Bushnell Powerview 12x50 Wide Angle Binoculars

Rating:
Summary: Well Designed, Poor Optics
Review: Very convenient to use, nice focusing, rubber eye cups, but you get what you pay for. Binocular users don't usually realize what they're missing until they check out Nikon or Minolta binocs. The images focus into crystal clarity but the price is close to a hundred or more bucks. But it's like a digital camera. It doesn't matter what the features are if the images are crappy.

The lenses in these binocs have rings around the inner perimeter that are always out of focus. The center image is pretty good until you compare it with better binoculars, then there are more colors, a brighter image and, of course, consequently, greater viewing pleasure.

Also, like most lens caps on binoculars, the lens caps on these should be discarded with the plastic wrap and box. They fall off with gravity and you'll soon lose them anyway.

This one's a good model for kids. For yourself, use your tax cut and buy a more expensive model. If you're going to walk 12 miles into the woods, you deserve to have primo optics.



Rating:
Summary: Great monocular
Review: Was really looking forward to using these binoculars after
reading the other reviews, but they just don't work for me
or anyone else I borrowed them to. Everything appears as
"double vision" and all the adjusting of the width etc just
doesn't help. When I close one eye they work great as a monocular, but for both eyes they cause headaches.
My old $15 dollar binoculars never had this problem. Will
be returning them.

Rating:
Summary: We like these binoculars a lot
Review: We have three old "beater" Bushnells in the 7x35 range. Finally decided to "upgrade." Found this model on Ebay but with high shipping and no guarantee Amazon's price was lightyear's better.
Turns the binorculars are a GREAT deal. The auto focus feature is especially valuable because my wife and I have such different vision. Now there's no need to fiddle with the focus. We just pass them back and forth and NO problem. Out here with Utah's spectacular distant vistas, these binocs are a blessing. They are also great for watching raptors inflight. No need to fiddle with the focus. They handle well, feel great, look good and perform up to expectations. We wouldn't dare buy a more expensive pair because of the dust and dirt in our travel and camping environment. These binocs are a great compromise for the dollar and we would highly recommend them. BTW, it took less than a week to get them delivered here in the boonies. Sometimes, it is MUCH better to buy retail from Amazon than to mess around with Ebay. The "customer comfort level" which goes with the Amazon reputation is well worth a few extra dollars. Besides, we alla need to support this company--what would we rural people do without it. It's like the Sears Robuck catalog used to be--a household staple! Buy them and ENJOY!

Rating:
Summary: We like these binoculars a lot
Review: We have three old "beater" Bushnells in the 7x35 range. Finally decided to "upgrade." Found this model on Ebay but with high shipping and no guarantee Amazon's price was lightyear's better.
Turns the binorculars are a GREAT deal. The auto focus feature is especially valuable because my wife and I have such different vision. Now there's no need to fiddle with the focus. We just pass them back and forth and NO problem. Out here with Utah's spectacular distant vistas, these binocs are a blessing. They are also great for watching raptors inflight. No need to fiddle with the focus. They handle well, feel great, look good and perform up to expectations. We wouldn't dare buy a more expensive pair because of the dust and dirt in our travel and camping environment. These binocs are a great compromise for the dollar and we would highly recommend them. BTW, it took less than a week to get them delivered here in the boonies. Sometimes, it is MUCH better to buy retail from Amazon than to mess around with Ebay. The "customer comfort level" which goes with the Amazon reputation is well worth a few extra dollars. Besides, we alla need to support this company--what would we rural people do without it. It's like the Sears Robuck catalog used to be--a household staple! Buy them and ENJOY!

Rating:
Summary: Great product for the price!
Review: Well I spent some time comparing the Busnell powerview 10x50, 12x50, 16x50 and I must say all are pretty good for the dough. I chose the 12x50 because they offered the best light, clarity, and sensitivity. The 12x50's gave a nice bright image just as the 10x50's did but were a bit more powerful. But they werent quite as sensitive to movement as the 16x50(WAY TO SENSITIVE W/O A TRIPOD). The happy medium is the 12x50's! I can see an ant on a tree at 40 yrds and read a license plate at over 1000 ft. I took them out at night(no moon) and could see the color of an airliner flying over at 5000ft. Nice utilization of available light at night!
Only disappointment was the CHEEP straps. Oh Well.