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DD Optice Lux HR 8x25 - A quick review (1 Viewer)

mekidear

Well-known member
I want to post up a quick review of the DD Optics Lux HR 8x25 that I bought recently. I don’t do reviews as a rule but this is a bit of a Marmite binocular and I feel it would be useful for prospective buyers to know its quirks before ordering.

The DD Optics Lux HR 8x25 appears identical to the Bynolyt Seagull and also the RSPB HD Compact – though the specs might differ. The Viking Ventura looks like the same binocular nut without the ED lenses.

I have been looking for a small binocular to carry in a pack for occasional use when travelling and out walking etc so I wanted light weight and compact but also as clear, sharp and bright as possible. I didn’t want to spend silly money as my previous pairs of small binoculars have either broken, been stolen from my car or lost by an airline! These were all double hinge designs, this time it has to be single hinge.

I did initially buy a Maven C2 7 x 28 but the eyecups were dire and it was sent back immediately.

I ordered the Lux HR Binoculars from Teleskop Express in Germany. Teleskop Express do have some suspect on-line reviews but my experience was excellent, they were very helpful and efficient. I paid 202 Euro shipped with a spare pair of eyecups and then got stung for customs, handling, VAT etc £53 the total came to £223. I have been told since not to use Fedex, you are more likely to avoid customs charges using UPS!

Optics

I am no optics expert but for their size and price the LUX HRs seem pretty good to me. They are much sharper to the edges than the Mavens and are possibly sharper down the middle too (I never got to compare them side by side so cannot be sure about this) I cannot detect any CA and have not yet had any veiling, though I don’t think the sun has showed itself since I had the Bins!! The field of view could be wider but is sufficient and doesn’t feel like you are looking down a bog roll. The view feels wider than the Mavens but this may be an illusion due to the higher magnification.

Frame

Really nicely made, solid, a quality feel to the rubber. The hinge and the dioptre ring are both stiff enough to stay put but be adjusted easily. The strap fixing points are a bit large and stick into the web between your thumb and index finger. This might become annoying or even uncomfortable if you use them for long periods but for short periods or with gloves on it is not an issue.

Eyecups

3 positions with a nice solid action. Once set, these eyecups stay exactly where you want them. Maven take note – this is how to do eyecups.

Focus

If you are considering buying a pair of these binoculars, the focusing mechanism is what might make or break it for you. The focus is very slow! I am writing this review so you are aware of this.

I have owned or used a few pairs of binoculars over the years and cannot remember ever being aware of the focus being fast or slow. I guess they were all pretty similar. The Lux HR 8x25 however are noticeably slow to such an extent that I initially thought they would have to go back. From close focus to infinity is about 2 full turns, my Opticron Travellers are about 2/3 of a turn (which is possibly a bit too fast) The focus does go 3 full turns but the last turn does not do much – unless possibly if you are viewing stars.

Out in the field the slow focus has its advantages and disadvantages. From about 15m to infinity the slow focus allows for easier, more precise focusing and for me, is much preferable to a fast focus. For ranges 10m and nearer is a bit like winding a car window down, to catch birds up close, you need fast fingers! I have been getting on with this OK but I suspect this could be a show stopper for some.

The focus wheel is light and smooth but I do find that the knurling does not give sufficient grip for all the running your fingers have to do. I popped a few thin O-rings on for extra grip – works a treat and looks good too.

There is a tiny bit of backlash/play in the focus wheel. I am being picky here, you have to look for it and I do not notice it in use. I guess this is a function of the slow focus - all else being equal, a finer pitch thread will have more backlash than a coarse thread.

Accessories

The binoculars came with 2 straps, a thin lightweight one that is well made and perfectly adequate and a big beefy neoprene padded one which I have not taken out of its wrapping.

The carry bag is OK for storing the binoculars but not great for carrying them out in the field if you need quick access. It can be a bit of a fight to get the strap fixings through the mouth of the bag, a semi rigid pouch would be better.

The binoculars come with 4 lens caps which are fine for storage but again, no good out in the field. I will try and find a suitable rain guard or maybe drill the lens caps and attach them with a bit of string.



Overall the Lux HR is an excellent little binocular and I am happy with my purchase. If I had known about the slow focus I probably would not have bought them – which would be a shame as I would not have found out how good they really are!

I now know my perfect binocular would be one of these in 8x28 with a variable pitch focus mechanism to give fast focus close up and slow focus at distance (has this ever been done?)

To anyone who owns or has tried the Bynolyt or RSPB cousins, is the focus slow too?
 

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