Kowa BD 8x42 with XD are in my opinion the very best birding and nature binoculars. It is exceptionally bright, and can easily be used for owl watching. It is also very sharp (micro contrast) and excellent contrast (macro contrast), has a excellent close focus 1.2 m, neutral colors (very little cold color) and saturated colors, a wide field of view 7.5 degree, and a superb feel in hand. Weight 671 gram magnesium body. Eye Relief exelent 19mm. Eyepieces lens 24 mm.
Armoring and Waterproofing excellent, real synthetic Rubber coating is great in cold weather, and will also protect against dings, and drops. Quality roof prism, excellent quality fully multicoated coating binos. Binos have real rain guard (the manufacturer has not stated).
Chromatic aberration low in the centre, noticeable lower than medium at the edge, Astigmatism very low, Coma very low, Distortion the distance between the first curved line and the field centre compared to the field of view radius of 70-75%, Blurring at the edge of the FOV of 85-90% from the field of view centre.
Darkening at the edge the FOV Negligible, Whiteness of the image the not loss of purple and blue light - it not visible warming up of the image, Collimation Perfect, Internal reflections Quite dark, Quality of the interior of the barrels tubes are dark and matt, tubes become ribbed, no glue and deeper on you see gray matt metal and microscopic flecks of dust.
Antireflection coatings
Pink-emerald-greenish (reflex emerald-greenish) on objectives, orange-green-pink-lilac (reflex green-lilac) on the eyepieces and greenish on the prisms. Medium intensity.
Focusing, Big and very comfortable central metal wheel with fine ribbing, moves smoothly and precisely 550 degrees, ring on the right eyepiece for individual focusing, made of plastic and have ratchet mechanism.
Compared to Swarovski SLC HD (very little warm color between the colors of kiwi and pistachio-green) it has more very little cold color and very saturated colors. I also like the feel in hand, and the big wheel is perfect for focusing also with gloves on. In Short, the best of the best and the best binocular in the 500-1000 USD range. If you do not want to pay a fortune for a pair of good binos then this half price (of the high end binos, series ALFA) glass could just be the thing for you.