Vanguard optics kindly donated 2 pairs of binoculars to NGB in return for 2 reviews. We decided that the best way to decide who gets one of the pair of Vanguard Endeavour ED II 8x42s is to ask our members to send in reasons why they were the best choice to be given the binoculars. The responses to the giveaway can be found here. NGB members voted for who they thought deserved them most and Jonathan Scragg was the overall winner. Here he reviews the Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8x42s.
Ever since
my battered Nikon Sprint 10x21 binoculars finally gave up the ghost in 2012 I
have been without a working pair of my own, much to the annoyance of my dad as
I resorted to regularly stealing his. Therefore when I heard that Next
Generation Birders were donating a pair to one of their members I jumped at the
chance and thankfully was selected via a vote to receive a pair of binoculars
from our new partner, Vanguard.
The arrival
of the binoculars coincided with a trip to Portland Bird Observatory, allowing
me to give them a proper field test on a range of species in a variety of conditions
and habitats. This is my first binocular review so if it is a little ropey,
don’t blame me!
Body
The
open-bridge configuration of the main chassis gives an ideal frame to grip onto
to and thumb indents on the underside provide a quick point of reference to ensure
the binoculars are correctly balanced and positioned. The surrounding rubber makes
the overall setup more comfortable and is slightly bumpy to prevent them
sliding around whilst in use; this layer also means that they are slightly more
cushioned against impact damage should they be dropped.
The main
chassis is made of a magnesium alloy and tips the scales at a perfectly
reasonable 770g. By no means are these the lightest 8x42 binoculars on the
market, however they are still a comfortable weight and there is no strain
involved even after a full day in the field.
In 9 days on
Portland we didn’t see single drop of rain so at present I am unable to report
on the waterproofing, however since the body has been nitrogen purged and
sealed the lenses should be completely water and condensation proof.
Eyepieces
and Focus Wheel
The metal
focus wheel on the Vanguards is covered with a grippy surface making adjusting
the focus easy and precise, the smoothness by which the wheel turns adding to
this. The full range of focusing is completed in less than a full turn of the
wheel meaning finding the correct focus only takes a split second which could
be vital when that scarce passerine pops up onto the bush in front of you. It
is positioned just behind the eye cups so is within easy reach of your fingers
whilst in use.
More metal
parts can be found up at the front of the binoculars including the eyecups and
their surrounds. This should help to reduce the likelihood of either loss or
damage to this area. The eyecups extend c15mm outwards and unlike most other
binoculars they have two intermediate resting points which means they can be
adjusted for almost any person’s vision, and work perfectly well with glasses
too.
Diopter
A lock-able
diopter ring is a very helpful feature on these binoculars as it means that
once you have adjusted the right eye to match your vision, you can lock the
ring in place to prevent any accidental movement. When unlocked the ring moves
easily between the range of +4 to -4.
 |
| Showing thumb indent and diopter ring |
Lenses
I am not an
expert on the production of lenses so this is just a brief overview. The
Vanguard Endeavour ED’s use low dispersion glass in their lenses, which works
with the other components to help reduce how far the light waves disperse,
concentrating them more on the correct spot resulting in a higher quality image
and colour.
Several
people tried out the binoculars whilst I was testing them and all immediately
stated just how bright the image is, the specialised lenses ensure that they
retain a lot of their brightness and that they work well even in low light, I
was able to watch a Short-eared Owl just before dusk without any real strain on
my eyes. The field of view, whilst narrower than some high end set ups, is
still a very reasonable 378 ft (at 1000 yards) so you feel in no way limited
whilst out and about.
The colours
through these binoculars are as sharp and natural as you would expect from a
high-end spec like this. A sharp contrast between colours means that the image
is crisp with little colour blending, especially around the edges of the field
of view where you can often find colour fringing. Testing against other leading
8x42 optics at the bird obs I could see little to no difference in the overall
quality of image compared to these Vanguards, they are certainly up there with
the best.
One optical
aspect that particularly impressed me was the close focus. I measured the near
focus distance at around 1.8 metres - slightly shorter than the published
distance of 2 metres. This makes them ideal for looking at other wildlife,
particularly butterflies and day-flying moths, as you can view them close up
without having to get so close that you flush your target.
Other
Features
A small
Vanguard logo at the front of the bridge unscrews to reveal where a
tripod-adapter can be fitted, meaning that these binoculars can be fitted to a
tripod with relative ease. Although I personally wouldn’t use such a feature,
it provides the option if others would find that useful.
The carry
case in which the binoculars reside is relatively simple with no external
pockets for storing other items; however it is very well padded so provides an
extra barrier in case of impact or against the elements whilst out in the
field. The neck strap has buckles that can be connected to either the
binoculars or to the carry case, allowing a quick change between the two when
you aren’t using them. The padded section of the strap is extremely comfortable
and easily carries the weight of the bins, luckily it also feels very well made
so is unlikely to fall apart in the near future.
The
binoculars come with Vanguards Premium Lifetime Warranty so you have peace of
mind that if something ever does go wrong then you won’t be out of pocket.
Conclusion
I have now
been testing these Vanguards for three weeks and I am struggling to find any
real flaws with them. The only minor negative I have found are that the eyecups
can easily be knocked out of place during use, but if that is the only issue
then these Vanguards really are very special. The lenses provide a clarity of
image that rivals the very best and the little features such as the lockable
diopter ring sets them apart from other models. The price of these binoculars
varies depending where you look however the range of £320-£399 is a very
competitive price and in my opinion makes these one of the best value model on
the market. I am looking forward to using them for years to come.
Overall
rating - 85%
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