Review on Pentax UP 8-16x21 Compact Zoom Binoculars in Green – Enhance Your Visibility by Brian Thao

When you hold them in your hands, these binoculars definitely feel very solid and well made. The dials are accurate and very easy to use. They are very well balanced and stabilize easily. Quality construction. In addition, the zoom wheel is in a more appropriate and ergonomic position compared to other brands. No need to lose track while playing around with the zoom on it. It sits right on top and fits naturally under your fingers just behind the focus wheel and has a short and smooth ride. Other manufacturers place the zoom on the bottom, usually on the right side, where it's very uncomfortable to operate without adjusting the grip, making viewing difficult. The diopter adjustment is located directly behind the zoom and extends when pressed. Once set up, just stick it where it won't get in the way and forget about it. This is a very good feature. All dials are aligned for easy access. Glory to the engineers! Despite the 21mm lens, the zoom lets in more light than other large lens zoom binoculars I've used over the years. Mainly TASCO and Bushnell. Just to compare images, I focused them, a pair of Nikon Aculon T01 Fixed Power 8x21mm and a pair of TASCO 8-24x25mm, on my 75" HDTV in a dark room from about 15" away. The picture from them was definitely brighter and more color accurate than Nikon and completely surpassed TASCO. TASCO is back. What a nonsense! Another very nice feature is the strap with a unique quick release system consisting of metal pins that attach with push, slide and click. Simply press the release button, slide the end of the strap forward and lift to unlock. This is a much better system than other brands of cheap plastic snap-in cord loop connectors. When the strap is removed, the pigtails will not hang out. It's durable, comfortable and has a clean design. Overall, I would say that Ricoh/Pentax hired engineers/designers who are actually highly educated and bring a great deal of common sense to their designs. The design of these binoculars is very well thought out. One of if not the best I've ever seen. Visually, I find them absolutely modern, if not a bit futuristic. These are binoculars that would look great in James Bond's arsenal of gadgets. Not a fancy range finder or laser sighting system, but they definitely have the looks. LolMy intends to use them in dry conditions so waterproofing isn't a priority but would still be a nice bonus feature. Spring. What kind of idiot fires binoculars anyway? The strap is not only for carrying, but also for safety! Use a strap. Do not throw them into a lake, stream, puddle, bathtub, sink or toilet! Do not put them in the washing machine or dishwasher! I could go on As for the rain I don't think it will be a problem unless you get caught in the rainy season or a hurricane or something. In such conditions, you should take cover instead of looking through binoculars. Conclusion: money well spent. I am very happy with this purchase and will definitely turn to RICOH/PENTAX for my future optical needs.