window for bird watching outside our house. There's no comparison to a good high-magnification scope on a tripod, of course, but when convenience, light weight, small size, and low-cost but good quality are important, then these binoc's fit the bill.

We bought two pairs of these binoculars for a trip to Costa Rica, wanting something lighter than our beautiful but heavy Zeiss bins. When they came, one was defective - one side didn't focus - so we had to replace that just before departure. In use we found them lightweight, easy to use and the optics are quite OK for such cheap binoculars. I like the close focus and their pocketability. The right-eye diopter adjustment is quite loose so you need to tape it in place.Main problem is, in CR it rains...and rains! There are so many opportunities for bins to get wet. Within a few days, both had moisture inside the left barrel. It took us a while to figure how to clean this out.First you prise off the silver plastic shells, underside then topside, using a knife or small screwdriver in the seam where they snap together. (The plastic is tacked to the metal inner barrels with spots of glue, so this takes a bit of force). Only then can you twist off the eyepiece assembly and mop out the moisture. You have to get all glass surfaces, especially the prisms, scrupulously clean with lens cleaner and lint-free lens tissue, or else there will always be some cloudiness. Watch out for the little black plastic slider that goes diagonally thru the middle of each set of prisms - moisture gets in there too, you may have to yank it out and clean inside that slot.Then put it all together and make sure it isn't hanging round your neck NEXT time you fall in the river or sea!This fix worked for us, but don't try it unless you are fairly methodical and handy at fixing things

This binocular was rated as a best buy at many internet sites, but is more for a child than adult regarding distance viewing, not at all good for viewing through glasses. I'm giving it to my grandchild.