Pentax PCF 10x50

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Brand and Model:Pentax PCF 10x50
Price ($USD):$184.95
Attributes:checked Waterproof checked Armored
Objective Lens Size:50 mm
Magnification:10 x
Prism Type:BAK4 Porro
Coatings:Multi-Coated
Field of View:5.0 degrees
Eye Relief:0 mm
Near Focus:0 ft
Weight (lbs):31 oz.
Dimensions (w/h/d):2.5 "x7.5 "x7 "
Description:The PCF WP series binoculars from
Pentax . . . State-of-the-art optical
design with a choice of magnification

Seven superb models to fit every need: 8X40, 10X40, 7X50, 10X50, 12X50, 16X60, 20X60. All PCF WB models come with high refraction BaK-4 glass prisms and multi-coated lenses to produce sharp, high contrast images. They also feature a center focusing system with a focus lock mechanism, click stop diopter adjuster, protective rubber housing, extra long eye relief and slide-style rubber eyepiece rings.

The PCF WPs deliver enhanced illumination by transmitting more light at the edges and elimination of shadows for brighter, clearer images thanks to the high-performance BaK-4 prisms.
Pentax’s renowned Super-Multi-Coating on the aspherical lens elements provide brighter, clearer images and cuts down glare…it also eliminates harmful ultraviolet rays.
Center focusing allows users to instantly bring images into focus.
The mechanical focus lock feature allows the user to lock in at a specific distance for convenient focus-free viewing.
Click stop diopter adjustment locks in the right eyepiece setting.
Slide-style rubber eyecups and long eye relief provide viewing comfort for eyeglass wearers. Rubber eyecups won’t scratch eyeglasses.
The PCF WPs have an ergonomic design for a firmer grip and easy handling.
They are ruggedly constructed with rubber covering to protect the optical and mechanical systems.
Built to last, each PCF WP includes a built-in tripod socket.
All PENTAX PCF WPs are protected by a limited lifetime warranty.

Vote Highlights Vote
Pentax PCF 10x50
Pentax PCF WP 10x50

The click-stop right diopter on the Pentax has excellent feel and positive positioning.

The Pentax weighs 36oz. The Nikon AE 10x50 weighs 36 oz. while the Orion Ultraview 10x50 weighs 32 oz.

Eye relief is not a problem on the Pentax with or without glasses. The lens recess with the cups down is 3mm and with the cups fully extended 14mm (eye cups fully extended adds an additional 11mm recess). Actual eye relief is several mm beyond the extended eyecups.

Comparing to the Orion Ultraview 10x50, the Orions are fine with the eyecups down, but with the eyecups fully extended, would not allow me to see the entire FOV, even without my glasses. About 10-15% of the fov is blocked. In the Pentax, it's the same. With the cups down and my glasses on I have a little room to spare and I can still see the entire fov. With extended eyecups and without glasses, a very small fraction of the fov is blocked.

In both the 10x50 Nikon AE and 10x50 Orion Ultraview, by 50% out from center the distortion begins. By 60% out from center the view was poor and by 70% out it was useless. It's not going to do any better for you on diffuse extended objects. If the distortion can be noted on star fields, it is present in whatever you choose to look at.

The Pentax has pinpoint sharpness. Unlike these other two mentioned it does not drop off quickly, but sharpness holds fairly well out towards the edges.

For detailed viewing, only the central 50% of the Nikon, possibly to 60% in the Orion, is effective. For wide angled finding, you could use the field out to 70%. The net effective field out to 70% provides a 4.25° usable field of view in both these models of 10x50. Beyond that, everything is distorted. Neither of these binoculars rival the field of sharpness out from center seen in the Pentax PCF WP 10x50.

The Pentax have good image quality to between 70% and 80% out from center. The Pentax has a narrower field of view than both the Nikon AE and the Orion Ultraview. The Pentax is 5.0°, both the others have 6.1°. BUT, in favor of the Pentax, at 75% out in the Pentax you can still see double stars as stars with decent resolution. The Pentax PCF WP 10x50 has a sharper wider-field image than either of the above. At 80% to 85% out in the Pentax, you are still able to use the field for observing. You can use the entire 5.0° field for wide angle finding.

One way to tell, comparatively, how much light gets through the coatings is to look for how much light is being reflected back off the coatings. You really can't tell much by looking at just one binocular. You need to see a range of binoculars to see different amounts of reflection. The more light you can see reflected in the coatings, the less light gets through. All binoculars reflect a slightly different color back at you, varying from a purplish to blue/green/purple to yellowish/green to just green. If coatings are applied properly, color is not an indication of the quality, only a result of the chemical composition of the coatings. What you want is coatings that reflect the least amount of light.

My Pentax binoculars were all made at different times. The new PCF WP 10x50 is very good, the best of the Pentax coatings. They are better than the Orion Ultraview and about equal with the '03 Oberwerk. My oldest Pentax, a PCF III 12x50 is more purplish, but fairly reflective, more reflective than the Swift, Orion and Oberwerk and Pentax PCF WP 10x50. The Pentax PCF WP 10x50 coatings reflect less light than Orion Ultraview much less than Nikon AE.

The Pentax PCF WP 10x50 sees a few tenths magnitude deeper in limiting magnitude than both the Nikon AE 10x50 or the Orion Ultraview 10x50.

I consider the Pentax PCF WP 10x50 a better binocular than both the Nikon AE or the Orion Ultraview.

edz

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:9
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=410673

Pentax PCF 10x50
I have been a fan of the Pentax PCF Series for quite awhile. I have owned the 12x50 PCF III and the 7x50 PCF III. Both of those are Japanese made. The newer PCF V's are made in China and the new V's have black bodies and pop up eye cups as opposed to the fold down rubber eye cups and gray bodies of the old III's.

I was a bit leary of the V's due to their Chinese origin. I first bought the 8x40's about a year ago and was pleasantly surprised by their features, their ergonomics and their performance. These were followed by the 16x60's last summer. They are great performers!

As the owner of 4 other pair of 10x50's, I really did not need the Pentax PCF V 10x50's, but a special price of $99.95 from SWFA plus $10 shipping was too low to pass up. These have U.S. warranty and came quickly, well packed, in great shape and with good collimation. While the whole Pentax line has somewhat narrow fields compared to other binoculars, you can actually see the whole advertised field and it holds up very nicely near the edge. I would consider the 10x50's to be better than the 8x40's near the field edge but not quite as good as the 16x60's. As I said before the ergonomics are great, the eye relief is excellent with very comfortable eye cups and the focus lock and click stop right eyepiece diopter features are big pluses. I really recommend these, particularly at the discount price that I paid.

Barry Simon

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=75248

Pentax PCF 10x50
a very good value. slightly narrower field than equiv models eg. nikon action, but sharper edge of field ( to be expected I suppose )

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=140592

Pentax PCF 10x50
I recently purchased a pair of the PCF Vs to use as a light pair of binoculars to use at star parties and for quick back yard views. These binoculars are very well designed with some very nice features like focus lock and click stop diopter adjustments. They are very sharp and contrasty on axis with only a very slight drop off at the very edge of the field. Stars are very sharp with false color only showing on the very brightest stars. I was amazed at the ability of these binos to resolve open clusters and pick out brighter M objects. I highly recommend them for the price. They rival those units costing several times the price.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=111160

Pentax PCF 10x50
I recently looked through a PCFIII and was - in comparision to my own old DOCTER Optics Clasic DEKAREM 10x50 (former Zeiss Eastern Germany) very dissapointed.
Altough the field of view is only 5.0 deg, the edges are unclear.
Brightness was poor in comparison.
Overall the PCFIII is nice crafted, with a sympathic rubber armour, but a little inconvenient to hold because of its design.
Good for birders, but not my favorite for stargazing.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41532

Pentax PCF 10x50
Good binocular for retail price about 150 US$(in Thailand ).Very good eye relief,and click stop diopter is very useful.Images sharpness and contrast slight decrease at edge.Comfortable for everyday use.


Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41530

Pentax PCF 10x50
Great deal for the money. Good for astronomy and general usage.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41529

Pentax PCF 10x50
Good optics for the price.Well built and great for nightime sky viewing.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41531

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