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  #1  
Old 02-21-2021, 01:29 PM
sillyak sillyak is offline
 
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Default Bushnell Powerview vs. Swarovski

If anyone has young children and is interested in getting a cheap set of binoculars for them, Cabelas had these Bushnell Powerview 8x21 compacts on for $14.99.

I have Swarovaki 8x20 BN compacts and compared them side x side. Obviously there is no contest. The Powerview have no phase coatings (image has bad contrast), is only single coated with no dielectric prism coatings (image is dim), the lens edges are not blackened so there is all sorts of glare, the edges of the FOV are super messy compared to the Swaro.

However, they are completely functional. Unlike toy binoculars they are actually glass and actually magnify the advertised 8x. The dual hinge design means that you can set them for any IPD so they will work for even young children. They are so cheap that you won't worry if the kids are rough with them or they lose them. A real bargain if you have kids too young for a decent set of binos, but you want to get them excited about nature and animals.


Last edited by sillyak; 02-21-2021 at 01:43 PM.
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Old 02-24-2021, 08:39 PM
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huntinstuff huntinstuff is offline
 
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Im surprised they let you compare them..side by side....

Did they manage to get the Swarovski's puke off the carpet???
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Old 02-24-2021, 09:50 PM
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I'd be afraid to give them to my grandkids. Might make their eyes go squinty.
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Old 02-28-2021, 01:20 PM
Family Hunter Family Hunter is offline
 
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Thanks. Gonna order couple pair online
My grand kids love to glass
Going out today
FH

9ABED467-5A52-4E5E-A520-6B903C9F507C.jpg

CB69F4DE-25BD-4993-8C5B-A8794081E7B9.jpg
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Old 02-28-2021, 08:49 PM
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Got 3 grandkids of age, will check those out.

Those show as $26.99 at Cabela’s up here, online.

TBark
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Old 02-28-2021, 09:02 PM
sillyak sillyak is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBark View Post
Got 3 grandkids of age, will check those out.

Those show as $26.99 at Cabela’s up here, online.

TBark

Maybe is was a sale? They were definitely $14.99 when I picked them up, must have been 2 or 3 weeks ago now.
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Old 03-01-2021, 09:53 PM
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EZM EZM is offline
 
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I opened this thread thinking there would be a comparison .......... and I was very ready to be entertained ....... but, the comparison was realistic, yeah they are not Swaro's but I wouldn't let little kids bang around an expensive set of binos like that anyways.

I'm sure they will get hours of fun with them.
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Old 03-01-2021, 10:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Family Hunter View Post
Thanks. Gonna order couple pair online
My grand kids love to glass
Going out today
FH

Attachment 171372

Attachment 171373
Nice pics. Grand kids are off to a great start.

They're probably not on sale anymore? I wouldn't mind getting my daughter a cheap set to start with. It's so easy for them to forget what they're doing and lose or break something that's worth a lot of money.
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Old 03-02-2021, 06:17 AM
bobtodrick bobtodrick is offline
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A great review. Did the same for my sons a few years back. As the OP says completely functional for a child...magnitudes better (the Bushnell’s) over what you get at Toys R Us for not much more cash and keeps the kids entertained looking at everything from neighborhood birds to the moon.
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Old 03-02-2021, 08:30 AM
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Grizzly Adams Grizzly Adams is offline
 
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I'd be afraid to give them to my grandkids. Might make their eyes go squinty.


Better to spend a few bucks more. CT had 10x 42 Yukon brand binos on sale for 59. a couple of months ago. Not world class, but good truck glasses.

Grizz
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Old 03-02-2021, 04:27 PM
sillyak sillyak is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
I'd be afraid to give them to my grandkids. Might make their eyes go squinty.


Better to spend a few bucks more. CT had 10x 42 Yukon brand binos on sale for 59. a couple of months ago. Not world class, but good truck glasses.

Grizz
The IPD of a 10x42 roof doesn't get anywhere near narrow enough for most younger children. Also, for a full size bino under $200 I would buy a porro prism. Roof prism binos without phase coatings kind of suck.
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Old 03-02-2021, 04:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sillyak View Post
The IPD of a 10x42 roof doesn't get anywhere near narrow enough for most younger children. Also, for a full size bino under $200 I would buy a porro prism. Roof prism binos without phase coatings kind of suck.
You did a great thing. Nice work!
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