Pentax DCF 8x42

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Brand and Model:Pentax DCF 8x42
Price ($USD):$780.00
Attributes:checked Waterproof checked Armored
Objective Lens Size:42 mm
Magnification:8 x
Prism Type:Roof
Coatings:
Field of View:6.3 degrees
Eye Relief:0 mm
Near Focus:0 ft
Weight (lbs):26.8 oz.
Dimensions (w/h/d):5.7" x 5" x 2"
Description:Phase coated roof prisms, click-stop diopter adjustment, pop-up rubber eye cups,tripod socket. Rubber coated, nitrogen filled, and waterproof. Street price: $400-500.

Vote Highlights Vote
Pentax DCF 8x42
I've tried both the 10x50 DCF WP and the 8x42's. I actually took the 10x50 to a store that had all the top brands to compare. The Swarovskis were a little brighter and a wider angle of view.. but not $1000 brighter. I got my 8x42's with the additional 100 rebate for only $233. At some point in the quality of optics, the differences are beyond the viewer's ability to discern, This is true with this line of Pentax. I think these optics belong with the best.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=115434

Pentax DCF 8x42
I've been using my Pentax DCF WP 8 x 42 bins for 2 weeks now, and have to say they are simply wonderful. I really wanted to spend the big bucks for the Venturers, Swarovs, Zeiss, or Leicas -- but why? (Okay, I'll admit, I wanted to be cool and have the coolest and most expensive glass to bird with.) I compared them all and simply could NOT justify the difference in price. I picked mine up in NY for $320.

The glass is just so sharp - I'm really amazed. The only thing that bothered me at first was the LONG eye relief - if you don' t wear glasses, you really have to pull the eye cups out just a little - not all the way - if you don't you'll get some blackout of the image. Not a big deal once you get used to it.

I have no complaints - I think the color and clarity of the birds I see are just spectacular. Great bins.

Bob
Chicago, IL.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41734

Pentax DCF 8x42
Best value around in a high-quality roof prism!! Beautifully sharp and contrasty images, lightweight, waterproof, nitrogen-purged, phase-coated. The 42mm objectives somehow seem to gather near as much light as my just-sold Celestron Ultima 8x56s! Blew my Ultimas away in the daytime, sharper but just a bit dimmer at night. Good FOV at 6.3°. Click-stop diopter. Lots of eye relief with slide-out eyecups.

Awesome on the Pleaides! Sharp enough to split Albireo handheld while lying down, and Mizar A/B on a tripod. I haven't noticed any obvious "softness" near the edges like some users, but then I haven't tried comparing these to the top-of-the-line roofs. There is noticeable pincushioning at the edges though. Barely adequate interpupillary separation for my close-set eyes.

I love these binocs, I'll take them everywhere!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41730

Pentax DCF 8x42
Very ergonomic. Razor sharp, waterproof, and a bargain! What more could you ask for? If you want nice roof prism binocs at a great price, check these out.

A definite 10!!!!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41733

Pentax DCF 8x42
I recently bought a pair of these in part based on other's comment here and on Better View Desired. I must say that I'm glad I did. These are wonderful binoculars for the $335 + s&h that I paid from Adorama.
I am -5 diopters in both eyes and they were great both with and without my glasses. I was also able to focus on stars at night without needing my glasses which is a real plus.
They handle very well and are a real pleasure to use.
I gave them to my dad who sails and wears glasses. The long eye relief means he can swap views with his friends without having to refocus every time.
Even though I rate these a 10 there are some things to keep in mind if you want perfection:
The focus wheel turns opposite of what I'm used to and takes getting used to.
They have lateral color towards the edge of the field.
The focus is soft towards the edge of the field.
They lack the color purity of ED glass Porros (Nikon SE's)
The rubber armor seems a bit flimsy and so do the pull-out eyecups.
The phase coating was perfect but the prism apexes did produce very minor diffraction spikes on very bright objects a night.

Keep in mind that even the $1,100 Nikon Venturer 10x42 LX lacks the image qualities of their own Superior E series ED glass Porros.

For the money these waterproof phase-roofs these still cannot be beat!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41732

Pentax DCF 8x42
The Pentax DCF WP 8x42's are fine binoculars. They easily split Alberio. If eyes properly centered, no flairing on Jupiter. Bright and quite sharp images. Very comfortable for long periods. Sturdy, well made and perfectly aligned. During normal use they appear to have pinpoint images to the edge. Critical examination specifically of the edges shows some field curvature and a slight loss of resolution at about 80% - 85% of the radius. But this is only really noticed if viewing *at* the edge, and not in peripheral vision. They fair well against binoculars 2 or 3 times the cost of the Pentaxes. The best value in a high quality all round binocular. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41731

Pentax DCF 8x42
I purchased this for $339 at B&H Photo along with the new Pentax PCF V 20x60 binocular for $198. They are both best buys in their catagory.I use the 8x42's handheld and the 20x60's on a HD Bogan 3040 tripod.Both are clear to the edge with the 8x42's brighter and more comfortable.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41728

Pentax DCF 8x42
Simply the best value out there in a high quality roof prism binocular!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41727

Pentax DCF 8x42
I compared these to models costing 3 times as much. They were smaller, lighter, and felt better in my hands (and my wallet!). The brightness and sharpness of these binocs must be experienced to be believed. Razor sharp across the entire fov from 8' to infinity. I thought the sliding eye cups would be kind of a gimmick but now I love them. About 95% of the image quality of Nikon Venturer LX (which uses ED glass, weighs 8 oz. more, and cost over $1200). Truly a 'Best Buy' roof prism binoc. I will be buried with mine!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41725

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