Home > Consumer Reviews > Barska Blackhawk 8x42 Waterproof Binocular

These binoculars are a fantastic bargain. They are solid and well made. The lenses are very bright and the focus wheel and main hinge operate smoothly and precisely. I started shopping for a set of binoculars after using a set of Leupold Cascades that were provided by the Marine Corps for the use of students in the Combat Hunter training program. The Leupolds were very impressive and as I shopped for a comparable set of binoculars I found the Barska Blackhawk to a be comparable in almost every feature. Though they use a different prism the view from the Blackhawk is indistinguishable from the more expensive Leupolds. I don't have experience with high end binoculars such as Zeiss or Leicas but the Barskas leave no reason for me to be curious about spending an additional $1000.

After doing the research I bought these and absolutely love them. They are virtually indestructable and the best bang for the buck. I have used plenty of pricier models for birding and find little difference between these and the competition. I am truly delighted with these and even bought a spotting scope from Barska that I am also very pleased with.

Received it today. Seems to be be made of very solid material .

Looked out the window and the optics seemed very good . Good magnification , these are 8 x 42 , so good for bird watching / wildlife . A little on the heavier side though ( probably because of the construction , waterproofing )

Comes with a black case/bag , a strap , and the lenses have eye cup /lens covers .

Took it outside for a quick run, images were very crisp , clean...

Attached some pics of the binocular under " customer pictures "
take a look

recommended product for the money
the eye cups can be adjusted for comfort ( in case you wear glasses )



ps: Will update review later as I use it ....

I purchased the Barska Blackhawk binocs to use at football games and for hunting. Overall, they are good value for the price.

Pluses:
The focus knob is large and can be easily adjusted while wearing gloves
Reasonably sharp optics

Minuses
4 individual lens caps that can be easily lost or misplaced


I haven't had a chance to try them yet in really low light or driving rain so YMMV.

My wife wanted a compact design for her binoculars but did not want to sacrifice on optics or quality. After alot of looking around in shops and on the net, I ordered these. She has small hands so adjusting the focus on a pair of standard 7x50's was almost impossible. She tried these out and immediately liked them. The eye relief is just a bit less than the 7x50's but not enough to matter wearing glasses. Great feel due to the rubberized grip. These are not useless mini sized, or ultra-lightweights. They feel substantial but will not weight you down on a good hike. The right eye adjustment knob was a bit tight when I first went to adjust it but it has loosened just enough after a few turns. The screw up eye cups work very well and the focus is easy to adjust. Views are clear and crisp and we both like looking through them.
I was a bit dissapointed that there was no strap for the binoculars, but I'd probably replaced it anyway as I did with my others. The case is nothing special either. Just cheap nylon with a cheaper nylon mesh on the inside flap. Oddly, the case does had a decent strap. These little things should mean nothing in the decision to buy these fine optics. I always replace the bags and straps with something that will actually protect the unit and that is of suffcient size so you can get the item in and out easily. Good, comfortable straps are available on-line.