Bushnell NatureView 8x42 Binoculars Review

As the name of the Bushnell Natureview series suggests, the 8x42 Natureview binoculars were primarily designed for birdwatching and wildlife observation and on some websites I have even seen them called "Bushnell 8x42 Birder Natureview Binoculars, but I think that because of their very competitive prices, they also make fantastic all purpose binoculars.

Bushnell NatureView Birder Binoculars
8x42 binoculars are the most popular size for birdwatching binoculars, as they provide a good compromise between size, brightness and a good magnification and field of view, important for quickly spotting those fat moving birds. If you also plan to use your binoculars for viewing birds at longer distances and/or wildlife viewing (safari binoculars), you may also consider the Bushnell 10x42 NatureView Binoculars, which whilst have a narrower field of view, they have the better magnification.

This NatureView 8x42 binocular uses a Roof Prism design, for durability and to keep them as compact as possible. Bushnell also make an 8x42 Porro Prism Binocular in the NatureView series, known as the "Bushnell Natureview Plus" that have a slightly richer depth to the image and a wider field of view, but are heavier and much more bulky. It just depends on you preferences on which you should choose.

Tough, Waterproof & Fogproof Binoculars
What I like about these Bushnell 8x42 binoculars is that they will take pretty much everything that you throw at them, they are encased in a rugged non-slip rubber armor that will absorb small shocks, they are fully waterproof as the optics are sealed with O-rings to prevent moisture, dust, and debris from getting inside the binoculars and the barrels are filled with nitrogen gas to inhibit internal fogging.

The multi-coated optics and the BaK-4 roof prism design both aid light transmission and you get a bright, clear and crisp view through these Bushnell 8x42's. The textured center-focus knob makes focusing fast and accurate and the 17 mm of eye relief is ample for most eyeglass wearers. The Bushnell Natureview 8x42 Binoculars weigh just 23 ounces which is pretty good for full size binoculars.

A nice feature is that they can be adapted to fit onto a tripod using a standard �-inch threading. (Adapter sold separately).

The Bad
The objective lens covers are pretty dire and often don't stay on. I have heard that if you write to Bushnell they will send you replacements that seem to work better. The point is that you should not have to and whilst these are great value, I do think that Bushnell have let themselves down a little here.

Highlights:

• Multi-coated optics for excellent light transmission and brightness
• Tough non-slip rubber armor to absorb shock as well as a waterproof and fogproof construction
• Textured center-focus knob for easy, precise adjustments
• Can be mounted using standard �-inch threading. (Adapter sold separately)

Bushnell 8x42 birder NatureView Binoculars Vs Zeiss 8x42 Victory FL Binoculars
Comparing the stats of these Bushnell 8x42 Natureview binoculars to probably one the best 8x42 birding binoculars that you can get, the Zeiss 8x42 Victory FL Binoculars makes for interesting reading:

• Price
  Bushnell: Between $100 and $200
  Zeiss: Between $2200 and $2500
• Field of View
  Bushnell: 330ft at 1000 yards
  Zeiss: 405ft at 1000 yards
• Weight
  Bushnell: 23 ozs (652g)
  Zeiss: 27.33ozs (775g)
• Eye Relief
  Bushnell: 17mm
  Zeiss: 16mm
• Close Focus Distance
  Bushnell: 15ft
  Zeiss: 6.56ft

So as you can see as far as the main stats go, where the Bushnell's fall back is on a narrower field of view and a much further close focus distance. It is important to remember that the Zeiss Binoculars also cost over ten times more than the Bushnell's. Overall, considering the massive price difference, I think the Bushnell 8x42 Natureview binoculars offer incredible value for money.

Also Included

• Rainguard
• Neck strap
• Case
• Bushnell limited lifetime warranty