Orion Vista 8x42


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Brand and Model:Orion Vista 8x42
Price ($USD):$189.00
Attributes:un-checked Waterproof checked Armored
Objective Lens Size:42 mm
Magnification:8 x
Prism Type:BAK4 Porro
Coatings:Multi-Coated
Field of View:6.5 degrees
Eye Relief:0 mm
Near Focus:0 ft
Weight (lbs):22 oz.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Orion Vista™ Series Binoculars
A Vista binocular is like a good book: once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. And you won't have to. That's because they are unusually compact and lightweight for full-size binoculars, and their soft leatherette covering makes them a true pleasure to hold.

Still, Vistas are remarkably rugged, thanks to high-quality, cast-aluminum alloy construction, meticulous workmanship, and strict mechanical tolerances. They're made exclusively for Orion by Japan's largest manufacturer of high-quality binoculars, and are among the few that meet Japan's "Exceptional Inspection" industry standard. Serious binocular users, especially those who spend a lot of time in the field, demand no less.

Fully Multi-Coated Optics
Optically, Vista binoculars really shine. They feature the finest BAK-4 glass porro prisms, and lenses finely ground and polished by expert optical craftsmen. Most importantly, the Vista's optics are vacuum-layered on every air-to-glass surface with Ultra Multi-Coatings™—the highest level of antireflection coating available. They provide a pronounced increase in the transmission of light through the optical system. The result is livelier images free of ghosting, deeper image contrast, and highly accurate color balance. The view through a Vista binocular is always crystal clear and sharp right out to the edges.

Ample eye relief and roll-back rubber eyecups insure comfortable viewing, even with eyeglasses or sunglasses on.

All models include a deluxe hard carrying case, wide woven neck strap, and lens caps. And all are threaded for a tripod adapter. Twenty-year limited warranty.

8x42 Vista
The perfect choice for the demanding requirements of advanced birding and nature observation. Remarkably small and lightweight (just 22 oz.), with a delightful featherweight feel treasured by those who spend hours in the field.

Large 42mm achromatic objective lenses gather 44% more light than 35mm binoculars. Long 18mm eye relief and roll-back rubber eyecups allow comfortable viewing even with eyeglasses or sunglasses. The 8x magnification is preferred by birders who want good magnification but also a steady image. Near focus of just 12'. Field of view is 6.5°.

7x50 Vista
Big 50mm objective lenses and moderate 7x magnification make this model great for low-light conditions and particularly strong for wide-field stargazing under dark skies.

Large 7mm exit pupil is ideal for dark-adapted eyes with fully dilated pupils. Long 22mm eye relief allows eyeglass wearers to take in whole 6.0° field of view. Large, knurled focus wheel adds to the fine performance features. Weighs 28 oz.

10x50 Vista
For nighttime observing where light pollution is a factor, the 10x50, with its 5mm exit pupil, and slightly narrower field of view is a smart choice.

Its sizzling optical performance and lightweight feel make it one of the most popular astronomy binoculars in use today. And when the Sun comes up, the 10x50 brings distant mountains, ships, and wildlife seemingly within arm’s reach! 5.3° field of view, 16mm eye relief. Weighs 28 oz.


Manufacturer's Website

Vote Highlights Vote
Orion Vista 8x42
[Note: Vote moved from description by scopedreamer2032]

Full multi-coating including the prisms. BAK-4 prisms. Very bright view for this exit pupil, sharp image almost to the edge of the field. Easy to focus at infinity without glasses, even for people who like me are legally blind without them. Light, relatively compact, comes with a hard leather case (when was the last time you saw one of those with new binoculars?). Great general-purpose binocular.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 2 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=142568


Orion Vista 8x42
I bought a pair offered through Orion's "seconds" merchandise and am quite happy with the purchase. I have four pairs of binoculars but usually chose the little Vistas as my "grab and go" glasses of choice. While not optimal for star gazing (because of their smaller objective lenses), they're very good for sweeping across wide fields of stars, the brighter of which appear as pin-point images. Perhaps "seconds" get fined-tuned by Orion techs when they're returned and before put up for sale again? The glasses also have a "quality" feel to them. I consider my pair, at least, a bargain.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=142149


Orion Vista 8x42
Bought a pair of these about 18 months back, for birding. The view is sharp and bright, much better than my old 7x50's. My wife loves the close focus for checking out critters on our bird feeders. Unfortunately, they have developed an annoying problem with slop in the central focus. The way this shows up is... if you focus it correctly for each eye, then bump one or other eyepiece, that eyepiece goes out of focus. This can probably be fixed by use of special tools, which i do not have. Other than this i would give these binocs a 9-10.
Bob

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41840

This is an update (3/11/05) to my previous posting re the Vistas with the sloppy focuser movement. A few weeks back, my wife lent my Vistas to a friend, who then took them for an accidental swim in Seattle's Lake Union. They were returned to me half full of water, with a brief apology. I considered junking them, and replacing with a higher priced pair, but decided instead to return them to Orion for a cleanup. Just got them back yesterday.
WOW! ORION CAME THROUGH!
The eye and field lenses have been cleaned up to look like new - no smears or stains. I have not looked inside to check the prisms, but i can attest that the performance is once again top-notch - IMO the equal of my wife's Eagle Optics Rangers, but with better off-axis sharpness and less false colour (although the Vistas are *still* not waterproof =:O
Incidentally, the Orion technician also managed to tighten up the focuser slop, to the point that it is no longer noticeable.
Thanks Orion for a great job!
Bob Bennett, Maple Vly, WA

Orion Vista 8x42
Very nice binoculars. Quite sharp by day. By night they show a bit more
spherical aberration than I would like, but still in the acceptible range.
Excellent coatings (fully multicoated) and contrast. Very light, easy to
hold; joy to use. Nice leatherette coverings. Nice hard leather case.
Overall they are wonderful by day, and almost as nice by night.
- John B.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41839


Orion Vista 8x42
Gives sharp, contrasty images in both day and night. Views sharp to the edge.
Focusing generally smooth. Eyepiece focusser sometimes gets a little sticky.
Lenses are fully hard multicoated and easy to clean. 5.25 mm exit pupil good
for older folks at night, but still gives good starry images. A convenient
pair to use.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41838

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