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Viking Badger 10x42 Binoculars

£54.5£109.00Clearance
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The Viking Badger 10x42 binoculars have a 6.44-degree-field-of-view, equivalent to 102mm at 1k distance. With an 10x magnification and 42mm objective lenses, these binoculars are easy to handle and offer a wide, close view when spotting from a good distance. For both glasses wearers and non-glasses wearers, these Viking binoculars are comfortable to use. Offering an 13.3mm eye relief and twist down eyecups to ensure long viewing is comfortable and strain-free. Built for the outdoors The level of quality available through the optics is perhaps the most important point to consider. Viking have a history of providing the highest possible visual quality through their binoculars. The Viking Badger range is certainly no different. These binoculars provide a fantastic standard of image quality at all times. The Extra low Dispersion glass used in lens construction together with the multicoating and phase coated prisms give bright and crystal clear images whatever the conditions. The binocular is finished in smooth rubber armour and is really comfortable to hold.

For those that don’t know, the exit pupil is the diameter of the column of light coming out of the eyepieces, a wider column means more light gets to your eyes and therefore in theory and in certain conditions (see below) may seem to generate a brighter image. The overall results are impressive and the Viking Badger performs exceptionally well. The images consistently appear well defined thanks to the binocular's ability to provide bright images. There were some instances of colour fringing at the edges of the image. However, this does not detract from the overall quality of the image here. The only way to avoid this would be to opt for binoculars which offer Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass. The reason it only indicates resolution at twilight is because the actual factor that has the greatest impact on resolution or image detail, is dependent upon the amount of light available during the time of observation. During daylight hours, when your eye pupil size will be only about 2 to 3mm, magnification will be the principal factor in image resolution. At night, with the eye pupil dilated to 6 to 8mm, aperture size is the controlling factor. In twilight conditions both of these factors control resolution effectiveness and thus the twilight factor is the term that compares binocular performance under these conditions. Finally, the compact build design feels great to hold. The size of the binoculars makes them extremely portable which is perfect for long days out. The additional accessories that arrive with the binoculars only add to this further. Despite the compact size, the Viking Badger binoculars are incredibly durable and this holds up throughout testing. The rubber-armour finish protects these binoculars from any potential damage and ensures that they are waterproof. The Viking Badger binoculars perform exceptional in every aspect. Considering the price that these binoculars are available for, you will certainly find excellent value here. These are a suitable option for both beginners and intermediate users thanks to how accessible these binoculars feel. They are able to achieve this without compromising on any of the quality. VerdictViking Optical have been manufacturing premium optics for over 30 years and are the brand who make RSPB Binoculars. We are huge fans of Viking at liGo with two of their models taking the top spot on our list of Best Buy Binoculars: Like all Viking binoculars, the Viking Badger 10x42 have high-clarity lenses that have been engineered to the highest standard. Featuring BAK 4 Prisms and multi-coated lenses that provide clear, sharp images. The lenses are nitrogen filled to ensure extra protection against moisture and prevent fogging – making them ideal for all types of weather. Whilst both the 8x bins may produce a brighter image at twilight, the 10x42’s have a better Twilight Factor. It is calculated by first multiplying the magnification by the objective lens diameter and then finding the square root of the result. How much eye-relief you need will depend on your glasses, but most people advise about 16mm or more.

Viking are known for the high quality of their lenses, and the Badger range is no exception. Crafted to the highest standard, their multicoated optics keep light loss to a minimum, ensuring a clearer image. This particular model offers a 5.5-degree field-of-view, which is equivalent to 96m at a 1km distance. 13mm eye relief makes the Badger comfortable to use for long periods of time, so it's a great choice if you're planning on spending the day birdwatching. The binoculars are also nitrogen-filled to prevent the lenses from fogging, making them ideal for use in all weathers. So assuming all other factors are exactly the same, we can see that a 10x42 binocular has the potential to provide you with a better image resolution in poorer light conditions than when compared to an 8x40 or 8x42 bin. Image Stability

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To explain why, in this article, I will take a close look at the main characteristics of 10x42 binoculars (10x magnification and 42mm objective lenses), which will demonstrate why in certain circumstances and some users they may actually be a better choice for bird watching. If however most of your birding is done during the day in reasonable light, a 10x42 may seem just as bright as an 8x42. Twilight Factor In daylight, the pupils in your eyes contract to about 3mm, which is narrower than the exit pupil of the 8x40, 8x42, and 10x42mm binoculars and so much of the light coming out of the binoculars will fall outside the pupil and never actually enter your eyes at all and thus the image you look at won’t seem any brighter in either binocular.

A really wide field of view may not be that important if you are bird watching out in the open, like at the side of a lake, at the sea, on open fields, or on marshes. Here the birds are often quite easy to locate and to follow. The field of view, image stability, eye relief, and low light performance are critical, I would suggest opting for an 8x42mm binocular. I will also go over which types of environments and conditions where 10x42 binoculars will be more suitable for birding than an 8x42 and then lastly, I will recommend a few articles from campingfunzone.com and the best binoculars that I have tested and reviewed over the years. 8x42 vs 10x42 Binoculars All other things being equal (glass and optical coatings quality etc), 8x42 binoculars will in theory be able to produce a brighter image than an 8x40 binocular, which in turn may seem brighter than a 10x42mm one in certain light conditions: So as you can see there are some areas of birding where it may not be essential to have a very wide field of view. Eye-Relief

Increasing the magnification also magnifies any movement or shaking, which can lead to it being quite difficult to keep the image still. Even tiny movements in the view can make it quite hard to then observe fine details, especially over long distances, which negates the advantage of a bigger magnification. Whilst working as a safari guide in South Africa, I used my 10x42 binoculars more than any other, and whilst it is true that I was mostly looking at (and for) much larger and sometimes much scarier animals than birds, I found that in my particular circumstances they also made excellent birding binoculars. So much so, that even if I went out specifically for birding, I would still very often take them with me. So for example, if you look at the 10x42 Celestron Trailseeker’s above, it has a 6.5° / 341ft @ 1,000 yards wide FOV, which actually beats many 8x42 bins out there. However, despite the lightweight design, these binoculars are still incredibly durable. These binoculars incorporate a rubber-armour coating into the design to offer protection during use. The rubber-armour design provides a high level of protection whilst making the binoculars easy to grip. Furthermore, this rubber coating ensures that the binoculars are safe from water damage. Finally, the last point worth mentioning is how efficient the twist-down eyecups are. As previously mentioned, adjusting these eyecups provides more comfort during long-term use. They also allow for those that wear glasses to take the full view of the binoculars in. The level of eye-relief that each model offers is the important value here. The Viking Badger 8x42 binoculars offer the most eye-relief to the user at 18.2mm. This provides fantastic comfort to the user when using these binoculars.This helps make the binoculars the perfect choice for all outdoor activities. The eye-cups are easy to use and the overall operation is smooth. Performance

A wide FOV is also less important when you are observing larger, slower, or predictable moving birds – many water birds and raptors falling into this category.The Viking Badger 10x42 binoculars feature a rubber armoured coating, allowing for a firmer grip in harsher conditions – even when wearing gloves. As well as being waterproof for up to 1m/3min, so the binoculars are prepared for spotting in different environments and the unpredictability of the British climate. Weighing only 590g, these Viking Badger binoculars are lightweight and easily portable. Glad to be of help. There are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking of getting a 12x50 binocular: As I have already written an in-depth, but somewhat generalist article (with an included video) on the main advantages the 8x42 vs 10x42 configurations have over each other (see link above), I won’t go over it all again here, rather I will focus on my attention on how they compare against each specifically where bird watching is concerned. Cons: Size. They are big. They are not lightweight by any means and while I don’t mind hiking with them, I could see how others might not like having a large set like these. When hiking I carry my Cannon with a 55-250 lens and these so it can get a tad cumbersome on longer hikes. However for me personally the amount of difference in image stability between 8x and 10x binoculars is almost indiscernible. Once you start using 12x or higher magnifications then image stability really becomes an issue and so I would suggest that unless you have particularly unsteady or shaky hands this is not something to be too worried about when deciding between 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars.

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