Pentax Vd 4x20 WP Binoculars

These are exceptionally high-quality opera glasses. They are the perfect pair of binoculars for shows, musicals, or high-school sports. The low magnification of 4x means I can focus on the lead actor while still keeping a sense of what else is happening on stage or on the field. The 4x magnification also make these the brightest, most stable binoculars I've ever used. The colors are rich, edges are sharp across the full frame of view. Plus, the ability to "break" these binoculars into two equal halves means I can share the view with a friend or date.Using this product, I get the sense that the designers thought really carefully about every little touch.Pentax got the "break" feature just right: a firm, deliberate tug separates them, but there's no chance these ... MoreThese are exceptionally high-quality opera glasses. They are the perfect pair of binoculars for shows, musicals, or high-school sports. The low magnification of 4x means I can focus on the lead actor while still keeping a sense of what else is happening on stage or on the field. The 4x magnification also make these the brightest, most stable binoculars I've ever used. The colors are rich, edges are sharp across the full frame of view. Plus, the ability to "break" these binoculars into two equal halves means I can share the view with a friend or date.Using this product, I get the sense that the designers thought really carefully about every little touch.Pentax got the "break" feature just right: a firm, deliberate tug separates them, but there's no chance these will come apart accidentally. Joining them back together is similarly easy. However, joining them does produce a solid metallic "clunk!" like turning a deadbolt lock, so don't do this during a quiet moment on stage. Each "monocular" has its own focusing wheelThe build quality is absolutely top-notch. Not a bit of bare plastic here—everything is either coated glass, painted brass, or rubberized plastic. The rubberized eyepieces twist to provide eye relief for eyeglasses or sunglasses, and they pass through two solid "click stops."Downsides? The biggest downside is that I finally have a perfect pair of opera glasses, but all the theaters are closed. The telescope feature is more of a bonus or gimmick than a genuine ability. The optical path compounds, so you've suddenly got tremendous 16x magnification, which is VERY hard to hold steady by hand. Plus, you now have TWO focusing elements—have fun with that. Of course, I know of no other binoculars that even offer a telescope option, so I guess it's a nice conversation starter as you wait for the show to start or the game to get underway.Also, for this price, I feel entitled to lens caps. Come on, Ricoh. This is a premium product, so lens caps would have been nice. The lenses are deeply recessed, set back and protected by rubberized rings, and Pentax coatings are legendary, so I don't actually worry too much about damage.

Terrific for nature walks, backpacking. Extremely versatile and WP, very well made; sharp and clear. All in all excellent for the price. The caveats: the nature of this convertible optic is that there's no single focus---each side focuses independently---no other way to do such an optic that morphs into monoculars and a mini telescope. So, for birders focusing isn't as quick. Also, the focus adjustment is stiff, which contributes to them being less quick---that's why they get a 4 star instead of a 5. But I'm still very happy with them. I have 4 different Pentax binoculars----there may be other cheaper ones, and there may be other better ones, but I think Pentax is steady and great value that hits the true sweet spot of quality and value combined.

It's very hard to find quality binoculars with only 4X magnification. These allow us to see the right amount of the opera stage without looking down the singers' throats. It uses individual focus, which would be a nuisance for normal use, but is fine when you are in a fixed position. They are small enough to carry easily. I haven't tried to stack them for 16x magnification, so can't comment.