Hawke Frontier 8×42 ED X Binoculars: Our Assessment


A superb picture, exact focus wheel, and durable construct. This binocular is one in every of our Prime Picks.

At A Look

Hawk Frontier ED X 8x42 binoculars.
Hawke Frontier ED X 8×42 binoculars. Picture by Hugh Powell.

PROS:

  • Vivid, colourful picture even in harsh lighting
  • Focus wheel strikes simply and stops exactly
  • Wonderful steadiness and cushty really feel within the hand
  • Vast subject of view and good shut focus 

CONS:

  • Slight falloff in sharpness at edges of picture
  • Towards the highest finish of the value vary we examined

STATS:

  • Worth: $549 MSRP at press time. Costs typically fluctuate, so verify with retailers
  • Shut focus: 6.6 ft (201 cm). In assessments, we may focus these binoculars all the way down to about 7.1 ft (216 cm)
  • Discipline of view: 8.1° (425 ft at 1,000 yards). Extra about subject of view 
  • Weight: 26.7 oz (757 g)—that’s about 1 oz (28 g) heavier than the typical for 8×42 binoculars in our overview
  • Eye aid: 17.8 mm

Viewing Expertise: These binoculars characteristic an excellent, broad picture, exact focusing, and a compact appear and feel that matches neatly within the hand. Watching a fall migrant flock we had been impressed with the distinction and readability of the picture. With a backlit Northern Parula we may nonetheless see the nuances of yellow throat, white stomach, and blue-gray again because it dodged behind leaves. The binoculars helped ID a tough Blackpoll Warbler by revealing the faint streaking on the chest and the yellow-orange ft. In the meantime, they actually introduced out the luminous gold and deep black of a handful of Black-throated Inexperienced Warblers.

Really feel and Construct: These binoculars are small however substantial, barely heavier than a median 8×42 however nicely balanced. The main focus wheel strikes easily and feels exact each because it rolls and when stopping on the focus level. The eyecups are agency and dial out to 2 stops to be used with out eyeglasses. They’ve a neat rounded profile that provides to the binoculars’ streamlined look and is comfy on the attention. The binoculars have a inexperienced armoring with good grip; there are not any scalloped indents for the thumbs. They arrive in a semihard clamshell case that makes them straightforward to stow and transport.  

Feedback From Testers: 

  • Measurement was very nice, and weight was good as nicely
  • Very clear
  • Felt like high quality construct
  • A bit heavy, eyecups laborious to show, focus appeared stiff
  • Petite, ergonomic for a smaller individual
  • Felt comfy immediately
  • Coolest trying
  • Feels good within the hand

This text is one in a collection of mini-reviews. To see how these binoculars evaluate to others we’ve examined, see our full overview of reasonably priced 8×42 binoculars.  

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