Kowa BD II 8×42 XD

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Specifications:

Objective diameter:  42 mm
Magnification:  8 x
Exit pupil: 5.25 mm
Eye relief (acc. to spec): 17 mm
Useful eye relief (measured from rim  of eyecup): 15mm
IPD:  57 – 76 mm
RFOV:  8.2  degrees = 143 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 60 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 1.6 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 3m to infinity (measured): 200 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (acc. to spec.): +/- 4 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 4 dpt*
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Phase coating: yes
Waterproof: yes
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and objective caps): 722 g
Made in: China
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

  

Remarks:

The 2019 launch of the Kowa “BD II” series of binoculars has been exciting news for binocular enthusiasts  mainly because of the little 6.5×32 model with a 10 degree field of view (see separate post https://binocular.ch/kowa-bdii-6-5×32-xd/), the other models being: 8×32, 10×32, 10×42 and this 8×42. All of them share excellent mechanics, a very nice finish and build quality (with clickstops on the eyecups that actually work!) and very good optics for middle class instruments, with relatively wide fields of view, very good CA correction, bright images, very good central and satisfactory off-axis sharpness.

Ratings:

 

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