Proven 7×35 Binoculars: Are They Headed Toward Extinction?

Did you have a pair of 7×35 binoculars when you were young? Maybe they belonged to your parents or even your grandparents. Years ago, 7×35 binoculars were pretty much the only model type you could easily get.

We used to own a heavy pair of 7x35s that my dad probably picked up somewhere for cheap. I can still remember playing with them in the backyard, gazing across the fields of my grandfather’s farm.

There aren’t many manufacturers of 7×35 binoculars – those that magnify 7x and have 35mm objective lenses – today. Binos with specifications of 8×42 or 10×50 (and many other combinations) are more popular, but that doesn’t mean 7×35 binoculars are useless. Let’s take a look at what’s available and how you might use a pair like this today.

If you’re in a hurry right now and just want to check the pricing and availability of some of the best 7×35 binoculars at Amazon, you can click the links in the list below. Otherwise, just keep on reading for more details.

• Schneidern 7×35 Self-Focusing Binoculars
• Bushnell Falcon 7×35 Binoculars
• Bushnell Spectator Sport 7×35 Binoculars
• Nikon Action Extreme 7×35 Binoculars
• Leica Trinovid 7×35 Binoculars

Can I Use 7×35 Binoculars for Birding?

The manufacturers of these binoculars do recommend them for bird watching. At 7x magnification, you won’t get quite as close to your feathered friends as with most other binoculars.

On the other hand, the field of view (FOV), which ranges from over 400 feet to about 500 feet is great for finding them in the first place. That, as you may know, can be one of the most difficult aspects of watching that birders face.

Should I Use 7×35 Binoculars for Hunting?

There are better binoculars for hunting, but they will probably be more expensive. If your budget can handle that, great. If not, one of the sets reviewed here may be more to your liking.

Just as a pair of 7x35s is good for birding, so they should help you spot your prey easily too. The relatively low magnification shouldn’t matter that much because you probably have a more powerful tube (possibly a night vision scope) mounted on your rifle anyway.

Are 7×35 Binoculars Good for Astronomy?

For stargazing, you’ll probably want more powerful binoculars that are noted for very low light use. The set of 7×35 binoculars reviews below don’t specifically mention astronomy, so they’re probably not very well suited for that hobby. If they were, manufacturers would certainly take the time to mention the fact. Unless I missed it, they didn’t.

Binoculars that are good for astronomy can be very large (with an objective lens diameter larger than 35 millimeters) and require a tripod. These binoculars are not those monsters. You probably can’t even attach them to one without a special adapter, even if you wanted to.

How Do 7×35 Binoculars Compare to Other Sizes?

While researching various types and sizes of binoculars, some people have wondered how 7×35 binoculars compare to 8×40, how they compare to 7×50 binoculars, or whether 10×50 optics would be better.

Without knowing exactly which model to compare to, I can’t be very specific, but there are a few general remarks I can make.

As the objective lens size increases from 35 to 40 to 50, the glasses are going to get bigger and heavier. They also tend to let in more light, which is normally considered a good thing. Increased magnification from 7 to 8 to 10 can be good too, depending a great deal on how you’re using them and whether they maintain focus around the edges.

8×40 (or more commonly, 8×42) binoculars are usually good for general outdoor use, much like the 7×35 sets.

Binoculars designed for marine use are often of the 7×50 variety. The 7x35s are probably not going to be used on the water. It seems that most of them are not waterproof anyway.

You can find tactical or military binoculars in the 10×50 range. 7x35s are not likely to measure up to those standards.

Schneidern 7×35 Are Self-Focusing

One of the fanciest pair of binoculars in this group is the Schneidern 7×35 whose claim to fame amongst its peers is that it is self-focusing. I don’t claim to know how that works as I have not had the opportunity to test them myself. However, if you actually don’t have to work (very hard) at focusing them, that would make them an awesome pair to own. You could concentrate on what you’re looking at, not on making the object clear.

The FOV of the Schneidern binoculars is a wonderful 500 feet. That is far above many binoculars that cost a lot more. They have aspherical lenses, which means that there should be very little, if any, distortion! The multicoated optics help keep things clear too.

Eye relief is a full 11mm which is very nice for those of us who wear glasses and want to keep them on while using the binoculars. The weight of this device is about 24 ounces, which is par for the course.

Schneidern binos of this size can be hard to find. If you’re having trouble locating them, check out the Bushnell, Nikon, Leica, and Celestron options below.

The Bushnell 7×35 Falcon Binoculars Are Very Affordable

The Bushnell Falcon 133410 binoculars are the least expensive of these three. So yes, they’re affordable and also very popular. As of this writing, they rate 4.5 stars (out of 5) at that equally popular website. As with all 7×35 pairs, they are good for general outdoor use, whether birding, hunting, or watching sports in the nose bleed seats in a stadium. This only contributes to their popularity.

They have what the maker calls an InstaFocus lever that should make fine tuning your focus easier than usual.

The 12mm eye relief is good for those wearing spectacles as are the eye cups which fold down as needed. This helps prevent scratching of the lenses.

The 420-foot FOV is the narrowest of those binoculars reviewed here, but that’s still pretty good. These are the lightest in weight of the three at 21 ounces, so if you plan to use them for long periods of time, you might give these more consideration than the others. Even a few ounces can make a big difference over time.

You get 4 lens caps (not tethered), a cleaning cloth, and a storage case with a strap in the package. None of these pieces is really extra-special, but it’s good to know they’re included in case you need them.

Update: Since it seems that Bushnell has discontinued the Falcon line, here are some details about the Spectator Sport 7×35 which could be said to be their replacement.

Bushnell Spectator Sport 7×35 Binoculars

The Bushnell Spectator Sport line includes a 7×35 model that has an FOV of 488 feet. It has a similar focusing feature – now called PermaFocus – which Bushnell claims, “Keeps distant objects permanently in focus, eliminating the need for constant adjustment.”

The tubes are nitrogen purged, so the lenses shouldn’t fog up. They are also IPX4 waterproof, which isn’t the best but is likely acceptable for the times you’d use these. Bushnell also says the glass is “multi-coated”, not fully multi-coated, which isn’t too surprising at this price point. The prisms are BaK4, which is good.

Nikon Action Extreme: Paradoxically in the Middle

With a name like Action Extreme, you might expect these Nikon binoculars to be at the far end of the spectrum in many respects. On the contrary, of the three sets, these are in between the Schneidern and the Bushnell with regard to FOV (487 feet) and price.

These do have the longest eye relief at 17.3mm (good for eyeglass wearers), however, they also weigh the most at 28.2 ounces. You may not think that’s very heavy until you have to hold them up to your eyes for the whole game.

If you like to use binoculars near water or in rainy weather, these are the ones you want because they are both nitrogen filled (a feature often found only in much more expensive binoculars) and O-ring sealed making them waterproof and fogproof.

When you click the link below and go to Amazon, be aware that much of the description on that page is about a different pair of binoculars. That happens once in a while. A page gets repurposed for a similar item. You still get the binoculars described here when you purchase via that page. That said, if you’re worried you won’t get what you want, just search Amazon for “Nikon Action Extreme 7×35” to find a different page with a similar offering.

Update: Nikon also makes a pair of 7×35 binos in the Aculon A211 line that you can learn more about in this review.

Leica Trinovid 7×35 Binoculars

If you have the cash, the Leica Trinovid 7×35 binoculars may be the pair to get.

May be.

While Leica is generally considered one of the “Big 3” manufacturers of optics like binoculars, I’m not so sure that in this case they’re the best option.

These binos have an FOV of 420 feet, which isn’t the best in the list. They do have Leica’s proprietary (and somewhat mysterious) HDC multi-coatings and AquaDura protective coating, but it’s a little concerning that – especially at this $1500+ price point, the waterproofing level is only stated to be “splash-proof”.

Do you want your pricey purchase ruined after getting caught in a storm or when it falls into the lake? I didn’t think so.

Despite my fears, you still may want these for the wonderful overall quality and clear images you’ll see. You might not fear the water and are satisfied with the 400-plus-foot FOV. If so, go for it!

How Much Do You Want to Spend on 7×35 Binoculars?

Since the price points on these sets of binoculars are really quite wide, that may be the strongest factor in determining which of these you’ll want to buy.

The next most important items are probably the waterproof feature and the field of view distance. Balance these against the most common way you intend to use them.

7×35 binoculars are relatively rare these days. There’s no telling how long manufacturers will keep making them before they decide to shift their concentration to other sizes. If you want a new pair, you may have to act rather quickly.

That said, you can also see a pair of Celestron UpClose 7×35 binos here.