Fujinon 2000 7×35

Specifications:

Objective diameter:  35 mm
Magnification:  7 x
Exit pupil: 5 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of folded eyecups): 12.5 mm
IPD (measured): 58 – 74 mm
RFOV(acc. to spec.):  11  degrees = 192 m
RFOV (measured): 10.5 degrees = 184 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 72 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 5.4 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 5.4 m to infinity (measured): 120 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (estimate): +/- 4 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 7 dpt*
Prism system:  Porro I
Waterproof: no
Weight (acc. to spec, without accessories): 730 g
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 759 g
Made in: Japan
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

Remarks:

There was a time – roughly the second half of the 20th century – when binoculars with 10 or more degrees RFOV (Real Field of View) were nothing extraordinary. Today, they are rare (a number of factors have contributed to this development). This Fujinon from the early 1990s, apparently made by Kamakura, with –  according to specifications – 11 degrees RFOV was in good company with other binocular brands such as Swift, Jason, Tasco, Kenko or Bushnell with 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13 and even 14 degrees RFOV. While today’s binos with a 7×35 configuration tend to have an RFOV of  between about 8 and 9.5 degrees (see e.g. in this collection separate posts on the Olympus DPS I https://binocular.ch/olympus-7×35-dsp-i/, Leica “Retrovid” https://binocular.ch/leica-trinovid-7×35-2019-retrovid/, Nikon Aculon https://binocular.ch/nikon-aculon-a211-7×35/, or Nikon Action EX https://binocular.ch/nikon-action-ex-7×35-cf/), in former times the fields of view were often wider than that. However, “all that glitters is not gold” – in the case of the Fujinon 2000, the optical engineers tried to fit a wide field of view into too small a binocular body, and it shows that they chose prisms that were too compact. Not only can you see the compromises that were made when you look through either end of the binocular and see the prism edges obstruct part of the optical path, a check on the actual RFOV reveals that it does not reach the specified 11 degrees, but only just about 10.5 degrees. Still impressive, but comparing the Fujinon 2000 with the Bushnell Rangemaster 7×35 (see separate post, https://binocular.ch/bushnell-rangemaster-7×35/ ), you suddenly understand why the Rangemaster, with its RFOV of 10 degrees, has such huge prisms, compared to the Fujinon. – Otherwise, the Fujinon appears well built, with good central and satisfactory edge sharpness, good CA correction and reasonably effective stray-light control. The image exhibits a slight yellowish hue. There is quite a bit of rectilinear distortion, on the other hand there is virtually no globe effect despite the wide FOV. Overall: a very nice general purpose binocular without any significant flaws, a decent eye relief and a pleasantly wide field of view!

Ratings:

Review:

{{ to be updated }}