Eagle Optics Ranger 8x42 Platinum Class
Bill Bryant
Class binoculars as a general purpose field glass (backyard birding,
hunting, a bit of casual astronomy, mountain hiking, etc.)
I've searched the Internet and can't find a review of these
binoculars. If you own a pair, or know of an online review, I would be
grateful if you could pass along either links or your personal
thoughts.
Clarification: The binoculars I'm talking about are not the earlier
Ranger model; I want info about the new phased corrected Platinum
Class line.
Thanks again.
Rick
Rick
Curtis Croulet
the opportunity to compare them to Zeiss, Leica, Swarowski, etc. I *have*
been able to compare them extensively to my wife's Minolta Activa 8x42, and
I could not tell the difference optically, and they are very similar in
other respects. We consider them to be interchangeable. I pressed Eagle
Optics via e-mail about what they mean by "waterproof," since the top brands
sometimes specify a maximum submersion depth. All would say was, "If they
leak, we'll repair or replace them." If there's one criticism, it's that
the factory-set focus is a bit stiff for my taste (a binocular tech could
probably adjust this), and I worry that it might be even stiffer in cold
weather (I've only had them since June).
--
Curtis Croulet
Temecula, California
33° 27' 59"N, 117° 05' 53"W
Jack Daynes
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Like Curtis, I also own a pair of E.O. Rangers, but mine are the 10x42. I
could not be more pleased with the binos. I really appreciate the ability
to focus down to 5' or so. The best advice I can give is advice often
offered here on this topic, is TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! What I may like to hold
in front of my face, might not feel good to you. Wild Birds Unlimited
stores usually carry the EO line of binos.
-- Jack --
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Clean Up Return Address To Reply
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Poway, California (San Diego Co.)
N 32° 56.917' W 117° 04.052'
At 508' Elevation
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Curtis Croulet
through a set of 8.5x42 Swarowski EL binos. On-axis, I could see no
difference compared to my Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 8x42, allowing
for a small difference in magnification. Near the edge of the visible
field, however, the Swarowski's were sharper, and the actual and apparent
fields were much larger. Of course, the Swarowski's cost at least $1K more
than the Eagle Optics, but someone shopping for EOs probably wants to know
what they're giving up by not buying high-end binos.
Bill Bryant
me with the impression that I was dealling with a truly professional
outfit, much unlike what I encountered recently on a visit to Cabela's
(Mitchell, South Dakota) where the optics salesman was either totally
ignorant or dishonest or both. At Cabela's the guy didn't know the
difference between field of view and magnification but talked with a
tone of smug condescension when I mentioned a couple of brands he
didn't carry. At EO the order taker conversed easily about how and why
to keep DEET off rubber, trade offs between 8x32 and 8x42 models, etc.
etc. Very refreshing.
I'll follow up with my impressions of the EO binoculars after I take
them into the mountains over the long weekend.
Nancy
You are going to LOVE your EO Ranger 8 x 42 Platinum Class bins!
I've had mine since last December and wouldn't trade them for anything.
You've made a great choice. I'll be waiting to hear what you think after
you have a chance to wrap your hands around them and try them out.
- Nancy
Cathy Purchis-Jefferies
>
> Bill:
>
> You are going to LOVE your EO Ranger 8 x 42 Platinum Class bins!
> I've had mine since last December and wouldn't trade them for anything.
> You've made a great choice. I'll be waiting to hear what you think after
> you have a chance to wrap your hands around them and try them out.
How sturdy are they? I'm in the market for new bins, and I am pretty
rough on them. To the point where I usually buy cheap ones because in 2
years I will have dropped them and knocked them out of alignment and
have to replace them.
--
"George" Cathy Purchis cat...@value.net
The problem with having 3 cats
is that since cats sleep 18 hours/day,
I'm expected to provide 54 hours of lap
Bill Bryant
> rough on them. To the point where I usually buy cheap ones because in 2
> years I will have dropped them and knocked them out of alignment and
> have to replace them.
I don't have the binoculars yet, but I do know that they have a great
warranty:
"If any Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class binocular is found to have
defects in workmanship or materials, Eagle Optics will repair or
replace it. No warranty card is necessary. No time limit applies. The
guarantee is transferable, it applies whether you are the original
purchaser or not.
At Eagle Optics, we are dedicated to total customer satisfaction. If
your Ranger Platinum Class binocular requires service or repair not
covered by our lifetime guarantee, Eagle Optics will repair or replace
it (even if it was your fault) for just $20, plus return shipping and
handling."
I'm hoping they're pretty sturdy, but with a warranty like that I'm
not too concerned about it.
Bill Bryant
took the family up into the Black Elk Wilderness of South Dakota and
hiked most of the day.
Glassed rock climbers on distant crags, butterflies on flowers 5 feet
from my nose, a beautiful whitetail buck still in velvet, prairie
dogs, chickadees, pronghorns, bison, a bull elk (at a distance), ducks
on a lake, a Boeing 747 at 40,000 feet, the faces on Mt. Rushmore from
several miles away, and on and on . . .
Finally back home looking at juvenile starlings at the bird feeder, a
downy woodpecker, a pair of black-capped chickadees, and the craters
on the moon.
Do I sound happy?
:)
Yep! I love 'em!
Curtis Croulet
tries before I finally found the true sweet spot of the diopter adjustment.
Once my right eye was able to fully relax, the binoculars were extremely
sharp.
VTgreen
> > You are going to LOVE your EO Ranger 8 x 42 Platinum Class bins!
> > I've had mine since last December and wouldn't trade them for anything.
> > You've made a great choice. I'll be waiting to hear what you think
after
> > you have a chance to wrap your hands around them and try them out.
>
> How sturdy are they? I'm in the market for new bins, and I am pretty
> rough on them. To the point where I usually buy cheap ones because in 2
> years I will have dropped them and knocked them out of alignment and
> have to replace them.
I purchased the 8x32's. They are the first pair of "real" binoculars I have
ever owned. I was a field Ornithologist this simmer researching Bicknells
Thrush in Southern Vermont and the armored waterproof EO Ranger Platinum's
made it through with flying colors. I did manage to lose one lens cover nest
searching, but all in all the stood up to the harsh conditions and I even
dropped them twice from about 3 feet! They are also a great price! I almost
bought the 8x42's but the difference in weight was the deciding factor.
By the way the 8x32's are great for Butterfly watching also as the close
focus is an amazing 3.5 feet!! Yea, I could stand and look at bugs on my own
feet crystal clear.
Noel in Vermont
Nancy
Have fun!
Bill Bryant
became too loose, sometimes collapsing part way during veiwing. I'll
post an update when I receive my replacement pair.
Curtis Croulet
glasses, and no amount of pressure on the face would cause them to collapse.
I now leave the cups down. One reason why I suggested the EO Ranger
Platinum Class and Minolta Activa might be made in the same factory is that
the eyecups and diopter adjustment ring are identical and operate in an
identical manner on the two products.
Bill Bryant
and the Minolta Activa are made in different factories. Like you,
Curtis, I've seen too that they have identical eyepieces, so this must
mean what it so often means in Japan, Inc. Everybody buys parts and
manufactures parts and assembles and modifies etc etc in a Byzantine
network incomprehensible to mortals. Nice thing, though, of course, is
that great products come out of this maze on a pretty regular basis.
Eagle Platinums and Minolta Activas are both very nice products.
Curtis Croulet
come from a common supplier. Still, I can't tell the
difference optically between the two except that the EO
focuses closer. Even the field of view, different in the
specs, seems identical to me. The Minoltas were a gift to
my wife after her Celestron Regals were stolen. Actually,
they stole the car that contained the Celestrons. We got
the car back (undamaged!), but the binox were gone. I can
only rely on my memory of the Celestrons. They were nice,
but the Minoltas are better.