narrower on the 10x42 at 6.4°, but of course I am closer to the action. With a steady hand, I'm more than comfortable using the 10x magnification, but for general garden birding, the 8x get me close enough and allow

Firstly it is important to stress that unlike many lower costing binoculars and indeed some at this price these have plastic eyepiece housings, the ones on these Hawke binoculars are made from metal. The view through the Hawke Frontier EDX 8×42 is excellent. Bright and clear, the image delivered has plenty of fine detail across most of the wide field of view (142m/1000m / c. 8.1°). There is a little softening out near the field edge but it’s minimal, and I never found it distracting. In some lighting conditions, I did perceive a reflective “halo” type effect around the edge of the field — that did occasionally prove distracting, but it didn’t happen consistently and I soon learnt to ignore it. Overall the Frontier EDX offers a superb viewing experience and is certainly on a par with some binoculars at significantly higher price points. Colour Fidelity, contrast and chromatic aberration The Frontier HDX is covered by Hawkes incredible No-Fault Lifetime Warranty — which means that if your binocular is damaged or defective for whatever reason, regardless of what happened or whose fault it was, Hawke will repair or replace it free of charge, for life. It’s one of the best warranties in the industry and proof that Hawke really believes in the quality and longevity of its products. Conclusion Looking to upgrade your equipment? Get competitive prices on major brands with our part-exchange service.

Binoculars review

The also as their name indicates, these and indeed all Hawke Frontier ED X binoculars incorporate ED (extra-low dispersion) glass elements within their lenses which has the potential to produce a higher definition image by reducing chromatic aberrations, the main cause of color fringing. Prisms & Optical Coatings However as you can see for the comparison photo they are considerably smaller than most 8x42 binoculars, including the 8x42 Frontier ED X. Hawke Frontier ED X Binoculars uses a superior optical system, designed around ED glass, the Frontier ED X produces stunning colour retention, crisp definition and excellent light transmission. Hawke seems to be focusing its attention on a specific sector of the optics market, and on delivering the very best performance and value at a particular price point. To that end their flagship Sapphire line has been dropped from the range, leaving the new Frontier EDX as its successor. The design, finish, ergonomics and performance of this binocular are all top-drawer, yet somehow Hawke has managed to deliver it all at a comparatively affordable price point. It’s certainly worth a look if you’re shopping for a serious birding and wildlife binocular that doesn’t compromise on quality, but that won’t break the bank either.

Just about every "good quality" binocular currently on the market use special optical glass which has low dispersion properties and thus as long as they are also designed and made well, they should reduce color fringing caused by chromatic aberration to some extent. Like just about every binocular I have looked through there is a degree of softening right at the edge of the view, but the amount is minimal and no more than what I would deem to be normal. I have had a closer look at the recess difference on both and indeed the recess on the endurance is indeed a good deal greater, perhaps 2mm. This would explain the actual eye relief difference in using both with glasses. The lens on the Sapphire is almost level with the eyecup" Field of view is a more than respectable 142m@1000m, but again it says something about just how much optics have improved that what’s really impressive is that sharpness right to the edges – you’re now starting to see the same sort of ‘walk in’ views from cheaper bins as you do on the most expensive ones. As well as travel and birding, I think that these binoculars would also be great for general wildlife observation at closer ranges and fantastic on safaris, camping and hiking holidays.Please complete the form below for a quote - Please be as accurate as possible to help us give an accurate quote. There are binoculars that perform better in low light… but not by much, and you can expect them to cost several times what you’d pay for the Frontier EDX. The simple answer, as expected, is the new Frontier ED X is superior. With dielectric mirror coatings, more light reaches your eyes and the difference is immediately noticeable. On this grey day, that little bit of extra light helps