Carson 3d 10x42 w/ ed glass - Carson 3D 10x42mm Roof Prism Waterproof Birding Binoculars

Unwrapped these today from UPS. Thank You,Optics planet...free shipping, no tax.
I can usually tell right away, first look, rather I'm keeping a pair of binoculars or not. My first impression was great. I look for a full view, perfect circle, without having to find some tedious magic sweet spot in eye relief distance. I guess it's a combination of barrel alignment, "eye relief" and "flat field" attributes, but it's important to me. You'd be surprised how many expensive binoculars do not offer this comfort of use. Next I look for detail in the image. More on that later.

Most quality binoculars in the $250-300 price range give you a pretty great image, but it's fun and revealing to compare them. Fortunately, I had 3 other quality pair to compare these to: 9x33 Celestron Granite ED, expensive Zeiss Conquest 10x30 and the Carson "twin", the Bushnell Legend HD in 10x42.

I set up all four pair and fine tuned them. What I found was interesting. Without a doubt, the Carson 3D ED was the brightest of the 4 pair. I was surprised, in past comparisons, the Legends and Zeiss usually win in brightness. The Celestron 9x33 were not even in the same arena here. I checked the brightness both at midday and again at dusk. The results were constant. So the order of image brightness:

1) Carson
2) Bushnell Legend
3) Zeiss Conquest (10x30)
4) Celestron Granite

This order also reflects the flat field/eye relief attribute I mentioned above. In other words this is also the ranking of image comfort without constant barrel spacing adjustment and eye relief tweaking. I realize this would be completely different for glasses wearer. I won't even guess at the best image for glasses wearers, that would be un-supported.

Next was color fidelity. Again the Carson's were top of the list. In fact, when I was testing, I used a license plate down the street as an image and adjustment target. It wasn't until last, when I got to the Carson's that I finally realized the tiny one inch state shape had 3 colors in it. That's how much of a difference the Carson's offered in color fidelity. Color fidelity was:

1) Carson 3D
2) Celestron Granite
3) Bushnell Legends
4) Ziess Conquest

Next was testing for image detail. The Celestron 3D did not win the field here. Keep in mind, these are all quality pairs with rave reviews in their own right. So the image detail testing was tedious and repetitive. I had to calculate in the smaller magnification of the 9x33 Granites. The lesser image comfort of the Legends and Zeiss came into play as well. When the smoke cleared there was one winner and 3 ties for 2nd place. The clear winner was the Zeiss Conquest at 3 times the price of the rest. The other three pair tied for second. But It was a close second.

So in summary, the Carson 3D wins 3 out of 4 comparison tests. It was the most comfortable to my eyes, the brightest image, and supplies the best color fidelity. Detail was beat only by a pair costing 3x the price. However to be fair, I did notice some chromatic aberration with the Carson's. (This is when you notice a faint color outline at the edge of an object you are observing.) Its strange, as "ED" glass is designed to eliminate this short coming. However, it was NOT troublesome in the Carson's and showed only once in the testing period.

Another bonus of the testing was a inadvertent "drop test" of the Celestron Granites. I accidently pulled them off the high bench and they hit a concrete slab from 4 feet high. They landed barrel end down with a glassy sounding "Clack". I expected to pick them up and see the objective lens in shiny pieces... or at least spider web cracks in the lens. Nothing. They are still prefect. I guess they deserve their name.. "granites". Makes me wonder if all modern roof prism binoculars are this tough. Do NOT look for a drop test comparison in the future.

I don't focus on the accessories. They vary from product to product. I will note that getting both and a neck strap and a harness is good news.

I think the Carson 3D are super for the money and a pleasure to use. I recommend them.