Olympus Binocular 8×40 S – Ideal For Nature Observation

This are really good binos ideal for bird watching – slightly heavier than more expensive options. They feel and look really good quality.

Absolutely fantastic binoculars , I connot find a single thing wrong with them ,easy to focus . I focused on what looked like a static sign what must have been 200 metre’s away I could barely see it with naked eye’s and boom it was there as if I was standing next to it .
I can mount it on a tripod , with appropriate accessory and look at the moon amazing.
And not made in China the build quality is fantastic all the lens caps fit snuggly and don’t fall off and a nice padded case and neck strap .

Really impressed with these considering their price. Both for a trip to Africa and they didn’t dissapoint. Easy to focus, easy to use.

Isecond pair I bought for my hubby left the first pair in Canada he just couldn’t live without them, he watches the birds from our conservatory every morning

Bought prior to a holiday in the Scottish Highlands in order to view distant birds and other wildlife. Really clear with little or no image distortion and the colours are natural. Good all-round binocular, would certainly recommend for the price

These are good value. They are good quality at a good price. They are comfortable to hold and the lens are good. Just to point out that with these binoculars if you wear glasses (as I do) then you need to fold back the rubber eye cups. The eye cups seem to be made of good quality rubber or silicone and it is easy enough to fold them back.

For the price these are great quality and work really well. The 10x is about the correct power for the eyes and good clear, ‘Non shaky’ vision is possible. I love the ‘Parallax’ / 3D vision which is possible and they let alot of light in so the subjects appear nice and bright. Would buy again if these got broke. All in all, much better than I expected and they do the job they were bought for ( I.E. Wife to Birdwatch in the garden ) What I did notice was when I tested them was that because they have quite big optics, they make things look nice and bright and the details are easy to see. The last ‘bins’ we had were quite small and images appeared quite dark and details not easy to see.

Just got back from a cruise down the Norwegian Fjords and enjoyed looking at the scenery through my old binoculars but realized that they weren’t really all that good, so when I got home I treated myself to a new pair of binoculars. The cruise was fantastic and I would happily go again – especially now I have the new binoculars; oh why did I not think of buying them before the cruise!!

Compared to my old binoculars (which were supposedly 12 x 50)…… well there is no comparison. The clarity of vision is such that I can see things way way in the distance, perfectly clearly – things that I would have no chance of seeing with my old binoculars – and the field of vision is much wider than my old ones.

Just looked out over the fields at the back of my house and seen (small) birds flying around in crystal clear vision – could see their markings very clearly. Not being a bird-watcher I had no idea what they were (although definitely not sparrows, blackbirds, pigeons, gulls, magpies or starlings – or robins – or owls – or eagles) but they were good to watch and almost converted me to being a twitcher! Might even become a train-spotter now! Will have a look at the moon later tonight.

If you buy these binoculars you will not be disappointed – not for the price, anyway. I can’t say this for certain, but I am pretty sure you could pay a lot more and not get much better quality of vision. OK, not the cheapest you can buy, but certainly not expensive. I bought my old binoculars years ago, but obviously did not pay much for them! The difference is truly amazing.

Update:
I have now had the binoculars for a couple of weeks and “sold” them to a friend – not physically, but I think she is now going to buy two pairs, one for her husband and one for her brother, she was that impressed.

Having bought these, I began to wonder, “have I got a really good bargain here?” and have spent some time researching the matter even more than I did before I bought them! My conclusion is yes, I have got a bargain. For 65 these binoculars are exceptional and, having now used them a lot over the two weeks I have owned them, would say that if I had paid 100 (or even 150) for these binoculars, I would still think I had got a bargain and be very pleased with my purchase!

So, if you are thinking of buying a cheaper pair, think again – the extra 10, 20, 30 that you spend on buying these binoculars will be money well spent. And if you are thinking of buying a much more expensive pair of binoculars, also think again. Buy these and you could save yourself hundreds of pounds. OK, if you need a really, really good pair for some reason (perhaps because of your job), it might be worthwhile you spending that extra money, but for the vast, vast majority of us, these binoculars are all you will ever need (for whatever purpose you need them for). They give fantastic quality of vision at a very (very) reasonable price. My old bins have been binned with just one regret – why did I put up with them for so long!

I bought these to replace a pair of 30 Praktika CN-8-21×22 binoculars. This makes me the polar opposite of the guy who down rated the Olympus 8×40 DPS I compared to the 2k Zeiss pair that he was used to. Perhaps I feel over positive because I found the Praktika pair so awful. OK the Olympus is nearly twice the price so one would expect better. I will grant that the Praktika was light, but nothing else. The Olympus pair is not particularly light, and the surface feels to me like cheap rubbery plastic, but all is saved by the ease of use and image quality. It was in my view an order of magnitude better than the Praktika and I am totally happy with them. I bought them for my wife for bird watching and she is also totally happy with them. For around 50 I would rate them more than satisfactory for image quality and ease of use and would recommend them to anyone who isn’t looking for 2k optics.

You can spend a lot of money on binoculars and much like camera lenses, you do get what you pay for but there’s a balance between acceptable quality and price. I think these are great value for money and offer more than adequate quality for the casual user.
I have a fairly large garden area with multiple bird feeders and already have a great (more expensive) pair of Pentax binoculars that I keep in the house for quickly grabbing and getting a closer look at the birds. However, it got to the point where me and my wife were constantly passing the binoculars to each other to see the birds before they flew away.
I bought these 10×50 Olympus binoculars during Amazon’s sale so the already cheap price was a little cheaper again and I must say I’m impressed. They don’t feel as well made as other more expensive binoculars, the focus wheel isn’t as “fast” as other binoculars and the eye cups don’t come close enough together for some users BUT for the money the quality is excellent.
Coming from a photography background, yes there is slight chromatic abberation along high contrast edges in the background but you have to actively look for that. The bokeh (out of focus area) behind the in focus subject is nicely separated and smooth which helps make the subject stand out. They’re nice and bright, I don’t really use them in low light situations but they are noticeably brighter than my more expensive bincoculars.
The only let down would be size/weight and the accessories. They are big and heavy, couple that with a cheap and thin neck strap that is included and you really wouldn’t want to be taking these on a long hike. The strap problem is easily solved, I always attached PeakDesign connectors to my cameras and binoculars so I can use comfy wide PeakDesign straps with them, this helps spread the weight around your neck but if you are looking for a pair of travel binoculars, look elsewhere.
If you want a decent pair of binoculars to keep in the kitchen/conservatory to grab to look at wildlife in the garden, these are for you. You won’t care about the extra weight or size because they’ll be sat on a coffee table. Likewise, if you keep them in your car and take them to a sporting event (motorsport, horseracing, etc) then they’re perfect.

I’m no expert but these are incredible!!

MY experience with binoculars is limited to old pairs and parents and grand parents houses, that I thought were OK. I then recently went to Kruger national park where I used what I thought to be a decent pair of 10 x 50 binoculars and 8 x 25 (I think). We spotted a Lion at distance eating a hippo carcass, I used the 10 x 50 bins and managed to view the scene which at the time I thought was great quality. However after a few minutes of viewing the 10 x 50 started to become cumbersome to hold and continue with without shaking and distorting the image. I tried everything to steady myself but I found it increasingly difficult to sustain a good image with them……….. this leads me to the Olympus!

Unfortunately I purchased these after the trip (!) but I can honestly say I have never used anything that stand up the the image clarity of these! The 10 x 50 I used look like kids toys in comparison. The 8x magnification with wide field of view make these and absolute dream to use. Testing the range I can see with absolute clarity across the downs where I walk my dog from one side to the other approx 800m I can also see structures like the Shard in London which are just visible with the naked eye – clearly through the binoculars. Last night I tested on the moon and I can actually see the definition of the craters which I was astounded by.

Maybe I have used complete junk binoculars up until now – as I said I am no expert. But these Olympus bins are everything I could ever need and a pleasure to use, no fatigue like the 10 x 50 which were a lot larger with smaller field of view. Look no further for a decent pair of every day bins that you can easily use.

When last year my child asked me to buy her a telescope to observe the sky, I thought it would be a good idea to start small and see how she liked it. After some research aimed at understanding what a binocular can offer in terms of quality and value for money, I decided to buy this model and I am very happy with it. To put what follows into context, consider the price just under the 50 mark at the time of purchase.

First of all, the 8 magnification was a great choice as my 7YO daughter can easily hold it by hand and enjoy a good stable image without getting too tired. The 40mm front element was a good choice too as it combines image brightness with compact shape and light body weight. In other words, we can easily carry this binocular with us when we are out and about – as we all know the best devices are the ones you can easily carry with you and use. This binocular ticks that box.

In daylight it performs reasonably well giving good views of, for example, birds and squirrels about 30 to 50 metres away. However in my opinion this binocular really shows its potential at night. Sky observation is great. You won’t see nebulae or galaxies in detail – you need more serious optics to do that – but you will see many more stars and have a great view of the moon; any child, or adult, will from time to time be tempted to pick the binocular and look up at the sky for a few minutes. But the impressive bit comes when you observe the land in low light. My first target was a car parked in a rather dark spot at night and I was surprised to see how easily I could see the plate number and clearly read it, something that wasn’t possible with the naked eye, not because of the distance but because it was too dark (note that my vision is very good and I don’t need glasses). So whilst this is not a night vision device and it should not be bought with the expectation that it will allow you to see in the dark, it performs very well even in very poor lighting conditions where you only have low street illumination available or the light of a good full moon. I wasn’t expecting it to perform like this and I am impressed.

The less impressive part is the optical quality, but again consider the price of this item. The image tends to have a cushion distortion on the sides, with some image stretching effect once you move from the central sweet spot of the observation field. The focus tends to fade as you look away from the centre of the image. Not great, but to be honest and in light of a few years of experience in photography and as the owner of optics costing in excess of 2k apiece, I wasn’t expecting a jewel for this money so I don’t feel disappointed at all. As anyone with a reasonable photo or video experience would testify, with some exceptions (e.g. some 50mm lenses) good optics are never cheap and the discerning eye will definitely see the difference.

The accessories also have a cheap-ish feel, but again at this price I’m not surprised.

The bottom line is: would I recommend this? Definitely yes. If you buy this you can’t go wrong, it comes with a pouch, front and rear caps, lanyard, which are pretty much all you need. Another thing to consider is that if it falls and breaks, or disappears in the depth of the sea, you won’t be tearing your hair out in desperation.

Very good pair of bins, had tried 8x50s and was disappointed as most twitch sites recommend this size, however I find the 10x50s far better suited for my needs, these have a wide viewing angle good quality image and magnification. Sturdy build and not heavy, even when you check the specs against the 8×50 these are not much heavier, also the size is not huge, no they won’t fit in your pocket but certainly spot on for bird watching and other uses. I have several german optic bins from a very old pair of 7x 30s, and a pair old 20×50, the 7 x30 I had as a child for twitching and they were a hand down from my grandad, the 20×50 were my dads, and they are heavy old beasts. the 7x30s are old and need a repair to a loose front lens, these however are at the back of a little accessed storage unit and I wanted a pair for watching the swans about to hatch their signets, My initial concerns were the 10x50s may be heavy like the old 20x50s but optics have moved on a long way. To summarise, ideal bins, light weight, great optics, superb magnification, bag, lens cap and strap. Excellent purchase.

I spent some time researching binoculars before deciding on these Olympus 8 x 40.I have a lager pair which are heavy and rather cumbersome so a small pair for travelling were a better option. Amazon delivered before the date stated,which was good as I was home at the time. The binoculars were well packed and contained within their own branded box together with a soft case and neck strap. Of solid and quality construction the binoculars give very sharp vision and clear definition of birdlife at the bottom of my 200 foot garden. I would describe the binoculars as of light to medium in weight. The neck strap supplied is thin in width but would cause no issue if worn over clothing , however I have ordered a comfort strap from Amazon as a preference. The soft nylon material case has a fold over top flap which will give protection in the event of light rain fall. The neck/carry strap is thicker in width than that of the binoculars attached via plastic oval rings. If a comfort strap was to be fixed to the case the existing strap would have to be cut.
If there is a downside, and this may be nit-picking, is that of the lens caps which are individually independent and not connected via cord etc. to the main body of the binoculars. If asked to improve on the product this would be my only, albeit minor, suggestion.
In summary the Olympus 8 x 40 binoculars are a quality product and recommended for bird watching and general use. I am very satisfied with my choice in all aspects.

I love to walk in the woods and often see squirrels and birds at a distance nibbling on the seeds that people leave out for them on a fallen tree trunk. However as I approach them with my dogs, they all run for the hills. I don’t take it personally.

With these binoculars I felt like Snow White, as if all the creatures of the woodland were close enough to touch. It was magical. The The glass is outstanding – the view was so crisp and beautiful and clear that they feel like ten times their value. I kept stopping people and thrusting my bins in their unsuspecting faces insisting they look at the magical woodland scene too, and their expressions quickly turned from mild/medium level anxiety at being approached by a nutter to complete joy and amazement at what they were seeing.

They’re not a size that you could slip into your pocket, they’re bigger than that. I know people often can’t visualise dimensions to it’s worth mentioning. They’re not cumbersome though, and they’re a perfectly manageable weight.

Eyepiece lenses got a bit steamed up as I was looking through them, and I had to wipe them clear several times, but it is January and it was very cold so it would be churlish to downgrade them for that.

I purchased these binoculars after reading some positive reviews on this site. I enjoy taking a leisurely stroll around our local nature reserves, woodlands, and along a disused canal, watching our local wildlife. These binoculars have been excellent for identifying birds in the trees. My old pair would have just showed up a blurred, brown blob ( they were very basic and very cheap), but with the Olympus 8 x 40 DPSI Binoculars, a bit of knowledge, and my RSPB guide, it is a far more rewarding experience knowing the diversity of birds spotted on my walks. I was standing at the edge of a brook the other week, and was distracted by a small white object that looked a little out of place. On further inspection using the binoculars, it soon became apparent that the white object was in fact the white breast of an adult dipper standing on a rock in the river. I then noticed it had a chick which was well camouflaged on the rock, but the binoculars gave me a very clear view – if I did not have the binoculars, I would never have seen them. The binoculars have a secure strap and a good quality case too. I had no problems ordering them, and they arrived much sooner than suggested, so overall, I am very happy with this purchase and am happy to recommend the seller and binoculars.

I did not read any reviews before I went out shopping for a new pair of Binos. I wanted to make up my own mind.

I visited 6 different shops and tested about 10 different makes. From the cheapest to Leica and Zeiss. I was prepared to pay anything as long as the quality and the image produced could justify it.

The most disappointing was the Bushnells. I tried 4 diffent pairs in the fist shop and the first two produced double vision. the other two could not focus properly. It was the cheapest part of their range but after 4 tries I lost confidence in their quality and wrote them off on the spot.
I tried a few other makes in the same price range but was not impressed. In another shop I tried the Nikon range and they were realy good, and at about 140 GBP a reasonable buy.

Comparing Nikon to Leica and Zeiss there were some difference in quality but only marginally. The sharpness was more or less the same but the periphery of the viewing field of the expensive German makes had some advantages.

The last of the 6 shops I visited had the Olympus 8×40 DPSI and I tested one on mid and long distances. The image quality was more or less the same as the Nikon ones. Image distortion at the fringe of the viewing field was may be slightly better on the Nikon but only by a very small margin. The Olympus cost 90 GBP compared to the Nikon at 140GBP.
I decided to think about it and did not buy anything until i returned home and found the Olympus at the Amazon site at just over 40GBP and then decided to take the plunge.

I have now had them for several days and had a chance to test them properly.
Pros:
1. The images produced are very sharp
2. The viewing field is over 8 degrees and makes it easy to find moving objects.
3. The focusing is very easy, from about 80 meters to 5 km ++ you hardly need to move the focus dial more than a few mm and it is very smooth. In fact the debth of focusing is very high – that is why some comments that it is 3d – that just means that the focus in front of the object and behind it is also in focus.
4 The distortion in the periphery is minimal and with the large wide viewing angle it has no practical downside.
5. It is very well build and sits comfortably in your hand.

NEUTRAL:

The light sensitivity is more and less the same a the naked eye. I have had a 7×50 bino and there you see more than the naked eye at night when the moon is out. The Olympus binos reproduce no advantage over the naked eye or may be just a few % more. It is therefore not recommended for night use.

Cons:
1. It does not fit in you pocket. It is a mid seized Bino but then again not too heavy.
2. It is not waterproof, so if you live in a damp and humid climate consider a Nikon (well only if you consider using it in pissing down rain or for nautical purposes – I do personally not- but for longer hiking trips it is an issue in the UK)
3. The neck strap is by some considered too thin – I actually do not mind because the weight is just over 700 g but I see the point.

Conclusion. This is by far the best buy I have tested. Super sharp, relatively light, great viewing field. Ideal for general purposes, bird watching, horse racing and the like, . In fact it is a steal at that price. Thanks to Amazon for delivering it as promptly as stated on their web site.

I was prepared to spend around 200 on binoculars and started on my search with the only proviso of their being 10×50. When I read such amazing reviews of these, I thought they would do. After receiving them very quickly and trying them out in a nature reserve, I found they would much more than do, they are brilliant!! The very first thing they saw was a grass snake at about 30 feet away which was as clear as day. The images are sharp and the depth of field is great, very 3D. Because I am a moany weakling I decided the best way to carry them was on my hip. The case didn’t have a belt strap on it, so I adapted the shoulder strap and sewed it on so it would have a belt thread through it. Now I can walk around with them without knowing they are there! Much easier for me than wearing them around my neck. The spec, although necessary and interesting didn’t mean much to me. I wanted to know if they have a crisp, clear, clean image and let in lots of light and adjust easily. They do! I am so pleased with them.

Ive not had any binoculars for a while and after a bit of internet searching and reading reviews i went for these.

The binoculars feel well made and are not too big or heavy to take out with you.
They come with an olympus carry case to put them in and place over your shoulder and a strap to attach to them to put around your neck. The stap around your neck is just a basic unbranded strap, i did expect something better but it does the job so no real worrys.

As for the binoculars themselves, they are fantastic really. at 8x the clarity is very good and they work really well. Slide a lever around and you can be up to 16x magnification. This is still very clear but not as clear as at 8x. Also, at 16x magnification you need reasonably steady hands. I tried viewing the moon and jupiter at 16x and i needed to rest my elbows on something. Once i did that i could just about make out the moons of jupiter with these binoculars. I found at 8x for star gazing these were good for scanning the skies and stars came visible that were not with the naked eye. I prefer them to my celestron telecope to be honest, even though that has much higher magnification its easier to find things with binoculars.

General object, birds, planes and so on look really good in these binoculars. Id recommend them at the price. I paid 52 from here but the price seems to go up and down. I gave these binoculars 4 stars because there is always room for improvement on anything, like a better neck strap for these maybe?

Andy