Fujinon Techno-Stabi 16×40 TS-L

Specifications:

Objective diameter (acc. to spec. and measured):  40 mm
Magnification (acc. to spec. and measured):  16 x
Exit pupil (acc. to spec. and measured) : 2.5 mm
Eye relief (acc. to spec.): 15.7 mm
Eye relief (measured): 17.5 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of eyecup): 13.5 mm
IPD (acc. to spec.):  57 – 70 mm
IPD (measured):  56 – 75 mm
RFOV (acc. to spec. and measured ):  4.2  degrees = 73 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 61.5 degrees
Minimum focus distance (acc. to spec.): 5 m
Minimum focus distance (measured): 3.1 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > counter-clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from minimum focus to infinity (measured): 405 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (estimate): +/- 4 dpt
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): > 8 dpt
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan (?)
Waterproof: yes
Weight (without accessories and batteries, acc. to spec.): 856 g
Weight (measured, with eyepiece and objective cover, strap and batteries): 1’017 g
Made in: Japan

Remarks:

Fujinon recently updated its Techno-Stabi line with two new stabilized binoculars, called Techno-Stabi TL-S 1640 and 2040 (the first with 16x magnification, the second with 20x). While we think the 2 mm exit pupil of the 20×40 binocular is really minuscule and useful only in limited circumstances (moon or planet astronomy), the 2.5mm EP of the 16×40 model is still small (same as in a 8×20 binocular) and not ideal if you generally have trouble positioning your eyes behind the exit pupil. Otherwise, 2.5 mm is workable, unless light is scarce as at dusk or dawn, or in a deep and dark forest. Still, plenty of stabilized binoculars with similarly small  exit pupils have recently come onto the market, and so we decided to add the Fujinon 16×40 to our stable. It joins a number of other stabilized binoculars in our collection, i.e. the Fujinon Techno-Stabi 12×28, the Canon models 8×20, 10×30, 10×32, 10×42, 12×32, 12×36, and 14×32 as well as Kenko 10×30, Kite 18×50, Vixen Atera 12×30 and Farvision 20×50 (see the respective separate posts). The Techno-Stabi 16×40 is about the same in size as the Canon 10×42 IS, but clearly lighter and features much better ergonomics; it is pleasant to carry and hold, appears well built, and surprised us – we had not been overly impressed with the smaller sibling, the Techno-Stabi 12×28, see https://binocular.ch/fujinon-techno-stabi-12×28/ – with a nice 61.5 degree AFOV (more than the Canon 10×42), very good optics, mechanics that don’t leave much to be desired, and a very good image stabilization. In our view, the 16×40 Fujinon is currently one of the overall best stabilized binoculars on the market.

Ratings: