Carson VP-842 8x42 VP Series Full Sized Waterproof and Fog-proof Binoculars

I bought these Carson vp series 10x42’s 18 months ago when Amazon were selling them at ridiculously low prices, i thought they looked to good to miss so along with the 10x42 i also purchased all the other models in the series and eventually i only ended up keeping this 10x42 which i personally found to be the best in the series. Someone on Amazon USA favourably compared these with the Nikon monarch 5 10x42 and couldn’t separate them optically…I’ve constantly been very impressed with these and have compared them with vortex, Bushnell, vanguard and opticron and couldn’t find anything in any of those that was better optically. These Carson are very well put together, reassuringly solidly built and the focus wheel moves smoothly and is nicely weighted, focusing is not geared too fast nor too slow… perfect. Field of view is a very generous 6.3 and close focus an excellent two metres with a perfectly round image at that close distance. My only criticism of these is the eye relief being only 15mm which if you are wearing glasses may restrict your viewing. Thoroughly recommend these Carson 10x42’s and even at the current prices they are still good value when compared to the equivalent competition… they are fully multi coated and have phase coatings but not dielectric coatings but personally i preferred the views through these compared to binoculars by vortex, Bushnell & vanguard which had dielectric coatings.. Carson optics might not be as familiar to people compared to the likes of Nikon & Bushnell ect…however some of the glass they produce is superb ( for the price ) and these vp series binoculars are testament to that. Good luck!

Great at both long range (planes at 35000ft) and amazing close focus at 13 ft for garden birds. Smooth focusing if a little sensitive. They are quite heavy but have a comfy neck strap and feel well built.

I bought these binoculars 13 months ago and I have used them in the field for about 10 shoots. I don't consider this hard usage. The binoculars are fine, but the carrying case has come apart. The brackets for the carrying lanyard are sewn to a thin mesh which on both sides of the case has frayed and split. It is clear that the manufacture of this item has not taken into account the strain imposed on the mounting brackets by just the weight of the binoculars. The carrying case has been rendered unusable. This is very disappointing for an item of this supposed quality and cost.

After painstakingly researching various binocs between £100-200, I finally settled on the pair which ticked the most boxes for me - these Carson VPs.Straight from the off, they have been brilliant. Subjects in the field are crystal clear, with excellent light transmission making viewing even at dawn/dusk straightforward. I use them for birding, and the benefit of this additional brightness and vibrancy is that it makes species identification much easier. Who needs ED glass?!In terms of haptics, the feel afforded by the VPs is great: just enough rubberised coating to provide some grip, but not so much as to make me fear that the coating will easily degrade over time. The focus wheel has a nice touch to it as well, with a bobbled surface conducive to achieving a good grip and a smooth turn. Likewise, the diopter has the same surface, and clicks into place when turned.Whilst there is a clamour to have the lightest possible pair, I feel as though a bit of weight is necessary to keep my hands steady when attempting to view subjects, especially at longer ranges. I bought 10x42, so some wobble is more easily noticeable. Therefore I am greatful that these have a little bit of heft behind them. That being said, they are not heavy enough to feel cumbersome when worn around my neck, even for hours at a time.The eyepieces twist at three intervals, and are very comfortable around my eyes. I have used these both whilist wearing glasses, as well as without, and have found them just as comfortable to use both configurations.Bag provided is decent, with some padding, and a zip pouch for a cleaning cloth/accessories. Likewise, the strap is reasonably good, comprising a nice wide area of fabric for the part of the strap which rests on the back of your neck. This has been comfortable when I've worn them for an entire day whilst out walking.I managed to get these whilst on offer, but seriously, if you pay up to £200, you've still snagged a bargain. They also come with an extended warranty which can be activated online, so Carson are confident that they will last a long time.Here's hoping, because the Carson VPs are superb!

An excellent pair of binoculars ideal for watching the birds in my garden.

Very good optics for the price with smooth and positive controls. A quality product.

I tried these after some favourable reviews, not for me though. I didn't feel the quality matched the price. I wear glasses and couldn't get a clear view and had quite a lot of internal reflection. I returned them, paid the extra and bought Nikon Monarch 5's instead, what I should have done in the first place.

They are so good that I have just ordered another pairThese binoculars are exactly what I was looking for. They are so good that I have just ordered another pair. I have tried many more expensive binoculars and these ones are much better.