Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars Review

Opticron 8 x 33 Savanna R Binoculars
Best Low Cost Binocular 2016
Shopping Basket Icon
Buy And Compare Prices in the USA
US
Buy And Compare Prices in Canada
Ca
Kaufen und Preisvergleich in Deutschland
De
Buy And Compare Prices in Australia
Au
Buy And Compare Prices in India
In
Buy And Compare Prices in the UK
UK
Buy & Compare Prices for the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars
Price Range: (2/6) Low Cost Binoculars       

Ideal Uses:

General Use Rating for General Use Binoculars
Birdwatching Rating as Birdwatching Binoculars
Outdoor Sports Rating asOutdoor Sports Binoculars
Safari & Travel Rating as Safari Binoculars
General Wildlife Rating as Wildlife Observation Binoculars
Hunting Rating as Hunting Binoculars
Marine Use Rating as Marine Binoculars
Astronomy Rating as Binoculars for Astronomy

Awards: Best Low Cost Binocular 2016

Opticron Savanna R Binoculars
The Savanna R series from Opticron is a low cost range of mid sized roof prism bins that consists of just two models, the 10x33 version and this 8x33 one that I used for this review. Both have the same open bridge body shape and from the initial look at them and their specifications, they seem to have all the most important boxes ticked for an instrument at this price range:

At A Glance:

  • Low Cost Bins - approx $139 / £99
  • Open Bridge Body Design
    • Dimensions: 5.1in x 4.7in (13cm x 11.9cm)
  • Polycarbonate & Aluminium Chassis
    • Weight: 15.1ozs / 428g
  • Fog & Waterproof
  • Fully Multi-Coated
  • Aluminium Coated BaK-4 Roof Prisms
  • Field of View: 366 @ 1000yds
  • Min Focus Distance: 11.5ft
  • Long Eye Relief: 20mm
  • IPD Range: 5.2cm - 7.6cm

Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binocular Review
So that's the initial information, for how all these features and specifications come together, please take some time out to read my full and in-depth review of the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars that I wrote after thoroughly researching, using and testing them over a number of weeks:

The Body

Shape
Size of the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars
The open bridge body shape looks to me to have many of the same features and design elements as the more expensive ranges within the Opticron stable like their Natura and Verano binoculars. For example, take a look at my review of the excellent and high end Opticron Verano BGA HD 8x42 binoculars and you will see what I mean as to how similar they both look.

This is for me great news as not only is this particular design very classy looking in my opinion, but is functional as well: This type of cut away body can help keep weight down, but more importantly the central section is a great place for you to get a secure grip onto the instrument and is a great place to hold onto them. Even with a neck strap this can be important. For example if you are climbing over large boulders and rocks or through thick bushes, having a secure grip on your bins so that they do not swing about is important in ensuring that they don't get damaged.

Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

Body Materials
Whilst it is not publicized in their marketing materials, Opticron have informed me that the chassis is made from a combination of Polycarbonate plastic and Aluminium.

We can see that the hinges themselves are most certainly metallic (I thus assume it is aluminium), which look and feel to me to be extremely robust. This point is particularly important as it helps to ensure that the two barrels do not go out of alignment, which is something that can happen, especially amongst cheaper binoculars where the hinge or hinges are poorly made from inferior materials. This is absolutely not the case here, indeed this is one part which looks to me to be exactly the same as that which they use on their more expensive models.

Underside of the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsThe barrels have a thin and extremely hard black rubber coating added to them. These qualities mean that whilst it looks great, it most certainly does not provide as much grip or impact protection as on those instruments that have a thicker and softer rubber armour.

However on the positive side, these same qualities also mean that this coating is much harder wearing, longer lasting and far less likely to perish than the thick soft rubber armors used.

Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

Tripod Adaptable
Whilst almost all full sized bins these days are adaptable so that they can easily accept a tripod adapter by removing the centrally located dust cap (see image above), it is not a given that all mid-sized bins will be as the smaller body size sometimes makes this not possible. For example Opticron's higher specification mid sized offering, the Discovery WP PC 8x32 cannot be adapted in this way.

So it is nice to see that they have managed to keep this functionality on the Savanna R, which for some users is an important feature.

Eye-cups
Eyecups on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsIt is nice to see that Opticron have not been tempted to reduce production costs on this cheap binocular by using simple rubber fold up/down eye-cups that you can find within this price range. Instead these look to have the same twist up/down cups that you find on their more expensive models.

What is more they have the same very smooth action and there was zero unwanted free movement or play on the test model that I was using which is once again excellent.

Add this to the really long 20mm of eye-relief and two intermediate click stops that provide plenty of room for personalization, then you potentially have a great option for those who were glasses when binning.

Indeed I tested them when wearing my sunglasses and by fully twisting down the cups, there was more than enough space for me to still get the full width of view.

Inter-Pupillary Distance (IPD)
As with almost all bins, adjusting the distance between the two eye-cups to match that of your eyes simply involves opening or closing the central hinges.

These 8x33 Opticron Savanna binoculars have an IPD range of 5.2cm up to 7.6cm, which is good and means they should be able to accommodate the vast majority of adult users and even most older children. For more take a quick look at the BBR guide to Inter-Pupillary Distance.

Focus Wheel on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

Focus Wheel & Focusing
For the most part, I really like the really large 34mm focus wheel:

Focusing the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsWith it's plastic face plate, it is not as refined or elegant as some, but the action is nice and smooth and it's large size (as big as those on a full sized bin) means it is easy to reach and accurately adjust even whilst wearing gloves.

Taking a full 1¾ turns (630°) to adjust the focus from the maximums of near to far, it takes a little longer to make large adjustments than those that have more aggressive gearing, but on the up-side, it in theory makes the fine adjustments easier to do more accurately.

Diopter Adjustment on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsDiopter Adjustment
To calibrate these binoculars to allow for any differences in the vision between your two eyes, you used the diopter adjustment ring, which like almost all bins, is located just under the right eye-piece on the Opticron Savanna 8x33 binoculars.

As this adjustment does not have to be made very often, the best ones are lockable to prevent accidental movement. These are not, but my sample had enough friction to make accidentally moving them less likely.

Rating for Body Construction Quality: 7/10

Weight
What you can clearly see from the table below that compares the weights and sizes of a number of other mid-sized bins that I have tested, these Opticron Savanna R 8x33 binoculars are amongst the most lightweight.

Note: I often find that more expensive bins often tend to be a little heavier as they use more metallic parts than all the plastic found on cheaper instruments. I think Opticron have settled on a nice compromise with these bins, using plastic in the right places to keep the costs down, but also ensuring that where strength is needed they have used metal.


Dimensions
As you can also clearly see in the table above, these have fairly typical dimensions for a bin with objectives of around 32/33mm and which makes them more portable than your average 42mm binocular without loosing out too much in terms of their optical performance and low light capabilities.

BBR Rating for Body Stats compared to Mid Sized Bins: 8/10

Objective Lenses on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

The Optics

Deeply inset 32mm Objective lens on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsLenses
As no details are given, I cannot comment as to the exact make-up of the compound objective or ocular lenses other than to say I measured the oculars to have a diameter of 22mm which is larger than what I most commonly find on a mid sized bin and equal to those found on most full sized instruments.

The 33mm objectives are also a little larger than the commonly used 32mm at this body size. The advantage of this is that they have the potential to collect more light and deliver a fractionally larger exit pupil (see the optical stats section below for more details on this).

Prisms
These Opticron Savanna's have roof prisms that are fashioned from BaK-4 glass which is good as you will sometimes see the cheaper BK-7 glass prisms in this price range, which are generally not considered to be as good for the use in binoculars.

Optical Coatings

Prism CoatingsThese Opticron Savanna R binoculars are fully multi-coated which is what we want to see as it means that every glass surface through the optical system has multiple coatings of anti-reflection material added to them. This results in a visually better quality and brighter image than many in this class that only come with single or multiple coatings on some of the glass surfaces.

Unfortunately the roof prisms have not been phase corrected, which does help deliver a higher image definition. This is a shame, but not something that is often found at this price level anyway.

Likewise the material used for the mirror coating on the prism is Aluminium. This has a far higher level of reflectivity than not using anything, but does fall a little short of the silver and dielectric coatings that you find on higher specification optics and results in a lower transmission level and thus potentially a less vivid/bright image.

To give you an idea as to how the level of glass and coatings used progresses depending on price take a look at the table below. As you can see, apart from a few exceptions, these Opticron's generally have what you would expect to see at this level:

  Approx Cost: Prism Glass ED Glass Anti-Reflection Coatings Prism Coatings Phase Corrected
Levenhuk Atom 10x25 $20 / £16 BK-7 No Fully Coated ? Aluminium No
Tom Lock Series 1 10x42 £50 BAK-4 No Multi-Coated ? Aluminium No
Meade Wilderness 10x32 $60 / £60 BAK-4 No Multi-Coated ? Aluminium ? No
Levenhuk Energy PLUS 8x25 $70 / £80 BAK-4 No Fully Multi-Coated ? Aluminium ? No
Hawke 8x42 Nature-Trek $120 / £110 BAK-4 No Fully Multi-Coated Silver Yes
Opticron Savanna 8x33 $139 / £99 BAK-4 No Fully Multi-Coated Aluminium No
Celestron 8x42 Nature DX $140 / £145 BAK-4 No Fully Multi-Coated ? Silver Yes
Hawke Sapphire 8x42 ED $450 / £340 BAK-4 Yes Fully Multi-Coated Dielectric Yes

Optical Components Quality Rating: 6/10

Optical Stats

The whole idea of a mid sized binocular is to reduce the size and weight when compared to a standard (full sized) binocular, but without reducing their image quality or low light potential too much.

A good way to demonstrate this is when you compare the 5.25mm exit pupil on a 8x42mm bin (42÷8) with the 4.125mm one on these (33÷8). This shows that whilst it is a little smaller, it is still large enough to deliver enough light to your eyes in all but the darkest conditions when your pupils dilate to sizes larger than the exit pupil.

Interestingly most mid sized bins will use 32mm lenses which when combined with an 8x magnification produce a slightly smaller 4mm exit pupil (32÷8) and so these 33mm Opticron's have in theory a very slight edge in the low light department.

Field Of View (FOV)
The width of the view through these Opticron Savanna R 8x33 binoculars is described as being 366 feet wide when measured at a distance of 1000 yards away (122m meters @ 1000meters).

From the comparison table below you can see that whilst not the widest 8x instrument out there, this amount is still good and I found was in no way restrictive when I used them:

  FOV at 1000yds Close Focus Eye-Relief
8x magnification
Minox BL 8x33 HD 421ft 8.2ft 17.5mm
Kowa 8x32 SV 408ft 6.5ft 15.5mm
Opticron Discovery 8x32 393ft 3.9ft 17mm
Swarovski 8x30 CL 372ft 9.8ft 15mm
Opticron Savanna R 8x33 366ft 11.5ft 20mm
Pentax 8x36 DCF NV 342ft 9.8ft 16mm
9x magnification
Celestron Granite 9x33 378ft 8.2ft 14.1mm
Pentax 9x32 DCF BC 351ft 8.2ft 16mm
10x magnification
Swarovski EL 10x32 Swarovision 360ft 6.2ft 20mm
Kowa 10x33 Genesis XD 357ft 4.9ft 15mm
Celestron Trailseeker 10x32 325ft 8.2ft 14.4mm
Snypex Knight ED 10x32 288ft 3.9ft 17.5mm
Opticron 10x32 Traveller BGA Mg 270ft 4.9ft 16mm

Close Focus
With a close focus of 11.5ft, these fall quite a long way short of the best in terms of the closest distance away that you can focus on an object. For this reason I would not suggest this as an option should you want to use them for butterfly observation for example.

Eye-Relief:
The 20mm of eye-relief is excellent and they easily make it onto my list of binoculars with long eye-relief making them an ideal choice of eye-glass users.

Optical Stats Rating: 7/10

Image Quality

Describing and comparing the image is always the hardest section of my reviews, yet it is also unquestionably the most important! To help me I have a number of control bins that I use for all my reviews and it is against these that I judge the instrument under test.

Image Brightness
The brightness of the image appeared to me to be equal between these Opticron's and that of my mid to high range 32mm control binoculars in good light conditions and it was only when the light was very bad (at sunset) that I became aware that my control bins were ever so slightly brighter.

Considering the price and thus the different level of optics between the two, this very small difference is actually pretty impressive and I would say that within their class these do very well in tis area.

Contrast & Color Reproduction
The contrast and color reproduction looked normal to me and I did not observe any tinting of the image, which is something that you sometimes notice on lower cost bins like this that use cheaper glass and coatings.

Color Fringing
Color FringingSometimes referred to as purple fringing, color fringing is caused by chromatic aberrations and is viewed as the tiny coloured (often purple) edges around objects, especially in highly contrasting situations.

A certain amount is visible in just about every binocular that I have ever tested if you look hard enough. The level of fringing that I observed on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 binoculars was what I would describe as being normal, which for a bin at this price is actually pretty good.

Image Flatness & Softening
There are some distortions that can make the image you see seem to curve in on itself or outwards as if it were placed on a ball. I never observed or became aware of these when using or testing these bins.

Softening at the edges of the view is evident, more than what you observe on the best, but I would still describe it as being a normal amount and really nothing to overly stress yourself with.

Overall
Whilst not a match for high end instruments, for a bin of this size and at this price point, I would describe the net image that you see through the Opticron Savanna R as being good to very good.

Image Quality Rating: 7/10

Accessories for the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

Included Accessories:

Carry Case for the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsCarry Bag
Opticron include a soft carry bag with the Savanna R:

The exterior material looks to be your standard woven nylon type of material, which is very strong and provides a good amount of weather protection.

The amount of padding inside the case is very minimal and so you get far less impact protection than a rigid case or even those with thicker padding. On the positive side this does make for a more compact and lightweight bag that is easier to carry about, which complements the main aim of a small lightweight instrument.

Access to the interior is via a simple flip over the top lid that is held closed with a strip of Velcro. This system works, but is obviously less secure than a Zip for example and the noise you make whilst opening the Velcro can startle wildlife of at least give your position away unless you are careful. For some uses like birding and hunting this can be a very important point.

The binoculars fit nicely inside (not too tight to make replacing them a pain and not so loose that they just flop about), you can also easily close the lid with the eye-cups extended and the lens covers in place. A small but important detail that many others get wrong.

It has it's own un-padded strap that can be adjusted for length and fixes to the case via a couple of twisting quick release clips. On the rear of the bag there is also a belt loop that gives you another option for carrying.

On the inside, rear face there is a separate divider (pocket) that you can use to store a few small items and a cleaning cloth. There are no exterior pockets.

So on the whole I would describe this Opticron Savanna R carry case as being a well made functional bag that just lacks some of the finesse and finer details that you find on the best ones. In relation to others at this price point it sits comfortably amongst the best.

Carry Case for the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

Neck Strap

Neck strap on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsThe majority of cheap binoculars come with very basic and often completely un-padded neck straps and this is even more the case with the mid-sized and compact versions.

So whilst the neck strap that Opticron have bundled in with the Savanna R is not quite at the level at which you get with you alpha pair of Swarovski's, it is still more than half decent and would not feel out of place included with a mid level product:

Made from what looks to me to be a Neoprene type of material the main Opticron branded neck and shoulder section has easily enough padding for this size of instrument.

The thin cord sections that you thread through the loops on the sides of the binocular are made from woven nylon which is typical and can be adjusted for length in the standard way by using a couple of sliders.

These cords are sewn onto the padded section via a couple of faux leather connectors that on my test sample looked to have good, secure stitching and thus should not come apart too easily.

Lens Covers on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

Objective Lens Covers
These soft rubber/plastic lens covers have a good fit over the ends of the barrels that I guess if you are being very critical is possibly a tiny fraction too loose and so could come away by accident. But to be fair to Opticron, I have seen many far worse fitting covers than these (as well as being too loose, many are way to tight and thus a pain to get back on every time) and so as long as you are mindful there really is not a major issue here.

I like the fact that they have the now very common extra loop that keeps them attached to the barrel ends and which allows the main cover to swing down under the binocular whilst you look through the instrument, but are always there and easy to find and replace once you are finished.

Rain Guard on the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 BinocularsRain Guard
The lightweight eye-piece cover (rain-guard) looks to me to be made from the same soft rubber/plastic as the lens covers and they have a good fit over the eye-cups.

The flexible bridge between the two cups works well in that it permits you to fix the covers onto your eye-pieces no matter what your IPD setting is.

This may sound like a small thing, but there are some designs that require you to open up the hinge every time you want to replace the covers. Not a major issue, but it does get a little annoying over time and so it is always nice to find a well designed rain-guard that does not require you to do this!

Cleaning Cloth
The cloth that comes with the Savanna R is a lot lower in quality than the one you get with their higher end products, but is on a par with what I would expect to find at this price level.

It is for this reason that I would suggest that you only use it to clean the body and perhaps the lenses in an emergency when you are out in the field. For far better and safer cleaning with better results I highly suggest you look to get a dedicated lens cleaning kit or at least a quality microfiber cloth designed for lenses.

Instructions & Guarantee/Warranty Information
The user instructions comes by the way of a folded card. They are typically very basic that includes brief information on how to set up your bins correctly and the care and cleaning of the instrument.

The back cover of the card includes the guarantee/warranty information and registration. In the UK, these come with an impressive 10 year guarantee, whilst in North America you get the Opticron Limited Lifetime Warranty which is excellent.

Extras & Attention to Detail Rating: 6/10

Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Comparisons:



Review Conclusions:

A more than capable, very good looking low cost, mid sized binocular that covers all the most important areas well and thus makes for a very versatile binocular that competes well within their price bracket:

Strong Points: Considering their price tag, I was extremely impressed with their overall look, feel and build quality, which is far and above most at this price level and which makes these Opticron Savanna R binoculars look way more expensive than most of their direct competition.

They have a good field of view and an excellent amount of eye-relief which will please eye glass wearers.

You cannot argue with their limited lifetime warranty in the US and 10 year guarantee in the UK, something which is not common at this price point and which also goes to show the confidence that Opticron have in this bin.

Weak points? Their minimum focusing distance is not that close and so I would not recommend these to anyone who's main interest is the close observation of butterflies, flowers etc.

As with almost all instruments at this price point, the manufacturers have to make a certain amount of compromises to ensure that they come in within budget. One of the easiest and least critical areas to save money is with the accessories and so low cost bins often have far lower quality neck straps, lens covers and carry cases than even mid range products. With the Savanna R, Opticron the carry case in particular is not as plush as the one you get with their higher end products, but to be fair to them it and all the other accessories function well enough and are a match to any others in this price class.

Likewise the use of Aluminium mirror coatings on the prism would certainly be considered a weakness if you were to compare them to higher end and more expensive optics. However at this price point, it is not that uncommon, but there are some that use the more reflective silver coatings. I think that it is important to also keep in mind that in my opinion, the image brightness and quality whilst understandably lacking a little compared to mid range bins, was generally good and a match for any at this level.

Ideal Uses: As with all good mid-size bins, these are a great choice for travel and interests like camping, hiking and especially for taking on safaris where you want a bin that will perform and be easy to carry about.

For things like birdwatching general wildlife observation and hunting, features like their more than acceptable width of view will be an asset and a great choice, especially if you are they type of user that also carries about other equipment like cameras, guide books or even a rifle.

These same features also make them more a good choice for most outdoor sporting events.

The close minimum IPD setting, relatively small size, low weight and open bridge design and their low cost, also make these Opticron Savanna R 8x33 binoculars an ideal binocular for a younger user who is looking for their first serious pair of binoculars. For more take a look at my guide to binoculars for children.

Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars on Safari - Viewing Black Rhinos

Reviewed by Jason Whitehead for Best Binocular Reviews

Best Binocular Reviews Ratings:

Body Construction Quality: 7/10 68%
Very Good
Body Stats: 8/10
Optical Components Quality: 6/10
Optical Stats: 7/10
Image Quality 7/10
Extras & Attention to Detail: 6/10

Compare Prices & Where to Buy the Opticron Binoculars

Best Low Cost Binocular 2016Awards:

Best Low Cost Binocular 2016


Main Specifications & Features:

  • Size: Mid Size Binoculars
  • [explain prism types]Prism Type: Roof Prism Binoculars
  • Magnification: 8x
  • [explain objective lens]Objective Lens Diameter: 33mm
  • [explain waterproofing]Waterproof: Yes
  • [about fogproofing]Fogproof: Yes

  • [explain exit pupil]Exit Pupil: 4.1
  • [explain twilight factor]Twilight Factor: 16.25
  • [explain eye relief]Eye Relief: 20mm
  • [explain IPD]IPD Max: 7.6cm
  • IPD Min: 5.2cm
  • Close Focus Distance: 11.5ft

  • Weight: 15.1ozs (428g)
  • Length: 5.1in (13cm)
  • Height: 1.8in (4.6cm)
  • Width: 4.7in (11.9cm)
  • Eyecup Diameter: 38mm
  • Ocular Lens Diameter: 22mm
  • Focus Wheel Diameter: 34mm
  • Focus from Near to Far, focus wheel rotates: 630°
  • Objective lens inset: 5mm

  • [explain real field of view]Real field of view: 7.0°
  • [explain apparent field of view]Apparent field of view: 56.0°
  • [explain field of view]Field of View: 122m at 1,000 meters
  • [explain field of view]Field of View: 366ft at 1,000 yards

  • Chassis Material: Aluminium & Polycarbonate
  • Image Stabilization: No
  • [about Lens Coatings]Lens Coatings: Fully Multi-Coated
  • [about Phase Correction]Phase Correction Coatings: No
  • [about Prism Coatings]High Reflective Prism Coatings: Aluminium
  • [about ED Glass]Extra Low Dispersion Glass: No
  • Locking Diopter: No
  • [about tripod adapters]Tripod Adaptable: Yes
  • Auto Focus: No

More Information:



About Opticron | View all Opticron products I have written reviews on

View All:

Mid Size Binoculars | Roof Prism Binoculars | General Use Binoculars | Safari Binoculars | Birdwatching Binoculars | Low Cost Binoculars


Similar Binoculars:

Below are similar pairs of Binoculars that you may also want to have a look at:

Hawke Endurance ED 8x32 Binoculars

Mid-sized, mid-priced bins that impress in every area: ED glass lenses, BaK-4, phase corrected roof prisms & a fully waterproof magnesium housing...


Binocular Price Comparison
Where to buy the Opticron Savanna R 8x33 Binoculars

General Price Range: (2/6) Low Cost Binoculars

Below is a link that will take you to a page with online retailers in both the US and UK that sell Opticron 8x33 Savanna R Binoculars this page makes it easy to compare prices and then to buy from your preferred option:

 
 
 
Are out-of-date/old stock binoculars still worth buying now?
This review was written a few years ago now. Check out my guide to
older/old stock binoculars & if they are still worth buying now


Shop the Best Binocular Deals & Discounts
BinoWizard's QuickLinks
Support BBR:
Buy Me A Coffee
Where to Find BBR: