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Bushnell Elite ED 10x42 Review

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amarant View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amarant Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bushnell Elite ED 10x42 Review
    Posted: August/16/2011 at 13:49
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I have been using this excellent binocular for only a couple of days and compared with Bushnell Elite e2 10x42, it is a clear winner. The only thing in common with Bushnell e2 is the shape. In reality, Elite ED is a new binocular with a higher quality body and optics than e2. You can see its Japanese engineering at first sight. It has bright, sharp image with excellent contrast. The resolution reveals even the finest detail without color aberration. CA is only noticeable at the edges of the image. Astigmatism is negligible. There is very little distortion, and there is a large “sweet spot”, about 80% of the image, maybe little more.


The body is engineered with Japanese precision, which can not be overlooked. It is strong and elegant. The center focus knob turns smoothly, but is not loose. Also, eyecups hold firm in position after twisting up. If you wear glasses, eye relief is sufficiently large for comfortable viewing.


If I can summarize, then Bushnell Elite ED 10x42 is a binocular, which is not going to disappoint and has high value. It is priced at the top of middle class, but in reality, Bushnell Elite ED belongs at the bottom of the top class both with its optics and body engineering. Reliability is what you feel immediately when holding it for the first time and when birding. There are no obstacles for hunting use.


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Dyelynn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dyelynn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2011 at 14:48
Originally posted by amarant amarant wrote:

I have been using this excellent binocular for only a couple of days and compared with Bushnell Elite e2 10x42, it is a clear winner. The only thing in common with Bushnell e2 is the shape. In reality, Elite ED is a new binocular with a higher quality body and optics than e2. You can see its Japanese engineering at first sight. It has bright, sharp image with excellent contrast. The resolution reveals even the finest detail without color aberration. CA is only noticeable at the edges of the image. Astigmatism is negligible. There is very little distortion, and there is a large “sweet spot”, about 80% of the image, maybe little more.


The body is engineered with Japanese precision, which can not be overlooked. It is strong and elegant. The center focus knob turns smoothly, but is not loose. Also, eyecups hold firm in position after twisting up. If you wear glasses, eye relief is sufficiently large for comfortable viewing.


If I can summarize, then Bushnell Elite ED 10x42 is a binocular, which is not going to disappoint and has high value. It is priced at the top of middle class, but in reality, Bushnell Elite ED belongs at the bottom of the top class both with its optics and body engineering. Reliability is what you feel immediately when holding it for the first time and when birding. There are no obstacles for hunting use.




quoted to be less offensive to the eyes.
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amarant View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amarant Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/17/2011 at 08:13
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You think this is a biased view or propaganda of some sort? This model is very good, but, unfortunately, it has fallen victim to something resembling a smear campaign from people who’ve never even held this model in their hands. A lot of false information has been published, mainly about astigmatism or focus, and the funny thing is that it’s quite easy to prove whether or not this model is as good as it claims to be: just put the thing in your hands and look through it instead of making off-base claims based upon limited/minimal contact.Big Smile

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FrankD View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/17/2011 at 09:15
Amarant,
 
Thank you for taking the time to post your impressions of the new Elite ED E2 10x43. I have seen next to nothing on that model, if not that configuration of that model.
 
Personally I don't remember seeing any negative comments surrounding either astigmatism or the focusing wheel tension/speed. I have no experience with the new ED model but I do with the older E2 but only in the 8x42 configuration. I had two issues with it.
 
One, the field of view was extremely narrow in comparison to other bins at or below its price point ($400-ish). With a 330 foot field of view it felt constricted in comparison to many binoculars of similar or lower price which sport fields of view over 400 feet.
 
Two, it was overpriced for the list of features that it provided. There are now many binoculars at the $200-$300 price point which have dielectric mirror coating, oil/dirt repellant coatings...not to mention which are fully-multicoated and phase coated. There just wasn't anything special about it.
 
The 10x42 version did have a 315 foot field of view which is more in the "average" category for a 10x42 at any price point. I see that both field of view figures have carried over to the new ED glass versions of this binocular.
 
So, to summarize a bit, in order to be competitive with other binoculars at this price point the addition of ED glass is not enough. The field of view would need to certainly be widened in the 8x42 configuration to a large extent and possibly slightly more in the 10x42 as well. The price would also have to be no more than $400 for it to compete successfully with the likes of some of the other binoculars currently available with these features.
 
Lastly, and most interestingly, if it did make these modifications, then it basically would be a Bushnell Legend Ultra HD which I found to be very good optically. The redundancy of the two products would certainly be evident.
 
Just my two cents.


Edited by FrankD - August/17/2011 at 09:18
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amarant View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote amarant Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2011 at 05:19
Bushnell Elite ED
FOV is not the best barometer of judging the optical quality of a pair of
binoculars.  It’s one of various factors that come into play and not the most
significant, quite frankly, though perhaps it might seem that way to someone
with a less keener eye, no pun intended.  FOV isn’t an optical fetish.  The
Vortex Viper HD is excellent and the fact that it has an FOV of 319 feet doesn‘t
change that.

Like I said before, play around with the thing first before judging it and
you’ll „see“ (no pun intended) things differently.
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JGRaider View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2011 at 08:24
I wouldn't waste my time with a bino with a narrow field of view, when there are so many great choices that have addressed this issue.  
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Bitterroot Bulls View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2011 at 08:29
FOV is significant to me, but I will work on getting a keener eye.

That said, 315 ft/1000yards is a respectable FOV for a 10X42.  The narrow 8X42 FOV is unacceptable, when there are the others available, as JG mentioned.


-Matt
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