Detailed review of the optika hd 10x42 binocular - Meopta Optika HD 10x42mm Roof Prism Binoculars

For less than $300, you never know what you are getting in Binoculars. That is why I'm reviewing this model. I caught a special on it here in Optics Planet, it was a sub-$300 purchase.

Size/Description:

These Optika were evidently assembled in the Czech Republic. They are of medium/compact size in a nice sage-green color. It is almost the identical size of my Vortex Viper 10x42's. The single hinge is slightly smaller than the Vortex, so it is a bit handier to hold. The hinge is stiff, which is great because it holds the width setting well and doesn't stray. The eye cups have 4 settings, the highest setting is very firm and will not collapse on your face. Evidently, they unscrew off the binocular body for cleaning as well, but have not tried this yet. The focus wheel is "fast" meaning it covers a lot of distance with very little adjusting. It is firm with a very slight bit of play at any given position. The slight play is easily mastered to provide outstanding focus adjustments.

This pair is listed to weigh 1 ounce less than the Vortex Vipers. I can't prove otherwise, but to me they feel a tad heavier than the Viper. Perhaps it's due to the thinner rubber molding on the Optika. It is well textured and firm, but still grippy, and somewhat better than the newer Chinese-built Vortex. The Optika molding is about halfway between the lush Japanese Viper and the tight, slicker molding of the Chinese Viper. When I first opened the new Optika, the molding had a new odor, like a fresh pair of sneakers. It has already settled out.

Optics Performance:

There is news here, both fantastic, and no-so-fantastic.

The fantastic part is the sharpness and color. I was honestly shocked at how sharp, detailed and color capturing these Optika are. A $300 binocular has no precedence being this sharp. Count your blessings though, because they are shaper than my Japanese Vipers. Mid-day it's very close, but at dusk, the Optika are substantially sharper and brighter against the Vortex Vipers. Btw, they are also easily sharper than my Vortex Viper 10x50's as well (although the 10x50 is brighter because of the 50mm objective lens). The Optikas snap into focus very well. And I mean they pop! I also read the explanation of the spectrum build which shows this was accomplished by focusing on a certain portion of the light spectrum. It evidently is great early-evening binocular. I also tested it heavily against my two Vipers in print reading test, and it excelled. They are just plain sharp. I favor sharpness over many other attributes.
Btw, neither the Vortex nor the Optika showed any chromatic aberration in testing.

The not-so-fantastic news.

This pair has the smallest field of view I've ever owned. It is listed at 314ft. @ 1000. (6 degrees) It's right there in print, but I was surprised just how tight that is. It's more like looking through a scope than a pair of binoculars. This is not the build/pair you want for a Sunday stroll through the country side. This pair needs a purpose,.. like antler analysis, duck id, license plate reading. Not that they are not a great asset outdoors, again, the color and detail are astounding, but the field of view means you need to be spot on to catch your subject. Still it doesn't bother me, as I've handled a lot of compact 10 power binoculars that do not furnish a great field of view. Like I said sharpness is the mantra to me.

Other small cost-cutting traces can be found.
Although the diopter ring is robust and firm, there is only a single mark for reference. I suppose a magic marker will suffice. Not a deal-breaker.

The harness studs on the barrels are too sharp. No other reason than Miopta just did not invest any time or money buffing them out. They are not rough or unfinished looking they just have corner points that could open a beer can. Survival tool?

The inside barrels are very clean, indicating good quality control, but they scrimped here a bit on the blackening. The last inside inch of barrels is left sage-green. I can understand this for a black binocular, but not a sage-green pair. Most likely, because of this, I have seen occasional stray light enter in. It is not frequent, nor even repeatable, but it will happen from time to time.

For less than $300 I can live with these over-sights. After all, is a great, tough, hardy, and water-proof pair of binoculars with superb detail and color. I think the super small field of view has a solution as well. Simply buy the same binocular in 8x42. It is listed as having at 394ft. FOV at 1000. That would be substantially better than even my Vortex Viper.

So bottom line: Amazing view, robust in build, a couple of cost-cutting signs to allow for such astounding glass in a $300 binocular. And the biggest ding, (FOV), can be easily over-come. Just get the 8x42 version!