[NoSpringChicken]

My nephew decided that he wanted to buy some binoculars and, being the sort of person that he is, began a few days of intensive research, reading reviews, scouring forums (including this one), and asking and then ignoring my advice! Eventually he ordered a pair of Barr and Stroud Sierra 8x32 from Scopes'n'Skies for £99.99 including delivery. I knew nothing about Barr and Stroud, so was interested to see what he had bought.

When they arrived I was surprised to see a solidly constructed binocular, attractively covered with dark green rubber armour. They feel substantial but are not too heavy. The eyecups are metal, covered with rubber, and twist in and out with an intermediate stop. Eye relief is good at 17.8mm and the FOV is fine at 129m at 1000m. The close focus of 2m should make them suitable for butterfly observation too. The diopter adjustment is on the right hand eyepiece (the safest solution) and, although it doesn't lock, it looks as if it shouldn't shift during use. The action of the hinge was good and it shouldn't go out of adjustment once set. They came with a good case and a webbing strap, which I would replace. There are also tethered objective caps, which appear not to fall off, and a rubber rain guard.

Bearing in mind the low price, I was not expecting too much from them optically but I was extremely impressed. Rather taken aback in fact! The image was bright and sharp. I was able to read the small text on leaflets on the church notice board across the road and the colours seemed bright and well saturated. I looked at TV aerials against the blue sky but couldn't notice any CA at all. I forgot to check for curvature at the edges though. The focusing action was smooth and easy, with no noticeable slack. All in all, I wouldn't have felt short changed to get an image like that from bins at twice the price.

The guarantee is 10 years and, although it is possible that they might fall to bits after a couple of years, I think that is very unlikely. He even received a free, rather good, bird guide with them.

If anybody is looking for a binocular in the £100 region and they can find a Barr and Stroud stockist I think they are well worth a look. Please do not buy them solely on my recommendation, as I only spent about 15 minutes using them, but try them yourself and make up your own mind. I was very impressed by how much binocular £100 can buy these days.

A link to the Barr and Stroud website is here:

http://www.barrandstroud.com/product...32%20binocular

Ron

[Pinewood]

Hello Ron,

As they are phase coated, I suspect a little cost cutting may have been made by using an aluminium mirror, cheaper than silver and cheaper than dielectric, which would affect the spectral response. They are also a bit narrow of field, at 7.35º, which is hardly surprising.
Specifications are on the makers' web site:
http://www.barrandstroud.com/product...32%20binocular
From this video, I think the last thirty seconds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIhlI...ayer_embedded#!
it would appear to have rather stiff focus but your specimen was "smooth and easy."
To move up the scale of higher quality, improvements are costly, so it may very well be worth a look.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood

[NoSpringChicken]

Hi Arthur. Thank you for your comments. Bearing in mind that this binocular costs £100 ($165) I am sure that compromises have been made somewhere. The FOV is not the widest but it is also by no means the narrowest - it is wider than the new Swaro CL for example. I did not spend long enough using them to be sure that there are no issues which would become apparent with prolonged use. However as a complete package, for the price charged, I thought they were extremely impressive.

When my nephew handed them to me he had been focusing on his feet (he maintained that he had them in focus) and I had to turn the focusing knob from this extreme position. For a split second the knob was a little stiff until it had returned to the usual range, whereupon it did indeed become smooth and easy.

I really posted the review as I had never considered this brand of binocular before. I am sure that there are no end of other similar Chinese sourced binoculars 'out there' which are equally good but equally overlooked.

Ron

[AndyN]

Hi,

Thanks to the comments in this thread (and elsewhere on the web), I ended up buying the Barr & Stroud Sierra 10x32.
I think I might have something in common with your nephew Ron, because I also spent quite a lot of time comparing reviews and various information, during my search for truly affordable outdoor binoculars with good quality optics.

You can find my review on the Barr & Stroud Sierra, here:
http://budgetbirdwatching.wordpress....-sierra-10x32/

Here is a selection of binoculars I came across during my search:
http://budgetbirdwatching.wordpress....et-binoculars/



Andy

[SUPPRESSOR]

Originally Posted by AndyN

Hi,

Thanks to the comments in this thread (and elsewhere on the web), I ended up buying the Barr & Stroud Sierra 10x32.
I think I might have something in common with your nephew Ron, because I also spent quite a lot of time comparing reviews and various information, during my search for truly affordable outdoor binoculars with good quality optics.

You can find my review on the Barr & Stroud Sierra, here:
http://budgetbirdwatching.wordpress....-sierra-10x32/

Here is a selection of binoculars I came across during my search:
http://budgetbirdwatching.wordpress....et-binoculars/



Andy

Barr & Stroud might be a british name,but, its been many a year since they were made in britain. So when you say in your review that " your not sure if they are 100% made in Britain" they are not even 1% made in britain, China most likely!
Suppressor.

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by SUPPRESSOR

Barr & Stroud might be a british name,but, its been many a year since they were made in britain. So when you say in your review that " your not sure if they are 100% made in Britain" they are not even 1% made in britain, China most likely!
Suppressor.

You might be right.
It's not always clear where a product (or parts of it) is being manufactured nowadays. I was under the impression that the company is still based in Great Britain though (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barr_and_Stroud).

I've sent a message to Barr & Stroud asking for information about this. In the meanwhile I'll get rid of that remark...

[AndyN]

Update:

I just received a reply from the Barr and Stroud distributor, Optical Vision Ltd:

Barr & Stroud binoculars are indeed currently made in China!

[Clevelanders]

I bought a pair of B&S 10x50 for myself. 2 weeks ago at a local lake my wife borrowed them to look at some distant swans. I never got them back. I bought a pair of B&S 12x56 as 99% of our watching is done from hides. I can only say that we are both delighted with both the bins and the price paid. We are new to the hobby and I don,t understand all the techy stuff but suffice to say they are much better than what we started with and are perfectley adequate for what we want. Ours were bought from discounteddigital.

Martin

[Derek savage]

theres a website selling the savahnna ones which is the next step up in the range for £101 which seems like very good value considering the spec and reviews and the field of view on the 8x42 model is 143 at 1000mts that wallops swaros , leica and zeiss 2mts close focus phase coated and fully multi coated too cracking case objective lens covers a good looking rain guard and neoprene strap rrp is over £200 so at half this im very tempted

[Derek savage]

Originally Posted by Derek savage

theres a website selling the savahnna ones which is the next step up in the range for £101 which seems like very good value considering the spec and reviews and the field of view on the 8x42 model is 143 at 1000mts that wallops swaros , leica and zeiss 2mts close focus phase coated and fully multi coated too cracking case objective lens covers a good looking rain guard and neoprene strap rrp is over £200 so at half this im very tempted

I ended up ordering a pair of the savahnnas 8x42 they get delivered tomorrow or Tuesday. Im not expecting too much compared to the leicas but as long as they will do as a back up or poor light bin then ill be happy . The site i got them from has been mentioned in a previous post and they are half the rrp , ill post up a mini review once ive had a decent chance to put them through their paces

[groucho80]

I'm about to buy a pair of binoculars and Barr & Stroud Sierra 8x32 is probably one of the favorites... As far as I can't try them, I'd like to have an opinion from the owners of this model (also the 10x32 version, I think): at an optical level, are there any glares or are there false pupils or other noises close to the exit pupils? Is collimation good?
I'd like to see a picture of exit pupils, if anyone has the possibility (and the will) to photograph them...
Thanks a lot!

[John Cantelo]

Originally Posted by AndyN

You can find my review on the Barr & Stroud Sierra, here:
http://budgetbirdwatching.wordpress....-sierra-10x32/

Here is a selection of binoculars I came across during my search:
http://budgetbirdwatching.wordpress....et-binoculars/

Andy

Nice website, Andy. It's easy to get good optics if you have the money so a site dedicated to budget bins serves a very useful purpose in these times of cash restraint. Let's hope you'll be able to add more reviews asap.

As a confirmed x8 man, I'd argue with the view that x10 bins always show 'more detail'. Although the image is larger with x10, personally, I find the steadier view offered by x8 can actually make details easier to discern (esp. on a moving bird or one in confusingly dense cover). So if your website is to achieve it's laudable aims I suggest you give x7/x8/x8.5/x9 bins a closer look! Perhaps at c£250 bit pricey for your site, but I'd certainly have a close look at the Pentax 9x32s,

[groucho80]

Originally Posted by groucho80

I'm about to buy a pair of binoculars and Barr & Stroud Sierra 8x32 is probably one of the favorites... As far as I can't try them, I'd like to have an opinion from the owners of this model (also the 10x32 version, I think): at an optical level, are there any glares or are there false pupils or other noises close to the exit pupils? Is collimation good?
I'd like to see a picture of exit pupils, if anyone has the possibility (and the will) to photograph them...
Thanks a lot!

no one can help me???

[Tang918]

Hello Ron, I have a strange preference towards 'non black colour' binoculars and this B&S 8x32 looks great! I myself use a green Vortex binocular.

Yes I agree with you the strap is not that impressive you can consider an Opticron neoprene strap, available from SBTC ( http://www.telescopes-binoculars.co....cessories.html). The tethered objective caps are a bonus since they aren't usually provided in low cost binoculars!

In the case of 32mm lens, I'd strongly strongly go for 8x rather than 10x. Imagine a pair of 10x32 has an exit pupil of only 3.2mm, similar to a pair of 8x25 compact (3.125mm).

[groucho80]

I finally bought BS Sierra 8x42, and I'm pretty satisfied... I had some problems (well, let's say slowness) with purchase but once arrived they are very good!

The binoculars are very cute, with a green rubber cover and waterproof; quite small and light. Image is very good, bright and clear even at dusk... I hope to try them soon "on the field"! They have a not very large but good eye-relief (17.8 mm), that in my case is enough... Focus is very smooth (even too much maybe) and also collimation is good.
If I should find some weak points, I'd say that the darkening around the exit pupil could have been more complete, but it is not too much and doesn't seem to create glares; to be ostinate, in full light conditions (such as the sky at full sunlight) there's a slight loss of luminosity in the centre. At last, lanyard is not that great. But you must consider that we're talking about binoculars of cheap-mid range (list price is 150 pounds but online you can buy them easily for around 100), and small weakness like this could be present in much more expensive instruments.
In the end, the first opinion is very good and I would suggest them to everyone who is looking for a cheap but good bino!
The only regret is that I didn't try the smaller 8x32 version...

[Dimon Hell]

Greetings!
I'm sorry, for bothering...
I'm looking for my first bins. In my wish list already are: Hawke Endurance PC 8x32, Vortex Spitfire 8.5x32, and now this one - BS Sierra 8x32...
Wanna hear someone's opinion about...

[ceasar]

I don't believe the Spitfires are phase coated and they may be discontinued. Eagle Optics does not list them.

Bob

[brocknroller]

Hell, I got no damned experience with any of the bins you mentioned, but also check out the 8x32 Sightron II. There's a long thread on these bins in the BF bin archives. The smoothness of the focuser seems to be hit or miss, but optically, they are reported to be very good for the price point.

<B>

[FrankD]

It isn't really the smoothness that was the issue but rather the focusing tension. I think all of the focusers have been smooth. It was just an issue of how stiff the tension was set on some units.

I used my Sightron yesterday up at the hawk watch (in addition to the Nikon WF and the Vixen Foresta) despite my preference for at least a 5 mm exit pupil for that application. It performed much better than I anticipated. I left it hanging on my chest to monitor close-passing warblers and vireos while the the two 7x models were relugated to raptor duty.

Still recommend the Sightron SII 8x32 Blue Sky for just about any application. An excellent binocular for the $170 or so that they are selling for.

[Dimon Hell]

Well, today i've ordered B&S. Just because of good price and it's easy to get. One click and after 4-5 day's i'll get one. If i'll fell unhappy, i can easily sell it and order Sightron. :)

[Dimon Hell]

Few days ago i've got my Sierra 8x32! It takes about 4 days of shipping from UK, total price was 105 GBP, and i think it's good price for such a bins!
I was impressed with it, works really great and shows nice performance.
In few days i'll get for testing Bresser Montana 10,5x45 DK , which is pretty expensive, to compare cheap and expensive one.

[typo]

Dimon,

It's a good while since I looked at the Sierra but as I recall it was really quite good for the money. Definitely a cut above the none-phase coated competition at that price level. Hope you continue to enjoy them.

David