Not all choices are difficult. Choosing the Eagle Optics Ranger ED 8×42 binoculars as your next pair is simplicity itself.
So if you already know this is the pair of binoculars you want, just click here to get yours at Amazon now.
If you really want to see why this could be your next pair of binoculars, read on. You can click any link in the box below to go immediately to that section.
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What Is So Special about the Ranger ED Binoculars?
In a word, nothing.
Let me explain.
I’ll tell you shortly what you get when you purchase the Ranger 8×42 binoculars, but you should know that you won’t find anything extraordinary here. Very good? Yes. Extraordinary? No.
Eagle Optics redesigned these binoculars, keeping the name the same, to make them less expensive. In the process, however, they kept the same great optics in both the lenses and the prisms that the older, more expensive binoculars had.
If you want to say that this makes them special, I won’t disagree.
What Are the Main Features of the Ranger ED Binoculars?
As the name itself suggests, these binoculars have ED, Extra-low Dispersion glass, that helps give you sharper resolution, truer color, and greater contrast – all things you want in a good pair of binoculars. They also implement phase correction which does more of the same.
Add to that the fully multi-coated lenses and dielectric prism coatings inside which let as much light pass through to your eyes as possible and you have the best glass and prism combination possible today.
Also on the inside you have nitrogen-filled barrels sealed with O-rings to make the Rangers both waterproof and fogproof. No worries if you get them a little wet or if you have to be outside with then when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Check availability and discounts at Amazon for the Ranger ED binoculars.
Moving to the outside of the binoculars, the parts that you get to touch regularly, you’ll find a polycarbonate housing that, while it is fairly lightweight (the pair weighs 23.6 ounces), is not the lightest set available. This is a negative for some owners who have experienced more than one model of binoculars.
The Rangers have rubber armor for a good, non-slip grip and adjustable eyecups that you twist to move them up or down as needed depending on your eye strength. All of this is common to most binoculars these days, as is the center focus wheel and diopter on the right barrel that locks in place after you adjust it for varying left-to-right eye capabilities.
A couple of features do stand out above the rest. One is a very short close focus distance at just 5.2 feet. You can get really close to your target, if you’re quiet enough, and still see it clearly. If you like watching butterflies and insects, you’ll find this quite helpful.
Another standout feature is the long eye relief which is 19.5 millimeters. That’s a millimeter or two more than many other binoculars in this price range. While that doesn’t sound like much at first, it can make all the difference for some users who need or want to keep their glasses on while peering through their binoculars.
With a field of view (FOV) of 341 feet at 1000 yards, you should be able to find moving targets quite readily. There are binoculars with a wider FOV, but remember that 341 feet is well over a football field in width – goal line to goal line, that is.
Accessories that you get include tethered lens covers for the objective (large) lenses, rainguard (that is, lens covers for the eyepiece end) a neck strap, and a case.
What Do Current Owners Think of the Ranger ED 8×42 Binoculars?
Backing up what I said earlier about the clarity and accuracy of the Rangers, one user said this.
“The details and colors that I can pick up with these binoculars are incredible.”
It’s not likely that you would get more than one pair of the same binoculars if you didn’t think they were a good choice. Consider then what this owner has done.
“I have purchased three pairs of this model for my family for birding.”
What Is the Verdict on the Eagle Optics Ranger Binoculars?
The Rangers (both the 8×42 and 10×42) seem to be very popular. You might even find that they are hard to come by on a site like Amazon. If you don’t see them there today, check back again later.
Their popularity is a testament to their quality and usefulness. It’s true that they work wonderfully for birding, but they are also good all-around binoculars for just about any purpose you can come up with.
Still, if you think that the Eagle Optics Ranger 8×42 binoculars are just not for you, take a look at this article that briefly reviews several other sets that you can consider. There is probably one there in this price range that will suit your tastes.
