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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FrankD" data-source="post: 1497605" data-attributes="member: 18544">I received the Bushnell Excursion EX 7x36s this afternoon.Here are some initial impressions after using it for the last three hours.Positives:Brightness- Very good...better than I expected considering the price.Centerfield sharpness - Very good...better than expected.Depth of field (apparent) - Very good and similar to that of many of the other 7xs I have owned.Handling - Both its size/weight and overall ergonomics are to my likingFocusing tension - Very good. It does not feel "loose" in the sense that many 30-something mm binoculars feel for me.Overall fit and finish - Excellent....eyecups, central hinges, rubber armor, all look and feel very well put together.Negatives:Field Curvature/Edge Distortion/Size of sweetspot- This is probably my biggest complaint. The true sweet spot of image in focus at the center of the field of view is very small. I would say slightly less than 50% of the image. The outer edge of the image seems to be affected by both astigmatism (to an extent) and field curvature if that is possible. I can refocus part of the outer percentage of the field of view but not all of it.In addition the level of edge distortion/curvature does not seem to be equal on all edges of the field of view. It is definitely noticeably worse in the lower portion of the image, in comparison to the upper. Strange.Color fringing - Noticeable in all of the image but the very center. It is not excessive in the second third of the image but definitely there. The outer 1/3rd displays more than I would care for.Steve's "depth of focus" - is very short. You are either on focus or off. This seems moderately related to the speed of the focus but the tension is at the level where you don't seem to notice it much.Overall conclusion on the initial impressions are that I love the ergonomics, fit and finish and overall brightness of the image. I do not really like the rest of the image qualities. For $250 I would expect more. For $160 I could probably live with it.</blockquote>

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