I’m not sure if the folks over at Eyeskey Optics read the review I wrote about 6 1/2 years ago, but what was a mess back then has certainly been cleaned up in the interim. There’s still something left to be desired, but the Eyeskey site is much better than it had been.
What’s still missing is consistency from one line of Eyeskey binoculars to another and specifications of any kind. I’ve written to ask them about specs but, as of this writing, I have yet to receive a reply from them. I will, of course, update this review if I get any more information.
Eyeskey binoculars currently come in four lines, and they seem to have a mixed bag of features. But this could just be the inconsistency of reporting on their website. That is, even though a line doesn’t seem to have a given feature, it may in reality have said feature, and Eyeskey just isn’t saying so on the site.
The four lines, very roughly in price order from low to high, are these.
- Dreamer HD
- Captor ED
- SkyTrek HD
- Hyperion ED
I’ll take a look at them with you in that order, giving what sparse information the company does provide about these Eyeskey binoculars.
Contents
Eyeskey Dreamer HD Binoculars – A Hot Pink Option
I think the majority of binoculars users usually want to blend into the background when using their optics – hunting, bird watching, etc. So why would you want a hot pink set of tubes?
I can actually think of a few reasons, but it still feels strange that a company would make this their only color alternative to basic black. Pink, but no camouflage?
If you want Eyeskey binoculars in this hot pink style, you can get them in 8×32, 8×42, or 10×42 sizes. Speaking of sizes, Eyeskey binoculars come only in what I consider to be “standard” sizes. Besides the three already mentioned, the only other sizes some of the lines offer are 10×50, 12×50, 10×56, and 12×56.
Dreamer HD binos also come in the standard black option too.
As you’ll see, Eyeskey binoculars only come in roof style. There are no Porro options. The Dreamer HD line, which retails for less than $200, includes a nice set of features for the price. You get fully multi-coated lenses, phase coated prisms, waterproof tubes that are nitrogen purged, and a tripod adapter.
Based on the name, the lenses seem to be made of HD (high density) glass which should give you sharper images and less glare than non-HD glass. The Dreamers may also have BAK4 prisms. If they don’t – the website doesn’t specify – they would be the only Eyeskey binoculars without it.
Eyeskey Captor ED Binoculars – Most Expansive Line
As mentioned earlier, Eyeskey binoculars only come in 7 sizes. The Captor ED line is the only one to include all of them.
The Captor line definitely has BAK4 prisms and lenses which are fully multi-coated. The tubes are waterproofed, as is shouted at you on most pairs, and they’re nitrogen purged too, which should make them fogproof as well.
The big draw here is the ED glass which is often only found in top-of-the-brand optics. Yet here you can get this feature for less than $300. Though the Captor ED binos apparently don’t have a tripod adapter (or maybe they do?), I wouldn’t be surprised if they also had phase coated prisms. They would be the only Eyeskeys that are missing this feature, if they don’t. This could be another website inconsistency.
If you use the Amazon button just above, you can get other sizes on the same page. Not all sizes are offered there, but at least you’ll have a few options. Others may be available elsewhere.
Eyeskey SkyTrek HD Binoculars – Better Quality?
The SkyTrek line – 8×42, 10×42, 10×50, and 12×50 – has binos that cost (MSRP) about $60 to $80 more than Captors of the same size. Yet they appear to have no more (and possibly fewer) features.
Features the SkyTreks do have include HD (based on the name again) glass; BAK4, phase coated prisms; waterproof, nitro purged tubes; and a tripod adapter.
What they apparently don’t have is ED glass and fully multi-coated lenses – though I’m very skeptical about the lack of coatings.
So, are they worth the extra cost over less-expensive models that have ED glass? I don’t really see how they could be. There must be something in the overall design that I’m missing or that Eyeskey isn’t telling us.
Sadly, I am unable to find any SkyTrek binoculars for sale at Amazon. Part of the problem may be that Eyeskey never includes the line name – Dreamer, Captor, etc. – in the actual product title. What’s up with that?
Their Amazon “store” also shows several lines – Eaglet, Clairvoyant, and Wayfarer – that aren’t found on their own website and are currently unavailable at Amazon. In addition the store shows two more – ShadowHunter and Diamond ED – that are available at Amazon but not on their own site. Again, what’s up with that?
As I said at the start, this brand still leaves something – several things – to be desired.
Eyeskey Hyperion ED Binoculars – Eyeskey’s Best?
Based on an MSRP of over $500, the Hyperion ED binoculars should be the best offered by Eyeskey. They have all the features mentioned above (except perhaps the tripod adapter), plus dielectric coatings and IPX7 waterproofing.
The only problem is, like the SkyTrek models, they don’t seem to be available at Amazon. I don’t know if this means that these lines are too new or if they’re on their way out.
So, let’s take a quick look at the ShadowHunter and Diamond lines that I accidentally found there.
Eyeskey ShadowHunter Binoculars – Accident #1
Note: I won’t have any pictures of the ShadowHunters (or the Diamonds), but they look similar to the other lines, and you’ll be able to see them at Amazon.
The ShadowHunter binos have a similar feature set to the SkyTrek and Hyperion lines. They have fully multi-coated lenses; BAK4, phase coated prisms, and IPX7 waterproofing.
This line also offers a size – 10×32 – not available elsewhere among Eyeskey binoculars. You’ll find a few more details by clicking the button below.
Eyeskey Diamond ED Binoculars – Accident #2
Eyeskey Diamond ED binoculars may be the cream of the Eyeskey crop, depending on the true status of the Hyperion ED line.
These come in 8×42 and 10×42 varieties and have the same features as the Hyperions, with the possible exception of the waterproofing. The Amazon listing mentions nitrogen purging (and O rings) but not IPX7.
One last time…It’s easier to navigate the lines of Eyeskey binoculars than it once was, but you still have to dig to get at what you want. Hopefully I’ve cleared this up for you somewhat in this review.
If you’re not sure that Eyeskey is the brand for you, I’d suggest you look at Athlon instead.
