3D Series 8x32mm ED Glass, HD Fogproof Waterproof Binoculars

This optic has exceeded my expectations! I have been using vortex diamondback 10x42s for a year or so but was looking for something smaller and easier to get behind. The Diamondback was very difficult to get a full sight picture without darkening at the edges. After seeing some good reviews on the Carson 3ded I decided to try them. I purchased the 8x32 version. All I can say is these are awesome! Easy to get behind, no blackening and razor sharp images, great light gathering.

Very good value, and superb customer service. In the months prior to a family rain forest trip, I researched the internet endlessly and read every binocular review I can find (spending 10s of hours, even read British reviews and European reviews), and read many discussions on various forums. I purchased the Carson 3D 8x42, a 8x42 Nikon Monarch 7, a 8x30 Nikon Monarch 7, and a Leica monocular. The Carson was the cheapest by a large margin, and it came with binocular straps. The "best" binocular of the bunch was the 8x42 Monarch, which had the widest field of view, and slightly better optics. The most expensive of the four is the tiny Leica, but it is a pain to use and very difficult to find that bird/object in the distance. The 8x30 Nikon is a smaller and less bright version of the 8x42, not a surprise. By far the best value is the Carson 3D 8x42 with ED. The quality difference between the Carson and the Monarch 7 is small. The price is $267 vs $477. Therefore, in terms of value, there is no contest. I also read hundreds of reviews of binocular harnesses, and even bought two different brands. The Leupold broke on day one. The Mossy had a very poor attachment to the binocular. The Carson came with a free harness, and it is better than the two that I bought. After returning from our rain forest trip, I called Carson to (1) obtain the eyepiece protectors, and (2) attempted to buy another binocular strap from Carson as the two I bought were so bad. To my surprise, the company said "we don't sell the harness separately, but we will find one to send you". Sure enough, a package came to may house one week later, free! Now, I would have happily paid for another harness, as the Carson harness is better than the Leupold $27 harness (I even told the company they should sell the harness separately). I was already please with the $267 purchase. One phone call later, I ended up with a second harness to use on my Nikon. I have zero affiliation with the company and called to try to buy their very good harness. Amazing.

This is a review of the 8x32 but also a comparison to the 10x42. First, however, a comment about light transmission as determined by exit pupil. Our pupils capacity for expansion changes with age. The pupils of a 20 year old person may expand to 8mm, while the pupils of a 78 year old person, which I am, expand not past 4mm and maybe even less. Therefore, the light transmitted by the 8x32, with an exit pupil of 4mm [divide the objective lens diameter by the magnification] is as much as my eyes practically can use - not to mention than hen it's all that dark, I go home. The light transmission/exit pupil of the 10x42 is 4.2, so that aspect isn't practically different from the 8x32. That leaves the magnification, eye relief, size and weight for comparison. The 8x32 is substantially more compact and lighter than the 10x42 - but that might be an acceptable trade off if the additional magnification of the 10x42 made a substantial difference. Since I have both, I compared then in real time for three days in a row. Today, I actually carried both at the same time. I use binoculars for watching, identifying, and observing behavior of birds - and also to enjoy the beauty of some species. To test the difference, I took time on several occasions to watch a single bird with each, in turn. I also focused on one of the mountain tops in the Great Phoenix area that has radio, TV and phone towers which are several miles away. Yes, in a purely physical sense, the image in the 10x42 was [had to be]larger than the image in the 8x32. However, I found no substantial difference in what I was able to see, my ability to identify the species of a bird, observe its behavior or enjoy its beauty. The 8x32 has great eye relief than the 10x42. The 8x32 has larger field of view than the 10x42. The 8x32 has as good or better depth of field, and 3D appearance, as the 10x42. The cost is a mere $5 difference, so that's not a factor. I can't justify the larger size and greater weight of the 10x42 under these circumstances. I own more than one other pair of binoculars including one in a lower price point and one in a seriously greater price point. I find the 8x32 Carson HD as good as any, and it's a seriously good binocular. I'm keeping it and will return the 10x42. Both have focus adjustment that is just right, and the diopter ring stays put once set. They both seem to be well made and sturdy, and unlike offerings from many other binocular manufacturers they come with the very useful harness, and with lens covers for both objective and ocular lenses. A well earned five stars.

Best compact binoculars I have ever seen or used for birding, hiking, very light, bright and clear.

I saw that these had a lot of 5-star reviews, so I bought them to compare to 2 other more expensive binoculars: Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 and Maven B3 8x30. The other two were 30mm objective binos, but they were more expensive glass. At the end of the day, I don't think I would say there were obvious advantages of any one of those three in the glass: close-focus distance, aberration, sharpness, light gathering, edge-to-edge focus, etc... were all very tough to tell apart. Size and weight are very close, but the Carson's are larger diameter due to 32mm vs 30mm, but also due to thicker coating design. The main difference was in the feel. These binoculars feel very plasticky. The coating is harder than the more expensive bins, and the eye cups have more play in them. The eye cups on these Carson binoculars only have one locking position (fully extended) vs. 3 on the Nikon and Maven. I do not think these Carson binoculars will last 20-30 years, but the Mavens and maybe the Nikon's feel like they would. Summary: Great budget binoculars with top-notch glass. I use Swarovski 10x42's on a daily basis at work. They have a smaller field of view, but the exit pupil is much larger so for extended viewing, they cause less eye strain. As far as my impression when I pull them up to look at something, I think any of these binos are pretty good. Low light viewing with Carson 8x32 are comparable to Swaro 10x42 IMHO; main loss of detail is in the magnification. If you want a lighter, compact binocular without spending as much as an international airline ticket, I'd recommend these.

I splurged on these binocs a few years ago and they have been my go-to for hiking. Lightweight, waterproof, and excellent optics. Problem is ring on right twist-up eyepiece cracked within one year of pretty light use, making it very difficult to operate. Recommended these to my sister and same happened to her. Didn't pursue via warranty, but hesitate to recommend these to anyone else.

My wife has a pair of Nikon binoculars that I bought her 30 years ago that we have used as the gold standard for comparisons. These binoculars are the only ones that can stand up against her Nikons. I cant tell the difference looking through them and they are so much lighter than the Nikons. Coupled with the water resistance and the fantastic warranty, these binoculars and a fantastic value.

Received damaged. Plastic around left eyepiece is cracked making eye relief adjustment impossible. Item was packaged in this condition, low marks for quality control.

Los he comparado con unos Nikon Monarch 3 de 8x42 y los supera gracias a la óptica ED, las imágenes se ven con mayor definición, un poco más definición. Y a las 4:00 p.m. tienen prácticamente la misma transmisión de Luz. Y comparándolos con unos Vanguard ED IV de 10x42 y cristales HOYA, el Vanguard tiene un poco mayor definición y mayor transmisión de Luz que el CARSON. Es exactamente lo que buscaba, binoculares compactos y ligeros para caminatas muy largas, con excelente transmisión de Luz y definición, a un precio inmejorable. Y el punto clave que me motivo a comprar estos binoculares de 8x32 fue que aunque son compactos tienen excelente distancia al ocular (eye relief de 19.5mm) ya que utilizo anteojos y son muy cómodos de utilizar y no se pierden los bordes de la óptica. El ÚNICO DETALLE son las fisuras que presentan los tubos de las ópticas, y por ahí se ve que dale algo como lubricante. Espero no tener mayor problema y no tener necesidad de hacer devolución. Aún me falta probarlos en la naturaleza con humedad, frío, viento, para ver si son completamente herméticos por edad fisuras.

You listen to reviews about binoculars and follow the advice of So called experts I’ve had Zeiss,Swarovski,Vortex etc etc and sold them all as in one aspect or another have not suited after spending ridiculous amounts of money I bought these with another set from Carson the 8x32 3D ED and the 10x50 3D and I am extremely happy with them they are razor sharp and as sharp as anything I’ve looked through awesome colours ,eye relief being a wearer of glasses well built ,waterproof ,fogproof with quality accessories they are just great binoculars at an incredible price point and have come to the realisation that it’s all a game the so named Alpha binoculars whatever that means costing thousands so they have to be the best right?just try the Carson binoculars and judge with your eyes and not with your wallet because what I’ve learned you have people spending ridiculous amounts and then trying to convince everyone just how good(expensive) they are and understand you have the right to spend thousands if that’s what makes you happy but I’ve found out you don’t have to Obviously this will not be the case with all binos but Carson really have got the 3D and 3DHD models I have used bang on so well done