Hawke Frontier ED X 8×42

Specifications:

Objective diameter:  42 mm
Magnification:  8 x
Exit pupil: 5.25 mm
Eye relief (acc. to spec): 18 mm
Useful eye relief (measured from rim of eyecup): 16mm
IPD (measured): 56 – 73 mm
RFOV (acc. to specs.):  8.1  degrees = 142 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 60.5 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 2.15 m
Focus type:  CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: < anticlockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 3m to infinity (measured): 240 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (estimate): +/- 3 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 4.5 dpt*
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Waterproof: yes
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 815 g
Made in: China
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

Remarks:

When Hawke Optics of the UK came onto the European market almost ten years ago with their Frontier ED 8×43 and 10×43 binoculars, well-known Finnish birder and optics enthusiast Kimmo Absetz titled his review of the new instruments: “Wonder binoculars from China” and continued: “… The Chinese engineers really have managed to manufacture a binocular that is optically first-rate”. He was right, and the arrival of excellent Chinese optics for a very reasonable price was a wake-up call for some established manufacturers. Hawke has recently upgraded the Frontier ED with an “X” edition with a classic central hinge design and 42 instead of 43 mm objective diameter – a mechanically and optically very good instrument.

Ratings: