Leupold BX-1 Yosemite Binocular

FIVE STARS:These little binos have amazingly good optics for this price point - color, contrast, brightness, and sharpness are all EXCELLENT. I was very impressed.The lower magnification (6x) can also be advantageous for some applications. It gives you a wider field of view and less hand shake. I was watching some birds in flight today. With a higher powered optic I wouldn't have been able to "find" them before they were gone. Kudos to Leupold for realizing that "magnification isn't everything".FOUR STARS:Eye relief (18.5 mm) is good, but not quite perfect. There's a little bit of vignetting with my eyeglasses on, but not enough to keep me from using them comfortably. (I'm spoiled by the 22mm of eye relief on my Pentax 8x42's.)Size and weight are pleasing. These are noticeably smaller and lighter than my full-size binos (17oz vs 27 oz). These will be great for hiking and watching sports (your arms won't get so tired holding them up AND you'll appreciate the wider field of view). The case is also better than I expected at this price point. It's easy to carry these on your belt.THREE STARS:Build quality is very good for this price point, but not what you'd get for 3-5X this price. The focusing wheel was initially very stiff. It's loosened up with use, but it still takes two fingers (push-pull) for best control. My first pair had a small misalignment (collimation error) between the two images, but it was so small that most people would never notice it.All in all, I like these "mid-sized" binoculars a lot. They are MUCH better than any "small" bino (except maybe a Swarovski).

I had read reviews and seen youtube reviews that said this is a really great binocular for $90. That is true, assuming there is not a quality control issue with your copy... does Leupold have enough feet on the ground in China to do proper Quality Control? Apparently not.I don't need any diopter adjustment when I wear my glasses, and only .25 adjustment without glasses. The diopter adjustment on the pair of BX-1 Yosemite 6x30 that I received had to be cranked all the way to the left (-) to where it couldn't go any further to get the eyes to balance. I have other binoculars so the problem isn't my eyes. I returned it because what if somebody borrows my binos and needs to get more negative diopter adjustment? There isn't any to be had.The second issue I had was that right out of the box, the focus ring felt like it was glued down. I forced it and it was sort of a crunchy type sound and it then freed up. But that was weird.As to the clarity and quality of the optics? Very good! but a bino is more that just optics, it is also having parts that work properly, and a focus wheel that moves freely.If the Diopter rings hadn't been defective, I would have kept them. They ARE a great binoc for $90, and I could live with the substandard focus wheel. Just check yours carefully for quality control problems and keep them if no issues, and return them if there is a problem like I had with mine.

Having owned many binoculars and, thanks to Amazon, I’ve bought and returned many more. This pair really hits the sweet spot for me in size, weight and clarity. I have smaller hands and it fits perfectly. I got the 10x power and it’s lightweight enough to hold steady. Focus is very precise. And, the light management system works brilliantly! Almost as much light as my Nikon 50mm in a 30mm form factor.Yes, it’s made in China but Leupold’s quality control seems to be excellent and the price of $133 is remarkable for what you get.

I love good optics. Most of my rifle scopes are Nikon, Zeiss, and Meopta. My main set of binoculars are Meopta Meostar 10x42 HDs. I use them for hunting large fields but they are too strong at 10x to be used in the woods. That's where these Leupolds come into play. At 6x, they are perfect for close work in the woods. The light weight is also great. Are they as good as the Meoptas? No. But at about 10% of the price, they shouldn't be. I would say they are about 90% as good as the Meoptas, which makes them a fantastic bargain. They blow away any other binos on the market in their price range.

I've bought a fair number of scopes and binoculars, Nikon, Simmons, Tasco, Leupold...I am convinced that Leupold is THE best of the lot on all fronts for sport, spectator, or hunting . These BX-1 binoculars (for about $100) are fantastic! I've used family members Swarovski binoculars on several occasions....save your money and get 98% of the job done with Leupold for 1/3 the investment.

I did a lot of research and watched a lot of youtube reviews before buying these. There are so many to choose from. I have not bought a new pair in a long time. I wanted something lighter than my old Jensen 7X50. I tried more powerful ones at 8 and 10 Magnification but I found them too powerful for what I look at. There are not many 6 magnification binoculars available. These are between compact and full size. Generally when I use binoculars I close my right eye. With these I no longer need to do that. It has multiple image adjustments for the user. I get a bright beautiful image. These are perfect for me. Lightweight, great image and the best strap and case I have seen for binoculars in their price range. These are MADE IN CHINA so I deducted one star. Try to find Binoculars that are made some where else!

This was just what my 88 year old dad asked for. Leopold makes quality products and my dad verified that. He said it's so bright and clear when looking through these binoculars. They're easy to adjust. He sits on one end of his deck, surrounded by trees, and checks out the birds on the other end. So he didn't want a high power of 10X or even 8X for long distances across the lake. It had to be this 6X30. He was pleased to know that they can endure a rainfall if they get left out there when it rains. He likes the strap system and the soft case that came with them. It feels good to have bought him exactly what he was looking for.

IF YOU BUY THIS PRODUCT MAKE SURE YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP IT. THE RETURN POLICY KEEPS 20% OF THE PRICE IF RETURNED IN PERFECT CONDITION.