Carson 3D Series 10x50mm High Definition Compact and Waterproof Binoculars with ED Glass, Black (TD-050ED)

After a lot of research, I came across Carson's 3D-ED 10X42 binoculars. I initially intended on purchasing a pair of Nikon monarchs or Bushnell Legend HDs, but after reading testimonials about the tremendous value of these, I decided to give them a try.I'm not an optics expert by any means, but I've looked through expensive glass before. I'm familiar with the outstanding quality put out by Leica and Zeiss from experiences with binos owned by friends and family. In my experience and from extensive research, you get what you pay for in the world of optics. That being said, I can only surmise from trying these out that Carson is aggressively trying to increase their market share in the industry. The quality of this product mirrors that of binoculars that can be twice as expensive. To jump right into it, you're getting binoculars with lots of great qualities:-Multi coated lenses-Phase correction-Completely waterproof and nitrogen filled casing to prevent fogging and internal damage.-Generous eye relief (to the uninitiated this means the eye pieces screw out so you can find a "sweet" spot for the picture)-Excellent field of view at range-HIGH overall build quality-Innovative Bino Armor Deluxe case. I was skeptical, but it's clear a lot of thought went into designing this case. It works like they advertise it to.-Comfortable neck strap and back harness system. I didn't find any other binocular that includes these in this price range.-Included cleaning cloth. This isn't anything more special than what comes with a pair of glasses, but it's still appreciated!-LIFETIME NO NONSENSE WARRANTY. This is huge. Binoculars are expensive and complex tools. One bad drop can result in any pair of glasses requiring repair. It's a great relief knowing that even if I damage these by accident, I'll be covered.The meat and potatoes of this product is the image. I plan to get a lot of use from these for hikes, and to take on vacation to look out at objects from the beach. I haven't put these through the full ringer yet, but the quality can simply be described as fantastic so far. I would describe these as "bright" optics, meaning that they transmit a lot of light. The image is also sharp throughout. This means that you'll see detail not only centered in your view but also on the edges of the view.I haven't really found any downsides yet. You could argue the lack of lense caps is a problem along with the fact that the case isn't completely sealed from dust. This first issue is mitigated by the Bino Armor Deluxe case, given that the two are designed to be used together. Regarding the latter issue, this is easily solved by a ziploc bag when it's on your shelf.BOTTOM LINE:If you're looking in this price range, you'd be crazy not to have these on your short list.If you're looking at more expensive pairs in the sub $1000 range, you'd also be crazy not to entertain the idea of these.Hope this helps!

This is a review of the 8x32 but also a comparison to the 10x42. First, however, a comment about light transmission as determined by exit pupil. Our pupils capacity for expansion changes with age. The pupils of a 20 year old person may expand to 8mm, while the pupils of a 78 year old person, which I am, expand not past 4mm and maybe even less. Therefore, the light transmitted by the 8x32, with an exit pupil of 4mm [divide the objective lens diameter by the magnification] is as much as my eyes practically can use - not to mention than hen it's all that dark, I go home. The light transmission/exit pupil of the 10x42 is 4.2, so that aspect isn't practically different from the 8x32. That leaves the magnification, eye relief, size and weight for comparison. The 8x32 is substantially more compact and lighter than the 10x42 - but that might be an acceptable trade off if the additional magnification of the 10x42 made a substantial difference. Since I have both, I compared then in real time for three days in a row. Today, I actually carried both at the same time. I use binoculars for watching, identifying, and observing behavior of birds - and also to enjoy the beauty of some species. To test the difference, I took time on several occasions to watch a single bird with each, in turn. I also focused on one of the mountain tops in the Great Phoenix area that has radio, TV and phone towers which are several miles away. Yes, in a purely physical sense, the image in the 10x42 was [had to be]larger than the image in the 8x32. However, I found no substantial difference in what I was able to see, my ability to identify the species of a bird, observe its behavior or enjoy its beauty. The 8x32 has great eye relief than the 10x42. The 8x32 has larger field of view than the 10x42. The 8x32 has as good or better depth of field, and 3D appearance, as the 10x42. The cost is a mere $5 difference, so that's not a factor. I can't justify the larger size and greater weight of the 10x42 under these circumstances. I own more than one other pair of binoculars including one in a lower price point and one in a seriously greater price point. I find the 8x32 Carson HD as good as any, and it's a seriously good binocular. I'm keeping it and will return the 10x42. Both have focus adjustment that is just right, and the diopter ring stays put once set. They both seem to be well made and sturdy, and unlike offerings from many other binocular manufacturers they come with the very useful harness, and with lens covers for both objective and ocular lenses. A well earned five stars.