I was recently sent in a question by someone wanting to know more about the Minox 8×44 & 10×44 BP Porro Binoculars and thought that my answer on old stock binoculars at great prices may also be interesting to other readers:

Question
I like porro binoculars but can’t afford the price of top of the line. Minox are closing out there 8×44 and 10×44 porro at a very good price. What do you know about the quality and preformance of these glasses? Thanks!

Answer
To be honest, I have never had the opportunity to review these specific Minox BP binoculars, but there are a few things that I can say that may help with your decision:

On the whole Minox make excellent quality binoculars and for me are one of the best brands of binoculars that you can get. Minox also do not really make any cheap binoculars and so almost any binocular that you get from them won’t be bad.

As far as I know Minox no longer make these 8×44 & 10×44 Porro Binoculars any more, this is not to say that they are not good and is probably why you can now get an excellent deal on them. I would not be put off by the fact that these binoculars are not current stock – some of my favourite binoculars are old! In fact I would go as far to say that sometimes it works out far more cost effective to buy “last years” model rather than the latest version so long as you are buying a quality pair of binoculars.

Minox 8×44 and 10×44 BP Porro Binoculars
In general porro prism binoculars can offer as good as, if not better performance than roof prism binoculars at a cheaper price,but despite this, Porro-prism binoculars have tended to be a little out of favour in recent years.

Specifications:

According to the manufacturers stats, and I must state that I have not actually tested them, here are a few things that caught my eye:

The 8×44 and 10×44 Minox BP have a good light transmission of 94.5 percent.

A Porro-prism design usually increases the weight and overall dimensions when compared to roof prisms, these new binoculars from Minox weigh under 800g and measure a reasonably compact 126x183x52mm while still possessing a solid body housing and full rubber armouring. Just take into account that a quality Roof Prisim like their own Minox 8×42 BV Binoculars, usually weigh less than 800g.

They are fully waterproof down to a depth of 5m and are ‘State-of-the-Art’ Argon gas purged to prevent any internal fogging during rapid temperature fluctuations.

The twist-up eyecups with click stops look good and the 8×44 have 18.5 mm of eye relief, and the 10×44 has 16mm, both very good and will help those who use glasses to enjoy the full field of view.

On the whole, I would say that they look like excellent quality binoculars and now that they are Old stock you can grab yourself a bargain:

Where to Buy

Minox BP Porro Prism Binoculars on Amazon.com

Pentax UCF x II Binoculars

The are 4 magnifications within the range, all with a compact 25mm objective lens and using the porro prism design:

• 8×25 UCF X II
• 10×25 UCF X II
• 12×25 UCF X II
• 16×25 UCF X II

Price

Whilst they all have a list price of between  $120 and $140 (£50 and £120), they can usually be found at a much cheaper cost and Amazon in the US and UK are currently offering them at  pretty hefty discount, from about $80 (£70):

US Shoppers:
Pentax UCF x II Binoculars on Amazon.com

UK Shoppers:
Pentax UCF x II Binoculars on Amazon.co.uk

For me this price range puts them in the category of Low Cost Binoculars ($50 – $130) and that is why I feel that they are impressive as in this range their stats are pretty good:

Described by the manufacturer as durable and rugged, they do have a solid feel to them and are said to have a once piece construction to improve sturdiness and strength. Whilst I have seen far tougher optics, these should withstand most day to day knocks and bumps with no problems. The black rubber armor has a nice feel to it and will also help in protecting them. Their lightweight and compactness, makes them convenient to carry anywhere.

Fully Multi Coated Lenses
The UCF X II’s also have Fully multi-coated optics that  improving light transmission for high contrast images with no glare or flare and will remove harmful ultraviolet rays. ”Fully Multi-Coated” means that all air to glass surfaces have received multiple layers of antireflection coatings, and this is what you want in your binoculars as opposed to just “Multi Coated”

BAK4 Prisms
High-quality BaK4 prisms that transmit more light at the edges to enhance illumination. Again this is what you want as BAK 4 Prisims are produced with superior optical glass and are much better than the cheaper BK 7 prisms.

Techical Specifications:

Pentax 8×25 UCF X II Binoculars

• Field of View at 1000m: 108m / 324ft @ 1000 yards (Angle of view 6.5°)
• Exit pupil: 3.1 mm
• Eye Relief 15 mm
• Dimensions Depth 115 mm
• Dimensions Width 110 mm
• Dimensions Height 56 mm

Pentax 10×25 UCF X II Binoculars

• Field of View at 1000m: 87m / 261ft @ 1000 yards (Angle of view 5°)
• Exit pupil: 2.5 mm
• Eye Relief: 15 mm
• Depth: 115 mm
• Width: 110 mm
• Height: 56 mm

For Compact binoculars at this price range, the stats that jump out for me are the 15mm of eye relief, that should be enough for most eyeglass wearers and an impressive field of view that beats most other compact binoculars that I have reviewed.

So to sum up, if you are looking for a cheap, compact pair of binoculars, you could do far worse than a pair of Pentax UCF X II’s

USA: Over 40% Off on Amazon.com:
Bushnell Perma Focus 8×25 Binoculars on Amazon.com
I am not sure how long this excellent deal will last, so grab it while you can.

I’m afraid that they are not on sale in the UK, but they are still available on Amazon.co.uk for a reasonable price:
Bushnell Perma Focus 8×25 Binoculars on Amazon.co.uk

Video Explaining the Bushnell Perma Focus 8×25 Binoculars

Features of the Bushnell Perma Focus 8×25 Binoculars

• Fully coated optics for superior light transmission and brightness
• Unique “Focus-Free” feature stays in focus at most viewing distances
• Non-slip rubber armour absorbs shock while providing a firm grip
• BK-7 Prism Glass
• Porro Prism System

The already very affordable Perma Focus binos (Fixed or Self Focusing Binoculars) allow simple, fixed-focus, long-distance viewing. They have a pretty good wide field of view which makes them ideal for a cheaper pair of binoculars for most spectator sports, distant wildlife observation. One of the biggest advantages of Fixed Focus binoculars is their lack of moving parts, this means that they should last, even if they take a few knocks and bumps along the way. So this combined with their compact size means that they are ideal to travel with.

Bushnell’s quality fully coated optics make sure that your image is bright and crisp. The ergonomic rubber housing means you won’t drop them, even with gloves on if you are using them outdoors in winter.

USA: Over 40% Off on Amazon.com:
Bushnell Perma Focus 8×25 Binoculars on Amazon.com
I am not sure how long this excellent deal will last, so grab it while you can.

The Steiner 7×30 Navigator Pro C Marine Binoculars are waterproof, have anti glare and haze optics, come with an integrated range finder and stabilized compass, are lightweight and compact, making them ideal for any small marine vessel.

The Navigator Pros have Steiner’s Sports Auto Focus system which are basically focus free binoculars or self focusing binoculars that keep all objects in focus from about 20 yards to infinity this allows you to locate navigational marks that much quicker.

So to summarise, The Steiner 7×30 Navigator Pro are a great pair of binoculars for most marine vessels including sport fishing boats, smaller fresh water boats, coastal yachts and powerboats that have need for a navigational compass and range finder for locating fishing hotspots, racing or general marine navigation.

For full Binocular review as well as price comparison, see my article on the Steiner 7×30 Navigator Pro C Marine Binoculars or take a look at my guide to the Marine Binocular.