Atlas Optics Radian 10x42 Binocular

Reasonably good optics in the upper powers almost universally mean narrower fields of view, cumbersome weight, darkened images, and that dreaded "shake" - liabilities that kept me favoring my top end 6x to 8.5x pieces for the past 30 years. But every once in awhile someone would loan me a pair of 10x's that had that little bit of extra reach. My wife would immediately hide my wallet, lose Eagle Optics' phone number, and put a block on my credit cards - sometimes for months - until the urge subsided. Years of following the birding and optics forums, looking at, and through every brand I could wrap my hands around, while simultaneously stranding the wife and kids in the car for days on end (all the while drooling gallons of spittle on optics counters) finally climaxed this Thanksgiving. I was actually on line, staring at the $149 price tag on these beauties, when lo and behold - the price fell to a paltry $109! I gaged on the hook as it sank into my large intestine!

That was midnight Tuesday. Black Friday the door bell rang. Three full days later, they're still in my hand. I can't believe it, I just can't believe it! There is no way anybody can make binoculars like this for less than $500! BAK 4 roof prisms; phase coated; Full Multi Coating in that superb emerald green finish, no smell/warm to the touch rubber armoring, three position twist up eye cups, diopter adjustment that stays where you leave it, solid as-a-brick construction - you've already read the particulars or you wouldn't be reading this. What they didn't tell you was how silky smooth and comfortably large the focusing knob is, with that wonderful, no slop, precision fit tactile feel that means it works even with the heaviest of gloves. No - it's not the one revolution close-in to infinity ratio found on some of the newer models - thank goodness! But it will give you absolute perfect focus with great depth of field adjustment every time! IPD hinge tension is perfect as well.

I am, on occasion, a thumber - I turn my binos upside down, pull my elbows in, and use my thumbs to fine tune. It's a position I find immensely satisfying and rock solid stable! The Radians have no bulge or hump on top, and the wheel is set deep enough so that even my extra large nose will slide in nicely without rubbing on a single surface! You can't do that with most of the hardware out there! And the stats EO lists are spot on (NOTE: dimension = 5 1/2" x less than 4 1/2" x 2"). Neoprene bino strap, lined cordura nylon case that allows belt loop or strap mounting (strap included), choice of flap and/or zip enclosure, and extra pockets - everything packaged with blissfully tasteful graphic badging.

The image? No - it's not an alpha. But when you get the IPD where it belongs, set the diopter, and adjust the eye cups to eliminate kidney beans, you will realize the center clarity, image brightness at upper magnification, color saturation, and linear definition will get you from point A to point B in the same way a VW Beetle beat living the heck out of a Rolls Royce. And there's a real good chance it just might save your marriage in the process.