BUSHNELL FORGE 10x42 £539

These bins are very easy and comfortable to grip, and the thick and well-textured rubber armour make them feel robust.

The eyecups are very comfortable and twist up and down to four positions, staying in place well. Offering a maximum of 18mm eye relief, they should do the job for most glasses wearers.

The dioptre adjustment is on the right barrel. You pull it out, find your setting, then click it in. There was no problem with it moving.

The focus wheel is 1.5 fingers wide, and well ridged, making it easy to find, and to move. It takes nearly two anti-clockwise turns from close focus to infinity, and moves smoothly but with moderately stiff resistance. Close focus is quoted as 3m, but felt closer to 2m.

The image produced by the ED Prime glass is generally excellent, feeling bright and very natural in colour. Even in low light conditions, at dusk and dawn, they do the job well.

There was a small amount of chromatic aberration, or colour-fringing, but only when viewing against very bright sun, and even then only usually when following a bird in flight.

The price you pay for higher magnification is a reduced field of view, and with this model it’s 113m@1000m. Just once or twice that felt a little cramped, because there’s a certain amount of softness at the edge of the image.

VERDICT

Quality binoculars at a reasonable price. They produce a good image, feel good in the hands, and are well put together.

SPECS: Weight: 860g Length: 170mm Eye relief: 18mm Field of view: 113m@1000m RRP: £539 £349.99 Web: bushnell.com