Opticron 30785 Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 Monocular Black

This monocular is worth every penny. Clear image, robust and waterproof. The ED version is what I purchased and it’s ideal. Big enough to let enough light in for low light use, small enough for a decent pocket and easy to operate. Yes the focus wheel requires patience as it’s slower to rotate than others but that’s really not an issue to me. Makes you feel it’s more sturdy than anything else. Hardly stops you operating it. Really pleased I bought this for wildlife use and the 8x magnification is more than enough to make it really useful. The case isn’t anything to get excited about but it does the job. Made a veg tan leather one for mine so the finished package is now complete. All I need to do now is not lose it like my last Opticron!If you’re lucky enough to be able to afford one, I certainly recommend getting one.

The monocular is simply super, I’m very pleased with the purchase and recommend it to everyone, the visibility is perfect, clear, the assembly is high-quality, the strap and case are of excellent quality.

If you’re looking for a good monocular in this price range, there aren’t actually that many options. I was choosing between this one and the Hawke Endurance ED 8×42. Its compact size was the deciding factor. If you want slightly better specifications, the price jumps almost twofold straight away. That’s not good value. I didn’t find the focus wheel stiff. I don’t see any issues with the lens caps either. It’s also comfortable to wear with glasses, even those with progressive lenses. I liked the Opticron and would buy it again. So, I’d recommend buying it.

The delivery was on time. The unit is lightweight and easy to use. The construction is high-grade. I suggest not going with the 10x42 because with the 8x42 it can already be a little shakey if you don't brace your arm. I struggled with this choice as there are so many units to choose from online. I am extremely satisfied with my final choice of the 8x42. It is light, has great magnification, no distortion, and excellent low-light visibility. The eye cap can be easily lost as it is not secured. I resolved this by threading the supplied strap through the eye cap and now it is secure. All in all a great high-quality unit.

This is the perfect monocular for everyday use, it is small, lightweight and the magnification is sufficient for most purposes. I also have the 10 x 42 model but find I'm using the smaller one most of the time when out walking in the countryside. It is also well priced and delivery was next day.