Home > Consumer Reviews > Pentax DCF 8x42 Waterproof Binoculars

Not everyone needs a high quality set of binoculars like these. For most people, most of the time, a little set of 8x25 binoculars for about a hundred dollars is sufficient and more easily carried around. The best set of binoculars you can have are the ones you have with you when you want them! Compact size is a big plus; there is no excuse to leave them home when the binocs easily fit in a small pocket. But some people will want more.

For those who want a very good set of binoculars (are willing to pay and carry more) these Pentaxs are a good choice. These are very high quality roof prism binocs. Resolution and color are very good and they gather plenty of light with their 42 mm objective lenses. What you get for your money (as oppossed to a nice pair of 8x25s) is truly a brighter image, especially good for birders at dusk and dawn and while looking into shady trees and at small birds silhouetted against the sky. These are the classic cases in which little or no detail can be seen with small binocs. In such cases the larger objective lenses pay for themselves in rich detail. However, you could get the same quality images for less money by going to a binocular with porro prisms. These can do everything that roof prisms can and do it for less money. Still--the porro prism models are physically larger, heavier.

So, who are these Pentax 8x42 roof prism binoculars for? For people who really want a binocular that will gather enough light to pierce the shadows, yet want something a little more compact than you can get with a similar porro prism model. (IF you don't know the differences between porro and roof prisms, you're not ready to choose moderately expensive binoculars. Do some research first!).
Overall, these Pentax binocs provide very high quality images at moderate size and weight. A very nice set of binoculars for the person who can justify the higher price. Phase coated too. They can't match the best binocs (these Pentaxs are priced hundreds of dollars less than the best), but they are very close!