Olympus Magellan 10x42 Binoculars Review

The series of Magellan binoculars from Olympus are designed for the extreme outdoor enthusiast and they use some of the finest quality components to produce an overall excellent quality binocular.

Optics

Bak-4 Prisms
The 10x42 Magellan Binoculars come with high index Bak-4 roof prisms, meaning that they are made from superior optical glass that produces clearer and sharper images. The quality of the optics in any pair of binoculars is a key indicator to it's overall quality. Cheaper binoculars will use Bk-7 prisms which are adequate, but far inferior to Bak-4 prisms, which offer better light transmission and sharpness to the edges of the image.

Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
The lenses on these are also fully multi-coated which again is excellent, the word "fully" is important here, many cheaper binoculars will advertise that their lenses are "Multi-Coated" which means that at least some surfaces (usually only the first and the last) have multiple layers of anti-reflection coatings. These are Fully Multi-Coated meaning that every air to glass surface has multiple layers of antireflection coatings that will assist in the transmission of light to make the image that you look at sharp and clear.

Eye Relief
There is a decent 15mm of eye relief with twist up and down eyecups meaning that not only are they comfortable to look though over extended periods, but they are also fine those who wear eyeglasses as you should be able to use them without the need to remove your glasses >> read my article on Long Eye Relief Binoculars for more information.

They also have built in dioptric correction meaning that you can adjust each lens to suit your specific eyesight. Often your eyes will have different visual capabilities and being able to make each lens suit each eye will mean less strain on your eyes and allow for optimal optical performance.

The Body

The Olympus Magellan 10x42 EXWP I Binoculars have a body that has been Hermetically sealed and filled with Nitrogen that not only makes them fully waterproof, but dirtproof and fogproof as well: an important factor for use in different and sometimes hostile environments. The large center focus knob makes it simple and fast to focus on an object and they have an internal focusing mechanism, so there is no external movement when you focus. To hold, the binoculars feel comfortable and well balanced, an important consideration for viewing over long periods.

Overall

These 10x42 Olympus Magellan binoculars are good quality and you get decent value for money, with some brands having the same features and quality of lenses costing twice as much. I have read a report (see comments below) of collimation problems, the ones I tested were fine. They are ideal for nature observation, hiking and so make great safari binoculars. They will also make excellent birding binoculars if you require a longer zoom, though you my also wish to consider the Magellan 8x42 EXWP I Binoculars that have a wider field of view (314 vs 330 ft at 1000 yards). Because they are fully waterproof, they would also be useful for boating, although if you want a binocular primarily for this use, I would choose one specifically designed for marine use.

Main Highlights

• High-index BaK-4 prisms for bright, crisp images
• Fully multi-coated lenses
• Hermetically sealed and Nitrogen-filled for waterproof, fogproof and dirtproof performance
• Phase and UV coating
• Long eye relief
• Large center-focus knob for fast, easy focusing
• Built-in dioptric correction adjusts to individual eyesight
• Internal focusing system