Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 Binocular

The Pentax 6X is the one I give as wedding presents to naturalists and naturaliists, who cannot afford more expensive binoculars. Though not waterproof, dragonflies and butterflies tend to shy away from rainy days... so, the binoculars work just fine.

Their light gathering ability makes them equal to higher powered binoculars, in darkened areas, such as forest glades, where warblers nest.

This must be the best binocular available in this price range - crisp, clear, very light, and fast focusing. The 6.5 is perfect for viewing feeders thru window glass. I don't look at butter or dragonflies, but the close focus is so great, I may buy a field guide and do a little "insecting" this summer after the bird migration winds down. Very highly recommended. This would be a great, small, piece to keep in your purse or glove compartment, too.

My recently purchased Pentax Papilio 6.5X21 are the perfect binoculars for the close-up viewing of the wildflowers and insects that I study. The easy moving focusing ring with eye pieces that lock are other features I particularly like, as well as the close-up distance of about 1.5 feet. Since my collecting requires other often cumbersome equipment, having an especially lightweight pair of binoculars that can also be used for close-range birding if need be, really sold me on the Papilios. Very well-worth the money for my purposes. Thank you.

My wife had eye surgery before a trip to Florence and Venice this month and was afraid that she would not be able to experience the art of Italy because of poor vision.
I bought her a pair of the Papilios in 6.5x.
I don't know how many times during the trip she told me, "This is the best thing you could have bought me."
The Papilioss let us study artwork not only high above the domes of old churches like the Duomo, but the close focus (less than two feet)let us use the binoculars as magnifiers to study the details in dimly lit paintings, sculptures and frescoes from behind barriers.
We are also birders, so these are great for her to keep with her all the time. (Obviously, superb opera glasses too.)

I recently purchased Pentax's Papilio 6.5x21 binos for butterfly watching. These are so much more than that. I am able to see tiny spiders on flowers, intricate details on plants, insects etc. Then if a bird catches my eye I can still focus far enough to enjoy them as well. My sister recently visited me and now she wants to buy my pair as I said I was going to buy the 8.5x21 as well. Pentax binos are always high quality at a good price. I own four different pair now and have never been dissatisfied. Plus with their great warranty they are an even better value. These Papilios are a great addition to view the natural world.

I recently purchased a pair of 6.5 x21 Papilio binoculars. I have owned over 35 pairs of binoculars in the last fifteen years so I've had lots to compare these to. I've owned many excellent pairs over the years. Zeiss 8x32 FLT's, Nikon 8x32 superiors, and many others all with excellent optics and physical attributes but never have I owned a pair as versatile AND optically excellent as these. The ability to go from eighteen inches to infinity in only two or three short turns of the wheel(which is very smooth and precise) make these a perfect daytime binocular. They're light weight, nicely shaped with a soft rubber coating, making them a joy to handle for someone with average sized (like myself)or small hands. Optically they are superb for their size. Sharp images with a very smooth focuser that snaps to focus. The image is very flat across most of the field with straight objects only slightly bending at the edge of the field (which is a generous 393'@ 1000yds)As hard as I tried I couldn't see any CA on a crow against a bright sky. If it was there it was very very minor but I couldn't see it. Also they have a very nice depth of field that gives the image a nice 3D effect. It doesn't matter wether your interest is bugs and butterflies, birding, plane watching etc, you'll want these to be with you all the time. The only weakness they have IMO is in real low light conditions but that goes without saying with the objectives being only 21mm, but the fun you'll have more than compensates. For the price I paid ($134 CDN)these are an optical steal. So much so I bought a pair for my wife. Everyone should own a pair. These are just really fun to use. You owe it to yourself to check them out.

The interocular distance is almost impossible to get right leaving the viewer with a double image. Fine focus at longer distance is poor. However, this is a good trade-off for their primary task. It's like wearing a binocular microscope. From a few feet away, you see details without having to touch or control the target. Great for butterfly, dragonfly, or other insect viewing. Good quality reasonably priced.

These binoculars will put a whole new perspective on how you see things. It's like the first time you look at that distant bird through a quality spotting scope; but backwards. Have them strapped on your belt when the birding slows down in mid afternoon. To see a bumblebee on a flower from two feet at six power is just too awesome!!

I was compelled to write this review after noting the less than 5 stars ratings others have given, and will make only three additions to the other reviews: 1) the value for price is excellent 2) the fact that these binoculars self-adjust for parallax on close focusing cannot be over-rated 3) the close focus is suffient to enable them to be used as a low-power binocular hand lens! In the field they become a jack-of-all-trades capable of checking out birds in the brush as well as blossoms and insects in the hand.

These binoculars are great. They are lightweight and easy to carry. These traveled along on many hikes when I lived in Arizona. The optics are sharp and bright. If they were fully weatherproof these binoculars would deserve the highest rating. Because of the fog and drizzle in San Francisco where I live now I tend to keep these at home and don't give them the use they deserve.

I recently purchased a pair of the Pentax Papilio binoculars sold by Eagle Optics. WOW! they are great. They are particularly good for looking at the fine details of VERY close objects such as butterflies, beetles and other insects. They are also great for checking out spiders and bees sitting on wildflowers. Pentax says they focus down to 18 inches and BOY do they ever. They do great for birding in the woods as well although for shore birds and other waterfowl I would recommend a full size pair of binoculars. I love my Papilio's and would highly recommend them to any nature lover.

The lightweight 6.5 and 8.5 power, 21mm Papilios use an internal focusing system that converges the objective (front) lenses to give a good image as close as 1.6 feet. That is close enough to see the details of a bee's pollen combs and antennae, or the lacework of a dragonfly's wings. At close distances the magnification gets a boost from the internal focusing and the 6.5x21 covers an area about the size of a postage stamp. This close focusing is the novelty that really sets the Papilios apart even from some small roof or reverse Porro binoculars that can get as close as 3-5 feet. The Papilios can even be used as a stereo microscope with the good built-in tripod socket.

The views at middle and long range do not disappoint. I watch backyard mockingbrids, finches, quail and the occasional roadrunner and red racer snake or lizard in sun or shade from back porch. These are light for dayhikes, and also do a good job looking into shadowed areas beside washes or up at petroglyphs on rock walls. They cleaned up fine after a cold and windy whale-watching trip with occasional spray wiped with a sweatshirt sleeve (they are not water proof!) and they gave better views than an inexpensive 7x35 Porro also used on that vacation. At night they give passable views of the moon.

If you are considering compact binoculars be sure to give the Papilios a look. I chose the 6.5x because I wanted the plus side of 3mm exit pupil, and their brightness proved fine for shared family use. If budget allows I'd buy a second pair, another 6.5 or perhaps the 8.5 if budget allowed, because they are so well suited to family hikes and nature observation.

Likes:

- smooth, precise focusing action
- click stop eyecups and diopter stay put
- good surface material, comfortable to grip
- pleasing views near & far, 'macro' to moonrise
- built in tripod socket works well
- clear daytime views even into shaded areas
- 'standard' ~ 50° apparent field of view has sharp field stop, little drop-off at edges

Dislikes:

- eye lenses are not multicoated(?) and have reflections when the sun is at your side (cup a hand between the small binos and your sunward temple to solve this); this is the most noticable distraction or fault.
- internal ghosts seen are when observing bright moon, moon is free from ghosts and sharp when placed just off-axis.
- eye placement is comfortable once set -- but IPD and eyecups need to be set 'just right' with that 3mm exit pupil and that takes a moment switching between each family member.

My basis for comparison, and saying that the Papilio views are fine, are a few older 6x to 12x Porros and recent Bushnell and Minolta 8x42 roof and 50mm Porros.

Ultra quick to focus. Sharp and clear optics. I've actually enjoyed birding with these, because one minute I could follow a swooping Kestrel and the next I could get in close to see that the dragonfly I always took for granted actually sports an amazing blue line down its body that the naked eye misses. I love this instrument, and it's light enough to wear on your belt. That way you can have your main binos for hawking and still manage to study some ants if you want.